Birth Control in Cleveland

There are many methods of birth control available to women nowadays, including:

• IUDS – Also known as Intrauterine devices, these small T-shaped devices are plastic with copper or a hormone that is placed in your uterus by your provider. You can receive a copper IUD, which prevents sperm from fertilizing an egg and lasts about 10 years, or one of the 4 types of a hormonal IUD, which can last between 3 and 8 years.
• Implant – A hormonal implant is a small rod that is implanted into the underside of your arm, releasing hormones that prevent your body from releasing an egg. Implanted rods last about 3 years.
• Shot – A hormonal shot is given to you in your arm by a provider or nurse every 3 months. This also delivers hormones into your body that prevent your ovaries from releasing an egg.
• Patch – A patch is placed on your skin, and hormones are absorbed by your skin to prevent your body from releasing an egg. You will need to replace this once a week with 1 week off every month.
• Ring – A plastic hormone-covered ring is placed inside your vagina to prevent your body from releasing an egg. It will need to be replaced monthly.
• Pills – The original form of birth control, you’ll take a pill every day that will prevent your body from releasing an egg. You can take cyclical pills, which will have 1 week of sugar pills that allow your body to still have a period, or a continuous birth control, which will prevent you from having a period.

Yes, birth control is completely safe. Each method of birth control can have its side effects, which your provider will go over during your evaluation to determine which method is right for you.

None of our hormonal birth control protects against sexually transmitted infections. If you want to protect against STIs, then we’ll suggest using a barrier-type of birth control, like condoms, a birth control diaphragm, or a birth control sponge.