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Women's Health

General Gynecology

Contraception

Don't Be Fooled...

Planned Parenthood gives us the seven most common myths about the pill.

Using contraception can help avoid unwanted pregnancies, protect against sexually transmitted disease including HIV/AIDS, and provide other health benefits.

No one contraceptive is right for every person. You and your doctor will want to answer the following questions before choosing the method of contraception that will be right for you. Bear in mind that there is no perfect method. Nothing is simultaneously easy, cheap, spontaneous, and completely risk free.

Do you have any special circumstances, both physical and emotional, that would preclude your use of a particular method?

  • Do you want to have children in the future?
  • How effective is each method?
  • What are the pros and cons of each method? For instance, is the method likely to cause pain or discomfort?
  • What are your preferences? (No matter how effective a method might be, if you don’t like it you ultimately won’t want to use it.)
  • Do you or your partner need protection against a sexually transmitted disease? (You or your partner has other sex partners, has herpes or is HIV positive.)
  • Is the method cost effective for you?

The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals has an online interactive quiz that can help you narrow your choices.

Finally, learning how to use your chosen method safely and effectively is just as important as choosing a method. Make sure you understand your doctor’s instructions, including any side effects you should watch for.

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