You Are at the Controls

It’s your choice, your responsibility and all about your needs. Some people only need to prevent pregnancy, where others need to protect themselves or their partners from sexually transmitted diseases.

Your choice of birth control should depend on several factors. These include your health, frequency of sexual activity, number of sexual partners and desire to have children. Your health care provider can help you select the best form of birth control for you, but it all comes down to you to ensure your own sexual well being.

In today’s world, thank goodness for the Internet. It’s all there, even BirthControl.com. We’ve come a long, long way in just the past 20 years. With a variety of oral contraceptives, condoms, IUD’s, spermicides, implants, patches, rings, caps, diaphragms, douches, vasectomy, even the rhythm method, it can make you dizzy just thinking about.

Your family doctor can inform you about the pros and cons of each birth control option, but he doesn’t have the time to consult you on those specifics. It’s your responsibility to do the research. Few doctors will take the time to provide printed materials on in-depth research and potential side effects. There are many serious factors to consider: your heart, decrease in bone density, depression, nausea, weight gain and the list goes on.

So, if it’s important to you and your own peace of mind, you have the wheel. Is saying, “no” an option? Duh!