Family Planning

Commonly known as IUD.

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An IUD is an intrauterine device. It is a T-shaped device that is placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. The insertion of the device is done in office and generally takes no more than 5 minutes. 

TWO TYPES OF IUDs

Hormonal IUDs contain progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone).  

• FDA certified hormonal IUDs:

  1. Kyleena® 

     1. Low-Hormone option that can last up to 5 years and is 99% effective

  2. Mirena® 

     1. Good for up to 8 years and is 99% effective

  3. Skyla® 

     1. Lowest Hormone option that can last up to 3 years and is 99% effective

  4. Liletta®

     1. Good for up to 8 years (99% effective)

Non-hormonal IUD is composed of copper and does not contain any hormones.

• FDA certified non-hormonal IUD:

  1. Paragard® 

     1. Uses copper to prevent pregnancy and is 99% effective

Nexplanon®: THE IMPLANT

Nexplanon is a flexible birth control implant that is placed underneath the skin of the non-dominant upper arm. It releases a continuous low dose of hormone to prevent pregnancy. Long acting reversable contraception, which helps with compliance. It is 99% effective and can last up to 3 years. 

WHAT IS “THE PILL” or “BIRTH CONTROL PILLS” ?

Birth control pills are hormonal oral contraceptives used to prevent pregnancy. These pills are often also used as a way to treat heavy periods, irregular periods, painful periods, endometriosis.

There are two types of birth control pills:

1. Combination Pills (most common)

   1. Combination Pills have both estrogen and progestin

2. Progestin-Only Pills

   1. Progestin-only pills only have progestin. 

HOW DO BIRTH CONTROL PILLS PREVENT PREGNANCY?

The hormones used in the pills safely prevent ovulation. Without ovulation, no egg will produce the sperm to fertilize, so pregnancy cannot occur. In addition, the pill’s hormones thicken the mucus on the cervix, blocking the sperm from swimming to an egg.

Hormonal method inserted vaginally with combined estrogen and progesterone. It works similarly than the pill. 

1. NuvaRing®  - inserted vaginally and removed after 3 weeks,  then re-inserted after 1 week. Every month, a new ring is inserted at the same time as the last month and the process is repeated. It contains estrogen and progestin to prevent pregnancy.

2. Annovera®  - a hormonal birth control ring that is inserted vaginally and lasts for 1 whole year. It contains estrogen and progestin to prevent pregnancy.

The patch is a hormonal birth control patch that is applied every week for three weeks, and is then removed for one week to allow for menstrual bleeding. The patch contains estrogen and progestin to prevent pregnancy. 

1. Xulane® 

2. Twirla® 

Depo-Provera®- a hormonal birth control injection given every 3 months. It prevents pregnancy by using the hormones, medroxyprogesterone. It suppresses ovulation and thickens the cervical mucus by blocking the sperm from reaching the egg. 

1. Phexxi®- a non-hormone suppository gel that can be easily inserted in the vagina before every act of sex. It works by increasing the acidity in the vagina, so the sperm cannot survive; thus inhibiting the fertilization of an egg.

2. Paragard® - A non-hormonal IUD that uses copper to prevent pregnancy and is 99% effective.

3. Natural Family Planning

   1. Checking basal body temperature

   2. Checking for cervical mucus (indicates ovulation) and abstaining from having intercourse.

   3. LH testing strips

4. Abstinence- abstaining from having intercourse.

5. Male Condoms- to be used every time you have intercourse.

6. Withdrawal- “when a man takes his penis out of a woman's vagina before he ejaculates.” 

Sterilization is a permanent and irreversible method of birth control.

FEMALE STERILIZATION 

1. Tubal Ligation- a procedure performed under general anesthesia where the fallopian tubes are cut and tied to permanently prevent pregnancy. After this procedure, you will still have your period.

2. Bilateral salpingectomy- it a surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia where the fallopian tubes are entirely removed.

MALE STERILIZATION 

Vasectomy- an in-office procedure performed under local anesthesia where the vas deferens (tubes that carry sperm) are closed off, so no sperm is able to leave one’s body. Please note that AkermanMed specialists don't do male sterilization. 

• **Men who undergo a vasectomy NEED to attend the follow-up appointment to ensure there is no sperm in the semen, or there is a possibility of pregnancy.

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For more info please visit ACOG and consult one of our experts.