With the advent of so many telemedicine platforms available to dispense birth control pills, access to birth control has become so much easier.
At Insync medical we too offer teleconsultations for you to discuss at length all birth control options, not just limited to pills. Longer term contraception that allows for convenience putting aside daily pill taking are available in our clinic.
Our female doctors, are skilled at inserting IntraUterine Devices (IUD) both the copper and hormonal Mirena IUDs to give 5 year protection against pregnancy once inserted.
Mirena IUD
Frequency: Every 5 years
Pros
• Stays in the uterus – you don’t feel it
• 70% chance of stopping periods altogether
Discreet form of birth control
• When the IUD is removed, you can become pregnant right away
Cons
• Involves a small procedure, with low procedural risk of malplacement, perforation
• Can cause unscheduled nuisance bleeding in first 3-6 months (let your doctor know if this happens, we can curb it)
• Progesterone may cause nuisance side effects such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, mood swings, vaginal inflammation and dryness (female sexual dysfunction syndrome) and weight gain *the least compared to all other single hormone progesterone only devices
• Progesterone may cause nuisance side effects such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, mood swings, vaginal inflammation and dryness (female sexual dysfunction syndrome)
• Less discreet if you share your private spaces with someone else
Copper IUD
Frequency: Every 5 years
Pros
• No hormones at all – hence no hormonal side effects
• Discreet form of birth control
• When the IUD is removed, you can become pregnant right away
Cons
• Increases risk of tracking up STD (sexually transmitted diseases) like chlamydia and gonorrhea into the uterus and pelvis causing pelvis inflammatory disease
• Heavier periods and more cramping
Implanon which are hormonal implants inside just underneath your skin confer you 3 year protection against pregnancy are also available in our clinic.
Implants
Frequency: Every 3 years
Pros
• Awareness of device position – you can always feel the device in your arm giving you the reassurance that the device is still in place
• Quick and painless insertion with use of local anesthetic, the procedure takes only a few minutes
• Periods may become lighter or stop entirely
• When the implant is removed, you can become pregnant right away
• Does not contain estrogen – helpful for women who must avoid estrogen
Cons
• Involves a small procedure in your doctor’s clinic
• Replacement of removal requires a small incision/cut
• Can cause unscheduled nuisance bleeding in first 3-6 months (let your doctor know if this happens, we can curb it)
These are quick bedside contraception procedures.
Contraceptive Pill
2 main types of pills available in the market. Pills that contain estrogen and progesterone combined. And the other group are pills that contain Progesterone only.
Women who are not supposed to consume synthetic oral estrogen cannot take the combined pill. They will be offered the progesterone only pill, which we call POP.
So you can’t take a combined pill if you have
– History of breast cancer
– History of blood clots in your blood vessels eg a DVT, deep venous thrombosis
– Untreated high blood pressure
– Age 35 or older and you smoke
– Active liver disease
What if I am breast feeding, which pill combined or progesterone only can I take?
If you are fully or nearly fully breastfeeding then you can only take the progesterone only pills. If you don’t like pills then go you the other progesterone only options like the IUD, the implant or the Depo Provera. Combined pills are not recommended as they reduce the breast milk supply.
Contraception Beyond Pills:
The Mirena IUD, The arm implant and Depo provera all contain only progesterone IUD
Implant
Depo Provera
What other benefits can my birth control give me?
Hormonal birth control goes beyond protecting you pregnancy. Depending on the specific type of pill or hormonal contraception used you will see
– Lighter and less painful periods
– Improvement in premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
– Better skin, less acne
– Reduced risk of ovarian and uterine cancers
If you are considering birth control, get a comprehensive unrushed consult to understand which option would be best for you.
We’re here to answer even the most sensitive and intimate questions. Take the first step, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Hear Directly from
Our Clients
