Family planning is about birth control. The method you choose depends on your health, frequency of sexual activity and whether you want children. When choosing among birth control methods, you should consider:
- Availability – Can you use it without a prescription or office visit?
- Cost – Can you afford it?
- Effectiveness – How well will it help you prevent pregnancy? You should choose the most effective method that meets your other criteria.
- Partnership – Your partner’s support or lack of support may affect your choice of birth control.
- Permanence – Do you want long-term birth control? Permanent sterilization? Tubal ligation (tubes tied) is considered permanent for women. Vasectomy is considered permanent for men. Essure® is a very popular minimally invasive method for permanent sterilization. Ask Dr. Hessel about it.
- Prevention – Many birth control methods offer no protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Condoms and dental dams are the best choices for preventing STDs.
Come in for contraceptive counseling to discuss any of the following options with Dr. Hessel:
- Oral medication (pills)
- Patch
- Nuvaring®
- Depo-Provera shots
- IUDs – copperT, Mirena® and Skyla®
- Diaphragm
- Sponges, condoms and spermicides that are easily available over the counter but may not provide the best protection
When you want contraceptive counseling that’s highly personalized to you as an individual, call Barbara Hessel, MD, FACOG, at 718.275.7200 or 347.943.4371 from Manhattan, Queens (Rego Park, Kew Gardens, Forest Hills, Middle Village), Brooklyn and Long Island in Queens County, NY. You can also use our online Request an Appointment form. Enjoy the most attentive care you’ve ever had.