The physicians at Northern Florida’s All About Women discuss birth control options available to women—and how to choose one
It’s just part of life: if you’re a sexually active woman, you have to figure out your approach to birth control. While condoms are the only form of birth control that also protects against STDs, many health care providers recommend (and many women choose) to use an additional, more reliable form of birth control as well.
Below we’ll discuss some of the most effective forms of birth control for women, highlighting each one’s particular benefits. We’ll also explore three factors you should consider that can affect which form of birth control is right for you.
If you have questions or would like to explore the birth control options available to you in Florida, schedule an appointment with All About Women Advanced Gynecology at our Gainesville or Lake City location.
What are the best female birth control options?
Women have a wide range of choices when it comes to birth control. So, which one’s best for you?
That often depends on your personal preference and your future plans for children. Options include:
Oral contraceptives
One of the most popular forms of birth control, oral contraceptives, commonly called “the pill,” come in an estrogen/progestin combo pill or a progestin-only form. While you have to take the pill at the same time every day for maximum effectiveness, it may reduce heavy periods and can offer some protection against some health conditions. Fertility returns quickly after you stop taking the pill.
Implant (Nexplanon)
An implant is a tiny plastic rod that is inserted into your upper arm, where it releases a hormone called etonogestrel. The implant prevents pregnancy for 3 years. They have the advantage of being low-maintenance and fairly long-term. Implants are considered safe for use when breastfeeding or for women who cannot use estrogen.
IUD
IUDs are small, flexible devices inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. IUDs have the advantage of being long-term, low-maintenance forms of birth control that are just as effective as sterilization, with the benefit of reversibility. Fertility usually returns quickly after having an IUD removed. Women who choose an IUD have the option between a hormonal or non-hormonal IUD:
- Hormonal IUDs (brand names Mirena and Skyla) emit small amounts of progesterone into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. These hormones may also help relieve the symptoms of heavy periods. They are effective for 3 to 5 years, depending on the brand.
- Non-hormonal IUDs emit trace amounts of copper that prevent pregnancy. They are effective for up to 10 years.
Depo-Provera shot
Depo-Provera is a progestin shot you receive from your gynecologist every 12 weeks. The low-maintenance shot can offer fewer cramps and lighter periods for women, but it can take up to a year to get pregnant after removal.
Patch (Ortho Evra)
The patch is an adhesive square worn on the body, which releases hormones similar to the pill that prevent pregnancy. The patch must be changed weekly, but it offers many of the same benefits as the pill, including a quick return to fertility, without the daily upkeep.
Vaginal ring (NuvaRing)
The vaginal ring is a flexible, small ring that you insert into the vagina every three weeks. The ring releases estrogen and progestin to prevent pregnancy, and it offers many of the same benefits as the pill.
Tubal removal (Bilateral salpingectomy or Bisalp)
For women who are certain they don’t want to become pregnant in the future, bilateral salpingectomy is a permanent form of birth control. Also known as tubal removal or “bisalp,” the procedure works by completely removing both fallopian tubes so eggs cannot travel to the uterus for fertilization. Bilateral salpingectomy is effective immediately after the procedure. It is typically performed as an outpatient procedure using laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgical technique.
Essure procedure
An Essure procedure (also known as a hysteroscopic ligation) is another permanent birth control option. During the procedure, two small coils are passed through the cervix and uterus into the fallopian tubes. These coils are made of materials that have been used in medical devices for years, so they are time-tested and safe. The materials are also hormone-free. Over the next few months, scar tissue will form around the insert and block the fallopian tubes, permanently preventing sperm from reaching the egg. Insertion of the Essure device takes place in-office, and no anesthesia or incisions are necessary.
What happens when you switch birth control methods?
While it’s wonderful that medical developments have created so many birth control options, it’s important to be aware that when switching from one birth control method to another, you could become pregnant.
If you’re planning on changing your birth control, it’s best to be prepared to overlap your birth control methods as you switch from one to another. How much of an overlap is necessary differs depending on the methods involved, but in some cases, it may be as long as 7 days, so be sure to ask your doctor.
In addition to overlapping, it’s also safest to use a condom or other barrier type of birth control during the transition.
Do you have to go to a gynecologist for birth control in Florida?
No, you don’t always have to see a gynecologist to get birth control in Florida, but it depends on the type of birth control you want.
Some birth control options are available without a prescription, including:
- Condoms (internal and external)
- Spermicides and contraceptive sponges
- Emergency contraception (Plan B)
- Opill (norgestrel), a progestin-only birth control pill that became available without a prescription in 2023
While these options improve access, most hormonal birth control methods still require a prescription, including combination birth control pills, patches, vaginal rings, injections, IUDs, and implants. Sterilization procedures also require evaluation and care from a medical provider.
What can a gynecologist do for birth control?
A gynecologist can do far more than simply prescribe birth control—they can provide personalized, medically appropriate guidance based on your health, goals, and lifestyle.
A gynecologist can:
For many patients, working with a gynecologist ensures their birth control choice supports both pregnancy prevention and overall reproductive health.
- Review your medical history to help determine which birth control options are safest and most effective for you.
- Prescribe and manage hormonal birth control, including pills, patches, rings, injections, and long-acting options like IUDs and implants.
- Discuss and provide permanent birth control options, such as tubal removal (salpingectomy), for patients who are certain they do not want future pregnancies.
- Perform in-office procedures such as IUD insertion or removal and contraceptive implant placement.
- Help manage side effects, hormonal changes, irregular periods, acne, or pain related to certain contraceptives.
- Provide counseling on pregnancy prevention, family planning, STD prevention and testing, and reproductive health at different life stages.
For many patients, working with a gynecologist ensures their birth control choice supports both pregnancy prevention and overall reproductive health.
What’s the Right Choice for You?
While all these types of female birth control will do the job, it’s a big decision to figure out which will work best for you.
You should consider certain lifestyle factors that can affect your choice of birth control method. Here are three questions to ask yourself:
- What’s Your Personality? Are you good about taking medication on a schedule or do you need something that you can forget about? The pill is an easy, accessible choice for women who can remember to take it, but options like the ring or implant may be better for women who want something they can forget about.
- What’s Your Pregnancy Outlook? If you want to get pregnant within the next couple of years, you may want to choose an easily reversible form of birth control. If you’re done having children, you might want to consider sterilization.
- Are You Concerned About Hormones? Women who are nursing may want a birth control that doesn’t contain estrogen since it can lower milk supply. Women who want to avoid hormones all together may consider a copper IUD or a barrier form of birth control.
At All About Women, we’re always available to discuss the pros and cons of different birth control methods to help you choose the one that’s right for you.
Call our Gainesville or Lake City office today to schedule a well woman visit to begin a discussion about your birth control options, including permanent sterilization. Continue browsing our blog and knowledge center to learn more. And if you’re having difficulty getting pregnant, contact us as well to discuss your situation.
