Birth Control

How do IUDs prevent pregnancy?

An IUD is a small, flexible, T-shaped device that your provider inserts into your uterus. IUDs are long-acting, reversible birth control devices, typically preventing pregnancy from 3-10 years. IUDs are a safe, highly effective birth control method for women who don’t wish to become pregnant in the immediate future.

Some IUDs release low doses of hormones that interfere with your body’s ovulation cycle, another type is a hormone-free IUD that contains copper. The copper prevents sperm from reaching an egg and fertilizing it, and can even work as an emergency contraception up to five days after unprotected sex.

How does the Depo shot prevent pregnancy?

The Depo shot is a birth control injection that contains the hormone progestin. You receive the shot every three months and the hormones prevent you from ovulating. Progestin also thickens the mucus in your cervix to make it harder for sperm to get through.

After stopping the Depo shot, it could take up to 10 months or more before you begin ovulating, so it’s not always the best option if you want to become pregnant within a year after using it as your method of birth control.

In addition to preventing pregnancy, several different types of contraceptives offer other benefits such as lighter periods and less menstrual pain. If you’d like to learn more about birth control and discover which method is best for your needs, call the office or request the next available appointment online.