Taking birth control is a popular and effective method of pregnancy prevention, also known as contraception. There are many birth control options available for young women, including hormonal methods such as oral contraceptive pills, mini-pill, hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs), copper IUDs, and vaginal rings, or nonhormonal barrier methods such as the female condom. 

All of these methods of birth control are effective at preventing unintended pregnancy. You can discuss the best option for you with your obstetrics health care provider here at Great City Medical.

But did you know that taking hormonal birth control can have many women’s health benefits other than just contraception?

Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of birth control.

What are the benefits of taking birth control?

In addition to preventing pregnancy, taking hormonal birth control can provide many health benefits for women.

• Regular periods
  • The hormones in birth control pills can help regulate your period. Birth control contains hormones called estrogen and progesterone, which mimick the hormones that your body naturally makes. Most birth control pill packs contain three weeks of active hormones and one week of inactive pills without hormones. Your period will come during the week you take the inactive pills. That way, your period should always come every three weeks and last for no more than a week. This can be a great benefit for anyone struggling with irregular periods or long menstrual cycles.
• Lighter, less painful periods
  • In addition to regulating when you get your period, birth control pills can also help control your period symptoms. Taking birth control pills prevents ovulation and thins the uterine lining. This means your menstrual cycle will likely become much lighter and less painful over time, with less bleeding and fewer cramps. This makes birth control pills a great option for anyone struggling with heavy bleeding, painful cramps, and other side effects.
• Relieve endometriosis symptoms
  • Women with endometriosis — a condition where the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus and causes heavy, painful periods — can benefit from taking birth control. Taking birth control pills will not cure endometriosis, but it can help manage the symptoms of endometriosis. Taking birth control can help reduce the growth of the uterine lining and reduce painful cramps and heavy bleeding. 
• Prevent ovarian cysts
  • Ovarian cysts, which are painful collections of fluid built up on the ovary, can be caused by hormonal imbalance. Taking birth control can help balance hormones and reduce the risk of developing cysts on the ovary.
• Relieve PCOS symptoms
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), is a condition caused by hormone imbalance when the ovaries produce too much testosterone. It is a common condition in girls and young women. Taking birth control can help balance hormones, reduce excess levels of testosterone, regulate your period, and control other potential symptoms such as acne and unwanted hair growth.
• Reduce acne
  • Acne can be caused by hormonal imbalances and fluctuations. Birth control is commonly taken to balance these hormones and reduce hormonal acne. Acne tends to clear after several months on the pill.
• Lower risk of ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer
  • Taking hormonal birth control can lower your risk of certain cancers, including ovarian and endometrial cancer. Women who have taken birth control have up to 50% less risk of getting ovarian cancer and up to 30% less risk of getting endometrial cancer. The longer you take the pill, the lower your risks become. The effect is long-acting, as women can benefit from a decreased risk of these cancers for years after they stop taking the pill.
• Lower risk of anemia
  • Anemia is a common condition in women. It occurs when you do not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen in your body. Symptoms of anemia include extreme fatigue, weakness, and frequent bruising. Taking birth control can help prevent heavy blood loss during your period and reduce the risk of anemia.

Does your body change on birth control?

Some women do report gaining or losing weight while taking the birth control pill as a contraceptive method. However, in most cases, any weight change tends to be very minimal and temporary.

Taking birth control might also affect body composition. Some women may find it more difficult to put on muscle mass while on the pill.

However, risks of body changes are very low, especially if you are taking birth control with very low doses of hormones. Most birth control pills today contain very low levels of hormones compared to historical treatments.

Can the pill make you infertile?

While birth control pills prevent pregnancy while you actively take them, they do not have any long-term effect on fertility levels. Scientific research has shown that birth control use, even prolonged use, does not directly cause infertility. Most women are able to regain their natural menstrual cycle and get pregnant within just two to three months of stopping taking birth control.

If you started taking birth control to help treat endometriosis, PCOS, hormone imbalances, or other reproductive issues, these issues may return after you stop taking birth control. These conditions may negatively affect fertility and will need to be treated properly before conceiving.

Talk to your doctor about the benefits of birth control today

Birth control can have many women’s health benefits beyond just contraceptive use. However, hormonal contraceptives are not effective at preventing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). 

Hormonal birth control might not be right for everyone. Birth control can increase your risk of blood clots and high blood pressure. It might not be a good option for people who smoke. 

At Great City Medical, our specialists are experts on reproductive health. Talk to your doctor today to learn more about the non-contraceptive benefits of birth control and if birth control is right for you.

Here at Great City Medical, we specialize in women’s health and reproductive health care. Our Dr. Yelena Tsyba is board-certified by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as a top obstetrics-gynecologist (ob/GYN). She is happy to help with all of your women’s health needs.

Whether you’re looking for a standard annual gynecology exam and pap smear, a family planning visit, or a surgical procedure, we can perform all of our ob/GYN services on-site in our New York City offices. We provide ob/GYN health care services to women of all ages. If you are looking for the best on/GYN near me in the NYC area, you’ve come to the right place!

Do I Need to Go to the Gynecologist Every Year?

Gynecology is an important part of women’s health care for all women. Women between the ages of 21 and 29 should receive a gynecological exam every year, and may wish to begin seeing a gynecologist as soon as the age of 16 if they become sexually active sooner. Women in this age range have an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STD) or sexually transmitted infections (STI) and of becoming pregnant, so it is important to see a women’s health doctor.

If they are in good health, not pregnant, and not being treated for a disease, women may begin seeing their gynecologist every other year after age 30. However, many women in this age range often do become pregnant and may need to visit their gynecologist more frequently for family planning visits.

Women of any age who experience any negative symptoms, changes to their menstrual cycles, unusual discharge or odors, or severe pelvic pain should arrange to see a gynecologist right away, as those may be signs of something more serious.

At What Age Can a Woman Stop Seeing a Gynecologist?

The age that one can stop regularly seeing a gynecologist varies from woman to woman, but generally healthy women over the age of 66 do not need to visit a gynecologist every year or every other year. If a woman near the age of 66 receives three clear pap smears in a row, they may stop receiving their annual pap smear and regular pelvic exams if they wish.

However, women in menopause or post-menopause may wish to continue seeing their gynecologist for treatment for other women’s health issues such as vaginal dryness, unusual discharge or odors, painful intercourse, or urinary incontinence. Gynecology includes many more women’s health services than just pap smears! We are proud to provide quality women’s health care services to women in all stages of life.

It is best to discuss your individual health situation with your gynecologist or primary care doctor before deciding if it is right for you to stop seeing a gynecologist regularly.

What Does a Gynecological Exam Include?

An annual gynecological exam, also known as a well-woman visit or gyn exam, can be as quick as just 10 minutes to complete. 

This exam typically includes a pelvic exam, a pap smear, a blood pressure check, a breast exam, and tests for STDs or STIs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. It may sometimes include a urine test. You can also receive a birth control prescription, such as the daily pill or an IUD, during your checkup.

During the routine pelvic exam, the doctor will situate you comfortably within the stirrups and upon consent, they will examine the vulva and the labia first to see if there are any signs of abnormalities. Abnormalities can include various signs of irritation, swelling, redness, and STDs or STIs. Once the external examination is finished, the doctor will examine the interior of the vagina using a medical instrument called a speculum. 

During the interior exam, the doctor will examine the cervix and perform pap smear, also called a pap test. The pap test takes a small sample of your cervical cells, which get sent off to a medical lab to check the cells for cervical cancer (cancer of the cervix). The importance of pap smears for women cannot be understated. Pap smears are important to catch any abnormalities early to prevent any major problems in the future. Cervical cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States. Cervical cancer is a serious medical condition, but an annual exam can be a life-saving procedure as it can help detect signs of cancer early and make it easier to treat. Results from a pap smear should be available within two weeks of your exam.

Using a gloved finger in your vagina and some applied pressure to the abdomen, the doctor will also examine the health of your uterus and ovaries.

The breast exam is part of your primary care and checks for any abnormalities or signs of breast cancer, another common form of cancer in the U.S. Again, this can be a life-saving procedure as it can help detect signs of cancer early and make it easier to treat.

A gynecological exam is an understandably uncomfortable procedure, especially if it is your first time visiting an ob/GYN. But don’t worry—your doctor can help ease your nerves and explain the process if it’s your first time. It is important to relax to help the exam go smoothly and painlessly. Additionally, you may bring a female family member, friend, or nurse chaperone to be in the exam room with you as well, so you never have to be alone with the doctor if that makes you feel uncomfortable.

What Women’s Health Care Services Do We Provide?

At Great City Medical in New York City, we provide many women’s health services to women of all ages, in addition to annual wellness exams. We also provide services for the following ob/GYN and ob-GYN-related surgical needs:

• Family Planning and Birth Control
• IUD Insertion and Removal
• Menstruation Care
• Menopause Management
• Gynecological Surgeries
• Pap Smear and Pelvic Exam
• Urinary Incontinence
• Endometriosis
• Fibroids
• Pelvic Pain
• Cancer Screenings
• Breast Exams
• Leep
• Dilation and Curettage (D&C)
• Any other health issues
• Reconstructive surgery

Spend a few minutes reading up on the world of health care and you’ll come across this phrase: a primary care doctor. And the phrase itself makes sense. A primary care doctor is someone you see first when you have a problem, or to get a routine check-up.

It’s when you toss in the other words that things get confusing for patients. Who are “internists”? Is a primary care provider different than a primary care physician? Where do pediatrics fit in? And what happens when your health insurance doesn’t offer the coverage for routine checkups with your primary care physician? Let’s answer these questions to make sense of all the different words you’re likely to encounter.

What is the Difference Between a Primary Care Physician and a Family Doctor?

A “family doctor” is a doctor who doesn’t specialize in either children or adults. For example, a doctor who specializes in children is known as a pediatrician. Typically, a primary care doctor for “adults” is known as someone in internal medicine. But specializing in family medicine means that the doctor doesn’t specialize in either/or. They’re capable of seeing both adult and child patients. “Family medicine” refers to the practice of examining and treating both age groups.

What about the phrase “primary care doctor”? This refers to the doctor with whom the patient has the most immediate relationship for basic care. For example, a child can have a primary care doctor who is also a pediatrician or a family medicine doctor. Similarly, an adult can have a primary care doctor who specializes in internal medicine or is a family medicine doctor.

What Does a Primary Care Doctor Do?

A primary care doctor can help with preventative care and other basic health care needs. Unless you have an emergency, they’re the ones you see first if you have an issue that you need remedied.

Think of the primary care doctor as your first line of defense in the battle to maintain wellness. They’re the ones you see for checkups, or even during the management of your long-term chronic conditions. If you do have medical needs that venture outside their realm of expertise, they can then offer you a referral to a specialist who can pay closer attention to your specific issues.

Why is Primary Care So Important?

There isn’t one particular reason; instead, there are all sorts of reasons that primary care can be so important.

• Preventative care. There’s an old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. That’s certainly the case with many ailments. Having a good relationship with your primary care doctor will help ensure that they’re aware of your issues, and that they can step in and offer preventative care when necessary.
• A primary care doctor, especially one who handles family medicine, can advise you on the immunizations you or a child may need in certain situations. They can help you navigate the complex world of medical history and medical conditions to understand what your best options for prevention may be.
• Patient-specific needs. When you have specific needs due to your individual medical status, those are very private needs. No patient wants to constantly switch between gynecologists or internal medicine doctors, after all. To do so can be counterproductive to good care. It also makes navigating the world of medicine much more difficult for each patient.
•  

Why is Primary Care so Important?

Patients of all ages require a primary care physician. For someone young, that may be a doctor who focuses on a family practice. For someone old, it may refer to a geriatrician. But the point is simple: it’s good to have a primary care physician that you can depend on. Someone who knows your history, knows you, and understands what’s important when it comes to your treatment.

There’s a temptation to view primary care physicians as “generalists.” People who might not know as much about specific health conditions that you might suffer from. And in many cases, that is true. There is a reason a primary care physician is typically not someone who specializes in a specific type of ailment, or a specific type of patient. Their role is to handle a wider range of knowledge, and then hand over a referral when necessary.

It’s also important for you to have some confidence in the people you work with. It’s your health, after all. As you familiarize yourself with your primary care physician, they can handle relatively routine problems like high blood pressure. You’ll get to know their offices and their office hours. As you build familiarity, the entire process of having a routine checkup will feel that much more natural to you.

Understanding Other Words in the Medical Field

Because there are so many terms thrown about these days, it’s important for patients to have a clear understanding of who does what. The more you know about these terms, the better you’ll be able to grasp the different quirks of getting your own health taken care of. Let’s look at some of these:

• OB-GYN: This stands for Obstetrics and gynecology.
• Obstetricians: Separate from an OB-GYN. As WebMD notes, a gynecologist is a doctor specializing in the reproductive health of women. Obstetricians help women during their pregnancy, as well as after the child is born, and can also deliver babies. An OB-GYN refers to someone who handles both specialties.
• “Board-certified.” Board-certified refers to, according to the American Board of Medical Specialties, “specialty-specific training beyond medical licensure.” Typically this is relevant for medical specialties, and may not be as relevant when consulting with a primary care physician. In that case, a proper medical license is what you’ll want to be focused on.
• Geriatric: This refers to the care of the elderly. There are many medical professionals who specifically handle elder care.

How Do You Know Which Kind of Physician is Right For You?

Between all of the terms—family doctor, primary care physician, internal medicine, etc.—it can be easy to get lost in the vast dictionary of the medical world. But when you zoom in to each individual term, you’ll see that it’s not nearly as difficult to navigate as you think.

One of the most important aspects to realize is that having a primary care physician will help you navigate this world. You shouldn’t, after all, be expected to handle all of the research yourself. A family doctor—or a primary care physician—can be your first point of reference for making sense of what needs to happen. It’s this person that you can bring your symptoms to when you need to report something. It’s this person who you answer your questions when you’ve been hearing about the latest medical trends.

In turn, a good relationship with a primary care physician means you’ll build up a level of trust and comfort over time. This not only makes you more likely to seek the care you need, but will help you make more informed decisions about your care when working with an expert you can trust. From there, you’ll have more confidence in the way you approach your health—and in the way you seek out the right health care workers to help.

Popular Posts

How Long Does it Take for Birth Control to Work?

When Should You Get a Pap Smear?

Normalizing STD Testing

Can a Gynecologist Be Your Primary Care Physician?

What Type of Doctor Should a Woman See Annually?

Birth control is a vital part of your healthcare if you’re sexually active. The form of birth control is a big decision, and one of the factors you need to know is how long you need to wait before your birth control provides full protection.

From side effects to the birth control method that’s right for you, your birth control is a significant decision. Let’s take a look at how each birth control works, how long does birth control take to kin in, and to understand when it offers full protection from pregnancy.

Hormonal Birth Control Options

Hormonal birth control choices work on several levels. They thicken the cervical mucus to prevent sperm from making it through the uterus, prevent eggs from releasing into the ovaries for fertilization, and thin the uterine lining to prevent implantation if the previous actions aren’t successful. This requires a period of time to adjust your hormones before you’ve got coverage against pregnancy.

Birth Control Pills

Combination pills will protect you from day one if you begin taking them during first five day of your period. This doesn’t mean that your period has started, but the first day of your cycle. If you start at any other point in your cycle use a backup method.

Progestin-only oral contraceptives (the minipill) are effective two days after you start the pill. However, if you miss one, you’ll need to use a backup form of birth control for another two days. It works more quickly, but there’s no room for error.

The Vaginal Ring and The Birth Control Patch

Vaginal rings, such as the Nuvaring, provides the same type of protection that birth control pills do. If you put it in on during the first five days of your menstrual cycle, you’re protected from day one. If you start at any other point in your cycle, use a backup method of birth control.

Patches also work similarly to the Nuvaring and the Pill. You can time it to start during the first day of your cycle, or if you wait longer, you’ll need to use other methods.

Birth Control Injections

Injections like the Depo-Provera are effective within 24 hours if you receive the injection any time during the first five days of your menstrual cycle. Any time after that and, like the rest, you’ll have to wait at least seven days for full protection against pregnancy.

Intrauterine Devices

These long term birth control methods work by inserting a small device into the uterus. A copper IUD works by causing sperm to avoid the copper — thus avoiding the birth canal. Hormonal IUDs, such as Mirena, work by also thickening cervical mucus to prevent sperm from accessing the uterus and preventing the release of eggs with Progestin.

Copper is immediately effective no matter when you insert it, but hormonal IUDs must be inserted during the first week of your menstrual cycle to be effective. If not, wait for up to seven days or use back up methods of birth control.

Barrier Methods

Barrier methods — such as condoms, female condoms, cervical caps, or diaphragms — are effective immediately as long as you use them correctly. These prevent sperm from accessing the uterus for fertilization. Some also use secondary methods such as spermicide to kill sperm before it can reach an egg. These are often the backup methods we require while waiting for hormonal birth control to take full effect.

Sterilization Procedures

Tubal ligation and tubal occlusion are two common surgical sterilization methods. Tubal ligation will require a one week waiting period just to be on the safe side, but tubal occlusion isn’t effective immediately. Unlike a ligation, which cuts your fallopian tubes, an occlusion works through a micro-insert in the fallopian tubes to encourage your body to close them naturally. You’ll need to wait at least three months.

Implants

Birth control implants work similarly to all other forms of hormonal birth control. Time implants to coincide with the first week of your menstrual cycle, or you’ll have to wait at least seven days to allow your body’s hormones to adjust.

Choosing the right birth control

It’s essential to receive medical advice from a trusted provider like Great City Medical. We are ready with all the health information you’ll need to make the best decisions for the forms of birth control that fit your lifestyle and your needs.

We will go over everything you need to know about the side effects of birth control, effectiveness, and how long you’ll have to wait for your chosen birth control to work. We can also work with you to decide on combinations of birth control that can help with other medical issues.

Unprotected sex with your trusted partner doesn’t have to put you at risk of pregnancy. Birth control is one way to take charge of your fertility, and family planning is part of your overall health picture. We can help you make the best decision.