Family Planning
Family planning services are designed to help you plan the size of your family. The decision to grow your family or prevent pregnancy is significant. It’s essential to partner with providers who understand this and can help you understand your options and personalize your plan.
Planning for Pregnancy
Before becoming pregnant, your doctor can help you plan ahead so that you can experience the healthiest pregnancy possible. Planning for a pregnancy includes discussing potential lifestyle changes that may help promote contraception, such as:
- Taking prenatal vitamins to reduce neural tube defects in your baby
- Following a well-balanced diet
- Stopping smoking and drinking alcohol
- Review your current medications to ensure they are safe for pregnancy.
- Some women may also need to manage their current health conditions better
Your doctor can also partner with you for a fertility evaluation. If you are unsure whether or not you can carry a pregnancy or have struggled with infertility already, this is an important step in the family planning process.
Preventing Pregnancy
Contraception is a personalized choice and should be treated as such. Maybe you have decided your family is complete, or perhaps you’ve decided to wait to have children or not have any at all. Family planning services include contraception to help prevent pregnancy temporarily, space pregnancies out, or prevent pregnancy altogether. Your provider will discuss the different birth control methods with you, including:
- Oral contraceptives or birth control pills
- Birth control patches, rings, or shots
- Contraception implants (Nexplanon)
- IUDs (intrauterine devices)
All of these contraceptive options have different benefits, levels of effectiveness, and risks. Your provider will inform you about the risks and benefits of each type, so you can decide on the option that works best for you.
If you have decided your family is complete and you do not desire any more children, or you don’t want to have children at all, permanent birth control is available through female sterilization. This is usually performed surgically with tubal ligation, which prevents pregnancy by severing or tying off the fallopian tubes. This blocks the path of the sperm to the egg, preventing pregnancy.
Schedule an Appointment for Family Planning Services
Whether you are just starting the journey to growing your family or you are looking for a new birth control option, it’s time to build a partnership with a caring professional to support you, no matter your long-term goals.
Schedule an appointment today and get started with family planning services.
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Testimonials
“Great service. Dr. Shelton was my OB and delivered my son. He was always willing to answer questions and very knowledgeable. He was kind and courteous during delivery because let’s be honest… that’s not the most flattering moment in a woman’s life.” – BW
“Dr. Cohen is an amazing Dr. Along with her staff and the reception team it’s always a pleasant experience. I know I can call and leave messages for the team if I have questions or concerns. Dr. Cohen was with me through my whole pregnancy, rooting me on during delivery. Best team there could be.” – NP
“I absolutely love Dr. Kelly. I’m on my third pregnancy now and she has been my OB for all three. She’s always understanding and considerate when I need someone to talk too and she always makes sure I don’t have any additional questions before our appointment is over. She will ALWAYS be my recommended OB at the Women’s Health Center.” – KM