Well Woman Care

A new study recently came out linking hormonal birth control with depression, and people are understandably concerned. Many women feel blindsided, and doctors aren’t sure how to address these fears. However, a careful analysis of the study shows that some of the concerns may be overblown.

It’s that time of year again, mommas. You knew this day would come. You prepared. You shaved your legs, trimmed the, ahem, hedges, and maybe even painted your toenails. You get dressed in the tiniest of gowns and drape a sheet over your lap. Feet in stirrups, slide down.

After all of the talk about preferences, goals, side effects and other concerns, your doctor is likely to recommend the easiest, most effective and safest methods.

For many women and couples, side effects are a critical factor in choosing a birth control method. Side effects can be quite varied, from method to method as well as person to person. Not every user will have every possible side effect, but it’s important to understand the possibilities, almost all of which are temporary and will resolve when the method is stopped.

People have been trying to control family size throughout history, but with the advent of modern contraception, it’s become easier and easier to plan pregnancies. This is because modern methods, in addition to being safer, are more effective than many methods used previously.

As OB/GYNs, one of the most common comments that we get from our patients during an examination is:

“I am so sorry! I didn’t get a chance to shave!”

Imagine showing up at a travel agency, saying you’d like to go on vacation, and then asking the travel agent to recommend a trip. Who knows if you’d be happy with the trip they ended up booking. Choosing a birth control method has a lot in common with planning a vacation.

Q: Is it normal for my periods to go away or be really light when taking birth control pills?

A: YES!