Birth control is a crucial decision for any individual, couple, or family. In addition to helping you prevent unplanned pregnancies, Boca Raton birth control options can also protect you and your partner from STDs and help you regulate your period, among other things. But with so many choices to leaf through, choosing the best form of birth control can become a headache.
You need to consider convenience, your lifestyle, your health, your budget, and even future family plans. Whether you have recently started your search for the ideal birth control option for you or are unsatisfied with your current choice, here are four reasons you may find your answer with the patch.
Used Correctly, It Has a 99 Percent Efficacy Rate
The patch contains a combination of progestin and estrogen that is slowly absorbed into your body through the skin. Used as it should, it can prevent pregnancy at a 99 percent efficacy rate. This means that it only fails in 1 out of 100 proper usage. The efficacy rate is very similar to what you get with combination hormonal methods like the pill, except the patch is more convenient.
It Is Convenient
You use the patch three weeks a month, leaving it off during your period week. During these three weeks, you apply a new patch to a part of your body through the in-built adhesive. This means that you only need to think about it once a week instead of every day as is the case with the pill. You do not have to set any alarms or keep an elaborate schedule to remember to “take” it every day. And while you do need a prescription to get the patch, you can often get large batches at a time, including online.
It Is Easy to Use
As mentioned, you only need to put on the patch once a week and keep it on until the next application. You can usually stick it on any part of the body, but most women prefer to put it on the back, chest, upper arm, belly, or buttocks. Once applied, the strong adhesive ensures that the patch stays on so you do not need to adjust any of your routines. There are also no tricks – you stick it and you’re good to go.
It Offers Several Health Benefits
Like the pill, the patch can help make your periods more predictable and lighter. They can also help soothe painful menstrual cramps and can make your period week more comfortable than on-hormonal options. Moreover, the patch also prevents other complications like iron deficiency, serious uterus, fallopian tube, and ovary infections, ovarian and endometrial cancers, cysts, and acne.
Discuss the Patch with Your Doctor
The birth control patch is one of the easiest-to-use and most convenient forms of birth control. It offers a minimum-fuss solution to unplanned pregnancies while also helping you avoid the hassles of PMS.
That said, it is important to note that the patch does not prevent STDs. It is also not ideal for everyone and might cause uncomfortable side effects in some users. If you wish to switch to the patch but do not know if it will work for you, you can get help from a women’s health specialist or OB-GYN. Call their office today to schedule a consultation.