Contraception
If you are sexually active, but are not ready for pregnancy, your caregiver can provide a variety of contraceptive options. Family planning is healthy for women in any stage of life. This involves deciding if you want to have children now or wait until later in life.
Most adolescent women do not feel ready to become mothers yet, so abstinence and contraception are two ways you can practice family planning. Many women choose condoms or birth control pills for contraception; however, there are long-acting reversible options available. Long-acting reversible contraception is ideal for adolescents because during your busy life, you may not remember to take a daily pill. It also does not permanently affect your body. Take some time to make an appointment to discuss your options.
Contraception comes in many forms. Some work by adjusting the hormones in your body, including birth control pills, implants, shots and one type of intrauterine device (IUD). Others, such as condoms, create a temporary barrier between the sperm and the egg. Certain sterilization techniques, such as Essure, offer a permanent option to women who do not want to bear more children. Each contraception method carries different potential side effects and benefits. You can talk with your caregiver at Clinic Sofia about the best option for you.
Some women prefer to use natural family planning (NFP) to prevent unplanned pregnancies. NFP is a process that involves monitoring the cervical mucus or basal body temperature to know which days you are most fertile. If you are interested in learning more, talk to your caregiver at Clinic Sofia.
