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Birth control consultation
birth control · contraception advice · family planning visit · choosing contraception
The doctor helps you choose a way to prevent pregnancy that suits your health and lifestyle.
When you want protection from pregnancy, want to change methods, or after a birth or abortion.
⏱ Duration: the visit usually takes 20 to 40 minutes
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Questions. Think about what matters to you: convenience, long-term or short-term, effect on your periods.
- Cycle. Remember the date of your last period.
- Tests. Sometimes your doctor will send you for an ultrasound or tests first.
What to bring
- Your ID
- A list of your medicines
- Past test and ultrasound results, if you have them
How it goes
- The doctor asks about your health and what matters to you
- Your blood pressure and weight are checked
- Sometimes a pelvic exam is done
- The options are explained: pills, IUD, implant, ring, condoms, and others
- Together you choose the right one
- The doctor explains how to start and what to do if you miss a dose
What you'll feel
- Usually nothing unpleasant
Afterwards
- Start your method as your doctor said
- Spotting in the first months is common and often normal
- If a method does not suit you, you can change it
- A follow-up visit after a few months
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Severe leg pain, swelling of one leg, chest pain, or shortness of breath: call emergency services
Common questions
Which birth control is most reliable?
The most reliable are the IUD and the implant. But the best method is the one that suits you.
Do pills protect against infections?
No. Only condoms protect against infections.
Can I get pregnant after stopping?
Usually yes. Fertility comes back. How fast depends on the method.