Family planning encompasses a host of services and even if we don't offer the service you may require, we're knowledgeable and happy to assist you in any way we can.

We offer oral contraceptive pills, patches, rings, IUD's (Mirena, Skyla, Liletta, and Paraguard), and injectable medications (Depo-Provera). For those patients who desire a more permanent solution and have completed their child-bearing, we are able to perform permanent sterilization. Please note that no method of contraception is 100% effective. If you are considering contraception, please feel free to schedule an appointment to discuss which method may best suit your need.

There are many factors to think about in choosing birth control after delivery, including

• past experiences with birth control

• side effects

• ease of use

• plans for future pregnancy

• breastfeeding

• expense

Ultimately, you may not request any birth control at all. If there is additional information we can give you to help you in making this decision please do not hesitate to ask us.

Oral contraceptive pills - For most women who are accustomed to taking the pill and who have done well on the pill in the past, the simplest, cheapest and most flexible form of birth control after delivery may be resuming the birth control pill. Most pills contain a combination of estrogen and progesterone. While establishing breastfeeding we recommend limiting estrogen use as it may reduce your milk supply. Therefore, if you choose to be on the pill we typically start you on a progesterone-only pill (sometimes referred to as the “mini-pill”) while you are establishing breastfeeding then switch you back to a combination pill once breastfeeding is well-established or once you stop nursing. By itself, the mini-pill may not be as reliable as the combination pill for birth control. Breastfeeding while taking the mini-pill is equally effective, but once you stop breastfeeding a combination pill is more reliable. If you choose to be on an estrogen-containing product, Dr. Vaughan will review in detail the potential side effects and may have you sign a consent form indicating you are aware of those side effects.

IUDs - For women looking to minimize hormonal exposure, and who want an easy to use and extremely reliable long-term birth control, an IUD can be a great option. This is a small plastic device that is inserted in the uterus in-office in a minor procedure that requires no anesthesia. There are 4 IUDs available. All are extremely reliable protection against pregnancy, as reliable as a permanent tubal ligation, but IUD contraception is entirely reversible. IUDs do not interfere with breastfeeding or cause any problems for future pregnancies.

Depo Provera - This is an injection given every 3 months of a type of progestin that provides highly reliable contraception. The most common side effects include unfavorable changes in bleeding patterns, mood changes and weight gain. It is safe to use while breastfeeding.

NuvaRing - This is a plastic ring which is inserted in the vagina that releases both estrogen and progesterone and works in a similar fashion to the combination pill, but is simpler to use as it does not require remembering to take a pill every day.  Because it contains estrogen we may advise against the use of NuvaRing while breastfeeding.

Sterilization - For those who are absolutely (100%) certain that they are done having children, sterilization may be desired. There are several different forms of sterilization including male sterilization or vasectomy (your partner would need to discuss this with their family doctor or urologist), and female sterilization commonly referred to as tubal ligation (having your tubes tied). Laparoscopic tubal ligation may be done as an outpatient surgery typically 6 weeks or more after delivery. This has a slightly lower failure rate than the postpartum tubal ligation, but does require a general anesthetic.

For those patients desiring tubal sterilization who have Medicaid as their insurance provider you will need to sign a special form (Med 178) at least 30 days in advance of your procedure indicating: 1) that you understand this is a permanent procedure, 2) you know there are other forms of birth control that are reversible that are available, and 3) you would like to have this done.