About the Menstrual Cycle & Choosing Birth Control

About the Menstrual Cycle

birthcontrolThe menstrual cycle is the woman’s bodily preparation for pregnancy. During the beginning of the menstrual cycle, an egg is developed in the ovaries, and the lining of the uterus grows. About halfway through the cycle, the egg emerges from the ovary – this is referred to as ovulation. For the rest of the menstrual cycle, the egg travels down a fallopian tube. If it is fertilized, then it will develop into a fetus; if not, it will be absorbed back into the body or dissolve. Afterwards, the uterine lining is passed out of the body through the vagina.

Menstrual problems, such as the absence of periods (amenorrhea), overly painful periods (dysmenorrheal), excessively heavy or long periods (menorrhagia), and excessively light or infrequent periods (oligomenorrhea), should be treated by a medical professional, as many effective treatment methods exist for these conditions.

Choosing Birth Control

There are many options for birth control available today, and consulting with a medical professional is the easiest and most efficient way to find out which method is best for you. Choices include contraceptive patches, barrier methods (such as condoms and diaphragms), birth control pills and vaginal rings. While their intention is the same, each method has unique properties and one may be better suited to you than the others. Schedule a consultation with us, and we can help determine what birth control method makes the most sense for your needs and lifestyle.