Birth Control and Family Planning

Many patients visit Catawba Women’s Center for family planning and birth control. Most women can become pregnant from the time they are in their early teens until they are in their late 40s. About half of all pregnancies are unplanned. Birth control (or contraception) helps a woman plan her pregnancies. Some methods of birth control also help protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including (AIDS). Today there are many choices of birth control for women and men. At any given time, a couple may find one method of birth control suits their needs better than others. Most women and couples use many methods over their lifetime.

All methods have a chance of failure. When a method is used correctly each time, the failure rates are lower. Choose a method you will be able to use on a regular basis. No matter which method of birth control you choose, be sure that you know how it works, how to use it, and what side effects may occur. If you would like to learn more about different birth control options, contact our office at 828-322-4140 to schedule an appointment to speak with one of our providers. The more you know about birth control and your own needs, the easier it will be to choose a method that's right for you.

For further information, please see the ACOG patient publication about Birth Control .