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During your visit, our caring gynecologists will consider your age and overall health to recommend the right type of contraception for your individual needs. Our women's health clinics offer a variety of birth control options.

If you’re looking for the most effective forms of birth control, or have questions like “what is the safest birth control pill,” our compassionate providers can help guide you through your options.

At the Center for Women’s Health in Central Oregon, we offer the following types of female birth control:

  • Oral birth control pills: Oral contraceptives are one of the most common forms of birth control, contain a combination of progestin and estrogen and are most effective when taken at the same time every day.
  • Intrauterine device (IUD): A flexible device that is inserted into the uterus by your physician.
  • Birth control implant: A contraceptive implant is inserted into the subdermal tissue of the upper arm (typically your non-dominant arm). This may be a good choice if you can’t use estrogen.
  • Birth control shots: If you think you might have difficulty keeping track of a weekly patch or daily pill, this method of contraception may be ideal.

How effective is birth control?

How well a contraceptive performs will depend on the type prescribed by your physician. Hormonal contraception such as “the pill” is one of the most commonly used methods of birth control. When taken correctly, the pill is up to 99.9% effective.

It’s important to remember that the pill does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (such as the HIV virus that causes AIDS). A latex male condom offers the most protection against most STDs. Our providers can help you decide which method is right for you and explain the effectiveness of each during your visit. 

What are possible side effects of birth control?

At the Center for Women's Health, our trusted providers go above and beyond in offering guidance and education about the side effects of various forms of contraception. While not everyone will experience the same results, it’s important to know about the possible side effects of each.

General side effects of birth control may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Acne
  • Bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods
  • Tenderness, enlargement or discharge from breast
  • Brown or black skin patches
  • Variations in menstrual flow
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Increase or decrease in appetite
  • Nausea
  • Painful or missed periods
  • Stomach cramps or bloating
  • Vomiting
  • Weight gain or weight loss
     

If you or a loved one would like to speak with a women's health provider about reproductive health and contraception, contact one of our women’s health providers in Redmond, Prineville, Bend and Sisters. At St. Charles, we’re committed to providing the highest quality care for every stage of your life journey.