Birth Control

Women today have a wide variety of highly effective family planning options. From short-term contraception to long-term and permanent birth control options, we offer a variety of options to fit your needs. Some require minimally invasive surgical procedures while others require no surgery, no hormones and no anesthesia. The experts at DMC Hutzel Women’s Services can help you determine which birth control option is best for you.

Short-term Options

Family planning is important to many women, which is why we offer comprehensive family planning services, all tailored to your specific needs. Our physicians talk with you, discussing options and helping you decide on the best contraception option for you. We can help you decide on and manage your contraceptive use, from birth control pills to intrauterine devices (IUD) for short term contraception to long term birth control and permanent options.

Long-term Options

Long-term birth control options include various intrauterine devices (IUDs), small flexible devices made of metal or plastic which prevent pregnancy. They are inserted into the uterus, are highly effective and can be used for up to 10 years. Some types of IUDs release small amounts of hormones while others are hormone free. The primary benefit of an IUD is that it can be removed if birth control is no longer desired. Some women also like the fact that IUDs can be inserted without incisions.

ParaGard^®

The ParaGard^® IUD is a simple, t-shaped piece of soft, flexible plastic wrapped in natural copper. Designed to fit comfortably in the uterus, it’s 99.4% effective, simple to use and hormone free. ParaGard can be used safely for up to 10 years and it’s very affordable.

Mirena^®

One popular IUD, Mirena^®, is actually more effective in preventing pregnancy than tubal ligation. This small, t-shaped IUD can be used for up to five years and can be removed at any time. Made of soft plastic, it releases a tiny amount of the hormone levonorgestrel into the lining of the uterus.

Permanent Options

Minimally invasive laparoscopic tubal ligation, or tubal occlusion, is the most common form of permanent birth control in the United States, but we offer several new hysteroscopic procedures which do not require abdominal incisions and are gaining popularity.

Compared to open surgical procedures, minimally invasive methods result in smaller scars, less pain and a faster return to normal activities. Recovery time for a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure is about one week or less.

Minimally Invasive Tubal Ligation/Occlusion

In tubal ligation/occlusion procedures, commonly known as “having your tubes tied”, the fallopian tubes are occluded (blocked or cut) to prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg.

Common types of minimally invasive tubal ligation include:

• Pomeroy Tubal Ligation — each fallopian tube is tied and cut; a section of the tube may be removed.
• Electrocoagulation — probably the most common form of tubal ligation/occlusion, it uses electrical current to destroy a portion of each fallopian tube.
• Mechanical — special bands or clips are used to close off the fallopian tubes, resulting in a scarring that prevents sperm from fertilizing the egg.

Hysteroscopic Tubal Ligation/Occlusion

For women who want permanent, highly effective birth control but don’t want an abdominal surgical procedure, hysteroscopic tubal ligation/occlusion may be an excellent option. Our expert physicians perform several types of hysteroscopic tubal ligation/occlusion, including the Adiana^® and Essure^® procedures.

Although these procedures are 99.8% effective, they are not immediately effective. They leave no scars, use no hormones and have a fast recovery period, allowing you to get back to your normal activities quickly.

Adiana^®

The Adiana^® procedure does not cut through the skin and can be performed in your doctor’s office with or without local anesthesia. The entire procedure typically takes less than 12 minutes. A slender, flexible instrument is passed through the vagina, cervix and uterus to deliver a small amount of energy to a small section of each fallopian tube. Tiny, soft inserts are then placed in each fallopian tube, right where the energy was applied. Adiana® works by stimulating your body’s own tissue to grow in and around these inserts. Over the next three months, scar tissue grows around the inserts and completely and permanently blocks the fallopian tubes. Women need to use an alternate form of contraception for three months after having the procedure.

Essure^®

During the 10- to 30-minute Essure^® procedure, soft, flexible inserts are placed into each fallopian tube through the uterus via the vagina and cervix. The inserts expand in the tubes and work with your body to create a natural scar tissue barrier that blocks the fallopian tubes and prevents sperm from reaching the eggs. However, it takes about three months for the scar tissue barrier to develop in the fallopian tubes, so women need to use an alternate form of contraception for three months after having the procedure.