Real Frisco

It is a very common problem with the busy lives we live, it is sometimes difficult to remember a daily pill.  The one big problem is you miss a birth control pill you will probably miss several pills which of course leads to offspring.   

Now they are really cute, and the three I have are the best things to ever happen to me, next to meeting my incredible wife Judy.  But whether you are in high school or college, just had a baby or maybe you’re finished with your family and you are not ready for a permanent solution to prevent pregnancy, you need to do something.  We at Frisco Womens Health have the solution for you.   

My daughter, Blair just could not remember to take her pill to regulate her cycle and despite our many talks on waiting until you are married and the risk of catching a sexually disease there is a tremendous amount of peer pressure to engage in sexual activity, it is fun and free after all.  Forget about the long term consequences, teenagers rarely think past today. 

How about my patients who just had a baby and say I am not going to be having sex anytime soon or I am breastfeeding so I am not worried about it we will use condoms.  We all know they are 80% effective if you actually put one on.  My favorite is the withdrawal method which has 'Las Vegas odds' for effectiveness.   

Then there are the working, or stay at home moms who have their hands full with their career or kids, then surprise, your 12-18 year old is your instant baby sitter and that retirement has just been pushed back 18 years. 

Enough depressing thoughts let’s talk about the easy fixes: 

Implanon: This 2 minute in-office procedure has been used in over 4.5 million women and has a 99+% efficacy for up to 3 years.  It is a very small under the skin implant that releases a small amount of progesterone.  I just inserted a patient’s 3rd Implanon in the same site because she loves it so much.  She has already had one for 6 years.  This method is extremely popular with younger patients.  There is minimal to no discomfort with this method, similar to the other 2 we will discuss.  It makes your periods lighter and less crampy and the longer you have the IUD the lighter your period will get.  The side effects are minimal when compared to pills.  You can visit www.implanon-usa.com.  In my practice, this has replaced Depo-Provera because it is not associated with the bone loss and weight gain. 

Mirena or ParaGard Intrauterine Device: These are designed for people who are in a single partner stable relationship.  They are inserted on your period for ease of placement.  The Mirena IUD (www.mirena-us.com) is effective for 5 years and has the additional benefit of decreasing menstrual cramps to the point where I have placed them to prevent the need for a hysterectomy for cramping.  It releases a small amount of progesterone that acts mainly around the uterus.  The ParaGard IUD (www.paragard.com) is good for up to 12 years.  It has no hormones just a small amount of copper to prevent the egg and sperm from getting together.  It is great for people with minimal cramps and bleeding. They are both inserted in less than a minute in the office.

Nuvaring: Similar medication to what is contained in birth control pills but without the gastrointestinal side effects.  You will have a normal menstrual period each month that over time usually gets progressively lighter.  In general, side effects are usually much less than taking a pill.  If you can insert a tampon you can use this birth control.  It is a flexible ring that is placed by you once a month in the back of the vagina.  Every three weeks you remove the ring for a week, have your period then replace it.  It is also 99% effective as long as you remember to change it monthly.  The company even provides reminders of when to remove the ring, via the internet.

About All Three Choices: We stock them all, you do not have to order them from a company and pay $595.  All are started during the week of your menses.  For the IUD you can take three Advil before you come to the office to minimize any cramping.  You must have had a PAP in the last year and for the IUD and Implanon you need to speak to Dottie in the office ahead of time to verify your insurance benefits.  All of the above birth control is instantly reversible, as soon as you stop it or have it removed you can get pregnant.  None prevent sexually transmitted diseases.  To put things into perspective, all forms of birth control have a lower risk of life threatening complications than the risks associated with pregnancy. 

Summary:  It is all about convenience for you and peace of mind.  Until you go through menopause (average age 51) you can get pregnant.  I have delivered 46 year old moms.  If you want to speak about your options feel free to come in and discuss your options.

If you wish to reach me please feel free to make an appointment at 972.668.8300.  

Take care of your health, 

Jonathan R. Weinstein, MD, FACOG

Frisco Womens Health 

5575 Warren Parkway, Suite 116

Frisco, Texas 75034

972.668.8300

www.FriscoWomensHealth.com

A Little About Our Practice:

We are located adjacent to Baylor Medical Center at Frisco, in Professional Building I, and practice here exclusively... the birthing experience and facilities are unsurpassed. 

We provide the following services: 

1)       We treat females of all ages, puberty through menopause.

 2)       Minimal wait times to see a doctor with our open access scheduling, aren’t you tired of waiting 2 hours to see a doctor?

3)       Low & High Risk Obstetrical Care

4)       Minimally Invasive Surgical Intervention, to limit recovery time, pain and blood loss. Using the da Vinci Robotic System when indicated.

5)       Complete Women’s Health Care from your annual exam, to cholesterol checks, cancer screening and vaccination for preventable illness.

6)       Contraceptive Management including Implanon, Mirena & ParaGard IUD and  ESSURE permanent sterilization.

7)       In-office procedures with anesthesia, if desired, to cut down your healthcare costs.

8)       Endometrial ablation to significantly decrease or eliminate your menses without missing any work.

9)       Complete Urologic evaluation and treatment of incontinence or frequent urination using the most advanced techniques.

10)     Infertility and Recurrent Miscarriage evaluation and treatment, Including artificial insemination with sperm washing to improve your success.

11)     4-D Ultrasound

12)     A really great staff!