Urgent care centers play an important role when it comes to birth control, emergency contraception and women's health. They provide fast access to services that people need to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
Regardless of how safe a person is when it comes to sexual interactions, accidents can occur from time to time. Birth control and emergency contraception play an important role when it comes to ensuring that a person only becomes pregnant when they are healthy enough for pregnancy and are ready for the commitment required to take care of a child.
When it comes to any of these issues, getting timely treatment is always essential. For example, emergency contraception is an effective way to prevent an unwanted pregnancy after having unprotected sex, and it is completely safe and effective. However, it can only be used within five days of having unprotected sex. That rules out going to a traditional medical facility since patients might have to wait a week or more for an open appointment slot. By that time, emergency contraception would no longer be a viable option.
There are a variety of birth control solutions provided at urgent care facilities. These include:
1. Emergency contraception
These are contraceptives that can be taken by a person who is concerned about becoming pregnant after having unprotected sex. The pill typically needs to be taken within 120 hours after the person had sexual intercourse.
There are two primary types of emergency contraception provided at urgent care facilities: the copper IUD and morning-after pills. Some brands of morning-after pills can be purchased over the counter without a prescription, but some of the more effective options, like the Ella morning-after pill or the copper IUD, require a prescription.
Emergency contraception is typically recommended for people who:
2. Pills
These are oral medications that contain hormones. It is an effective and affordable way to prevent unwanted pregnancies, but it does require discipline on the patient's part. The pill is most effective when used exactly as prescribed. Birth control pills work by preventing ovulation so pregnancy cannot occur. Certain types of birth control pills, like the morning-after pill, can be taken after sexual activity to prevent pregnancy. Another great thing about oral birth control pills is that they have been shown to reduce the chances of developing colon or ovarian cancer.
3. IUDs
The term "IUD" stands for intrauterine device. It is a tiny piece of plastic placed in the uterus. It is one of the most effective ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies and is completely reversible.
There are two main types of IUDs: hormonal IUDs and copper IUDs. Both work by preventing sperm from reaching an egg. Copper IUDs use copper to prevent pregnancy since sperm is highly unlikely to get past it, while hormonal IUDs either stop ovulation or lead to increased mucus in the cervix, which traps sperm and prevents it from traveling further. IUDs are also one of the more versatile birth control solutions. They can last for several years, and copper IUDs can be used as emergency contraception.
4. Birth control implant
This is a tiny, thin rod that regularly releases hormones into the patient's body to prevent them from getting pregnant. The implant is typically inserted into the patient's arm by a doctor or nurse. It is a convenient form of birth control that offers protection for over five years.
There are two main ways the hormones in a birth control implant prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg:
While birth control implants can last up to five years, the patient has the option of removing it any time they want if they decide they are ready for pregnancy. They are able to get pregnant shortly after the implant is removed.
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The first thing a patient should do if they might have an unwanted pregnancy is to head to an urgent care center immediately. There, the patient will be evaluated to determine what treatment would be most effective. The type of emergency contraception a doctor will decide to go with often depends on several factors like:
The doctor will typically opt for the most effective course of treatment. The morning-after pill can be prescribed for the patient to take within the specified time frame, but other emergency contraception like IUDs have to be inserted by a doctor or nurse.
Being able to control when you become pregnant goes a long way when it comes to staying healthy. Urgent care centers provide the timely treatments that are sometimes needed after having unprotected sex, and they also offer many other services that you can benefit from, like pregnancy testing, STD testing and treatment and breast cancer screenings. Visit us today!