Spring Into Family Planning

Family planning can be an exciting yet scary time in many people’s lives. With so much information available, researching family planning alone can quickly become overwhelming. An important ally for those considering family planning are physicians – especially OB/GYNs.

Sherley Marceus, MD, an obstetrics & gynecology physician at Crystal Run Healthcare, addressed some of the most common myths around family planning and how to talk to an OB/GYN about family planning goals and questions.

Myth: Contraceptives are universal.

Each person needs to find the right contraception for them. An OB/GYN can recommend contraception that works with a person’s family planning timeline. A range of hormonal and non-hormonal options can offer monthly, yearly, or even five- to ten-year contraception options for the best contraception to fit one’s needs.

Examples of temporary or reversible birth control include:

• Birth control pills
• Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
• Vaginal rings
• Hormonal birth control patches
• Birth control shots
• Diaphragms

Myth: A person can’t prepare for pregnancy before they are pregnant.

There are plenty of steps a person can take to prepare themselves for the immense change that is pregnancy. Discuss with an OB/GYN how to best end birth control, what nutritional supplements to take, any dietary changes to consider, and even how an existing medication may impact pregnancy.

“The more prepared you are, the better you can handle any situation, pregnancy included. Before becoming pregnant, it is important to sit with your OB/GYN and discuss the preparations one needs in detail,” said Dr. Marceus. “For example, women with comorbidities – like obesity, alcoholism, infertility – need to have an in-depth conversation on how to prevent additional complications in their pregnancy and what lifestyle changes they may need to make before attempting to conceive.”

There are also benefits to discussing any lifestyle choices or unhealthy habits and how to best stay healthy with as few complications during pregnancy as possible.

Those concerned about their body’s reproductive health, an OB/GYN can also conduct a full blood panel to ensure hormones, blood level, and other important indicators are conducive to a healthy pregnancy. Genetic factors, previous health history, and current sexual activity can all contribute to a person’s family planning strategy and should be discussed with a doctor.

Myth: The body will naturally develop its own birth control post-pregnancy.

Just as bodies all accommodate pregnancy differently, so do they react differently post-pregnancy. It is vital to work closely with an OB/GYN post-partum to recover fully from pregnancy and prevent another pregnancy before a person is ready.

“Although pregnancy is a universal phenomenon, the process and journey for each woman are different,” said Dr. Marceus. “Pregnancies cannot be compared as each individual has different factors that will affect their pregnancy. People will have different experiences for different pregnancies because there is no universal experience. Mental health preparation is equally as important as physical preparation. Many women can benefit knowing they have support from a mental health provider or by expressing their concerns with their OB/GYN.”

A person’s interpregnancy care, or care between pregnancies, can be monitored by an OB/GYN. It is important to ensure a mother’s physical condition and mental condition are at peak health for herself, her baby, and future pregnancies.

Permanent birth control is available. Tubal ligation prevents pregnancies by blocking the ability of sperm to reach an egg in the fallopian tubes. Men can also speak to their primary care provider about vasectomy and other male birth control options available.

Myth: New parents don’t need their own doctor’s visits if the birth went well.

“The first 12 weeks post-delivery is a critical period where a woman needs to keep an open line of communication with her provider,” said Dr. Marceus. “During that period of time, existing or pre-existing medical conditions can take a turn for the worse and women can still suffer from serious morbidity issues or even mortality. As a result, it is imperative that all postpartum visits are kept and that there is continual communication between patient and provider. It is important to identify needed health services before pregnancy because the availability of these resources can become handy during the post-birth period.”

“Overall, pregnancy is an individualized experience that needs a multi-disciplinary team approach for a successful outcome,” said Dr. Marceus.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Marceus or one of Crystal Run Healthcare’s highly skilled, caring, and compassionate obstetricians and gynecologists. Crystal Run Healthcare offers complete OB/GYN care through every life stage, with a full range of gynecological care for women of all ages, including routine exams, Pap smears, prenatal and obstetrical care, in-office procedures, and minimally invasive surgery.

Sherley Marceus, MD is an Obstetrics & Gynecology physician at Crystal Run Healthcare. She earned her bachelor of science in Biomedicine at CUNY Medical School, New York, N.Y., and both her graduate and medical degrees at the New York College of Medicine in Valhalla, N.Y. Dr. Marceus completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency at Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in Bronx, N.Y. Her clinical interests include preventive care and women and child care. Dr. Marceus is currently seeing patients in West Nyack, N.Y.