From coming to your appointment with questions to following up with your healthcare provider after you begin using the birth control you’ve selected, be open and honest about your needs and concerns. The following tips on talking to your healthcare provider about birth control can help.

For example, if you read an article about a specific birth control pill that sounds like it may fit into your lifestyle (for example, you like the idea that Seasonique makes it so you only have four periods a year, or Femcon Fe is chewable), ask the healthcare provider about more specific information regarding these methods.

You can start your research right here at Verywell Health.

Here are some common questions patients ask:

Is birth control safe for me to take? What are the possible side effects? Is one method a better option for me than another? Why? Besides preventing pregnancy, what are some other advantages of taking birth control? (e. g. , regulating your menstrual cycle, treating acne) What is the failure rate for birth control?

If you already have some particular types of birth control in mind, you might also ask about them specifically. For example:

What if I forget to take my birth control pill? If I have an intrauterine device (IUD), how do I check the strings? Does Depo-Provera cause weight gain?

For example, estrogen-containing contraceptives (such as the pill, vaginal ring, or skin patch) are not recommended for women who experience migraine with aura due to the increased risk of stroke.

On the flip side, progestin-only methods—such as the mini-pill, or the Mirena or Skyla IUD—are not contraindicated in women with migraine (with or without aura).

It’s also important to tell your healthcare provider all the medications you are taking, including supplements and vitamins, as they may interact with certain forms of birth control.

Lastly, tell your healthcare provider if you smoke. Women who take the birth control pill, smoke, and are age 35 or older have a higher risk of developing a blood clot.

Topics that will be addressed include:

Sexual practices Condom use Current and recent sexual partners History of any sexually transmitted infections

Your healthcare provider will also want to know about your future pregnancy intentions and any past pregnancies.

If you are feeling anxious or hesitant, try to remind yourself that your healthcare provider is there to help you, not judge you. Talking to women about gynecological conditions, birth control, sex, pregnancy, and so on is what healthcare providers do.

It’s also important to be honest about your expectations and limitations.

Let’s say you know yourself well enough to realize that you will probably forget to take a medication every day. Be upfront and tell your healthcare provider this.

In this case, your healthcare provider may recommend non-pill options like the skin patch, vaginal ring, shot, arm implant, or an IUD.

The good news is that all prescription contraceptives come with a prescribing leaflet that explains all about the contraceptive, how to use it, when to start it, how effective it is, etc.

If you have decided upon a method that your healthcare provider has to give or place (shot, implant, or IUD), your healthcare provider may provide you with a pamphlet. Alternatively, you can visit the manufacturer’s website to download a copy of the prescribing information.

All of that said, never hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider. Perhaps you are developing some side effects that you would like to discuss with your healthcare provider, or you are not sure if you are using your birth control properly.

These are all reasonable inquiries, especially when first starting on birth control or when trying out a new method. Likely, your healthcare provider or their nurse will put your mind at ease and help you move forward with a plan in place.

Be sure to ask your healthcare provider about follow-up, as well. While you may not need to see your healthcare provider for a year with the birth control pill, other forms of birth control may require closer follow-up.

For example, with Depo-Provera, you will need to return to your healthcare provider every 13 weeks for a repeat shot.