Medically reviewed by Sophia Yen, MD, MPH – Written by Pandia Health Editorial Team
We know that birth control information can be hard to navigate. That is why our CEO and Co-Founder, Dr. Sophia Yen, recently sat down with Riley Rees, CEO and Founder of Sofia Health, to answer your top questions on birth control.
Sex, Drugs, and Rock n’ Roll
Dr. Yen focuses on the “sex” portion of “sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll” as she likes to say. Dr. Yen’s passion lies in helping people with uteri understand their bodies and options. One of the top reasons women do not take their birth control is because they do not have it on hand; plus, many women do not have a birth control prescription. Dr. Yen started Pandia Health with these issues in mind.
Pandia Health provides an end-to-end solution for birth control. All the patient needs to do to get started is fill out a questionnaire (similar to what you would fill out in a doctor’s office), upload a selfie or government-issued I.D., type in self-reported blood pressure from the past year, and pay a $25 fee for access to our expert doctors.
Alternatively, if you already have a prescription, Pandia Health takes care of all the work. We transfer your prescription to our partner pharmacy, and next thing you know, you have your birth control delivered in our discreet packaging with some extra goodies included (did someone say Hi-Chews?!). The best part is that your birth control is always delivered for FREE even if you don’t have insurance; without insurance, packs start as low as $15.
Set it and forget it! We worry so you don’t have to.
As the only doctor-founded, doctor-led and women-founded, women-led birth control delivery company, we want you to know that you can trust us with delivering your birth control while providing you with expert care.
“We have a passion for making women empowered.”
Dr. Sophia Yen, Co-Founder and CEO of Pandia Health
Women trust Pandia Health because they know their care comes from doctors with several years of experience who have attended top medical schools. In the past two years alone, Dr. Yen has prescribed over 2,000 birth control prescriptions!
She has also directly seen every one of her patients’ results and knows which pills are best for if you want to skip your period and which pills work best based on your identity (she is a self-described literary nerd!).
Unfortunately, there are inequalities in health care; thankfully, Dr. Yen is determined to help ethnic minorities get the treatment they deserve. Pandia is all about providing you with affordable options, upholding the Hippocratic Oath, and making getting birth control convenient for you.
Our accessibility keeps growing, as well. Our doctors now can prescribe birth control to patients living in AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MI, MN, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, or WY!
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Birth Control
Theoretically, you can get rid of your PCOS if you lose 10-20% of your excess weight, according to Dr. Yen. She notes that 90% of women who have PCOS are overweight. However, if your weight remains the same, you can take birth control to alleviate symptoms of PCOS and decrease your risk of endometrial cancer.
Additionally, if you want to get pregnant, a common myth is that you must wait a couple of months for birth control to leave your system. THIS IS NOT TRUE. Most birth control methods are out of your system within three days.
IUDs
You can get an IUD as early as you start menstruating if your periods are really that horrible. It is not recommended to start birth control until a couple years after your period starts unless your periods are severe. That being said, it depends on your comfortability with the procedure.
Inserting an IUD involves placing it in your cervix; there is no hole being poked, but it may be uncomfortable because your gynecologist uses a speculum to see your cervix and places the IUD in it. There is also an option to get numbing medicine, so talk to your physician if you are considering an IUD.
Birth Control for Girls Under 14
Dr. Yen does not recommend starting birth control until two years after your period starts. This means if your daughter started her period when she was 12 and a half, she needs to wait until she is 14 and a half to start birth control.
The best option for managing period pain and blood flow until you can take birth control to make your #PeriodsOptional is ibuprofen.
Birth Control Effectiveness
The implant and IUD are more effective than tubal ligation.
Here is a list of birth control ranked based on most effective to least effective.
- Implant
- IUD with hormone
- Copper IUD
- Shot
- 1-year ring
- Regular ring
- Patch
- Pill
Our knowledgeable doctors will always provide you with every option possible – even if we do not offer it. Our primary motivator is to help any person who has a uterus, not to make money off of our customers.
The type of birth control and brand depends on what fits the person – there is no single product that works for everyone. It is essential to talk to your physician about all of your options and ensure that your doctor has the experience to provide you with the best care possible.
Your Trusted Go-To Source
Navigating birth control is challenging, with an abundance of different information online. Pandia Health is here for you as an accurate resource for all your birth control questions – your health is our top priority! Pandia wants to ensure you are receiving convenient, confidential, and expert care so we make it easy to get started. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!
Disclaimer: The above information is for general informational purposes only and is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor/primary care provider before starting or changing treatment.