What is the process I have to go through for getting birth control?

Are there any medical tests or anything? How do they determine which is best suited for you? I'm thinking about it but want to know what I'm going to be getting myself into.What is the process I have to go through for getting birth control?
First go to your regular doctor or ob/gyn and have a PAP test done to make sure everything is okay. Then talk with your doctor about your decision to start taking bcp and they will choose the right one for you. You may have to try several kinds to find the right one, some will have adverse side effects and some may have none at all. You just have to experiment and talk with your doctor.





About other tests, maybe it depends on your age, but I personally didn't have any tests done other than a PAP.What is the process I have to go through for getting birth control?
Ususually it starts with an exam at a clinic or office. Also filling out paperwork with info. about yourself , partners, info. about family medical history etc. They will then help make recommendations to you . Some will ask what you think after explaining each one , others will be more opinionated or inclined to recommend one over the others.
You will probably fill out a family and self medical history form while you wait and then you will likely have to get a pap smear and pelvic exam. (It's not that bad, espeically if you relax during the exam, but I've gone through child birth and cancer treatment, so a pap and pelvic is nothing to me) The doctor will probably ask you a few questions about your cycle, body, allergies and all of that good stuff to decide which pill is best. Also, there are pills that stop your period, others that clear up acne. All of that is taken into consideration.





Generally, I spend more time in the waiting room waiting than I do in the exam. My last pap and pelvic took less than ten minutes. It's usually a pretty boring doctor's visit.
You can go to any office of the Health Department (if you live in the United States); they usually have a family planning department and a department for the provention of sexually transmitted diseases. You will have to take a pregnancy test, first.
Agreed with anon.





If you're going on birth control and thinking of going without condoms, you and your partner should both get STD tests in addition to you getting a pap. They should also do the usual healthy checkup stuff (bp, family history, etc) and most doctors will want to follow up to monitor your blood pressure and see how you're adjusting to your prescription. Most doctors have a ';favorite'; they'll prescribe to most people, but if you're interested in a more low maintenance BC (like the patch) be sure to ask away.
All you have to do to get on birth control is go to your doctor and tell him/her that you want to go on it. He/she will then write you a prescription for it and you take that to your pharmacy and they will get them for you.





There are no tests what so ever. But if you are having sex you will start having to go get a pap test done every year.





How do they determine whats best for you? Most doctor's have a preference as to which brand they give out to their patients but they look over your medical history and see if there is any reasons why you shouldn't be on birth control.





If you have any other questions feel free to e-mail from my contact page. Best of luck!