Birth control
Within sexual relationships, women are the carriers of the most natural yet life-changing consequence of sexual intercourse—pregnancy. However, not all women actually want this yet, or at all. Potential parents may want more time to prepare or enjoy each other’s company before becoming full time parents, or to gap their children’s ages properly; some women may not be ready for pregnancy and childbirth due to professional, physical, financial or emotional factors; but on top of this, a woman must have control over this natural ability to bear children, and know about the options she has regarding when she wants them and how many children she wants to bear and rear, if she wants to at all.
Birth Control Methods vary according to purpose, design, material and effectiveness. In order to choose among them, several factors must be considered such as the woman’s health, lifestyle, comfort level, menstrual cycle and flow, frequency of sexual activity, and number of sexual partners.
The following are the most commonly used methods:
Natural Methods
- Abstinence – not having sexual contact at all times
- Calendar Method – not having sex on days when a woman is fertile, approximately five days before ovulation, the day of ovulation, and one or more days after ovulation
- Withdrawal Method – man pulls out his penis from the vagina right before he ejaculates, thus preventing sperms from entry into the uterus
Chemical Methods
- Oral Contraceptives – pills taken orally on a daily basis which prevents the flow of eggs from the ovaries
- Mini Pill – smaller than the regular pill, it thickens the cervical mucus thus preventing the contact between the sperms and the egg.
- Depo Preva – injections of hormones into the body every three months, acts like the pill
- The Patch – skin patch worn on abdomen, buttocks or upper body that releases hormones that work like the pill
- Hormonal Vaginal Contraceptive Ring – a ring inserted into the vagina which releases hormones that work like the pill
- Spermicides – suppository, film, cream, foam, gel, or tablet inserted into the vagina that kills the sperms during sexual intercourse, usually used with other barrier methods
Mechanical Methods
- Male Condom – rubber designed to fit and be worn on the penis which will contain the semen during sexual intercourse, thus preventing it from reaching the egg
- Female Condom – made of polyutherane and lubricant, it is inserted into the vagina which blocks sperms from entry into the uterus
- Intrauterine Device (IUD) – a T-shaped device placed inside the uterus (by a doctor) which blocks the sperms from entry into the fallopian tubes
- Intrauterine System (IUS) – a device similarly designed and administered as the IUD which releases hormones that thicken the cervical mucus thus blocking sperms from entry into the uterus
- Diaphragm, Cervical Cap, and Shield – latex or silicon cap used with spermicides which blocks the entry of sperms into the cervix
- Sponge – a soft, disk-shaped device that a woman wets and inserts into the vagina, and thus covering the cervix and blocking the sperms
Surgical Methods
- Tubal Ligation – a permanent birth control method surgically performed on women by ‘tying’ the fallopian tubes and thus stopping eggs from going down the uterus
- Vasectomy – a permanent birth control methods surgically performed on men which has the effect of keeping sperms from going down the penis
In choosing and using birth control methods, it is important to keep in mind the following facts:
- The effectiveness of any method relies on how properly and correctly it was administered.
- More than one method can be used, and the chosen methods can be replaced according to the varying circumstances that affect the woman’s decision.
- There is no one ‘best’ method that goes for all women.
- Abstinence is the only 100% effective birth control method.
- It is best to consult the doctor when choosing a method.
- Birth control methods aren’t necessarily protection from STDs.
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