Contraception methods
BY ELISA OCAMPO PÉREZ
Introduction
Contraceptive methods are the ones a person uses with the purpose of not getting pregnant themselves or the person they are going to have or had intercourse with. They could be used because of many factors: economic situation, availability, free time, responsibility, the need to have a stable companionship… Contraceptive methods are directly related to the wish not to be a parent, desire many people have.
Origin of contraceptives
Birth control is not recent, as it’s a practice that has been going on for centuries. The earliest forms were found in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, and they date around the year 1850 BC. It was made using honey, acacia leaves and lint to stop the sperm from entering the uterus. Other popular ones were the silphium plant, native to North Africa; asafoetida, from Greece; the Queen Anne’s Lace plant, which is still used in some areas of India; and the pull-out method, which was considered the most effective one, and has been proved to have an efficiency of 78% if used the correct way. Even though they were mostly dangerous and toxic, women still used them. They were afraid of the horrible number of women that died during pregnancy and childbirth, so they used methods that may have been even more risky than the initial process, as the drinking of copper salt dissolved in water.
classification of contraceptives
aRTIFICIAL CONTRACEPTION
NATURAL CONTRACEPTION
- BASAL BODY TEMPERATURE
- OGINO, OR RYTHM, METHOD
- BILLINGS METHOD
- SHYPTOTHERMAL
- COIUTUS INTERRUPTUS
- BARRIER METHODS - BLOCK SPERM
- CHEMICAL METHODS - USE CHEMICAL PRODUCTS
- SURGICAL METHODS - STOP FERTILISATION PERMANENTLY
Natural methods
BASAL BODY TEMPERATURE
a woman takes her temperature every morning using a basal thermometer. A rise of the temperature between 0.2°C to 0.5°C is a marker of ovulation (due to the progesterone and estrogen hormones), which lasts a few days, and then sexual relationships are avoided during it. It’s inefficient and risky because temperature can fluctuate because of other reasons (smoking, alcohol consumption, jet lag, stress, illness…). The method has a failure rate of 1-4% but is not widely used because of its inconvenience, greater sexual restrictions, and difficulty of interpretation.
basal thermomether (sold at pharmacies, measure your themperature in degrees fahrenheit)
Ogino, or rhythm, method
a woman makes a calendar estimation of her fertile days. They occur between days 12 and 16 of the menstrual cycle (supposing the cycle is regular and lasts the average 28 days), and sexual intercourse is to be avoided during this time. It doesn’t have side effects and it’s simple, but it’s generally not used because of its large failure rate, of over 14%. This is due many women having irregular cycles that don’t last the same every month, so the estimate is not precise.
Billings method
a woman calculates when her ovulation is based on the pattern in secretions of cervical mucous or discharge (which clean, lubricate, offer protection against pathogens and else, and keep healthy vaginal tissues) from her cervix. Amount, stretchiness, colour, consistency, and smell of the fluid are measured. It’s unsafe because the secretion can vary due to various factors apart from the menstrual cycle, such as infections. Perfect use has been estimated to result in pregnancy in 0.5–3%.
Symptothermal
also called "the fertility-awareness method". Consists of a woman recollecting date about her own period using the methods mentioned above simultaneously, and drawing conclusions about when her fertile period is. The main risk associated with this contraceptive method is the failure to prevent conception due to errors in instruction, the method's application, failure to abstain during the fertile period, and unreliable data collection. It is 99.4-99.6% effective in avoiding pregnancy (98-99% effective with typical use).
Coitus interruptus
consists in pulling out the penis from the penis when it is about to ejaculate, to avoid semen to entering the uterus. It is believed to be perfectly safe because semen doesn’t reach at all the uterus, but the truth is that pre-ejaculate may contain sperm cells, and therefore a woman can get pregnant even if it used correctly. This believe is dangerous because it results in couples trusting this method the most, when it is in reality the most risky one having a failure rate of more than 20%.
artificial methods
- Barrier methods: Condoms, contraceptive diaphragm, IUD
- Chemical methods: spermicides, oral contraception pill, morning-after pill
- Surgical methods: tubal ligation, vasectomy
Condoms
condoms are the mainly used contraceptive method, as it both prevents pregnancies and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). They are easy to use and carry, and don’t need a prescription or a lot of time investment. Also, the failure average is of 2% (even though in the real world use it’s about 15%), they are widely spread and promoted, and you can get them cheap in sexual health clinics or pharmacies. There are different colors, tastes and thicknesses. Condoms exists for both women and men, but the men-used are more usual.
male condom
female condom
Contraceptive diaphragm
also known as cap. It’s a circular dome-like, thin, soft silicone that gets inserted into the vagina just before sexual activity to cover the cervix so sperm can’t access the uterus to fertilize the egg. The diaphragm or cap needs to be left in place for at least 6 hours after sex, and the complementary use of spermicide is highly recommended. Both products can cause irritation to both sex partners, and it is recommended the use of another contraceptive method compatible with latex because it takes time to learn how to use it.
IUD
standing for IntraUterine Device, the IUD is a small T-shaped device made of copper and plastic that releases copper (which is toxic for sperm) into the uterus and protects against pregnancy for between 5 and 10 years. When used correctly, it is 99% effective, and the woman should be able to tell it is there. It doesn’t have any side effects, and if it taken out, pregnancy is possible straight away; the only thing is that during the first 3 to 6 months periods can be heavier or more painful.
Spermicides
a form of contraceptive in the form of gel, cream, foam or suppository. They stop sperm for reaching the egg (even though the suffix -cide means kill, it only stops them), and it’s inserted into the vagina
before sexual activity. They are very effective when combined with other contraceptive methods (them alone are 70% effective) and are also very accessible, as it can be bought in drug stores, pharmacies and superstores.
Morning-after pill
it’s an extremely hormonal pill that is taken the morning after having unprotected sex. It works by stopping or delaying the ovaries from releasing an egg. Apart from this main reason why it is used, there are some more: the condom broke, you missed one or more doses of your usual contraceptive pills, you have been vomiting, taken antibiotics, etc., which may stop the normal treatment from working. There is a variation from this pill called the “five-day emergency contraception pill” that can be taken up to 5 days after having unprotected sex, and the sooner you take it, the more effective it is.
tubal ligation
tubal refers to the fallopian tubes, and ligation to the tie off that is done to them to stop the egg and sperm from meeting and result in an unwanted pregnancy. Women who have gone through this procedure still have their periods and are able to have sexual activity normally, but if for any reason they may want to have their tubes reattached, there is only a possibility from 50% to 80% that they may become pregnant, so it’s considered mostly permanent birth control. Serious problems regarding this process are rare, of about 1 woman per 1,000, but they are possible. They include bleeding (both external and internal), infection, damage to other non-related organs, and ectopic pregnancy (an egg becomes fertilized outside the uterus), etc.
Vasectomy
the tubes that carry a man’s sperm cells are permanently cut or sealed so pregnancy is prevented. It’s an extremely easy procedure, it only takes about 15 minutes, and local anesthesia is used. It is
extremely efficient, having a success rate higher than 99%. And, it doesn’t affect sexual activity in any aspect. Condoms or similar are needed for 8 to 12 weeks after the operation, as sperm may remain in the tubes. Contrary to tubal ligation, which can be reversed (even though it comes with difficulties), a vasectomy is completely permanent, as it’s really difficult to reverse.
CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS
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Transcript
Contraception methods
BY ELISA OCAMPO PÉREZ
Introduction
Contraceptive methods are the ones a person uses with the purpose of not getting pregnant themselves or the person they are going to have or had intercourse with. They could be used because of many factors: economic situation, availability, free time, responsibility, the need to have a stable companionship… Contraceptive methods are directly related to the wish not to be a parent, desire many people have.
Origin of contraceptives
Birth control is not recent, as it’s a practice that has been going on for centuries. The earliest forms were found in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, and they date around the year 1850 BC. It was made using honey, acacia leaves and lint to stop the sperm from entering the uterus. Other popular ones were the silphium plant, native to North Africa; asafoetida, from Greece; the Queen Anne’s Lace plant, which is still used in some areas of India; and the pull-out method, which was considered the most effective one, and has been proved to have an efficiency of 78% if used the correct way. Even though they were mostly dangerous and toxic, women still used them. They were afraid of the horrible number of women that died during pregnancy and childbirth, so they used methods that may have been even more risky than the initial process, as the drinking of copper salt dissolved in water.
classification of contraceptives
aRTIFICIAL CONTRACEPTION
NATURAL CONTRACEPTION
Natural methods
BASAL BODY TEMPERATURE
a woman takes her temperature every morning using a basal thermometer. A rise of the temperature between 0.2°C to 0.5°C is a marker of ovulation (due to the progesterone and estrogen hormones), which lasts a few days, and then sexual relationships are avoided during it. It’s inefficient and risky because temperature can fluctuate because of other reasons (smoking, alcohol consumption, jet lag, stress, illness…). The method has a failure rate of 1-4% but is not widely used because of its inconvenience, greater sexual restrictions, and difficulty of interpretation.
basal thermomether (sold at pharmacies, measure your themperature in degrees fahrenheit)
Ogino, or rhythm, method
a woman makes a calendar estimation of her fertile days. They occur between days 12 and 16 of the menstrual cycle (supposing the cycle is regular and lasts the average 28 days), and sexual intercourse is to be avoided during this time. It doesn’t have side effects and it’s simple, but it’s generally not used because of its large failure rate, of over 14%. This is due many women having irregular cycles that don’t last the same every month, so the estimate is not precise.
Billings method
a woman calculates when her ovulation is based on the pattern in secretions of cervical mucous or discharge (which clean, lubricate, offer protection against pathogens and else, and keep healthy vaginal tissues) from her cervix. Amount, stretchiness, colour, consistency, and smell of the fluid are measured. It’s unsafe because the secretion can vary due to various factors apart from the menstrual cycle, such as infections. Perfect use has been estimated to result in pregnancy in 0.5–3%.
Symptothermal
also called "the fertility-awareness method". Consists of a woman recollecting date about her own period using the methods mentioned above simultaneously, and drawing conclusions about when her fertile period is. The main risk associated with this contraceptive method is the failure to prevent conception due to errors in instruction, the method's application, failure to abstain during the fertile period, and unreliable data collection. It is 99.4-99.6% effective in avoiding pregnancy (98-99% effective with typical use).
Coitus interruptus
consists in pulling out the penis from the penis when it is about to ejaculate, to avoid semen to entering the uterus. It is believed to be perfectly safe because semen doesn’t reach at all the uterus, but the truth is that pre-ejaculate may contain sperm cells, and therefore a woman can get pregnant even if it used correctly. This believe is dangerous because it results in couples trusting this method the most, when it is in reality the most risky one having a failure rate of more than 20%.
artificial methods
Condoms
condoms are the mainly used contraceptive method, as it both prevents pregnancies and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). They are easy to use and carry, and don’t need a prescription or a lot of time investment. Also, the failure average is of 2% (even though in the real world use it’s about 15%), they are widely spread and promoted, and you can get them cheap in sexual health clinics or pharmacies. There are different colors, tastes and thicknesses. Condoms exists for both women and men, but the men-used are more usual.
male condom
female condom
Contraceptive diaphragm
also known as cap. It’s a circular dome-like, thin, soft silicone that gets inserted into the vagina just before sexual activity to cover the cervix so sperm can’t access the uterus to fertilize the egg. The diaphragm or cap needs to be left in place for at least 6 hours after sex, and the complementary use of spermicide is highly recommended. Both products can cause irritation to both sex partners, and it is recommended the use of another contraceptive method compatible with latex because it takes time to learn how to use it.
IUD
standing for IntraUterine Device, the IUD is a small T-shaped device made of copper and plastic that releases copper (which is toxic for sperm) into the uterus and protects against pregnancy for between 5 and 10 years. When used correctly, it is 99% effective, and the woman should be able to tell it is there. It doesn’t have any side effects, and if it taken out, pregnancy is possible straight away; the only thing is that during the first 3 to 6 months periods can be heavier or more painful.
Spermicides
a form of contraceptive in the form of gel, cream, foam or suppository. They stop sperm for reaching the egg (even though the suffix -cide means kill, it only stops them), and it’s inserted into the vagina
before sexual activity. They are very effective when combined with other contraceptive methods (them alone are 70% effective) and are also very accessible, as it can be bought in drug stores, pharmacies and superstores.
Morning-after pill
it’s an extremely hormonal pill that is taken the morning after having unprotected sex. It works by stopping or delaying the ovaries from releasing an egg. Apart from this main reason why it is used, there are some more: the condom broke, you missed one or more doses of your usual contraceptive pills, you have been vomiting, taken antibiotics, etc., which may stop the normal treatment from working. There is a variation from this pill called the “five-day emergency contraception pill” that can be taken up to 5 days after having unprotected sex, and the sooner you take it, the more effective it is.
tubal ligation
tubal refers to the fallopian tubes, and ligation to the tie off that is done to them to stop the egg and sperm from meeting and result in an unwanted pregnancy. Women who have gone through this procedure still have their periods and are able to have sexual activity normally, but if for any reason they may want to have their tubes reattached, there is only a possibility from 50% to 80% that they may become pregnant, so it’s considered mostly permanent birth control. Serious problems regarding this process are rare, of about 1 woman per 1,000, but they are possible. They include bleeding (both external and internal), infection, damage to other non-related organs, and ectopic pregnancy (an egg becomes fertilized outside the uterus), etc.
Vasectomy
the tubes that carry a man’s sperm cells are permanently cut or sealed so pregnancy is prevented. It’s an extremely easy procedure, it only takes about 15 minutes, and local anesthesia is used. It is
extremely efficient, having a success rate higher than 99%. And, it doesn’t affect sexual activity in any aspect. Condoms or similar are needed for 8 to 12 weeks after the operation, as sperm may remain in the tubes. Contrary to tubal ligation, which can be reversed (even though it comes with difficulties), a vasectomy is completely permanent, as it’s really difficult to reverse.