Contraception At A Glance (Birth Control)

Any contraception is better than no contraception.

No method of contraception is a hundred per cent effective  which means No contraception can be said to be able to stop you completely and totally from getting pregnant. Even sterilisation and vasectomy can fail although they are the most effective.

All contraceptive methods have advantages and disadvantages. It means that there no perfect birth control method.

Knowing the advantages and disadvantages would help you choose the type of birth control that suits you as an individual.

It means choosing a method of birth control is an individual choice for both men and women.

You can start by knowing the different methods of birth control to choose from, how they prevent pregnancy, how to use them and some of its side effects. You can discuss further details with the doctor or nurse

Methods that you use as and when needed.

Condom

The female condom which women wear and also called the internal condom.

Male condom won by the men and called the external condom.

They are effective if used properly.

They prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

 Some people complain that they decrease sensation and therefore reduce the pleasure.

Sponge

A plastic that is soaked spermicides ( substance the kill sperms). It is placed inside the vagina where it kills the sperm and stops them from entering the womb.

It is not very effective. It mainly used by more matured women whose fertility have reduced and whose do not have sexual intercourse frequently.

It has to be left in place for 6 hours after intercourse. At times forgotten and could cause infection. People who don’t like tampon might not like it.

Diaphragm/Cervical cap

A small disc that can be inserted into the vagina to cover the neck of the womb. It stops the sperm going into the womb. It could be used with cream that kills the sperm.

You only have to think about putting it when you have sex.

It was to be left in place for 24 hours and you need to be adding the cream that kills the sperms.

It could be knocked out of position during sex. You have got remember to put in place.

It is under your control and good for people who want to avoid putting hormone into their body.

Spermicide

These are creams that kill sperms

It could be used alone or the sponges, cervical caps or diaphragms.

The cream is placed in the vagina before sex. Not very effective. Mainly used by the older women who are less fertile and who have sex less frequently.

Methods that you use regularly

Regular use of contraception would be a necessity for the younger age group who do not want to get pregnant but who have sexual intercourse regularly and are more fertile.

Depot injection

It contains a hormone called progesterone

Administered by a healthcare professional every 3months. It stops the woman from releasing the egg every month( stops ovulation).

It is very effective.

For some people, it could stop the period completely and many women love that. But if your period stops and you start having pregnancy symptoms, it would be worth doing a pregnancy test.

It could cause spotting and irregular periods especially in the first three months but tend to settle down.  Remember that once you have the injection, if you develop side effects you have to wait for 3months when the hormone would out of your body for the unwanted effect to resolve.

Some women who want to get pregnant after they had stopped the injection may have to wait up to 12months to get pregnant or for their period to return.

Mini Pill

It contains only one type of hormone just like the depot called progesterone. The Mini pill stops the woman from releasing the egg (stops ovulation) and therefore no pregnancy.

It also has to be taken at the same time and every day. It is effective.

In some women it could stop the periods, in some others they have normal periods and in some, it could make period irregular especially in the first three months, then it settles. Some women complain of breast tenderness and flare-up of acne.

Because it does not contain oestrogen, it is a good protection for women who are breastfeeding. It also an alternative for women who have had a bad reaction to the combined pill.

It can be used at any age, especially if you smoke and over 35

Combined pill

It is called the combined pill because it contains two hormones – oestrogen and progesterone. These hormones stop the woman from releasing the eggs (ovulation) and therefore stops pregnancy.

It means taking the pill the same time every day and that could be difficult for people who are forgetful. If they forget to take it increases the chance of getting pregnant.

It is effective, makes period lighter and regular. It can cause breast tenderness.

There is no evidence that the pill would make you put on weight.

It is not suitable if you 35 years of age and smoke.

Patch

It is a small sticky patch that contains the same hormone as the oral combined Pill. It contains oestrogen and progesterone hormones. It stops ovulation( egg release) and therefore stops pregnancy.

You apply the patch to your upper arm, buttock, or back as long as the skin is clean dry, clean and not hairy but avoid the breast.

It is very effective.

A new patch is applied every week for three weeks and then no patch for a week to have a period.

Like the combined pill it could make the period lighter and regular and therefore good for women with a heavy period. The patch could cause skin irritation to the area where it was attached. It requires that remember always to change the patch weekly.

Like the combined pill it is not suitable for women who smoke and above 35 or weight above 90kg

Vaginal ring

It is a plastic that contains two hormones like the combined pill called oestrogen and progesterone. The hormones stops ovulation ( egg release) and therefore stop pregnancy. So it is the combined oral pill but in a ring.

Like the pill it reduces flow, makes period lighter and regular. It helps in patients with acne. It could also cause breast tenderness.

It is effective. You have to insert the ring for three weeks. Then remove it for a week to have a period and reinsert a new one.

Like the combined pill, it is not suitable for women who smoke and above 35 or overweight.

Implant

This is a small rod that is put under the skin in the upper arm. It contains the hormone – progesterone which slowly released from the rod. This stops the woman from releasing the egg ( stops ovulation) and therefore no pregnancy.

It is effective and once it inserted it lasts for 3 years. It needs a trained healthcare professional to insert it.

It could stop the period for up to the 3 years and hence it is popular with younger women. Some people have minor irregular periods, acne, and breast tenderness.

It is useful for women who cannot use birth control that contains oestrogen

You can have it removed at any time and the chance of pregnancy returns quickly.

Copper IUD ( the coil or copper T)

Intrauterine ( inside the womb) device -IUD is a T-shaped small plastic and copper device that is placed in the womb. It has to put into the womb by a health care professional who is well trained in the skill of placing IUD inside the womb.

The copper IUD does not contain any hormone. The copper IUD works by creating a hostile environment in the womb for pregnancy. To start with, the sperms does not like copper, it runs away from it. It is also thought that the copper kills the sperm, therefore does not meet the egg and no pregnancy. Also even if the sperms meet the egg, copper T creates a hostile environment for the fertilised egg not to develop.

It is effective and could stay there for up to 10 years. It can be taken out if you decide to get pregnant and you could get pregnant immediately.

Some people experience heavier period, spotting and abdominal cramps in the first 3months. There is also a small risk of infection.

Hormonal IUD

They are the intrauterine( inside the womb) device which contains progesterone hormones. The hormone in addition to the hostile environment created inside the womb by the device, also stops the woman from releasing the egg ( stops ovulation) and therefore no pregnancy.

Like other IUD  it must be placed in the womb a healthcare professional trained in the skill. It lasts 3 to 5 years depending on the brand. The hormonal IUD can stop your period or make it lighter. Mainly used by women over 40  who may have heavy periods or want to stop the periods.

Permanent birth control methods.

Some methods of contraception are looked as been permanent although they could fail. They are considered not to be reversible because if they are reversed the chance of achieving pregnancy is low. So think carefully before you go for this type of protection from pregnancy.

Vasectomy

This is where the tube in a man that carries sperm from the testes to the penis is blocked, tied off or cut off. The man can still have sex and produce semen ( the fluid that comes from the man’s penis) but the fluid would not contain sperm.  No sperm means no pregnancy. It is very effective

It is done under local anaesthetic as a day case.

Tubal ligation

It is a method where the fallopian tube ( the tube that caries eggs from the ovary to the womb) is blocked, tied or cut. When the egg cannot get to the womb, there would be no pregnancy.

It is very effective. It involves small surgery as a day case. The woman would still be having a period.

Emergency contraception (Birth control)

This would be needed not so much as a form of birth control.

But it is used by the woman to prevent pregnancy,  if you have had sex without any protection or you think your usual method of birth control has failed  like if  you had a condom explosion, or it slipped or was lost.

It is effective if used as soon as the sex had taken place.

You could have the emergency contraceptive pill in which the tablet – Levonelle should be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex or EllaOne which is taken within 5 days of unprotected sex. The earlier the medication is taken the more effective the prevention of pregnancy could be.

Copper T could also be used for emergency contraception.