Ok Ladies!!, some of us may think we already have a method that works, how about you read up all the options and then decide the one that really is best for you.
To mark World Population Day yesterday, a ground-breaking global Family Planning Summit was held in London hosted by the Government to raise awareness and provide an additional 120 million women in the world’s poorest countries with life-saving contraceptives and services.
But contraception is an issue that affects all women everywhere and if you need advice on family planning read my comprehensive guide to see what is the right type for you depending on age and circumstance.
WHAT METHOD IS BEST FOR ME?
The best method for you is the one that is most effective, but effectiveness can be judged by two criteria: theoretical and actual. Invariably, the latter has a high failure rate due to human error.
The least effective, largely because of the human element, are the so-called “natural” methods, the ones that rely on determining safe periods and abstaining from intercourse during that time. As all the medical complications of pregnancy outweigh those of taking the combined pill, getting pregnant is always more risky than taking the pill. Contraceptives with the greatest risk are those with the highest failure rate.
Your choice of birth control will probably change during your fertile years. No one method is ideal for a long time, punctuated as it may be by planned pregnancies and changes in sexual partners.
NATURAL METHODS
These methods include the oldest forms of contraception but with the highest failure rates:
Periodic abstinence
This means abstinence from intercourse during the time of ovulation and is based on calculations using the calendar, plus the rise and fall of the woman’s body temperature and an ovulation-predictor kit. Using these indicators, you can decide to abstain from penetrative sex during ovulation. The failure rate is high as ovulation is difficult to be certain of.
Withdrawal
Another ancient method with a very high failure rate is where the penis is withdrawn just before ejaculation. While it doesn't require discussion at family planning clinics and there’s no financial cost, it leaves much of the responsibility with the man. The failure rate is very high because often men wait too long and it only takes a tiny bead of semen to get you pregnant.
Downsides: These methods are hopeless for women with irregular cycles and so have a high failure rate. They require a strong commitment from both partners. Although there are no risks to health, there may be to relationships and, with a comparatively high failure rate, problems of unwanted pregnancy. The techniques need at least six months to become established and for you to work out what’s normal for you.
Barrier methods
These methods physically block the sperm from reaching the ovum or they chemically inactivate them:
Male condom
A latex rubber or plastic sheath
placed over the erect penis before penetration. It should be lubricated with a water-based lubricant – never use anything oily or greasy – and freed from air so that it doesn’t burst inside the vagina. It also prevents the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, especially Aids.
Female condom
As effective as the male condom, it’s designed to line the inside of the vagina. It consists of a lubricated plastic sheath with an anchoring ring to keep it in place within the vagina and an outer ring that holds the sheath open to allow insertion of the penis. However, it is quite cumbersome.
Diaphragm and cervical cap
A diaphragm is a dome of rubber with a coiled metal spring in its rim. It fits diagonally across the vagina and it’s used with a spermicidal agent. It must be left in place for six hours after intercourse. The cervical cap is smaller and more rigid and fits over the cervix, where it’s held in place by suction. Both these methods are very efficient.
The use of a spermicide is essential with these barrier methods to ensure their effectiveness. Spermicides aren’t effective on their own as they must be at the cervix, not just somewhere in the vagina.
They come in many forms, including aerosols, pessaries, foams, film and creams. Some need to be inserted 15 minutes before intercourse, and a spermicide shouldn’t be washed away for at least six hours afterwards. Spermicides seem to be an added protection against contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
Disadvantages Can look ugly and interrupt lovemaking. Some people are allergic to rubber. You can forget to remove your cap and risk infection.
HORMONAL METHODS
These use hormones (synthetic oestrogen and progestogen) to suppress ovulation. They’re practically 100% effective when used properly. They also interfere with cervical mucus, making it thick and impenetrable to sperm, and thin the uterine lining so that conception cannot occur.
Pill forms include the combined pill, low-dose mini-pill (no oestrogen, only progestogen) hormonal injections, implants and the post-coital pill.
The combined pill must be taken for the full course of 21 to 28 days to be effective. The low-dose mini-pill is taken continuously.
Injectable contraceptives, ideal for women who have difficulty remembering to take the pill regularly, contain only synthetic progestogens and are administered every two to three months.
Advantages
They’re the most effective method. They regulate menstruation and relieve menstrual pain, and the effects of PMT. They prevent benign cysts and ovarian cancers, and protect against brittle bones (osteoporosis).
Disadvantages
There’s a slightly increased risk of thrombosis in women using hormonal methods. Occasionally breakthrough bleeding happens with some forms.
You need to be careful to take the mini-pill at the same time every day.
A pill containing the hormone oestrogen may not be suitable for you if you’re particularly overweight, if you smoke or suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, a heart condition, deep vein thrombosis or migraine.
INTRAUTERINE DEVICE (IUD)
This is a plastic or copper-containing device inserted into the uterus and left. It works by slowing down sperm passing through the womb or by preventing the fertilised egg from implanting in the uterine lining.
An IUD is immediately effective in preventing pregnancy and doesn’t interfere with breast-feeding or your natural hormonal balance.
Progesterone Intrauterine Device
The progesterone IUD is similar to other IUDs in that it sits in the uterus. However, because it contains progestogen it causes mucus in the cervix to remain thick and impenetrable to sperm. It also acts as a physical barrier to contraception by being present in the uterus. Overall, it’s an excellent contraceptive, lasting a minimum of three years.
Advantages
They’re one of the most reliable methods (seconds only to hormonal contraception). There’s no need to remember to take pills every day.
Disadvantages
They can be expelled without you being aware of it. Copper-containing devices are known to cause occasional complications in some women and they may increase pain and bleeding during menstruation.
IUDs aren’t suitable for young women who haven’t had children and have had pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy. They may increase bleeding and pain in menstruation, so they’re not suitable for those with heavy periods.
LARCS
If it’s long-term reliability you want, consider using long-acting reversible contraceptives, LARCS. They come in several forms, like IUDs and implants, and they’re reversible so you’re in control.
There are also highly effective depot injections (which slowly release hormones over several months) and which, in a recent study, were shown to work well for women who feel their family is complete.
The other form of LARCS is an IUCS. This is a tiny IUD impregnated with a hormone, released continuously in minute quantities (Mirena).
Advantages
Long term, long acting but reversible. 100% effective, the IUD can remain in place for five years plus.
Disadvantages
If you experience side effects like pain, breakthrough bleeding, headaches and sore breasts, it will have to be removed. There are no real health risks.
AFTER-SEX METHODS
There are two means of preventing conception and they must be started within one to five days of intercourse, but I don’t recommend you practise these as a routine form of birth control.
The hormonal method involves a short high-dose course of the combined pill. Or you could try a copper-bearing IUD, which is inserted within five days of sex.
The morning after pill is available at pharmacies but you’ll have to go to a family planning clinic to get an IUD fitted. EllaOne, the five-day ‘after’ emergency contraception pill can be taken up to five days after sex.
Disadvantages
My concern with these methods is that they could be considered as routine contraception after unprotected sex, exposing yourself to HIV and STDs. Plus, you can’t go on taking these high dose hormones frequently.
Source: Mirror
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