A Guide to Contraception

THE OPTIONS:
ORAL CONTRACEPTION

Oral contraception, commonly known as ‘the pill’ is an extremely popular choice in birth control.  It has been a popular choice for women of all ages for the past 40 years.
Is the pill right for you?

• Are you considering being sexually active and want a worry free method of birth control?
• Are you looking for a long term or a short-term method of birth control?
• Are you worried about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?  (if so then the Pill may not be the answer for you as only the condom will protect against STD’s).
• Are you in a stable relationship, or do you have multiple sexual partners?  If you have multiple sexual partners then the condom along side the pill would be a good contraceptive as this will guard you against pregnancy and STD’s.
• Are you comfortable talking to your doctor about birth control?  If not then a lot of doctors surgeries run Well Women or Family Planning clinics where you can see a female gp or a specialist nurse.
• Do you have any serious health problems?  If you have a history of Deep Vein Thrombosis then the Pill can make this problem worse.
• Do you smoke?  If you smoke and are over 35yrs old you run an increased risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis and other health complications, some gp’s will not prescribe the Pill under these circumstances.
• Do you have trouble remembering to take medications on time?  The Pill does not have to be taken at the same time every day but you will need to remember to take it every day.
• Would you like a method of birth control that also offers some relief from irregular or painful periods?  The Pill has been known to regulate periods and control heavy bleeding.  Can also help with acne. 

The oral form of contraception is only available from your doctor or family planning clinic therefore s/he will be able to help you decide if it is the right choice for you.  It offers nearly 100% protection against pregnancy and is one of the most convenient forms of birth control.  You can not take the Combination Pill if you are breastfeeding.  You can take the Mini Pill whilst breastfeeding but this pill has to be taken at strict times and you only have approximately 10 minutes either side of the time you take it each day.  Antibiotics and other drugs like St Johns Wart can prevent the pill from working.  Also if you are ill and have vomiting and diarrhoea the pill will be ineffective, you will need to use condoms for the rest of the month.  The pill does not guard against STD’s.

IMPLANTS

The implant is a birth control method available only on prescription that will offer you prolonged protection against pregnancy.  The implant contains a single hormone, a progestin, which will stop ovulation in a woman and changes the cervical mucus therefore preventing pregnancy.

The new implants consist of two rods (the old Norplant was 6 rods) which are roughly match size and they will be placed under the skin in the upper part of your arm by a qualified doctor or nurse, you are given a local anaesthetic.  Norplant is no longer given in the UK but some people will still be using it as it lasts 5 years.  The implant is effective immediately upon implantation and ceases to work immediately it is removed.

The implant is considered to be the most effective form of contraception available to date and it will last between three and five years.  During this time it will offer 99.8% and possibly even more protection against an unwanted pregnancy.  There are no age restrictions and unlike the oral contraceptive pill very few drugs will stop the implant from working.  This method does not guard against STD’s.

Contraceptive Injection

The contraceptive injection works very much like the implants.  You have the injection every 12 weeks into your thigh or buttock.  You need to have the injection on the first day of your period for it to be effective for the rest of your cycle if you have it at any other point within your cycle you will need to use another method as well for a month.  This method does not guard against STD’s.

Abstinence

Abstinence (celibacy) means choosing not to have sex. Some people choose to abstain from sexual intercourse, but engage in other sexual activities. Some people choose to abstain from all sexual activity. When practiced correctly, abstinence is the only 100% sure method for preventing pregnancy.

Cervical Cap

The cervical cap is a small latex cup that a woman inserts into her vagina before sexual intercourse. The cervical cap fits snugly over the woman's cervix. It is smaller than the diaphragm and is used with spermicidal cream or jelly. The cervical cap works by blocking sperm from entering the uterus.  You need to make sure you have it in the correct position every time and insert it before intercourse not during.  The cap can be difficult to insert if you have a retroverted uterus.  This method does not guard against STD’s.

Condoms

Condoms are thin barriers made of latex, plastic, or natural membranes. They look like long, thin, deflated balloons. There are both male and female condoms. The male condom fits over the penis. The female condom fits inside the vagina. Both male and female condoms work by preventing sperm from entering the vagina and reaching an egg.  You need to be careful when removing the female condom that you do not spill any sperm or tare it.  The condom will guard against STD’s and is the best contraceptive to use if you have multiple partners.

Contraceptive Patch ("The Patch")

The contraceptive patch is a thin plastic patch -- about the size of a matchbook - that a woman wears on her skin to prevent pregnancy. The patch contains hormones just like the ones in most birth control pills. It releases these hormones through the skin and into the bloodstream. Instead of taking a pill every day, a woman sticks on a new patch each week. The patch works mainly by preventing the ovary from releasing an egg.  This method will not guard against STD’s.

Diaphragm

The diaphragm is a soft latex dome that a woman inserts into her vagina before sexual intercourse. It fits over her cervix and is held in place by her vaginal muscles. It always needs to be used with spermicidal cream or jelly. The diaphragm works by blocking the opening to the uterus so that sperm cannot enter.  You also need to check the diaphragm regularly to make sure it has not perished nor has holes in it.  The diaphragm can be difficult to insert if you have a retroverted uterus.  This method will not guard against STD’s.

Spermicides

Spermicide is a chemical that kills sperm. It comes in different forms: foams, film, creams, jellies and suppositories. A woman inserts spermicide deep into her vagina just before having sexual intercourse. Spermicides provide some pregnancy protection when used alone, but they are much more effective when used with another method, like the condom, diaphragm or cervical cap.  It is not recommended that you use spermicides on their own but in conjunction with other birth control methods.  This method will not guard against STD’s.

Withdrawal ("pulling out")

When couples use withdrawal, the man pulls his penis out of his partners’ vagina just before ejaculation ("coming"). This prevents sperm from entering a woman’s body. To practice withdrawal correctly, a man needs to have a lot of self-control. He needs to know when he is about to ejaculate (“come”), and he needs to make sure that none of his semen ("cum") touches or enters his partner's vagina. Withdrawal is not recommended for teens.  This is not a recommended form of contraception as the lubricant that a man secretes from his penis prior to ejaculation can contain sperm.

Intrauterine Device (IUD):

The IUD is a small, T-shaped piece of flexible plastic that fits inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy. There are 2 types of IUD's: copper and progestin (a hormone found in birth control pills). The copper IUD lasts 10 years and the progestin IUD lasts 5 years. IUDs work mainly by preventing fertilisation, and interfering with the sperms ability to reach the egg, also preventing the egg from implanting in the lining of the uterus.  This method does not guard against STD’s.

Emergency Contraception ("EC")

EC (sometimes called "the morning after pill") is a special dose of birth control pill that prevents pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex. The sooner EC is taken, the more effective it is. EC is very safe.

• It may stop an egg being released from the ovary (ovulation)
• It may prevent sperm from fertilising any egg that may already have been released
• It may stop a fertilised egg from attaching itself to the lining of the womb

The morning after pill is available from the chemist over the counter or on prescription.  This method does not guard against STD’s.  Levonelle is the trade name of the morning after pill in the UK: http://www.levonelle.co.uk/output/page1.asp
Levonelle is not effective if you are already pregnant.  It is also not meant to be used as a regular means of contraception but as an emergency.  It is 95% effective.  This method does not guard against STD’s.

This is a members article written by Strawberry