When deciding whether or not to bring a child into your relationship, family planning becomes an important topic. One main option available for family planning is contraception, which includes methods such as condoms, birth control pills, patches, injections, rings and diaphragms. Although many of these methods are effective nearly 100 percent of the time when used as directed, individuals should take certain advantages and disadvantages into account before using them.
Spontaneity
One possible advantage of contraception is the ability to have sex whenever the mood strikes. When using alternatives to contraception, such as only having intercourse on certain days of the month, you may be limited to when you can have sex with your partner. Contraception allows you to have sex whenever you have the desire, with less worry over whether or not you are going to become pregnant.
Dual Protection Against STDs
Some forms of contraception, such as the male condom and female condom, can provide a dual purpose by also preventing some forms of STDs, including HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, gonorrhea and genital herpes. Condoms should always be used in a single layer with lubrication to prevent them from breaking.
Higher Protection Rate
Using some forms of contraception may also come with higher guaranteed protection rates against pregnancy. For example, the use of a birth control implant provides a less than one in 100 chance of becoming pregnant, according to Planned Parenthood statistics. The birth control pill also provides similar results as long as the product is used as directed. Other methods, such as natural family planning, are less likely to be as effective as hormonal-based contraception, states MayoClinic.com.
Device Failure
One disadvantage of contraception is that the devices used to prevent pregnancy can sometimes fail either by manufacturer error or by the user not following the directions properly. For example, condoms can break if they are past their use dates or if user errors, such as using petroleum jelly as a lubricant or wearing two condoms at once, occur. The birth control pill becomes less effective when you miss a pill or do not take them as prescribed.
Allergic Reaction
Some forms of contraception can cause severe allergic reactions, making them dangerous for some consumers. For example, many condoms are made from rubber latex, which can cause swelling, rashes or even anaphylaxis when they come into contact with someone who is allergic to the material. To combat these reactions, condoms now are available in alternative materials such as polyisoprene or polyurethane.
Side Effects
Another disadvantage for contraception are the side effects that some forms of birth control have on women. For example, the birth control pill can cause some women to experience side effects including breast tenderness, nausea, loss of sexual desire, bleeding between periods and vomiting. Rare, but serious, side effects can include stroke, heart attack gall stones, liver tumors and the formation of blood clots.
References
- Planned Parenthood: Birth Control Implant (Implanon)
- Planned Parenthood: Fertility Awareness-Based Methods (FAMs)
- Planned Parenthood: Birth Control Pills
- MayoClinic.com: Birth control options: Things to consider
- Center for Young Women's Health: Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs): General Information
