Information About Birth Control

Overview

Birth control refers to the gamut of techniques used to prevent pregnancy while still having sexual intercourse. The range of products and procedures is likely to provide everyone an option that fits their lifestyle. Factors that may influence your decision on which method to select may include religion, sexual practices and future plans for a family. Your willingness to take a risk also weighs on the birth control selected. Some choices may have 99 percent efficacy while others have an unknown rate of success.

Natural Birth Control

There are two entirely natural forms of birth control: abstinence and fertility awareness. Choosing not to have sex is the only 100 percent effective way to prevent pregnancy. Fertility awareness is also referred to as natural family planning, or NFP. This method requires diligent tracking of a woman's menstrual cycle to estimate fertility. NFP can be done by measuring a woman's temperature and monitoring her vaginal secretions to detect ovulation. The accuracy of NFP varies. Withdrawing prior to ejaculation is another natural method of birth control. This method is not reliable as sperm can still enter the vagina during pre-ejaculation or if a man does not have perfect timing.

Birth Control Agents

Blocking sperm from entering the vagina is another form of preventing pregnancy. There are several agents available to accomplish this. You may choose a male condom or a female condom. Both types serve the purpose of preventing pregnancy as well as disease transmission. Male condoms go over an erect penis to prevent the sharing of bodily fluids. The female condom is inserted into the vagina where it protects the cervix, vagina and area around the vagina. Another popular form of barrier method is spermicide. Spermicide is a jelly or foam chemical that kills sperm before it has the opportunity to fertilize a woman's egg. A cervical cap, diaphragm, and sponge can also be inserted into the vagina, with or without spermicide, to block sperm from fertilizing the egg.

Hormone Control

Besides male condoms, hormone control is one of the most popular methods of birth control. This type comes in many forms. Depending on the product selected, pregnancy can be prevented using this method by preventing the release of an egg for fertilization, reducing uterine lining where an egg would normally attach upon fertilization, and increasing vaginal mucus lining to trap sperm. The variety of hormone control options has grown in the past several years. Women now have the choice of pills, patches, shots, rings and devices that are inserted, called intrauterine devices (IUDs). Selecting the right option in this category depends heavily upon a woman's lifestyle and her family planning ideas. Not all of these options will work for every woman because of unwanted side effects of the product. Some options, such as IUDs, are recommended for women who have already had one child as they can be placed by a medical professional and left for three to five years. Other methods may increase headaches, acne and menstrual symptoms in some women. On the other hand, many women benefit from their hormone control option by having clearer skin, less severe cramps and lighter bleeding during periods. The outcome varies for every woman with each brand or type of hormone control for pregnancy prevention.

Sterilization

Permanent birth control is an option for both a woman and a man. For women this surgical procedure is called a tubal ligation where the fallopian tubes are closed to prevent eggs from traveling down into the uterus. Men can undergo a vasectomy that prevents sperm from traveling through the testicles and out the penis. Both of these surgical procedures can be reversed but the risks are high and the success rate is not guaranteed. Recovering from either procedure, both initially and in the case of a reversal, takes time and can lead to other complications. Women may experience menopause-type symptoms or they may actually enter menopause.

Benefits and Risks

Each type of birth control has a set of risks. Some methods have more benefits than others but this depends upon the consumer. One of the greatest risks is the effectiveness of the method. Many of the hormone control options have a 92-99.7 percent efficacy rate. The rate of successful prevention diminishes when the hormones do not enter the body at the correct time. For pill users this means taking the pill at the same time every day. Forgetfulness and inconvenience has lead to the creation of other methods like the patch, ring and shot. These methods strive to be more consistent by automatically pushing the hormones through the body. IUDs either block the release of an egg or submit hormones at a controlled time. Thus, these methods increase the reliability. Condoms also have a 97 percent success rate in preventing pregnancy when they are worn correctly. Condoms also prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. As with any drug, there are side effects but most are mild inconveniences. In many cases, the side effects are considered benefits. For example, some women take birth control pills to regulate their menstrual cycle or improve their complexion.