KissMeGoodnight
Article Series: Birth Control
What Are My Birth Control Options?
9
Types of Birth Control You Can Choose
Contraception is a term used to prevent pregnancy.
There are different types of them around. Some are used by
men while others are for women.
There are two major methods of birth control namely barrier or hormonal. Aside from that, the other types include sterilization
otherwise known as surgery, withdrawal, natural family planning
and the simplest which is abstinence.
Let's talk about each of them.
The
first is the barrier method wherein the
male or the female uses a condom to prevent the sperm
from ever entering
the female's uterus. The male condom comes in many brands,
colors and flavors and is usually made of latex rubber. This
is placed over the penis when it is erect prior to intercourse.
The female condom on the other hand is made of polyurethane
and is seven inches long. This allows it to protect the cervix,
vaginal canal and the immediate areas surrounding the vagina.
It is inserted into the woman's vagina also prior to intercourse.
Another
barrier is known as spermicides. It is a chemical designed
to kill sperm and this is available
as foam, jelly,
foaming tablet and as a vaginal suppository.
You
also have the diaphragm that is a soft rubber dome which
stretches over a flexible ring that
contains spermicides
in the form or cream or jelly.
This is placed inside the woman's vagina and placed over the
cervix. Women should take note that this should not stay inside
for more than 3 hours prior to intercourse.
The
cervical cap is a small cup made of the same material as
a condom. It is also filled with
spermicidal cream and inserted
into the girl's vagina and placed over the cervix.
The
last is the contraceptive sponge which is a soft saucer shaped
device made from the same material
as the female
condom.
Now that we have discussed the different barriers, it is time
to discuss about hormonal birth control methods.
Hormonal
devices appear in the form or an implant, patch,
pill or shot. They are designed to prevent the woman's ovaries
from releasing an egg monthly, cause the cervical mucus to
thicken so the sperm will have a difficult time penetrating
the egg or thin the lining of the uterus which reduces the
chances of a fertilized egg from ever implanting on the uterus
wall.
Some experts believe that they are very effective but they
cannot protect you from sexually transmitted diseases or STD's.
Birth
control pills can be acquired from your health provider.
Depo-Provera is an injection that
costs a little
bit more than the pill and can prevent pregnancy for 3 months.
Something similar to Depo-Provera is lunelle but this can only
prevent pregnancy for up to one month.
The
Nuva Ring or vaginal ring is a flexible ring that is inserted
into the vagina for three weeks before
this is
removed and replaced with a new one. The ring contains chemicals
such as estrogen and progesterone that releases this into the
body.
The
birth control patch works like the ring as it releases hormones
into the body while the IUD
is a small plastic device
that contains hormones and copper and changes the cervical
mucus to decrease the chances of an egg from fertilizing.
Withdrawal is simply removing your penis out of the girl's vagina before
ejaculation. Sterilization
closes the
fallopian tubes permanently and this is better known as tubal
ligation. Men can have the same thing and this is called a
vasectomy.
Natural
family planning is simply controlling the number of kids
that you want to have.
Abstinence
is not engaging in sexual intercourse at all that is perhaps
the most effective type
of birth control.
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KissMeGoodnight.com
: 2008
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