What is the Best Kind of Birth Control?

Posted on January 9th, 2008 by olga

The kind of birth control you prefer depends on your needs. Some people just need to avoid pregnancy. Other people may as well want to defend themselves or their partners from diseases that can be passed by having sex.
-As a matter of fact you may say “no”. The risk of getting pregnant or catching an STD may prevail over the satisfaction you get from sex.
- Barrier methods contain the diaphragm, the cervical cap and condoms. These methods stop pregnancy by blocking sperm from getting into the uterus. Barrier methods should be used every time you have sex. But call your attention that a woman must visit her doctor to be fitted for a diaphragm or a cervical cap. Using a diaphragm may boost the risk of urinary tract infections in some women. And it’s really true that condoms cheap and widely presented. Female condoms aren’t as effective as male condoms, but they may be a good choice if a man won’t use a male condom.
-Natural family planning needs a pair to learn when in the woman’s cycle she can get pregnant (usually 4 days before and 2 days after ovulation). They must use a barrier method of birth control or not have contact through those days.
-Birth control pills work as a rule by stopping ovulation (the release of an egg by the ovaries). The majority pills are made of two hormones called estrogen and progestin. You have to take it every day.
-The hormonal birth control patch (brand name: Ortho Evra) uses estrogen and progestin to avoid pregnancy. It is applied to 1 of 4 places — the buttocks, abdomen, upper torso or outer arm. The patch is used on a 4-week cycle. You put on a new patch once a week for 3 weeks. Throughout the 4th week, you don’t use a patch, and your period will start. Women who use the patch should not smoke.
-The vaginal contraceptive ring (brand name: NuvaRing) is a thin, elastic ring that is inserted into the vagina. It releases hormones that remain you from getting pregnant. The ring is left in the vagina for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks, you take away the ring, and your period will start. After 7 days, you put in a new ring. Women who use the vaginal ring should not smoke.
-Hormone shots (brand names: Depo-Provera, Lunelle) work like the pill to stop pregnancy. A Depo-Provera shot prevents pregnancy for 3 months. A Lunelle shot prevents pregnancy for 1 month.
-Hormone implants (brand name: Norplant System) are no longer obtainable. The implants prevent pregnancy for 5 years, but you can have them taken away at any time.
-“IUD” stands for “intrauterine device.” An IUD is put in a woman’s uterus by her doctor. It’s made of flexible plastic. It isn’t known accurately how IUDs stop pregnancy. They seem to stop sperm from reaching the egg or stop the egg from attaching to the uterus. Today IUDs are safer than in past, but they still have some risks.
- Withdrawal is not effective for the reason when a man tries to pull out before ejaculating he as a rule leaves a small amount of fluid that leaks from the penis during sex. This fluid has enough sperm in it to cause pregnancy.
-Sterilization is when a man or woman has an operation to stop pregnancy. If you’re in no doubt that you don’t want to have children or you don’t want more children, sterilization may help you
Tubal ligation (also called “getting your tubes tied”) involves closing off a woman’s fallopian tubes so eggs can’t move throughout them to get to the uterus. A device called Essure can also be used to close off a woman’s fallopian tubes. Essure is a metal coil that is put in into your fallopian tubes by your doctor. Men are sterilized with a vasectomy.