BIRTH CONTROL

 

Birth control refers to how to prevent pregnancy from occurring.

To avoid unwanted pregnancy, you have to go for the best birth control method. The best birth control is the one that most effectively prevents pregnancy and fits with your lifestyle and needs at that particular time. 

For a woman, ask yourself the following three questions:

•         does it matter if your menstrual cycle is affected?
•          Will you wish to have a child one day?
•          Is the effort only geared towards prevention of pregnancy or is there any need to worry about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?

Birth control pills

A birth control pill is a form of medicine with hormones that come in a pack and you only take 1 pill daily. Although the pill doesn’t prevent STDs,  it’s safe, affordable and effective if always taken on time. For this method to be effective, you can set an alarm on your phone or keep them next to something you use daily like a toothbrush or carry them in your bag always to avoid forgetting. 

The birth control pill works by stopping fertilization. The hormones in the pill safely stop ovulation and this prevents fertilization so pregnancy can’t happen.

The pill’s hormones also thicken the mucus on the cervix which blocks sperm so it can’t swim to an ovum.

Implants

Also known as Nexplanon. It is a tiny, thin rod about the size of a matchstick that releases hormones into your body which prevents you from getting pregnant. It is a get-it-and forget-it method.

An implant that releases the hormone progestin to stop you from getting pregnant is inserted under the skin of your upper arm by a doctor.

Although it can last for five years, it’s not permanent

Withdrawal method

It’s simply pulling the penis out of the vagina before ejaculation. Always make sure to ejaculate away from your partner’s genitals. This is important because pregnancy can happen even with a little bit of semen in the vagina.

Accidents happen so it has to be supplemented with emergency contraception and doesn’t prevent STDs.

Condoms

A condom is a thin, fitted tube worn over the penis during sex or inserted into the vagina before sex. Commonly referred to as a rubber or a barrier because they create a barrier that keeps semen and other body fluids out of the vagina, rectum, or mouth.

When properly used, male condoms are about 98% effective while female condoms are about 95% effective at preventing pregnancy.

For them to be effective, always use a condom when you have oral, vaginal or anal sex and put on a different condom for each type of sex you have.

Condoms lower the risk of STDs infection, easy to use and affordable. They are classified into four categories: latex, lubricated, spermicide-coated and textured. Since different people have different needs, you are advised to go for what favors your body.

In case you are sexually active, always keep a few with you so you will always have one when you need it.

Vasectomy

Vasectomy is a small operation done on men to prevent pregnancy. It’s a permanent birth control that blocks sperm from getting to the semen when you ejaculate. Once you achieve this, you can’t get someone pregnant. Stick to birth control until you get tested to show that your semen is sperm free. It can be done once you've had 10-20 ejaculations after the vasectomy.

Don’t get the procedure unless you're sure you won’t want to father children in the future because isn’t easy to reverse.

In some countries, vasectomies are fully covered by medical insurance. The costs can go up to $2,000 or more.

Tubal ligation

This is surgery conducted on women whereby they have their fallopian tubes tied. It’s a permanent birth control whose goal is to prevent eggs from traveling from the ovaries to the uterus to prevent pregnancy. It’s a type of female sterilization that can be done in a hospital or at an outpatient surgical clinic.

Just like vasectomy, the procedure is costly depending on where you are. A tubal ligation can cost between $1,000 and $6,000 and it is usually covered by medical insurance.

It is almost but not 100% effective and has some risks like infections, bleeding and chances of ectopic pregnancy especially if you have diabetes, obesity or lung disease.

In most cases it can’t be reversed depending on what method of tubal ligation you got, how long ago that was, and whether your tubes are too damaged to undo it.