Unintended pregnancy is a matter of concern and a major women’s health issue. Unintentional or unplanned pregnancy may cause stress, may lead to delayed prenatal care, exposure to deleterious habits like smoking, drinking, or substance abuse and pregnancy and delivery complications including low birth weight and decreased chances of breastfeeding after delivery. In this health article we discuss different methods of female contraception.

Oral contraceptive pills

Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) also often called ‘the pill’ are pharmacological versions of female hormones estrogen and progesterone. The pills can either be combined formulations of estrogen and progesterone or progesterone only. If taken correctly, the pills are 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. The standard recommendation for OCPs is to take 1 every day for 21 days, then wait for your periods or have a break for 7 days (as suggested by the doctor) and restart the pills. Discussed below are the advantages and disadvantages of OCPs.

  • Advantages - OCPs do not not interrupt sex, they regularize your periods, they decrease premenstrual symptoms, protect against pelvic inflammatory disease, and reduce the risk of endometriosis, fibroids and ovarian cysts.
  • Disadvantages - may cause temporary side effects at such as nausea, headache, breast tenderness and mood swings, may increase blood pressure

A cap or a diaphragm

A cap or a diaphragm is a barrier method of contraception. A contraceptive diaphragm or cap is a circular dome made of thin, soft silicone that's inserted into the vagina before sex. It fits inside your vagina to prevent the sperm passing through the cervix. It is recommended to use it with a gel that kills sperm (spermicide). The cap or diaphragm should be used only when you have sex, and leave it in place for at least 6 hours after you have had sex. If used correctly with spermicide, a diaphragm or cap is 92-96% effective at preventing pregnancy.

Contraceptive implant

Contraceptive implant is a small flexible plastic rod that's placed under the skin in your upper arm by your doctor. The implant releases progestogen hormone into your bloodstream to prevent pregnancy. It also thickens the cervical mucus, which makes it more difficult for sperm to move through the cervix, and thins the uterine lining so a fertilized egg is less likely to implant itself. A contraceptive implant is effective for 3 years. 

  • Advantages - The contraceptive implant is more than 99% effective. The implant is safe for women who can't use contraception with estrogen and also for women who find it difficult to remember to take a pill at the same time every day. Moreover, you can have the implant removed at any time, and your natural fertility will return very quickly. 
  • Disadvantages - When the implant is first put in, you may experience bruising, tenderness or swelling around the implant and your periods may become irregular, lighter, heavier or longer.

Intrauterine device

Intrauterine device or IUD is a small T-shaped plastic and copper device that's placed in your uterus by a doctor. The device is popularly known as copper-T, coil, or copper coil.  The IUD releases copper to stop the pregnancy and also protects against pregnancy for between 5 and 10 years. If inserted correctly, IUDs are more than 99% effective.

Contraceptive patch

The contraceptive patch is a small sticky transdermal patch on your skin that releases hormones into your body through your skin to prevent pregnancy. The patch is effective for one week and is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. However, the patch may not be suitable for women who smoke and who are 35 or over, or who weigh 90 kg or more.

Vaginal ring 

Vaginal ring is a small soft, plastic ring that is placed inside the vagina. The ring releases a continuous dose of the hormones estrogen and progestogen into the bloodstream to prevent pregnancy. One vaginal ring provides contraception for a month and is about 99% effective.

Condoms

Condoms are the only type of contraception that can both prevent pregnancy and protect against sexually transmitted diseases There are 2 types of condoms, external condoms or the male condoms and internal condoms or female condoms that are worn inside the vagina – sometimes. Female condoms are made from soft, thin synthetic latex or latex. They're worn inside the vagina to prevent semen getting to the womb. If used correctly, female condoms are 95% effective.

Emergency Contraception

Emergency contraception commonly called the morning after pill. These pills can be used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex, or if you have missed a pill, or if the condom broke.

  • A word of caution - As the name suggests, emergency contraception should be used only during the emergency situation, but should never be treated as a regular contraceptive method.

Female sterilization

Female sterilization is a type of permanent contraception. It involves a surgical procedure where the fallopian tubes are sealed or blocked to prevent the sperm reaching the eggs.

Take home message - There are multiple ways of contraception to avoid unintentional pregnancy. It is always advisable to consult your doctor to find the contraceptive method most suitable for you and also seek guidance on how to properly use the contraceptives to get the maximum benefit. Additionally it is important to note that, all contraceptive methods except condoms, serve the sole purpose of preventing pregnancy. They do not provide any protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Hence, it is always recommended to use condoms to protect yourselves from STDs.

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