Birth Control

What is Birth Control?

Birth control is a generic name applied to any means a male or female may use to prevent pregnancy. Birth control can be natural, surgical, hormonal or chemical. Women are the only gender that can use a hormonal birth control form. Men and women alike have been practicing different forms of birth control for centuries. A woman has several options to choose from while a man is limited to just a few.

How Birth Control Works

Abstinence is the only form of birth control that is 100% effective. Most birth control methods offer a 97% effective rate. The number of methods available can make the decision a little overwhelming. It is best to consult a doctor about the method that is right for you. Birth control only protects against pregnancy, it cannot protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

Types of Birth Control

Condoms can be worn by a male as a form of birth control. The condom is placed over the penis. Most condoms are made with special spermicidal to add extra pregnancy protection. The spermicide can help kill the sperm just in case a condom tears while being used. There are female condoms available as well, they are just not as popular as the male condoms. Condoms are often the birth control of choice for those who have several different partners. They are often used in combination with another form of chemical birth control for extra protection. Some people may have a latex allergy, which is what most condoms are made from. It is possible to buy lambskin condoms for latex sensitive individuals.

Chemical birth control methods are available in a lubricant or foam. These can be applied before or after the sexual act is performed. Chemical methods by themselves do not have very high preventive rates, but combined with condoms or hormonal birth control can increase the results. Some people may be allergic to this type of birth control. A lot of people do not like to use them, because they tend to be a little messy.

Women often choose a birth control pill as a way to prevent pregnancy. The pills are available in a number of different types and brands. There are some low dose pills that help a woman control her menstrual cycle as well as preventing pregnancy. The typical birth control pills are taken daily. Some women do not like the responsibility of taking a pill everyday and opt for one of the other forms of birth control. The pill may cause spotting or bleeding in between periods. They also increase the risk of blood clots.

There are also a number of other ways a woman can use hormonal birth control. The hormone to prevent pregnancy can be released through a patch placed on the woman's skin. The patch gets replaced every 7 days. A ring placed inside the vagina can also be used to release hormones into the system. The ring is removed after 3 weeks to allow a woman to have a normal menstrual cycle. An injectable hormone can be given as well. The shot is given every 8-12 weeks. A woman does not normally have a period while taking one of the hormone shots. Weight gain or loss is very common with these hormonal birth control methods. Bone density loss has also been reported with the injectable birth control, and is not recommended a woman use it for more than 5 years.

An inter uterine device (IUD) can be placed inside a woman's uterus. This prevents sperm from entering the fallopian tubes and causing a pregnancy. This type of birth control can be left in place for up to five years. A woman may experience bleeding between periods, or her periods may stop all together. There is also a chance they can slip and allow a pregnancy.

There are a couple of different surgical procedures a woman can use to prevent pregnancy. The most popular is often called getting the tubes tied. This involves cutting the fallopian tubes and tying them off so sperm cannot reach the eggs. A man can undergo a procedure called a vasectomy. This procedure involves cutting or tying the vasa deferentia to prevent sperm from becoming part of the ejaculate. These procedures are usually a permanent form of birth control. There are surgeries that can try and reverse the procedures, but the success varies.

In Closing...

Some prefer to use all natural methods like pulling out or the rhythm method. Both do not have very high prevention rates but there are no side effects associated with them. Some women can take natural herbs after a sexual encounter in order to prevent pregnancy. A naturopath can explain which herbs are safest to use.