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Womens Health
Contraception
An unwanted pregnancy is something no one wants to deal with.
Luckily, unwanted pregnancy is one of the easiest medical conditions
to prevent with modern contraception
methods. Consider how hard it is to prevent the common cold,
which is nowhere near as serious... nobody's thought that through!
Preventing pregnancy however, is mostly a matter of proper contraception
(assuming you've got no interest in abstinence).
Women are lucky in the contraception game. Men have only two
reliable options: condoms and sterilisation. Women, on the other
hand, have a variety of choices. (Of course, female contraceptives
generally ONLY prevent pregnancy... we're still down to old-fashioned
condoms for preventing disease.)
If you're willing to do something permanent, tubal ligation
is an outpatient procedure in which a woman's fallopian tubes
are severed and either tied off or cauterized. Essentially, this
prevents the egg reaching the far end of the fallopian tubes,
where the uterus and a herd of eager sperm lie in wait. Simple,
permanent, and generally considered an option for women who have
had children, and never want any more.
Hormonal contraceptives are the most effective non-surgical
options. These products work by preventing the ovaries from making
eggs in the first place. There's the classic birth control pill.
"The Pill" comes in a variety of strengths and types,
so you're almost certain to find one that suits your body's system.
Remember to take one every day, and you're over 98% sure not
to be decorating a nursery room any time soon.
However, if you're the sort who forgets your morning vitamins
regularly, or your body doesn't react well to the pill, you might
consider some of the other options. Norplant implants keep you
safe from memory-lapse-related pregnancy for 5 years. If your
system can handle the constant release of hormones, it's the
next best thing to sterilisation. However, side effects including
menstrual spotting, weight gain, moodiness and severe headaches
make Norplant unusable for some women. Never fear, there are
yet other options...
Depo-Provera is progesterone administered by injection once
every three months. Depo can work well even for women who have
been unable to use other hormonal methods. It's almost as hassle-free
as Norplant, if you can mark the calendar at three month intervals.
Downside: if you have side-effects, you have to wait for it to
wear off.
Relatively new products include a rubbery ring worn around
the cervix, constantly releasing hormones and only needing replacement
once a month. There is also a contraceptive patch, that works
for pregnancy the way Nicorette patches are SUPPOSED to work
for cigarette cravings. Studies show the contraceptive patch
is much more effective.
For those who can't use hormonal contraception, or who prefer
not to interfere with their natural cycles, there are still choices.
The classic diaphragm and similar but tighter-fitting cervical
cap create a rubber barrier over the cervix. Both work best when
used with spermicidal cream or jelly. An IUD inserted in the
uterus prevents fertilized eggs from implanting. Spermicide-soaked
sponges and spermicidal vaginal inserts are still other options...
talk to your doctor about which option may be best for you!
Contraception Links
UK Department of Health
Marie Stopes
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