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Introduction: - A
crucial component of reproductive health is contraception, which enables people
to plan their children and avoid unplanned births. The usage of natural birth
control methods including herbs, coitus interruptus, and other primitive
techniques can be traced back to ancient cultures. These techniques, however,
were frequently unreliable and unsuccessful, which resulted in unwanted
pregnancies and associated health hazards.
Modern science and medicine revolutionized
the field of contraception in the 20th century, resulting in the creation of
more dependable and successful procedures. There are numerous forms of
contraception accessible today, ranging from barrier methods like condoms and
diaphragms to hormonal methods like birth control pills. Selecting a method
that fits a person's needs and lifestyle is crucial because each method has
advantages and disadvantages of its own.
In addition to preventing unexpected
births, contraception also improves women's health, lowers the risk of sexually
transmitted diseases, and gives people the power to make decisions about their
bodies and futures. The advancements in modern medicine have given those
seeking contraception a wide range of options, making it easier to get and use.
This article will examine several
forms of contraception, their efficacy, and how they function, offering
important knowledge to anybody looking to make educated choices regarding their
reproductive health.
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Types of
Contraception: -
1. Hormonal Techniques – Hormonal techniques, block ovulation—the release of an egg from the ovaries—by utilizing hormones. These techniques include vaginal rings, patches, injections, and birth control pills. They contain oestrogen and progesterone, two chemicals that work to prevent ovulation and thicken the cervical mucus, which makes it more challenging for sperm to reach the egg. While the patch is applied to the skin and replaced once a week, birth control tablets are taken orally once daily. Every three months, hormone injections are administered, and vaginal rings are placed in the vagina and left there for three weeks. If applied correctly and consistently, these techniques have a failure rate of less than 1% and are very effective.
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1. Barrier Techniques - In barrier techniques, the sperm and egg are separated physically to avoid fertilization. The three most popular types of barrier techniques are condoms, diaphragms, and cervical caps. The only approach that also offers protection against STDs is using condoms. In contrast to cervical caps and diaphragms, which are put into the vagina and cover the cervix, condoms are worn over the penis or implanted into the vagina before sex. With an average failure rate of 15%, these techniques are less successful than hormonal ones.
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1. Intrauterine Devices (IUDs) - Used to prevent pregnancy, IUDs are tiny, T-shaped devices that are placed into the uterus. They function either by physically blocking sperm (copper IUD) or by releasing hormones (hormonal IUD). Progesterone, which is present in hormonal IUDs, contributes to the cervical mucus' thickening and serves to keep sperm from reaching the egg. In order to inhibit fertilization, copper IUDs create an environment that is toxic to sperm. Depending on the variety used, IUDs can last between 3 and 10 years and are quite effective. However, they may result in negative side effects such as pelvic inflammatory disease, bleeding, and cramps.
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Effectiveness of
Contraception: - There are two approaches to gauge the
effectiveness of contraception: ideal use and typical use. While normal usage
refers to the effectiveness of a method in settings when it may not always be
applied correctly or consistently, perfect use refers to the effectiveness of a
method when used exactly as instructed.
The best method of contraception is sterilization,
which has a failure rate of less than 1% for both ideal and normal use. With a
failure rate of less than 1% for flawless use but roughly 7% for usual use,
hormonal treatments such as birth control tablets, patches, injections, and
vaginal rings are also quite successful.
IUDs, both hormonal and copper, have a
failure rate of less than 1% for flawless use and between 1-2% for usual use,
making them very effective medical devices. With a failure rate of 15% for
average use and 2-13% for ideal use, barrier techniques including condoms,
diaphragms, and cervical caps are more likely to fail.
Although less effective than other
approaches, natural family planning can still be a good alternative for those
who are really determined and committed to monitoring their menstrual cycle and
refraining from sex throughout the fertile season. For perfect use, its failure
rate is about 0.5–5%, while for ordinary use, it is about 24%.
It's important to keep in mind that
even the most successful contraceptive techniques might fail because of
improper application or human mistakes. To make sure the procedure is
effective, it must be applied regularly and accurately. A backup strategy, such
as a condom, can also help lower the risk of unplanned pregnancy.
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How Contraception
Functions: - Synthetic
hormones like progestin and oestrogen are used in hormonal contraception to
stop ovulation or the release of an egg from the ovaries. Additionally, they
make cervical mucus thicker, which makes it more challenging for sperm to pass
through the cervix and reach the egg. Birth control pills, patches, injections,
and vaginal rings are examples of hormonal techniques.
Sperm cannot enter the egg via barrier
methods because they physically block them from doing so. The most popular
method of barrier is the condom, both male and female. Before sexual contact,
cervical caps and diaphragms are also used as barriers to cover the cervix and
stop sperm from entering the uterus.
Small, T-shaped devices that are
placed into the uterus are known as intrauterine devices or IUDs. Synthetic
hormones are released by hormonal IUDs to suppress ovulation and thicken
cervical mucus. The toxic inflammatory response that coppers IUDs cause in the
uterus prevents sperm from fertilizing an egg or implanting a fertilized egg.
A permanent method of contraception
called sterilization prevents sperm from accessing the egg by blocking or
cutting the fallopian tubes in women or the vas deferens in men. Hysteroscopic sterilization
is a non-surgical method of sterilization that is an alternative to surgical
methods like tubal ligation and vasectomy.
Following a woman's menstrual cycle to
determine the viable window during which ovulation takes place and refraining
from sex during that time constitutes natural family planning. To avoid
conception, this method relies on abstinence or the application of a barrier
technique during the fertile window.
Overall, each type of contraception
prevents pregnancy in a unique way. To ensure a method's efficacy, it's
critical to pick one that fits the needs and lifestyle of the user and to apply
it regularly and appropriately.
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Advantages of
contraception: - Contraception
has numerous advantages for both people and society.
First of all, using contraception
enables people to organize their families and avoid unplanned pregnancies. As a
result, people are better equipped to plan and achieve their personal and
professional goals, which can improve economic and social consequences.
Secondly, the risk of sexually
transmitted infections (STIs) can also be decreased by some forms of
contraception, such as condoms. This may result in better outcomes for sexual
health and less STI transmission throughout communities.
Thirdly, hormonal contraceptives can
assist in controlling menstrual cycles and lowering the risk of certain
illnesses, including ovarian and endometrial cancer. Additionally, they can
lessen PMS symptoms and make acne better.
Finally, access to contraception gives people the freedom to decide for themselves what is best for their future and reproductive health. It enables people to plan their children and manage their fertility according to their own terms, which improves their quality of life and autonomy.
Conclusion: - Contraception has advanced significantly since
the days of employing plant and animal intestines as birth control. Hormonal,
barrier, and natural family planning methods are just a few of the many safe
and efficient contraceptive options accessible today. The risk of unwanted
pregnancy and STIs can be significantly decreased by taking contraception
consistently and correctly, while no technique is 100% effective.
People should carefully consider their
interests, medical history, and lifestyle while selecting the approach that is
best for them. They should also speak with a healthcare professional to make
sure they are applying the technique properly and to address any queries or
worries.
Finally, it should be noted that contraception is essential for reproductive health and empowerment. Contraception has the potential to have a positive effect on people, families, and communities by giving people the power to manage their fertility, stop unplanned pregnancies and STIs, and enhance their health outcomes. In order to achieve the best results for oneself and one's community, it is crucial to prioritize reproductive health and make informed contraception decisions.
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