How Many Types Of Birth Control Method Available Recently?

There are many types of birth control that people now choose. What matters most with this variety of options is to select the one that suits anatomical factors, health condition, age and several other criteria. Normally, you should consult a specialist before taking a decision. Yet, people who have sexual intercourse occasionally and change sex partners often, have fewer safe options available. You can stay health only by using condoms correctly. The other types of birth control cannot keep STD away.

Besides condoms, hormonal pills, intra-uterine devices, birth control sponges, shots, rings, spermicides, birth control patches, natural family planning methods and sperm barriers represent the main types of birth control now available. Normally, they all have a high efficiency rate, and pose no usage difficulty, yet, not every kind of birth control is universally valid. This is the reason why you should discuss the types of birth control available with a specialist in order to identify the one that suits you best.

Let’s take the case of hormonal pills. Such contraceptives have significantly improved over the years and there safety is undoubtedly higher at the moment. The number of side effects is consistently lower, yet they remain out of many women’s reach. You will have to be straightforward with the gynecologist about your love life and your medical history.

Health risks are associated with all the main types of birth control. Plus, unless you use the methods correctly, the efficiency will never be optimal and chances are for unplanned pregnancies to appear. Once you identify what types of birth control you can use, narrow down the search and see what advantages and disadvantages come with different methods. For example, you can try condoms and natural family planning or condoms and spermicides. Another possibility is sperm barriers combined with spermicides.

Lots of responsibility is required to actually build fertility awareness. You can only determine what types of birth control are most useful by analyzing the efficiency rate, the costs, the risks and the way the methods work. On the average, sexual education can be improved no matter the age, particularly due to the larger access to information that characterizes our society.

Planned Parenthood Helps Improve Sexual Education and Birth Control Issue

The American affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation is usually known by the shorter title of Planned Parenthood. This institution provides assistance to couples, singles, children and teens, not only for sexual issues but also for many other reproductive health care problems. Planned Parenthood supports sexual education, pro-choice policies and insists on more government coverage in health programs. The organization is considered very controversial because they provide surgical abortion on request.

The history of Planned Parenthood began in 1916 when Margaret Sanger founded the first American birth control center in Brooklyn, NY. Gradually, the organization became actively involved in supporting women’s sexual rights and choices. At present, Planned Parenthood has over 850 offices all over the US, providing a wide number of services and facilities such as:

-abortion;
-counseling on pregancy issues;
-birth control solutions;
-emergency contraception;
-medical tests and screening for breast, testicular and ovary cancer;
-pregnancy medical tests;
-treatment for sexually transmitted diseases;
-hormonal treatments for menopause and andropause;
-sexual education and more.

Most of the funds used by Planned Parenthood come from the government in the form of contracts and grants, but there is  very intense sponsorship from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which increases the annual budget considerably. Nevertheless, there are many non-profit for-life organizations that lobby the government to stop funding Planned Parenthood. The right to abortion that the Planned Parenthood supports is considered very controversial and there is a number of laws that the organization fights against.

Planned Parenthood is for total sexual freedom and the possibility to make choices, and therefore opposes all forms of restrictions. Whether it be right or wrong, that is for everyone to tell for his/her part. Yet, it seems that the open discussion of abstinence and birth control methods is far more efficient for teens’ sexual education, and so far, this policy has given good results. If Planned Parenthood manages to reduce the number of abortions and inherent emotional problems that accompany such interventions, it means that the birth control efficiency of their methods deserves public recognition.

Moreover, Planned Parenthood presently provides support for the testing of new contraceptives, but lots of reasons still make the organization controversial. Some matters have been the subject of public debates while other have never reached the eyes or ears of the media. The White House’s policy towards abortion may tip the scales to one side or another. We’ll see to which…

The Advantage of Natural Birth Control

Fertility awareness inevitably leads to natural birth control. Some people can’t or won’t use hormonal contraceptives and prefer natural family planning over other modern contraceptive solutions. The ovulation method, the rhythm method, the standard days method, the sympto-thermal method are just a few of the natural birth control choices people rely on. Here is how each of these works.

The standard days method

The menstrual cycle is divided into three main periods according to the standard days method. Day number 1 is the first day of the period. Between day 1 and day 8, you are unlikely to get pregnant and you can have sex without birth control. Between day 9 and day 18, ovulation takes place and you are fertile. You should not have sex, or you should use another birth control method. From day 20 to day 32, you can once again enjoy natural birth control.

The ovulation method

The analysis of the changes in the cervical mucus makes the basis for the ovulation method. Ovulation usually takes place between the 9th and the 18th day of the menstrual cycle, with variations from woman to woman. The fertility tests available in drug stores can help you determine when you ovulate, and thus you can use some extra birth control during that period.

The sympto-thermal method

The sympto-thermal method is both a natural birth control solution as well as an option for couples trying to conceive. It is a bit more difficult to keep track of the subtle changes in the body, which is why women who want to get pregnant are keener on this method than those who seek natural birth control.

There are no guarantees with natural birth control. There is a lot of unpredictable in the way a woman’s body works during the menstrual cycle, and many unplanned pregnancies appear as a result. If the menstrual pattern is regular, then the efficiency of natural birth control methods is very high, just like that of hormonal birth control. Seek medical advice and see what recommendations you can get. Professional advice could simplify your choices a lot, and good information could save you from an unwanted pregnancy!

How to Use Morning After Pill in The Birth Control Purpose

Emergency contraception or the morning after pill is a hormonal treatment administered if another form of birth control has failed, or when no protection was used. There are many resemblances between the morning after pill and the regular hormonal pill since the ingredients are the same. The morning after pill should not replace a regular birth control method, because used frequently it can seriously impair health.

The morning after pill should be used as soon as possible after you have unprotected sex. Normally it can be used within three or five days after intercourse, but the sooner you act, the better for you. Manufacturers nevertheless warn that the efficiency can be influenced by the moment when you actually administer it. Do not mistake this birth control method for the abortion pill, because this is not the effect it produces. Emergency contraception simply prevents ovulation, and changes the lining of the uterus so that it cannot allow the egg to nest.

The morning after pill has similar side effects with the regular hormonal pill, and the efficiency rate is pretty high. The usual adverse reactions to hormonal treatments may appear nonetheless: nausea, headaches, breast tenderness and spotting. Read the list of instructions carefully and check the side effects in detail for your birth control purpose. The morning after pill should not be used by women who suffer from severe liver disease or porphyria. There are also drugs and herbal supplements that interact with the morning after pill decreasing its efficiency.

Get a drug prescription right away if you need the morning after pill. Don’t wait for a later appointment, and mention it is an emergency. The sooner you act, the higher the risk of unwanted pregnancy. In some states, you can also buy the morning after pill without prescription. The only downside is the cost, as the prices are a lot higher in pharmacies. Emergency contraception can be accessed freely with certain organizations, but you need to know where to call.

The morning after pill does not protect you for the entire menstrual cycle, and after you take it you are again exposed to the appearance of pregnancy if you don’t use another birth control method. Do not take more emergency contraceptives during the same menstrual cycle because of the serious adverse reactions. Rely on some serious birth control method or abstain from sex.

Natural Family Planning With The Use of Birth Control

Natural family planning requires a lot of sexual awareness and plenty of knowledge on the body mechanisms that rule fertility. This kind of birth control is not easy, and both partners share the duty of getting information. The same methods used for the prevention of pregnancy can also be applied the other way round, when the couple is trying to conceive. Tests for ovulation, the changes in the cervical mucus, the standard days methods, computer-generated tests and charts, all could be of help for birth control and easier conception.

Natural family planning is easy to understand and put into practice, plus, it is totally inexpensive. Yet, it requires good communication with the life partner as well as willingness to accept the eventual limitations of the method. There are around ten days every month when sexual intercourse without birth control may result in pregnancy. Two choices are possible: not to have sex or use some other birth control method. Condoms will prevent both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, while natural family planning only works for pregnancy prevention.

For the efficient use of natural family planning, a woman has to interpret her fertility on a daily basis. Moreover, it is not advisable to choose natural birth control methods when you know that you don’t want a child, and the possibility of getting pregnant seems devastating. Therefore, if a possible pregnancy would not be such a disaster for you, natural family planning could be taken more lightly. The effectiveness of the method can only be appreciated depending on how accurate the woman is with her interpretation.

In the case of perfect usage, natural family planning is more effective than oral contraceptives. Yet, the average, not the perfect, user is in question, the efficiency rate drops somewhere between 75% and 88%. These data look closer to reality because rules are seldom followed that correctly.

Who relies on natural family planning? Such birth control options enjoy a higher popularity within some communities because of some cultural or religious beliefs. There are families that won’t mind conceiving and therefore take little care of birth control. In fact, for most couples who try natural family planning, a baby would not be a problem or a mistake.

Male Birth Control And The Controlversial Issue

Male birth control is considered a controversial issue for lots of reasons. A few years ago large pharmaceutical companies like Schering, Organon or Wyeth announced the production of hormonal birth control designed especially for men, but the results of their research hasn’t been finalized yet. Why? Because the investments are huge and the market is not that receptive to male birth control pills. So far, many drug manufacturers have abandoned their projects, stopping research programs in progress.

Statistics show a certain willingness on the part of men to use alternative forms of birth control. Normally, male birth control is administered as an injection with testosterone that would prevent the production of sperm. Women, however, have shown reluctance towards entrusting men with birth control treatments. For the moment, vasectomy is the only viable male birth control option, yet, few people are willing to try it. How is hormonal birth control supposed to work for men?

The male birth control solution has to combine testosterone with progestin so as to suppress the production of sperm but with process reversibility. This is not possible with a pill because the testosterone would be too quickly broken down by the liver. Hormonal male birth control may be produced either as a monthly shot or as a topical product. Biannual implants could also be a solution, but the procedure required is considered too invasive.

Between 10% and 15% of men have a low reaction to hormonal male birth control, which is quite a high rate of non-response. The issue is in the number of cells that need to be blocked. While with female hormonal treatments, there is just one egg to prevent from fertilizing, with male birth control, there are millions of spermatozoon that have to be inactivated. The efficiency of this birth control method also seems to depend on race factors.

Condoms definitely make the most viable form of male birth control. Couples successfully use condoms, and so do people who have occasional sex. It is the only birth control method that is non-invasive and protects against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

The Most Effective Free Birth Control Method For Teens

Since people now begin their sex life at younger ages than in the past, health organizations make efforts to reduce the number of abortions or unwanted pregnancies by providing free birth control. This option is also highly valuable for couples who can’t afford to spend hundreds of dollars on birth control, or who need to make savings. Local health departments now provide free birth control all over the United States. Even if you don’t intend to take medical tests, you can also get the chance of free medical investigations as part of the same supportive programs.

Planned Parenthood should be your first stop when searching for free birth control solutions. Gynecologist exams and free pills are the most important services included in the Family Planning Benefit Program. If this is not a viable solution for you, a non-profit pregnancy center may have the answer to your problem. This kind of organizations do not provide assistance only to pregnant women, but to anyone who seeks support for birth control.

As for teens, the access to free birth control is bliss. If you give teens solutions, they are most likely to use them. Parents should be happy that with good sexual education, the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases is lower. The best solution would be for youngsters to find support and understanding at home, but most parents have difficulties coping with the controversial issue of their kids’ sexuality under a certain age. Free birth control methods are available in lots of places. You just need to ask for their help!

Teens even get free condoms as bonuses for online purchases. The package is shipped discreetly and you can enjoy the gift without paying a cent. Free birth control methods are also provided in high-schools and colleges by volunteers working for non-profit organizations: they offer sexual education and support to teens. Condoms enjoy the highest popularity and they are encouraged over other birth control methods because they also protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

Ask for free birth control with the local school health center. In case you fear parents’ notification, you should first inquire about the school’s policy before asking for birth control. There are other possibilities here too, besides the school health office. One way or the other, you should be able to find free birth control from one of the sources we’ve mentioned here.

Birth Control Side Effects In Relation With Combined Estrogen and Progesterone

Hormonal birth control gives most side effects of all. Pills have the lowest tolerance level, but individual factors have the biggest influence under the circumstances. We will briefly refer to the most common birth control side effects, yet, regardless of how mild they may seem, they cannot remain permanent. If the normal accommodation symptoms don’t go away after a month or two at the maximum, seek medical help right away.

Breast tenderness, dizziness and headaches are usually temporary birth control side effects. Once the accommodation period passes, these inconveniences ought to go away. The same thing applies to nausea, although the frequency of this adverse reaction is lower. You can deal with the problem if you take the hormonal pill with food. Sometimes the doctor could recommend a switch of brands when the birth control side effects persist despite your excellent health condition.

Breakthrough bleeding or spotting is the most common of hormonal birth control side effects, yet it is unbearable for lots of women. The incidence of this inconvenience could be reduced if you take the pill at the same time every day. Normally, spotting diminishes and disappears once the adjustment period is over, but the list of side effects mentions it as potentially bothersome for up to two months.

Further birth control side effects associated with the use of combined estrogen and progesterone, include mood swings. It is important to run medical tests and determine whether the birth control pill is to blame for depression. If it is indeed behind the problem, the pill will not work for you in general. Try non-hormonal birth control methods that have fewer adverse reactions.

The birth control side effects are more intense and potentially health ruining if they appear with smokers, women over 35 or those with a medical condition. For a perfectly healthy woman, birth control side effects appear just as a temporary reaction to the treatment. Weight gain often accompanies hormonal imbalances and it has been reported as a side effect of the pill, yet the incidence is reduced in the case of ultra-modern contraceptives.

Very serious birth control side effects include blurred vision, abdominal cramps, unexplained severe headaches, numbness in the limbs and chest pain. You should stop the treatment right away and address an emergency health care facility immediately. Report any other abnormal symptoms to the gynecologist. Do not use birth control pills unless they are prescribed by a doctor because you could seriously endanger your health.

The Birth Control Shot is a Contraceptive Method Injected Intramuscularly

An easy to administrate contraceptive solution, the birth control shot makes a good choice for lots of couples all over the world. It contains progesterone only, with the hormone being slowly released into the body. The main impact of this hormone is to prevent ovulation, meaning that there will be no egg release monthly.

The efficiency range of the birth control shot is superior to that of the birth control pill. While with the pill, 8 in 100 couples get pregnant yearly, the rate is only 3 in 100 per year in the case of the birth control shot. The chances of getting pregnant are very high if you don’t administer the next shot on time.

You should also be aware of the fact that the birth control shot does not provide protection against STD. Plus, there are physiological changes that could be an inconvenience while using this birth control method. Normally included in the list of adverse reactions, you could be experiencing:
-irregular menstrual periods;
-headaches, breast tenderness and weight gain;
-mood changes and depression.

Overweight is the most difficult to fight back if it appears as a side effect, because hormonal imbalances are harder to correct. Other long-term side effects have been reported in relation to the use of the progesterone birth control shot. Thus, many women have developed osteoporosis by losing in bone density during the treatment.

In case you decide that the birth control shot is a good option for you, talk to your health care provider and make sure that your daily calcium intake is enough to support the hormonal treatment without loss of bone density. Moreover, fertility may be harder to recover after the long term use of the birth control shot. The fertility problem is not permanent, and women can recover in time, but difficulties could appear along the way.

Your doctor could also warn you about other potential problems and even advise against the shot in case she/he suspects an existing health condition. You should not administer it if you suffer from any of the following:

-headaches;
-disorders with blood coagulation;
-unexplained vaginal bleeding;
-thrombosis;
-cancer;
-if you suspect a pregnancy.

As for costs, the birth control shot is not expensive, not to mention that health insurance usually covers the expenses. The best advice you can get related to the shot is at your doctor’s office.

Last but not least, when using some other drugs or herbal supplements, it is important to rely on a supplementary birth control method because the risk of interferences leaves you unprotected against pregnancy.

Birth Control Ring Is As Efficient As The Combined Hormonal Pill

The birth control ring is a contraceptive device that releases hormones directly into the blood stream at the level of the vagina. The uterus and the ovaries are thus prepared against the appearance of a pregnancy. The birth control ring contains two main ingredients: progesterone and estrogen, both with a role in the function of the reproductive system. The blockage of the ovulation means that no egg is released for fertilization. Another anatomical modification consist in the thickening of the cervical mucus and the changes in the uterine lining.

Insert the birth control ring in the vagina on the first day of your period and let it work for 21 days in a row before removing it. It should be removed on the same day of the week when it was inserted. Don’t use it for seven days more and the menstrual bleeding will occur. Then, the cycle continues. The use of the birth control ring resembles that of other hormonal birth control methods. Yet, you should check the usage instructions carefully so as to be sure that you don’t overlook some detail. Mention must be made that the birth control ring is not efficient for the first seven days after the start of the treatment.

During this interval, the birth control ring needs to be used in parallel with some other birth control method: condom, most of the time. With this birth control method there is no protection against sexually transmitted diseases. As for the physical comfort, lots of girls and women wonder whether the ring will not be a problem. Normally, since the position in the vagina is not important, the ring can be placed as you consider more comfortable. You should not feel it as you don’t feel a vaginal tampon. There is no need to remove it when bathing or swimming.

In terms of efficiency, the birth control ring acts similarly with the combined pills. Do not use it unless you have a perfect health condition. Only a doctor can tell whether the birth control ring makes a good choice for you or not. There are fewer side effects than with the use of hormonal pills, but they can be aggravated for smokers and girls with a certain medical history. Dizziness, headaches, spotting and mood changes are a few of the regular reactions to the use of the birth control ring. Normally, the inconvenience is temporary and corresponds to the transition period.

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