Birth Control-Need and Methods

Introduction

With the rise in population and lack of resources, the quality of life has degraded to a greater level. As a result people today have successfully shifted towards birth controls in India and the world. The birth control techniques are primarily opted for when someone has had an unwanted pregnancy. Although there are several types of birth control, their effectiveness depends on the usage of the method. 

In earlier classes or chapters, you must have come across terms like birth control, unwanted pregnancies, contraceptives, or methods for birth control. Read on to get a detailed knowledge of everything related to Birth control-need and methods.

Birth Control

Birth control can be defined as using several drugs, pills, devices, or even surgical procedures in both men and women to avoid unwanted pregnancies. These include various options, although some of them are more trusted than others.

 Note: the effectiveness of the birth control methods is majorly dependent on how carefully the method is used. 

Need for Birth Control

If believed in facts, there is no “right” reason to use birth control; however, it depends on the person taking the birth control. There are several reasons to take these. The most common one is to prevent unwanted pregnancy, which is a consequence of sexual intercourse. That being said, other reasons why the birth control methods are considered are as follows:

  • In case the woman is not ready to carry a child mentally
  • To keep appropriate time-space between your children
  • If the body is not healthy enough to give birth

Since we have studied the need for birth control or the reasons for considering birth control, it’s time to unveil several birth control methods. 

Birth Control Methods

There are several birth control methods that both males and females use to prevent pregnancies. Some of the most commonly used birth control methods are as follows- 

  • Natural birth control – Natural birth control is a common method used to prevent pregnancies. In this method, there is no protected intercourse for five days before ovulation and three days after ovulation as the fertility rate during this time is comparatively higher. This method is based upon ovarian cycle of female
  • Barrier method – Barrier is another popular technique commonly used while performing sex to prevent unwanted pregnancy. As the name suggests, it acts as a barrier between the sperm and the uterus as it blocks the way the sperm can enter the uterus. These include male condoms, female condoms, cervical caps, contraceptive sponges, and diaphragms. Among all, the most common one is the condom. Apart from eliminating the risk of pregnancy, condoms also protect against several sexually transmitted or HIV diseases
  • Hormonal method – In this birth control method, the hormonal balance of the body of the female is used for the prevention of fertilization. This method includes estrogen, contraceptive pills, progestin-releasing patches, or vaginal rings
  • Intrauterine Devices (IUD) – During intercourse, the two T-shaped devices are placed into the uterus. These IUD devices are IUD and hormonal IUDs. Let’s discuss them briefly
  1. Copper IUD – A tiny amount of copper gets released into the women’s body which prevents pregnancy 
  1. Hormonal IUD – To prevent egg formulation, progestin gets released into the body. 
  • Surgical Methods – Apart from common methods, there are surgical operations that professionals perform to prevent egg fertilization. In men, this process is referred to as Vasectomy, whereas in women, the process is termed as Tubal Ligation

Devices for Birth Control

  • Male condoms – Male condom is the most common device used to prevent pregnancies. Condoms are made up of latex that builds an invisible barrier for the sperm, due to which it does not allow it to travel to the ovary
  • Female condoms – These are made up of Polyurethane that has a ring-like structure at the end. Note: female condoms are not widely available like male condoms
  • Sponge – Sponge is another popular way to prevent pregnancy. It is kept in the female genitals that further acts as a barrier between the egg and the male sperm
  • Diaphragm – Diaphragm is a dome-shaped device placed inside the women’s genitals to avoid pregnancy
  • Cervical cap – It is a latex rubber barrier device that fits perfectly in the women’s genitals and does not allow the sperm to enter the uterus
  • Injections – Injections have become a common preventive measure, where a shot is released in the body that stops egg formulation
  • Pharmaceutical devices – Several pills are used to prevent unwanted pregnancies. These include:
  1. Emergency “Morning-after” Contraception 
  2. Contraceptive Patch 
  3. Contraceptive Pill 
  4. Vaginal Ring 
  5. The Implant 

Apart from general methods, the pregnancies can also be terminated through medical procedures called MTP. It is a legalized method for the termination of an unwanted pregnancy. If you happen to be pregnant and looking for a legalized way to terminate it, medical termination is a great way. However, it is not yet suitable as per the emotional, ethical, religious, and social point of view and is still a debatable topic. Reasons for MTP can be Pregnancies that happened due to rapes or unsafe intercourse, contraceptive failure or in case it is dangerous for the baby or mother, or both. 

Conclusion

Now when you have studied the definition of the Birth control-Need and Methods of it, we are assuming you have got a deeper understanding of what it is, the classification of Birth control-Need and Methods.

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