Birth Control

Women use different contraception methods for birth control or for other reasons, and there are a lot of birth control methods that work differently, but they usually lead to the same result.

Birth control

Birth control is using a certain method to prevent the sperm from meeting with the egg inside the uterus through different ways: either by preventing the sperm from reaching the egg, preventing the egg from releasing from the ovary, or preventing the egg from implanting in the uterine lining.

Birth control methods

There are many contraception methods, yet they must be used correctly in order to give the intended result.

• Behavioral methods (natural planning): this means monitoring the menstrual cycle to determine the ovulation time and avoiding intercourse during it. Research showed that pregnancy could occur within the six days before the ovulation and until its day. However, ovulation time is unstable; therefore, they tend to monitor the physiological changes that occur in women due to the ovulation, like body temperature and cervical mucus changes, but in general, this method isn’t accurate enough.
• Barrier methods: such as male and female condoms, vaginal diaphragms, and cervical caps. These methods prevent the sperm from reaching the uterus, and they’re also very effective in preventing several sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
• Spermicides: they’re chemicals that damage the sperm and therefore prevent it from reaching the egg. They can be cream, gel, or suppositories.
• Hormonal methods: such as birth control pills, hormonal implants (hormonal patches implanted under the skin), IUDs (they have another nonhormonal type as well), vaginal rings, hormonal injections, and emergency birth control pills (they’re taken once within 72 hours after intercourse if there’s a possibility for a pregnancy to occur). Hormonal methods prevent pregnancy by increasing the cervical mucus thickness, thinning the uterine lining, and preventing ovulation.
• Permanent contraception: it includes salpingectomy or tubal ligation in women (so the egg doesn’t reach the uterus) or vasectomy in men.

Birth control benefits

Contraceptive benefits

• Spacing births helps in reducing the mortality rate in newborns and babies, reducing the risk of anemia in mothers, and giving more time for breastfeeding.
• Reducing the high-risk pregnancy in adolescents, 30-40 years old women, and women with certain health issues.
• Reducing the risk of poor health and mortality in mothers.

Non-contraceptive benefits

• Benefits of oral contraceptive pills: protecting against ovarian and endometrial cancers, reducing the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, reducing the risk of pregnancy complications like ectopic pregnancy, treating menstrual problems like dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia, treating menstrual-related iron-deficiency anemia, and treating acne and hirsutism.
• Barrier methods help in preventing the transmission of several STDs.
• Nonhormonal IUDs help reduce the rate of endometrial cancer, while hormonal IUDs help decrease menorrhagia and anemia, prevent endometrial hyperplasia, and decrease the risk of menstrual-related hysterectomy.

In general, the suitable birth control method for a woman is selected depending on her condition, and in many cases, two methods might be combined to ensure the optimal efficacy.