CONTRACEPTION METHODS
1. LONG-ACTING REVERSIBLE CONTRACEPTION
INTRA UTERINE DEVICE (IUD)
An IUD is a small, T-shaped object that goes
inside your uterus. The hormones or the
copper stop the sperm reaching the egg.
Sometimes, sperm does reach the egg
(fertilization) so the IUD stops the egg from
attaching to the wall of the uterus.
There are two types of IUDs:
Copper IUD - contains copper, a type of metal
Hormonal IUD – contains the hormone progestogen (Mirena or Jaydess)
Copper and hormonal IUDs are at least 99% effective. Only 1 in 100 people will get
pregnant each year
CONTRACEPTIVE IMPLANT
The implant is made up of two small rods the
size of a matchstick. The rods are put under the
skin in the inside of your arm. They slowly
release a hormone called progestogen. It can
stop your body from releasing an egg each
month. They also thicken the mucus in your
cervix so sperm cannot get to an egg. They work
for up to 5 years. And you can have them taken out whenever you want.
2. HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES
COMBINED ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE PILL
It is a pill you take every day to stop
getting pregnant. The combined pill
contains the hormones oestrogen
and progestogen. This pill is
different to the progestogen-only
pill. Oestrogen and progestogen
stop eggs being made, so no egg is released from the ovary. This pill is normally 92%
effective. This means 8 in 100 people will get pregnant each year.
PROGESTOGEN-ONLY PILL (POP)
The POP is a pill taken to prevent pregnancy. The POP
contains one hormone - progestogen. It does not
contain any oestrogen. Some POPs work mainly by
thickening the mucus in the cervix so sperm can’t
travel through it. Cerazette also works by stopping the
production of a monthly egg, and changes the lining of
the womb so it is less likely to accept a fertilized egg.
Typically the POP is 92% effective, which means a
pregnancy rate of eight people per 100 each year.
When pills are taken perfectly i.e. no pills forgotten, it
can be more than 99% effective in preventing
pregnancy.
3. BARRIER METHODS
CONDOMS - A condom is a fine barrier which is
rolled on to the penis before sex. It is used as a
barrier to stop sperm and infection passing
between sexual partners. It is usually made of
rubber. Condoms are used for vaginal, anal and
oral sex.
They help protect against pregnancy and sexually
transmissible infections (STIs), including HIV which can lead to AIDS. Partners share
responsibility for safer sex and contraception.
If used correctly every time you have sex, condoms provide very good protection from
pregnancy and infection. When condoms are used correctly every time, the pregnancy
rate is two out of 100 each year. Typically however, 15 out of 100 will get pregnant each
year when using condoms as contraception.
INTERNAL CONDOM - The internal condom is a
pouch that is used during intercourse to prevent
pregnancy. It also reduces the risk of sexually
transmitted infections (STIs). It has flexible rings at
each end – one end is closed and the other is open.
The internal condom is inserted deep into the vagina just before vaginal intercourse.
The ring at the closed end holds the pouch in the vagina and the ring at the open end
stays outside the vaginal opening during intercourse.
Internal condoms cover the inside of the vagina and collect pre-cum and semen during
ejaculation. This keeps sperm from entering the vagina. The internal condom is made of
nitrile polymer – that’s the same material that medical gloves are made from. They are
latex free so can be used by people who are allergic to latex and can be used with oil-
based and water-based lubricants.
The internal condom is more effective when it is used correctly every time, like all
contraceptive methods. With typical use, the pregnancy rate is 21 out of 100 each year.
If the internal condom is always used correctly, the pregnancy rate drops to five per
100.
4. NATURAL METHODS
FERTILITY AWARENESS - Fertility awareness is recognizing the signs of fertility in a
woman’s menstrual cycle. It can be used to:
o understand your own menstrual cycle
o plan a pregnancy
o avoid a pregnancy
It is the technique of working out
exactly what stage of your menstrual
cycle you are in and at which stages
you are not fertile and having sex at
those times. The Fertility Awareness
Method requires a woman to observe
fertility signs. There are a number of
different methods such as tracking the
days of your cycle, paying attention to
body temperature fluctuations and keeping a very close eye on changes to your cervical
mucus. There are several more techniques but they can all be thrown by slight changes
to your cycle, a miscalculation, spontaneous lifestyle resulting in non-regular sleeping
time or a host of other variables.
The method can be 97% effective for couples who can easily recognize the fertile phase
and use the method correctly. This means three out of 100 couples will get pregnant
each year.
PULL OUT - Pulling out is also called
coitus interruptus or the "withdrawal
method" and it requires great self-
control, experience, and trust, and as
such, it is pretty unreliable. It works,
some of the time, by the man taking his
penis out of the vagina before he
ejaculates, limiting the chances of any
sperm reaching the egg. However, not all
sperm are released at climax, some are a
little more eager than that, so even though you don’t finish off, you could still finish up
pregnant.
5. PERMANENT CONTRACEPTION
VASECTOMY - Permanent contraception is called
sterilization.
The vas deferens are cut and tied during a
vasectomy. When a man is sterilized, the operation
is called a vasectomy. When you ejaculate (cum)
the fluid or semen from your penis contains sperm.
Sperm are made in your testicles (balls) and travel
up your vas deferens (tubes) to mix with your
semen. These are the tubes that are cut and tied
when you have a vasectomy.
After a vasectomy there are no sperm in your semen. Your testicles still make sperm but
they are absorbed by your body.
TUBAL LIGATION - When a woman is sterilized, the operation is called a tubal ligation. It
is a procedure to close both fallopian tubes which means that sperm can’t get to an egg
to fertilize it.
The tubes are closed using rings or clips or by cutting and tying.
It is usually done by putting a tiny telescope
called a laparoscope in through a small cut
near the belly button and closing the tubes
through another small cut near the pubic
hair.
If a laparoscope can’t be used then a longer
cut is made near the pubic hair.
Tubal ligations are done in hospital and the
woman has a general anaesthetic.
Depending on the type of operation she
may go home the same day or stay one to
two days in hospital.
The failure rate for tubal ligation is one in 200.
