By the time a women reaches her mid thirtys she may have married more than once, given birth to a few times or moved home
several times however she may never have even given a second thought to changing her method of
contraception.
There are several methods of contraception available to women today one of the more widly used in the earlier part of womanhood is the barrier method. There are a few pro's for this method however it does not provide the user with any form of protection from sexually
transmitted diseases.
The next most widely used method of contraception is The Pill. This is an oral contraceptive which contains two ingredients, progestogen and oestrogen, which supress oveulation. The pro's for this method of contraception are; it's ease of use and it is a reliable method of contraception. The cons include side-effects and may cause nausea, headaches and breast tenderness. The pill does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases and must be re-evaluated after a four year period. Medical surveys have shown that the pill can increase the risk, especially in smokers, of heart disease, and heightens the risk of breast cancer.
The minipill is also an oral contraceptive however it contains no oestrogen and minute amounts of progestogen. This form of contraceptive prevents sperm reaching the egg by thickening the mucus of the cervix. The pro's by using this form of contraception are; due to there being no oestrogen this pill had fewer side effects. It can also produce lighter periods and is an excellent choice for women who suffer from heavy periods or anemia. The cons are it can cause irregular bleeding and has a higher failure rate than the pill. This form of contraception does not offer any protection from Aids or sexually transmitted diseases.
The IUD is a piece of plastic with copper wrapped around the outside or another form contains progesterone. This form of contraception is entered into the uterus to stop sperm from reaching the egg.
The pros are that IUD is a long term contraceptive which you can have removed at any time you decide. The cons are that the IUD can be the cause of very heavy periods and does not protect it's user from sexually transmitted disease. However, this form of contraception is one of the safest birth-control methods.
Barrier method contraceptives include cervical caps used in conjunction with sperimicidal jellies, pessaries or creams. There are two types ; the female condom and the male condom. The male condom is one of the more highly used of condoms and one that is most familiar on the market. It is used externally and prevents sperm from reaching the female eggs. The pros are that they are easily used, inexpensive and can prevent sexually transmitted diseases. The cons are that on rare occasions they break. Female condoms, or diaphragms, are used internally and like male condoms they prevent sperm from reaching the egg. The pros are ease of use and they are cost-effective. The cons when using diaphragms are that they can slip and have been known to cause urinary-tract infections.
Norplant are flexible small capsules inserted by a medical professional just below the skin on your upper arm. They slowly release progestogen and supress ovulation for up to a five year period. The pros are that it is highly convenient, it is highly effective and they have very few side effects. The cons are it won't protect you from sexually transmitted diseases and may cause irregular periods.
Tubal ligation is blocking the fallopian tubes so that the sperm and eggs cannot meet. This method is surgically implanted and can be used for the rest of your sexual life. The pros for this method are as I just stated, that this method can be used up to and beyond the rest of your sexual life. The cons are it does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, all surgery carry risks and it is not 100% safe. A small amount of users have becmpregnated whilst using this method of contraceptive.
Depo-provera is a form of injection which supresses ovulation for approximately a twelve week period. It is a highly popular form of contraception worldwide. The pros for the use of Depo-provers are that you have between 10-13 weeks between each injection and it can cause your periods to stop completely. The cons are that there are a few side-effects which the user may encounter. These include weight gain, headaches, nausea and depression. This form of contraception does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.