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Birth Control

What's New in Birth Control

If you are a woman in her childbearing years, sexually active but not yet creating a family, the chances are you will be using some form of birth control.

Although most couples claim they are “satisfied” with their chosen method of preventing conception, roughly 60 percent of pregnancies are unplanned. Most of these are the result of inadequate or wrongly-used birth control methods.

Choosing a Method of Birth Control
Your personality and lifestyle (and those of your partner) are vital considerations when choosing a method of birth control. How busy you are, your level of spontaneity, and the degree of your desire not to start or add to your family are all important considerations. Here is an update on the most effective methods of birth control currently available to you.

The Pill
The birth control pill is considered by many women to be the best form of birth control in terms of convenience and reliability. (The pill is considered to be 97 percent or more effective in preventing pregnancy when used correctly.)

The pill is available as a combined oral contraceptive (COC) containing both estrogen and progestin, or as a progestin only pill (POP). POPs are sometimes referred to as “the mini-pill.”

COCs work by suppressing ovulation While COCs are considered safe for most women, they should not be used by women over the age of 35 who smoke or who have a significant family history of cardiovascular disease. Women with a medical history of blood clots or breast or endometrial cancer also should not use COCs. Possible side effects include nausea, headache, weight gain, irregular bleeding, breast tenderness and depression. (All these normally subside after a few months’ use of COCs.)

POPs work by thickening the cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching the egg, and by stopping the lining of the uterus from thickening to receive a fertilized egg. The risk of blood clots is not present with POPs, as they contain no estrogen. This type of birth control pill is a good option for women who cannot take estrogen because they are breast feeding or suffer from estrogen-related headaches or high blood pressure. Possible side effects from POP use are menstrual changes, weight gain, and breast tenderness.

Injectable Progestins
An injection of a progestin called Depo-Provera once every three months provides an effective method of contraception. These injections are particularly helpful for for women who cannot take oral contraceptives or who find themselves forgetting to take them.

Injectable progestins prevent pregnancy in the same ways as the progestin only pill and are similarly effective. The side effects of Depo-Provera are also similar.

Contraceptive Implants
With this method of contraception, six small rods are implanted under the skin, using a local anaesthetic. The rods release a small amount of hormone from the time implanted, and are normally considered effective 24 hours following insertion. Contraceptive implants prevent the development and release of a mature egg. They remain effective for up to five years. Common side effects include irregular bleeding, weight gain, headaches, dizziness and nausea. Contraceptive implants have the same efficacy as birth control pills.

Interuterine Devices
Today’s interuterine devices (IUDs) have one of the lowest failure rates of any contraceptive method. An IUD is a T-shaped device that is inserted into the uterus in a doctor's office. A thread that hangs from the uterus into the vagina indicates that the IUD is still in place.

IUDs work by causing a reaction in the lining of the uterus that makes it non-receptive to a fertilized egg. IUDs may be changed annually, or left in place for up to four years, depending on the type. Side effects may include cramping and heavy menstrual flow.

The Sponge
This method of birth control consists of a small sponge that is inserted into the vagina before intercourse. The sponge releases spermicidal gel and forms a barrier to kill or immobilize sperm before it can reach the cervix and enter the uterus.

The sponge may be inserted several hours before intercourse and does not have to be replaced if intercourse is repeated. If intercourse does not take place within six hours of insertion, however, a second application of spermicide is required. The sponge can be left in place up to 12 hours after intercourse.

The sponge is an ideal method of birth control for women who do not wish to use hormonal birth control methods (or are unable to use them for medical reasons). It should not be used by women who are allergic to the spermicide nonoxynol-9, or who have had toxic shock syndrome. Used correctly, the sponge is 89 to 91 percent effective in preventing pregnancy.