How To Do Just About Everything
How To Do Just About Everything
by Sabah Karimi
Find this article at: http://www.ehow.com/how-to_4845441_pick-method-birth-control.html
Unless you are actively trying to have a baby, you will always need to use birth control. Birth control is just as important for men as it is for women. If a man doesn't understand the basics of birth control, he won't be able to act responsibly. So while most of these methods do focus on female biology, it is essential for males to be just as much in the know. But also keep in mind that the woman is the one who will be using most of these methods, so she must be comfortable with her decision.
Barrier methods are exactly what they sound like--they involve putting something between the sperm and the egg.
The condom is the one birth control method where men will have to engage in the protective action. Condoms are best for people who want to protect themselves against STIs, STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and those who do not want to take any pills or shots. Both men and women should know how to properly put a condom on. Here are the basic steps:
1. Store your condoms in a cool, dry place.
2. Put a drop or two of lubricant inside the condom.
3. If the penis is not circumcised, pull back the foreskin before rolling on the condom.
4. Place the rolled condom over the tip of the hard penis, leaving a half-inch space at the tip to collect the semen
5. Pinch the air out of the tip of the condom, as air bubbles may cause the condom to break.
6. Unroll the condom over the penis with the other hand all the way down to the base.
7. Smooth out any air bubbles.
The female condom is useful for a woman whose partner doesn't like wearing a male condom. The female condom basically works the same way as a male condom, except that it's larger and fits into a woman's vagina and over the vulva, capturing the semen. The female condom also interferes with sexual sensation less than the male condom.
A diaphragm is a soft, rubber dome that fits over the cervix, and it must be used with spermicide each time you have intercourse. You'll have to be fitted for a diaphragm by a gynecologist and shown how to insert/extract it. Diaphragms can be difficult to insert properly, especially because they're greased with spermicide. Diaphragms must be inserted at least 6 hours before sex and should stay in place 6 to 8 hours after intercourse. Eighteen out of 100 women get pregnant using diaphragms during the first year of use.
All of the hormonal methods have different possible side effects, ranging from weight gain to blood clots in the legs, heart or brain. Needless to say, you must see a doctor before beginning any of these methods so that you can be aware of the side effects. Hormonal methods are all 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy if used correctly. Ironically, these methods can also have an effect on your libido.
There are many different brands of birth control pills, but there are essentially two types of oral contraception: progestin-only pills and combination pills (which use both estrogen and progestin). Depending on your medical makeup and needs, your doctor will recommend one or the other. The basic function of the pill is to trick your body into thinking that you're pregnant. As you know, when a woman is pregnant, the body sends out signals (that is, progestin) to tell the reproductive system not to allow more pregnancy to occur. You have to take the pill the same time every day, so it's important to get yourself into the habit of establishing a pill routine. The only time that you shouldn't take the pill is when you're scheduled to menstruate, but many pill kits have harmless sugar pills for you to take on those days so that you don't break the habit. Some brands of birth control pills help clear up your skin, but others cause mild weight gain. That's the price of messing with your hormones.
With Depo-provera treatment, you will get an injection in the backside every 3 months with a needle that releases a hormone similar to progesterone. This hormone keeps your ovaries from releasing eggs, so it's basically impossible to get pregnant.
Norplant is a commitment. Six thin plastic implants are put under the skin of your arm, and hormones are released constantly for 5 years to keep your ovaries from releasing eggs. The insertion is painless (except for the prick of the numbing needle). Norplant can be removed early, but it is fairly expensive, and therefore, this method isn't worth it unless you plan on leaving the implants in for the full 5 years.
If your religious beliefs preclude you from using one of our already discussed methods, you can turn to natural methods; these are useful in predicting when you are fertile.
The rhythm method involves figuring out when your body is most likely to get pregnant and then avoiding sex during those times. You can do this by taking your temperature in the morning (your temperature goes up during ovulation), examining your cervical mucus and charting your periods on a calendar. Although the rhythm method is a good predictor of ovulation, "good" does not equal "great," especially for women whose menstrual cycles aren't predictable. Furthermore, sperm can live in the body for up to 7 days, and therefore, practicing a natural method perfectly means that you will have to abstain from sex for 10 days or more during every menstrual cycle.
Withdrawal is exactly what it sounds like: When the man feels that he is about to ejaculate, he pulls himself out of the woman, so the semen doesn't enter the vagina. Withdrawal should not be used as a sole form of birth control.
Abstinence is the only form of natural birth control that works 100 percent. Abstinence simply means you don't have sex at all.
Also called "morning after" contraception, emergency contraception prevents pregnancy after unprotected intercourse through one of two ways: oral contraception or the insertion of an IUD (intrauterine device).
Oral Contraception: "Morning after" pills originally came to light in the form of RU-486. When you take emergency oral contraception, the body makes it so that if by chance you did become pregnant within the last 3 days, you will no longer be pregnant. As with regular birth control pills, emergency pills come in several forms. You must take the first dose of pills no later than 72 hours after the "mistake" occurs. Emergency oral contraception should not be used as your regular form of birth control. First of all, even if you begin treatment right away, it's slightly less reliable than the other hormonal methods listed earlier. Second, you have to consume about 40 pills in a 24-hour time frame, and this shock to your body may cause vomiting, headaches and irregular periods.
Emergency IUD Insertion: An IUD is a small, flexible plastic device that contains either copper or a hormone, and it is inserted into the uterus, preventing an egg from attaching to the uterine wall. There are a few kinds available, and different brands can be left in the uterus for up to 10 years to prevent pregnancy. Therefore, using an IUD as emergency contraception only makes sense if you plan on using it as your method of birth control from that point on. For emergency situations, the IUD must be inserted within 5 days of unprotected intercourse.
Although IUDs are extremely reliable (99.7 percent effective), there are strong reasons against using an IUD as a method of birth control, emergency or regular. First, the IUD can be squeezed out of the uterus or actually puncture the uterus. Furthermore, the side effects range from heavy menstrual flow to severe cramping to infertility. The threat of infertility causes most doctors to warn young women who plan on having children someday against using an IUD.
All women should see a gynecologist if (1) they want to change their current method of birth control or (2) they are thinking about having sex for the first time. Anyone over the age of 16 should be visiting the gynecologist yearly for her regular gyno exam and pap smear anyway. You should try to visit the same doctor/nurse practitioner every time you go; this way, you will feel comfortable asking her questions about sex and birth control, and she will know your medical history, which will help her better prescribe and monitor your birth control methods.
Make sure you read up on the birth control method you are considering before you visit the doctor. You'll be more prepared to go over your questions/concerns with your gynecologist. You can also pick up pamphlets on various methods from your local clinic or doctor's office before you go in for your appointment.
If you're concerned about losing your sex drive, ask your doctor about it. Your gynecologist needs to know all of your needs so she can help you pick the right method of birth control.
