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5 Things You Must Know About Contraception

1)Rhythm method of contraception:One of the commonly used methods of contraception is to avoid intercourse near the time of ovulation.Avoiding intercourse for 4 days before the calculated day of ovulation and 3 days afterward (ie from the 10th to 17th day of menstural cycle) prevents conception.But this method of contraception can be used only when the menstural cycle is regular.Failure rate of this method can be as high as 25% per year or even more.This is an example for natural method of contraception.The advantage of this method is that it has got no side effects.

2)Withdrawal of penis :This is another method of contraception.Withdrawing penis from the vagina just before ejaculation can prevent conception.But the success rate is very low.This is another example for natural method of contraception.Ther are no side effects for this method of contraception.

3)Using barriers:Barriers are used to prevent meeting of sperm and ovum and thus inhibiting conceptions.The commonly used barriers are condoms,vaults,diaphragms,cervical cap.Condoms are available for both females and males.They are made of rubber,latex sheath etc.Vaults,cevical caps,diaphragms are inserted into the vagina.Spermicidal jellies are used to increase the efficiency.Side effects using barriers are negligible.This is included under artificial method of contraception.This method gives privacy for the user.Condoms are widely used in urban areas.Another advantage of using condoms is that they can prevent sexually transmitted diseases to some extent.

4)Insertion of IUD's: .IUDs are included under artificial methods of contraception.IUD-intra uterine device is inserted into the uterus by expert doctors or nurses.IUD's are of 3 types:copper releasing,non medicated and hormonal.Copper T,copper 7,multiload 275 are examples for copper releasing.Progastasert, LNG 20 are hormonal type and Lipees loop is non medicated type.IUD's decrease sperm motility,increases phagocytosis of sperms,make uterus unsuitable for implantation,decrease quality of cevical mucous.IUDs have a life span of almost 6 months.IUDs have side effects like occurance of irregular menstural cycle,break through bleeding,inflammation etc.IUDs are the most widely preferred method of contraception in rural areas.Because it give longer period of action.

5)Pills and implants:Pills and implants work on the principle of hormonal supression of fertility.Administration of either progesterone or estrogen or the combination of both, if given in appropriate quantities during first half of the monthly cycle,can inhibit ovulation.This same principle is used in pills and implants.Pills contain synthetic estrogen or synthetic progesterone.They are taken in for a total of 21days except at the time of mensturation.Emergency pills ars also availablet.They are estrogen progesterone combinations.These when taken in, within 72hours after copulation can prevent conception.Pills have a number of side effects like irregular menstural cycle,break through bleeding,fluid discharge,inflammation even breast cancer and infertility may occur in extreme conditions.Implants also work on this principle.Implants are placed under the skin.They secrete progesterone or estrogen into the blood and circulated.Implants act for a longer period of time.Pills are the most widely used contraceptive method among urban women.