Contraception is the intentional prevention of pregnancy by artificial or natural means through using family planning methods. Contraception allows people to attain their desired number of children and to determine the spacing of pregnancies by delaying or preventing childbearing. Numerous family planning methods are grouped by duration and context of use (long-acting, short –term, emergency) and by method of operation (hormonal, non-hormonal, barriers, fertility awareness –based).
Intrauterine device:
It is a non-hormonal long term method, a small T shaped device inserted into the uterus by a trained health care provider. Less than 1 out of 100 women will get pregnant each year if they use an IUD. Available in non –hormonal (plastic device with copper) and it is effective for up to 12 years, or hormonal containing the female hormone progestin and it is effective for 5 years.
Implant: It is a hormonal long term method, it is a match stick- sized rod that a health care provider places under the skin of a woman’ upper arm. It releases the female sex hormone progestin. It protects against pregnancy for 3 years and then must be removed.
Oral contraceptive pills pill: The most common type contains the female hormones estrogen and progesterone to prevent ovulation. It is very effective if taken correctly. The woman takes one pill every day at the same time for 3 weeks then one week off and so on.
Injections: A hormonal injection that protects against pregnancy for 3 months. It is a very effective method.
Male condom: It is made of synthetic material called latex, the male puts it over the erected penis before intercourse, it prevents sperms from entering the woman’s body. It protects against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections and human immune deficiency virus.
Emergency contraception: This method is used after an unprotected intercourse (woman is not using any method), it must be taken within 5 days of unprotected intercourse. It prevents ovulation and does not cause abortion if pregnancy exists. It is recommended to be used after sexual violence (rape) to avoid unwanted pregnancy.
Local barrier spermicidal methods (foams, sponges, creams …): They are introduced into the vagina before intercourse (at least half an hour) and women are instructed not to do vaginal douching before 6 hours, the failure rate is high.
Natural methods (fertility awareness and withdrawal): Women can be educated to know the time when they are fertile by checking the cervical mucus and by checking body temperature. She must avoid sexual intercourse during the fertile period (fertility awareness). The male partner pulls the erected penis out of the vagina just before ejaculation to avoid introducing sperms into the vagina (withdrawal). These methods are not very effective and difficult to control.