Methods of contraception for women

To date, there is a huge choice of contraceptive methods for women that will help prevent the onset of unwanted pregnancy and preserve women's health for the possibility of giving birth to healthy children.



According to statistics, about half of the girls lose their virginity, not reaching the age of twenty. In most cases, the girls are not married. Two-thirds artificially interrupt the first pregnancy at the age of seventeen. Statistics, of course, depressing. You can blame the freedom of morals, introduce all kinds of prohibitions, etc. However, nothing is more effective than elementary knowledge about the methods of contraception, which every girl must have, can not be. Only knowledge can help reduce the number of abortions in girls and young women who have not yet experienced the joy of motherhood, who carry with them various gynecological diseases, infertility and the subsequent inability to bear pregnancy. According to the research of American experts in the field of oncological diseases, it is the first abortion that provokes the development of oncological diseases of the mammary glands and uterus.

The question of contraception should be in the first place among sexually active young girls and women, who are even slightly concerned about their future. So what do you need to know about contraception, and what methods exist?

Contraception means preventing the occurrence of an unplanned pregnancy during a casual relationship or a regular sexual life. Every woman can choose the most optimal method for herself. Some nuances should be taken into account, among which there should be no pathological effect on the body, high contraceptive reliability and safety of the method, reversibility of the process (that is, upon termination of their action there are no obstacles to pregnancy), be accessible and simple to use. The effectiveness of any contraceptive is expressed by Perl index, which is determined by the number of pregnancies in 100 women who used this method of contraception during the year.

Methods of contraception for women are divided into groups:
1 group - provides for complete abstinence from sexual activity. This method has absolute effectiveness.

2 group - includes methods of contraception with low efficiency, but do not have any useful or harmful effects on the female body (rhythmic method (abstinence from sexual intercourse during the period of ovulation or the use of additional contraceptives during this period), intermittent sex , lactation amenorrhea , temperature method, calendar method ).

Group 3 - methods of contraception with low efficiency, not having harmful effects, but at the same time showing some protective properties for the woman's organism ( condom , vaginal diaphragm ). Their advantage is that they prevent the possibility of infection with sexually transmitted diseases, STDs, AIDS.

4 group - highly effective methods of contraception (hormonal contraceptives).

Group 5 - highly effective methods of contraception, but with the risk of developing a number of complications ( intrauterine contraception , surgical sterilization of women or men).

Contraceptive methods are divided into:

• hormonal;
• intrauterine devices;
• barrier;
• surgical;
• postcoital.

Hormonal method of contraception.
This method includes: combined (estrogen-gestagenic) oral contraceptives (COCs), which are divided into monophasic oral agents with a constant dose of estrogen and progestogen, biphasic (the first 10 tablets contain estrogen and the remaining eleven are combined), three-phase (three the form of tablets, their reception recreates the secretion of estrogen and progestogen throughout the menstrual cycle), vaginal rings , and transdermal contraceptive system ( contraceptive patch Evra ) progestin oral prot vozachatochnye means (mile-pill), long-acting injectable contraceptives , contraceptive implant ( hormonal implant ).

Oral contraceptives today are the most common and popular methods of contraception. This group of contraceptives is selected for each woman individually, taking into account its physiological characteristics, hormonal background, and the existing diseases. Contraceptive pills of the third generation recreate a normal menstrual cycle of a woman and practically do not give side effects. Their action is aimed at restraining the process of producing hormones that promote ovulation. Under their influence, there are some changes in the endometrium, due to which a fertilized egg can not be implanted. In addition, this group of contraceptives reduces the duration of menstruation, the amount of blood loss during the same period, reduces pain, and also reduces the risk of inflammatory diseases.

Combined oral contraceptives have their drawbacks. Basically, when they are taken, nausea, dizziness, headaches, irritability and mood swings may occur.

The main advantages of this method of contraception include high efficiency, positive effects on the woman's body, including on the childbearing function, ease of use, process recurrence. It is proved that among women who regularly take this method of contraception within two years, the frequency of development of oncological diseases of the reproductive system and mastopathy is reduced.

COC has some contraindications, including thrombophlebitis, pregnancy, vascular hypertension, strokes, liver disease or impairment of its functions, hormone-dependent tumors, obesity, oncology, bleeding of uncertain etiology. In addition, COCs should not be used by women smokers over 35 years of age.

Gestagennye oral contraceptives in its composition contain only progestins. These contraceptives are better for women of mature age. As a rule, their reception is prescribed for women with profuse and painful menstruation, mastalgia, PMS (premenstrual syndrome). Contraceptives of this group can be used even during the period of breastfeeding, and they in no way affect the quality and quantity of milk.

Sufficiently long-term protection against unwanted pregnancies is provided by injectable contraceptives or implants injected subcutaneously. These drugs are dosed out constantly special hormones that prevent the onset of pregnancy. When using this group of contraceptives, there are the same side effects as when using oral contraceptives.

Intrauterine device contraception (IUD).
Among the means of intrauterine contraception, the most common is the spiral. Made of plastic or copper, the spiral is quickly and painlessly introduced into the woman's womb for two years or 5 years. Modern intrauterine spirals emit doses of hormones that prevent the fertilization of the egg. Its action is aimed at reducing the viability of spermatozoa, enhancing the spermicidal properties of the endometrium, reducing the viability of the ovum, as well as obstructing the fallopian tubes and enhancing the contractile function of the uterus, which will not result in pregnancy even as a result of fertilization.

This method of contraception also has its contraindications. The main are pregnancy, oncology of the uterus or its cervix, uterine bleeding, infection of the reproductive system.

Barrier methods of contraception and spermicides.
These include: male condoms, vaginal diaphragms, cervical caps and spermicides .

This method of contraception creates a mechanical obstacle in the way of sperm in the vagina (condom), the cervix (caps, diaphragms), and block the activity of sperm (spermicide). The effectiveness of this method of contraception directly depends on the correctness of the application.

Surgical method of contraception.
This method of contraception is widespread throughout the world. Its effectiveness is absolute, as fertilization does not occur. To surgical contraception or sterilization resorted to if the couple decided that they should not start children anymore. This method does not affect sexual function in any way. Female sterilization is carried out by occlusion of the fallopian tubes with the help of laparoscopic surgery, male - through dressing of the vas deferens. After the sterilization is carried out, it is impossible to regain the ability to bear childbirth.

Postcoital contraception or emergency method of contraception.
Emergency contraception is a collective concept, combining a variety of methods of contraception, the reception of which in the first 1-3 days after unprotected intercourse prevents the onset of an unplanned pregnancy. Emergency contraception is used in cases when the sexual act, not protected by other means, took place, as well as in cases when pregnancy can pose a threat to the life of the expectant mother. Emergency or postcoital contraception is recommended for women who have been raped, if the condom is broken, when the intrauterine contraceptive is completely or partially lost, with interrupted intercourse when ejaculation was performed earlier, and for women with irregular sex life. This type of contraception is not intended for permanent use, it can not be considered a contraceptive.

This type of contraception includes: a highly dosed gestagen preparation Postinor. It is taken immediately after sexual intercourse and after 12 hours 2 tablets, oral contraceptives containing 50 micrograms of estrogen (2 tablets 2 times with an interval of 12 hours) - Danazol 400 mg 3 times at intervals of 12 hours, Mifepristone 600 mg once or 200 mg per day for 5 days in the 2nd phase of the menstrual cycle.

Each of these methods of contraception carries with it a serious interference with the functional state of the reproductive system of a woman, the violation of which can lead to further development of ovarian dysfunction.

Thermal and calendar methods of contraception.
The temperature and calendar methods can only be used by healthy women with a regular menstrual cycle. At the same time, these methods are not effective and inferior to modern means. Most often, when using precisely these methods, women make mistakes in calculations.

At the heart of the temperature method lies the identification of a period in which, for physiological reasons, conception is impossible. During the menstrual cycle, a woman daily, immediately after waking, measures the basal temperature, by inserting the thermometer into the rectum. When the temperature rises by 0.4-0.5 degrees, ovulation occurs. After 2-3 days, unfavorable days for conception follow. Possibility of fertilization occurs 4-5 days before the next ovulation.

The calendar method of contraception provides for a monthly account of the date of the onset of menstruation and its end in order to identify adverse days for conception.

Interrupted intercourse.
The most popular, but not reliable method of contraception is an interrupted sexual intercourse, in which the man before the ejaculation extracts the penis from the vagina. In the process of sexual intercourse, a man must constantly control himself, which is difficult psychologically. In addition, in the process of sexual intercourse, men have droplets of sperm that can not be controlled. This droplet is enough for fertilization to occur.

The choice of this or that method of contraception is necessary to be carried out together with the gynecologist, which, taking into account physiological features and health condition, will prompt the most optimal variant for you.