Contraceptive Advice

Talking about pregnancy and Contraceptive methods is taboo in our society, this is where contraception advice or counseling can be helpful for couples. There are various elements that couple see before family planning like safety, effectiveness, availability, affordability, and acceptability. Contraceptive counseling can prove important contributor for couples in deciding the right method, because it’s not necessary that the method helping in birth control will also help in protection against HIV/AIDS or sexually transmitted diseases, for example the hormonal birth control method doesn’t provide any protection against STD diseases.

Many types of contraceptive methos are available in the market:

Reversible Method of Birth Control

• • Levonorgestrel Intrauterine System (LNG IUD), in this small T shaped device like copper T IUD is placed inside the uterus that releases small amount of progestin daily to avoid pregnancy. This can be placed in uterus for 3 to 8 years.
• • Copper T Intrauterine device (IUD), in this also T shaped small device is placed in the uterus by doctor to avoid pregnancy, it can stay in uterus for 10 years.

Hormonal Method

• • Implant, its single thin rod that is inserted under the skin of women’s upper arm. This rod releases progestin in body for more than 3 years
• • Getting injection of the hormone progestin in arm or buttocks. This injection needs to be taken after three months

Oral Method

• • Combined oral contraceptives, a Pill containing the hormones estrogen and progestin is taken at same time each day. It should be taken only on doctor’s prescription.
• • Progestin only pill, this Pill contain only single hormone the progestin, this is also called the mini-pill.

Patch Method

This method should be taken under doctor’s prescription, in this a skin patch that releases hormones progestin and estrogen into the bloodstream is worn on lower abdomen, buttocks or upper body (apart from breasts). This patch needs to be changed every week. During the fourth week, you do not wear a patch, so you can have a menstrual period.

Hormonal vaginal contraceptive ring

The ring releasing the hormones progestin and estrogen is placed inside the vagina. This ring is worn for three weeks, removed in fourth week for periods, and then new ring is inserted.

Patch Method

• • Diaphragm or Cervical Cap, both these are shaped like a shallow cup which is inserted inside the vagina before intercourse, this covers the cervix to block or kill sperms.
• • Sponge, the contraceptive sponge contains spermicide and is placed in the vagina and it fits over the cervix. The sponge must be left in the vagina for at least 6 hours after the last act of intercourse

Male condom

Male condom avoids sperms from getting into women’s body. There are Latex condom and synthetic condoms available in market, both condom help prevent pregnancy and HIV and other STDs.

Female condom

As name suggests these condoms are worn by female, this prevents sperm from getting into her body. It can be inserted up to eight hours before sexual intercourse.

Spermicides

These products help killing sperm, it can be placed in the vagina one hour before intercourse. It is available in several forms as foam, gel, cream, film, suppository, or tablet.

Emergency Contraception

This is not a regular method; it can be used if regular birth control method fails or was completely missing. Emergency contraceptive pills can be taken by women up to 5 days after unprotected sex, sooner the pills are taken, the better they work.

Permanent Birth control

Permanent birth control methos can be done by both men and women, in men its known as Vasectomy and in female it is called tubal ligation. Both the methods are surgical can done by doctor. These methods are permanent and 100 % effective.