Pregnancy : Prevention

There are many methods of contraception available to prevent pregnancy. In order of least to most effective, these include: spermicide alone natural (rhythm) method diaphragm or cervical cap condom alone diaphragm with spermicide condom with sperm...

Over-the-counter birth control methods are used during sex to avoid pregnancy and sometimes to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs. They can be purchased by anyone, without a doctor's prescription.

Contraception is the use of a method, device, or medication to prevent pregnancy by interfering with ovulation, fertilization, and/or implantation. Another term for contraception is birth control.

Detailed information on contraception/birth control, including the different types of birth control

Contraception is the use of any of various methods to prevent pregnancy. Family planning, in contrast, involves the use of contraception or other measures to limit the number of children and plan the timing and spacing of births. Contraception has been used throughout history. Early methods, however, were ineffective (drinking potions or douching) or dangerous and not available to all people. By the middle of the twentieth century, only 13 percent of couples worldwide used effective methods of contraception. By the year 2000, UNICEF estimated that this figure had risen to 50 percent. Contraceptive use is not equally distributed throughout the world. Most of western Europe, the United States, parts of Latin America, and Oceania demonstrate high levels of use. India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Sudan, Oman, Yemen, Haiti, Guatemala, Bolivia, and nations in sub-Sahara Africa demonstrate low contraceptive use and high fertility. In the past, family planning programs in some countries were, in effect, population control programs. They were often coercive and did not allow families choice. This is changing, as more people want to limit their family size. In some places, such as China, a strict population control policy is still in place. In l994, the global attendees at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, Egypt, placed family planning within a holistic context of reproductive health, and family planning is now considered to be a human right. Family planning helps save women's lives. Over 585,000 women die every year from unsafe abortion, childbirth, and pregnancy, with 90 percent of the deaths occurring in developing countries. These deaths are largely preventable; and contraception could play a role in preventing them. Despite advances in contraceptive technologies, there is no single method that suits everyone. In some places, choice is limited and access is difficult, resulting in an unmet need for contraception (the condition of wanting to avoid or delay childbearing, but not using a contraceptive method). One way to categorize contraceptive technologies is by the duration of protection. There are permanent, long-term, and short-term methods. In addition to these technologies, there are also behavioral methods of contraception. What follows is a list of all contraceptive technologies and behaviors, how they prevent pregnancy, their effectiveness, potential problems or side effects, and whether they also prevent reproductive tract infections (RTIs), hepatitis C, or sexual transmission of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).

Contraception (birth control) prevents pregnancy by interfering with the normal process of ovulation, fertilization, and implantation. There are different kinds of birth control that act at different points in the process.

For a woman who wants to plan when she becomes pregnant, there are many choices.

Contraception (birth control) is the prevention of conception (pregnancy). In the United States, 60% of boys and 50% of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are sexually active, yet only half of these adolescents use contraception the first time they have intercourse. Approximately one million adolescent girls become pregnant in this country each year, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are becoming more prevalent. Because sexual exploration will be a fact of life for many adolescents, knowledgeable adults should be available to discuss contraceptive alternatives with them before such exploration begins.

Contraception (birth control) prevents pregnancy by interfering with the normal process of ovulation, fertilization, Various types of contraception. ( Photo Researchers, Inc. Reproduced by permission.) and implantation. There are different kinds of birth control that act at different points in the process.

I am 49 years old and want to go off the pill. What can I expect physically? What are chances of getting pregnant at my age?

I take birth control pills (Yasmin). My gynecologist said that if I continue using them, my menopause transition would be much easier. But I am concerned about the risk of breast cancer. Does the pill contain the same medication as Prempro, the hormone-replacement drug that has been linked to breast cancer?

Is the birth control patch known for causing unusual vaginal discharge or yeast infections?

An IUD is an intrauterine device made of plastic and/or copper that is inserted into the womb (uterus) by way of the vaginal canal. One type releases a hormone (progesterone), and is replaced each year. The second type is made of copper and can be left in place for five years. The most common shape in current use is a plastic "T" which is wrapped with copper wire.

Can a person with fibroid tumors have an IUD? Joan Bengtson, M.D., is assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproduction at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Sometimes it is uncomfortable to have an IUD inserted. What is the best way to deal with pain from this procedure?