Contraception

Contraception helps in preventing early and unplanned pregnancies among women of reproductive age. This helps to determine the number of children that you have and the spacing between children.  This may improve your opportunities to study and work, improve the living standards for your family, and reduce complications and even death while giving birth.

Barriers keep the sperm from reaching the eggs. They come in various kinds:

• The diaphragm is placed over the cervix with spermicide before sex and left in place for at least six hours after sex. Diaphragms can be cleaned and reused.
• Male and female condoms are placed over the erect penis or inserted into the vagina.
• The cervical cap is similar to the diaphragm but sits more snugly over the cervix.
• Spermicides kill the man’s sperms in the vagina.

Advantages of barriers

• Condoms prevent sexually transmitted diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and gonorrhoea.
• They are safe to use while breastfeeding.
• They don’t interfere with the menstrual cycle. Therefore, it is easier to conceive after you have stopped using them.
• They don’t make use of hormones; hence they are safer for women with heart diseases.

Disadvantages of barriers

• They are not as efficient as contraceptives using hormones.
• You have to apply them every time you have sex.
• Some people may be allergic to some of the materials used for their production.

The IUCD is inserted into the womb (uterus) to prevent sperm from reaching the eggs and prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. The method is considered to be highly efficient.

Advantages of IUCD

• It starts working after insertion.
• It can provide contraception for 5 to 10 years.
• No hormonal side-effects such as headaches, tender breasts and acne.
• You may get pregnant soon after removing the device.
• It is suitable for most women who use medications for other conditions.

Disadvantages of IUCD

• It may cause prolonged and painful menses. This may get better after the first few months.
• It does not prevent sexually transmitted infections.
• You may be at risk of infections in your uterus if inserted without adhering to sterile procedures.

The hormonal contraceptive methods contain hormones that interfere with your body’s hormonal levels. They can be in the form of pills, injections, implants or built into IUCD that may be inserted into the uterus. This prevents the release of eggs from the ovary (ovulation), and henceforth, conception cannot occur.

Advantages of hormonal methods

• They can relieve painful menses.
• They may stop menses.
• They minimize ovulation pain.
• They reduce the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer.
• They may help to reduce acne.

Disadvantages of hormonal methods

• They cannot prevent sexually transmitted infections.
• You have to take the pills daily.
• They may interfere with other medicines.
• They may delay your normal periods after you have stopped taking them. That can take months.
• You may gain weight.

This may be done by blocking or removing your fallopian tubes so as to prevent the man’s sperms from reaching the woman’s eggs.

Advantages of tubal ligation

• This is a permanent contraception method. You won’t need to use any other methods again.
• It does not interfere with the menses.
• It won’t give you the side effects common in hormonal methods, such as tender breasts and headache.
• It does not interfere with sexual intercourse.

Disadvantages of tubal ligation

• It doesn’t prevent sexually transmitted infections.
• It is difficult to reverse, and it may even be irreversible.
• You may experience mild pain during the procedure.
• You may get pregnant when a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus (ectopic pregnancy). This is a life-threatening condition.

This is a permanent contraception procedure for males. It involves minor surgery to block sperms from reaching the semen that is ejaculated from the penis. The man will still produce semen, but it will have no sperm in it.

Advantages of vasectomy

• This is a permanent contraception method. You won’t need to use any other methods again.
• It works in 99% of all men who have been treated.
• It does not have hormonal side effects.
• It does not interfere with sexual intercourse.

Disadvantages of vasectomy

• You may experience pain during the procedure.
• It does not prevent sexually transmitted infections.
• It is difficult to reverse, and it may be irreversible.

Everyone is different, and your choice of contraceptive should fit your lifestyle, plans and health. Speak with your healthcare provider to get comprehensive information about all available options before making a choice. If you feel rushed, make sure to ask for enough time to decide for yourself. Most young people who choose long-acting reversible contraceptives find it fits their goals more closely in the long run.