There is a diverse assortment of birth control products and methods available – some considerably more effective than others. The solution you and your partner decide to use will depend upon numerous factors. The following two-part posts discuss different forms of pregnancy prevention, their advantages, and disadvantages. NorCalVas offers safe and highly effective <a data-preserve-html-node="true" href=https://www.norcalvas.com/>no-scalpel, no-needle vasectomy procedures to the Elk Grove, Redding, Scotts Valley, and Sacramento communities.
The possibility of pregnancy is a topic that every committed heterosexual couple of child-bearing age should discuss, and if one isn’t, or neither is are, ready for children, then birth control strategies must be considered and ultimately deployed. Each pregnancy prevention method comes with advantages and disadvantages to one or both partners, so having a frank and non-judgmental conversation about solutions is critical. Unintended and unwanted pregnancy is a serious and potentially catastrophic situation when the health of the mother is at risk. Hoping that your partner is on the pill or will use a condom shouldn’t be anyone’s default position.
So, here are a few common birth control methods, their benefits and drawbacks, and how you might approach any discussion about pregnancy prevention.
Hormonal Birth Control
Hormonal contraception is the broad term for birth control pills, the patch, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and the vaginal ring. They prevent pregnancy by preventing ovulation through the consistent administration of synthetic estrogen and progesterone.
Hormonal birth control devices and pills offer different advantages and disadvantages depending upon the form. Birth control pills are highly effective – an estimated 99.9 percent – when taken correctly. Unfortunately, the schedule for taking the pill can be a bit complicated, and mistakes occur when users aren’t vigilant. Devices like the ring, the patch, and the shot (Depo-Provera) also work on a schedule, and if that schedule isn’t maintained perfectly, these solutions become less effective.
IUDs are implants that protect against pregnancy for up to 12 years. Once it has been implanted, the wearer doesn’t have to do anything until the device expires. It also has a 99.9 percent effectiveness rate that doesn’t waver as long as the device is unexpired. However, complications can occur, and on rare occasions they can become dislodged and a pregnancy can result. (Pregnancies that occur when an IUD is inserted are at an increased probability of being high-risk ectopic pregnancies.)
It’s important to understand the effects of hormonal birth control when discussing it as a possible contraceptive. With the exception of IUDs, hormonal birth control methods can have considerable side effects. Some of them are pleasant – many users report that their acne clears up and menstruation is less painful – but they can also cause migraine headaches, nausea, mood swings, decreased libido, weight gain, intermenstrual spotting, and even changes in vision.
These birth control solutions are entirely the responsibility of the woman, so the male partner should be sensitive to the necessary maintenance involved, as well as the sometimes significant side effects. There are currently no hormonal contraceptive solutions for men.
Every discussion about pregnancy prevention should involve solutions that spread the responsibility as equally as possible. Reproductive decisions affect both partners; both partners should have a voice.
In the next post, we’ll discuss methods that men might use to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
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