Through family planning, people can decide the number of children they want and when they think it is appropriate to become pregnant. To achieve this, different styles of contraception can be used.
Currently, there is a wide variety of contraceptive methods and, although the effectiveness of each method has to do with its correct use and consistency, it is important to have a medical recommendation to identify which is the best for you and your partner.
The first thing to consider is your reproductive goals, planning a pregnancy in the short term involves choosing some form of contraception, while other methods will be considered when planning a pregnancy in the long term, and if you are sure you never want to get pregnant, there are permanent methods of contraception.
Once this is considered, other factors also become relevant in the choice of contraceptive:
- Medical history.
- Religious beliefs.
- Age.
- Effectiveness.
- Protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
- Relationship factors (marriage, number of sexual partners, frequency of sexual intercourse, sexual orientation, to name a few).
Types of birth control
- Emergency contraceptives. They are used after unprotected sex or if the condom has broken; including the copper IUD and the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP).
- Spermicide and vaginal gel. Non-hormonal contraceptive option that kills sperm or stops their movement.
- Sterilization. Through tubal ligation in women or vasectomy in men, these permanent contraceptive methods are achieved.
- Barrier method. They are designed to prevent sperm from entering the uterus, are removable, and are an option for women who cannot use hormonal birth control.
- Hormonal methods. Through the use of hormones, ovulation can be regulated or stopped and thus prevent pregnancy. These methods have the short-acting variant (skin patch, vaginal ring, or contraceptive injection) that must be used daily, weekly, or monthly; there are also long-acting methods (IUD, hormonal IUD, or contraceptive implant) and they last between three to 10 years or until their removal.
Referring to family planning, the number of contraceptive options is very wide, from oral contraceptives, injectable contraceptives, contraceptive patches, subdermal implants, and even surgical procedures.
But it must be remembered that only both male and female condoms are contraceptive methods that offer reliable protection against sexually transmitted infections. It is recommended to use this type of contraceptive together with other chosen variants.
Go to the ABC Medical Center’s Gynecology Center and the Urology area to receive advice on contraceptive methods and specialized care. Contact us!
Fuentes:
https://www.who.int/es/health-topics/contraception#tab=tab_1
https://www.mayoclinic.org/es/healthy-lifestyle/birth-control/in-depth/birth-control-options/art-20045571
