Contraception has become, in recent years, an integral part of a healthy lifestyle for a billion people, both women and men, but it still poses one of the most important challenges for human beings.
This challenge is represented in the need to spread the use of contraceptives in the world in a controlled and organized manner, in an effort to counter the effects of population growth, as the World Health Organization''s expectations indicate that the world''s population, which today amounts to about six billion people, will continue to increase until It will reach approximately eight billion people in the year 2025, and more than nine billion in the year 2050.
Until today, there is no optimal method of contraception that is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy, free of symptoms, side effects or health risks, easy and convenient to use and very low cost.
In the process of testing the efficacy of prevention methods (the table below), it is followed to measure the efficacy of the method when applied in an accurate, correct and integrated manner, and to compare it with the efficacy of the method in the usual application.
That is, when taking into account, for example, forgetting to take the contraceptive pill, sometimes, or the condom rupture due to improper use.
Types of contraceptives
It is customary to classify contraceptive methods into two main groups
Reversible contraceptives (changeable)
Non-reversible contraceptives
Many countries prefer to use reversible methods of contraception, which can be divided into five main groups:
1- The first group: natural methods of contraception
That is: the withdrawal method (or: withdrawn intercourse - intercourse during which the penis is withdrawn from the vagina (Vagina) before ejaculation occurs - Coitus interruptus) and the safe days method.
In this method (safe days), the expected ovulation / ovulation date is calculated by decreasing 14 days from the average menstrual cycle during the last three menstrual cycles.
Abstain from sexual intercourse during the three days leading up to and following the expected date of ovulation.
Other methods can also be adopted to determine the date of ovulation, such as
Basal temperature monitoring
Pay attention to (and identify) changes in cervical mucus, which becomes more fluid and abundant during ovulation.
However, this method is not suitable for women whose menstrual cycle is irregular. Rather, it contradicts a woman''s desire to have sexual relations during the days of ovulation, when libido is at its peak.
These natural methods do not involve any side effects or at any cost, but their use remains limited because of their low efficacy.
2- The second group: insulating means
This group includes several methods, including
Condoms: The most common method in this group is the condom. The use of condoms is of particular importance for couples who have casual sexual relations, due to its effectiveness in preventing STD - Sexually transmitted diseases.
The female condom: It is considered a relatively modern method. Its advantage lies in the fact that the woman can it herself into the vagina, which allows her to control it.
The female condom: It is a method of condom that has been known for a long time. The female diaphragm takes the shape of a flat cup, made of flexible material, and is ed into the vagina along with a spermicide, which prevents semen from entering the cervix. The female condom is suitable for the doctor.
Barrier methods cause few side effects, but their efficacy is limited.
Contraceptive
3- The third group: spermicidal preparations
The most widely used spermicide is Nonoxynol-9, which affects the membranes of sperm cells.
Spermicides are marketed in the form of vaginal pessaries, creams or foams.
Today, it is recommended to use spermicides only in combination with barrier methods, due to their limited efficacy.
It is possible to obtain a combined formulation of a buffer method together with a spermicide, which is represented by the “vaginal sponge”.
4- The fourth group: hormones
Today, the hormonal method is considered one of the most important methods of contraception.
The most popular method in this group is the combined oral contraceptive pill.
5- Fifth group: IUDs
IUDs (intrauterine device - IUD) are the most effective and widely used contraceptive method, especially for mothers aged 30 and over.
It is practiced today to use effective IUDs, i.e. whose contraceptive effectiveness depends on the secretion of copper or progesterone in the uterine cavity.
The contraceptive device remains effective for five years or more.
In the early days of installing the IUD - a process that must be performed by the doctor - there is a slight risk of infection inside the uterus, but it (the IUD) does not involve significant damage to future fertility.
