What's the right kind of birth control for me? | Health198

Monday, August 15, 2011

AN unplanned pregnancy does not only cause undue anxiety; it can also disrupt your life and is not necessarily the best start you can give to a child. It is for this reason that experts encourage women to find an effective birth control method once sexually active.

not only should your birth control regimen be effective, it should be one that suits your lifestyle. With so many on the market to choose from, it?s so easy to customise that perfect plan.

When it comes to birth control, one method doesn?t fit all, so this week we will review some of the most popular methods which you can use based on your personal needs, medical condition and age.

1. you are perimenopausal.

The perimenopausal stage for a woman begins several years before reaching menopause and results in a reduction in oestrogen production. Despite the lowering of this hormone, women are still susceptible to becoming pregnant and should therefore still continue to utilise contraceptive methods. one of the best options would be oral contraceptives since it decreases menstrual bleeding and hot flashes and helps with the maintenance of the bone. If you are not able to use oestrogen, you could consider using progestin-only tablets which can be given in the format of a daily tablet, injection, or as a hormonal IUD.

If you and your partner are mutually monogamous and desire permanent contraception, then you could also get a tubal ligation done, although this method requires surgery and can prove to be costly.

2. you want to have a child someday.

Birth control pills, patches or implants are probably the best option for you as opposed to sterilisation which is irreversible. Pills are safe, effective and convenient and are very accessible and you can stop taking them as soon as you decide you want to become pregnant. Pills (oral contraceptives) usually contain either progestin or oestrogen or a combination of each. When taken daily, the pill works by preventing a woman?s ovaries from releasing eggs.

If you don?t plan to have a child for the next three years and have a little money to spend, you can use a birth control implant, which must be inserted by a medical practitioner. It can be used if you are breast-feeding and if you cannot take oestrogen.

3. you are worried about weight gain.

Some women who use oral contraceptives have complained about weight gain although studies to support this have been inconclusive for the most part. If you have concerns about weight gain you can use condoms or be fitted with an intrauterine device (IUD) if you want a more long-term method.

4. you hate having your period.

The pill can help to suppress the monthly period. Through the release of hormones, it suppresses the period for 21-24 days, and allows it for four to seven days. The pill can be taken continuously ? that is starting a new pack instead of taking the placebos ? for months if you wish, in order to prevent you getting a period.

5. you don?t want to spend too much money on birth control.

Abstinence would be best since it doesn?t cost anything, but if you are sexually active, you can go for the more generic brands of birth control pills. And while methods such as the IUD or the implant can be costly upfront, their long lasting effects save you a lot of money over time.

6. you have recently given birth

a non-hormonal method of birth control such as the use of condoms or spermicidal jelly, cream or foam would be best for you or even progesterone only pills, the Nuvaring or the patch.

?The progestin-only pill is considered to be the best to give to a breast-feeding mother as that has not been reported to affect milk production,? obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Sharmaine Mitchell explains. If you want a more permanent birth control method, and have already had all the kids you want, you can get a tubal ligation done.

7. You?re busy and can?t remember to take a pill everyday.

try using condoms, diaphragms and cervical caps if you usually engage in sexual activity infrequently or if you don?t want to take on the responsibility of remembering to take a hormonal pill daily. ?The commonest reason for contraceptive failure is non-compliance,? says local gynaecologist Dr Michael Abrahams.

The condom in particular is best for you if you have multiple partners and don?t want to get pregnant or contract sexually transmitted diseases or HIV/AIDS.

?It is important that whatever contraceptive option you choose, that you use the condom, either female or male to prevent sexually transmitted infections such as HIV. The other methods will prevent pregnancy but will not protect you from infections,? says Dr Mitchell.

If you only want to take the pill, but keep on forgetting to do so, then you need to find creative ways to jog your memory, such as putting it next to your lipstick or hairbrush or setting a reminder on your cell phone.

Related posts:

1. FDA-approved birth control includes sterilization
2. Low Dose Birth Control and Blood Clots
3. Birth Control for Men: Why the Wait?
4. What are the odds of getting pregnant while combining contraceptives?
5. Contraceptives As Abortifacients

Source: http://www.health198.com/whats-the-right-kind-of-birth-control-for-me.html

new york yankees maria callas cat stevens jerricho cotchery statue of liberty chicago cubs rate