{"id":3326,"date":"2015-04-19T08:08:13","date_gmt":"2015-04-19T08:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/saveonskincares.com\/?p=434"},"modified":"2016-05-10T07:37:40","modified_gmt":"2016-05-10T07:37:40","slug":"choosing-the-contraception-method","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thepillntopicalcream.com\/index.php\/2015\/04\/19\/choosing-the-contraception-method\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing the Right Contraception Method"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are no less than 16 different methods of contraception available, which means that you should definitely be able to find the right one for you!<\/p>\n

But you may have to try several different things before you find the one you like most.<\/p>\n

So we have reached the stage where unplanned pregnancies really should be rare, because of the range of good methods of birth control.<\/p>\n

What are the most popular types of contraception?<\/h2>\n

In the second decade of the 21st century, the best available figures suggest that the Pill and the condom remain far and away the most widely used methods in Britain.<\/p>\n

Both are employed by about 25 per cent of sexually active couples.<\/p>\n

Below is a league table of popularity among the various methods of family planning.<\/p>\n

Table 1: League table of popularity.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Rank<\/th>\nContraceptive<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1st equal<\/td>\nThe Pill, including the mini-Pill \u2013 25 per cent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1st equal<\/td>\nThe male condom \u2013 25 per cent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3rd<\/td>\nVasectomy \u2013 11 per cent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4th<\/td>\nFemale sterilisation \u2013 nine per cent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5th<\/td>\nThe coil (intra-uterine deviceor IUD) \u2013 five per cent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6th<\/td>\nWithdrawal method \u2013 four per cent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7th<\/td>\nVariations of the rhythm method \u2013 three per cent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8th equal<\/td>\nThe contraceptive injection (‘the Jab’) \u2013 almost three per cent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8th equal<\/td>\nMirena (intra-uterine system or IUS) \u2013 almost three per cent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10th equal<\/td>\nThe skin patch (Evra) \u2013 two per cent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10th equal<\/td>\nThe cap or the closely-related diaphragm \u2013 two per cent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10th equal<\/td>\nThe implant \u2013 two per cent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13th<\/td>\nThe female condom \u2013 about one per cent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14th<\/td>\nThe vaginal ring \u2013 less than one per cent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15th<\/td>\nChemical methods (ie spermicides) alone \u2013 less than 0.5 percent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

This league table changes from time to time, depending on factors such as ‘Pill scares’ and the introduction of new methods.<\/p>\n

What works and what doesn’t?<\/h2>\n

With the exception of Withdrawal (coitus interruptus), the above methods have the blessing of family planning experts because when used properly, they have a superior chance of preventing pregnancy.<\/p>\n

However, while the rhythm method is okay for well-motivated couples who have been trained in its use by a qualified ‘natural family planning’ teacher, for the rest of us, it’s a bit risky.<\/p>\n

Also very risky are certain other methods, for instance, using spermicides (chemical pessaries, creams or foams), or douching your vagina after sex.<\/p>\n

Practices like ‘doing it standing up’ or ‘coughing a lot afterwards’ or ‘trying not to come’ don\u2019t work, and will simply lead to unwanted pregnancy.<\/p>\n

How effective are the various methods?<\/h2>\n

Some contraceptive methods are more effective in preventing pregnancy than others, while only condoms offer any protection against sexually transmitted infections.<\/p>\n

The following figures will give you some idea of which kinds of contraception are the most efficient at protecting you against pregnancy.<\/p>\n

Table 2: Effectiveness of contraceptive methods.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Contraceptive method<\/th>\nEffectiveness<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Vasectomy<\/td>\nAlmost 100 per cent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Female sterilisation<\/td>\nAlmost 100 per cent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The Pill<\/td>\nAlmost 100 per cent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Contraceptive injection<\/td>\nAlmost 100 per cent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Contraceptive implants<\/td>\nAlmost 100 per cent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
IUS (Mirena)<\/td>\n98 to 99 per cent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
IUD (the coil)<\/td>\n97 to 98 per cent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The mini-Pill<\/td>\nAround 98 per cent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Male condom<\/td>\n90 to 98 per cent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Female condom<\/td>\n90 to 98 per cent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Diaphragm with spermicide<\/td>\n90 to 96 per cent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

None of the methods is quite 100 per cent effective, which means the only guaranteed way of preventing conception is to not have sex.<\/p>\n

You should also remember that some methods are quite complicated to use, and no method is as safe as the figures quoted if you don’t follow the instructions carefully.<\/p>\n

For example, if you are taking the Pill, you shouldn\u2019t miss taking a tablet. If you are using condoms, you should make sure you put them on before sex starts \u2013 not half way through. If you\u2019re relying on the contraceptive injection, you do need to turn up for your jab every 12 weeks.<\/p>\n

Every method, except vasectomy and sterilisation, can easily fail if you don’t take care.<\/p>\n

What about new methods of contraception?<\/h2>\n

Other methods of contraception will be available in the future. Below are two fairly recent developments.<\/p>\n

\n

The vaginal hormone ring<\/h3>\n

The vaginal hormone ring (NuvaRing) has been tried out extensively since 2001. It is approved in over 30 countries, but only became available in the UK in 2009. Since then, some thousands of British women have been using it successfully.<\/p>\n

You keep it in your vagina for three weeks out of every four. During the week you take it out, you will have your period. After the week\u2019s break, you put a new NuvaRing inside.<\/p>\n

Like the Pill, the ring contains two hormones. We don’t know what its long-term effects will be, especially with regard to cancer.<\/p>\n

Because of the presence of the Pill-type hormones in the ring, it should NOT be used by anyone who is at risk of thrombosis (clotting). That includes heavy smokers, especially those over 35. On the ‘plus’ side, the ring is now thought to make periods lighter and less painful in many cases.<\/p>\n

The most common side-effects are known to be:<\/p>\n