Everything you should know about birth-control
It is a right every woman is entitled to practice but at the same time there is a lot that should be known about birth control before indulging into a particular method.
As much as we like to experiment with our bodies and with our relationships, it is important to remain cautious about the consequences of those experiments. We do not want one night’s fun to cause us an entire lifetime of burden, especially when we are not in the state of life where we are ready to take up the responsibility of another person. The greatest risk lies with the woman because if anything happens the consequence becomes visible to the whole world, and although the man is equally responsible for it, it is the woman who has to bear it for nine months.
Untimely pregnancy can cause significant damage to both the physical and the mental state of the person, and it is just as harmful for the child who will be born in an unorganized environment. Hence, that can all be prevented with proper birth control measures, a right that every woman is entitled to. However, in order to take proper birth control measures, it is important to know about them.
So, firstly, what is birth control?
Birth control, also known as contraception, can be used through several different options. Contraception pills are available in both hormonal and non-hormonal aspects but mostly commonly in the synthetic form of hormones progesterone and estrogen. The two types contain female sex hormones and a combination of estrogen and progesterone, respectively. According to Jill Rabin, MD, Co-chief of the division of ambulatory care and Women’s Health Programs-PCAP Services at Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, NY, the hormones work in different ways to prevent pregnancy. “Progesterone thickens the cervical mucus, making it difficult for sperm to penetrate, and it also makes the Fallopian tubes move slower so the egg and sperm don’t get together quite as efficiently. It also makes the uterine lining hostile to implantation.”
How do birth control pills work?
Hormonal contraceptives contain a small amount of estrogen and progestin hormones, which interfere with the body’s cyclical functions of a fertilized egg, attaching itself to the uterus, and thus prevent pregnancy. The entire process is actually the result of several combining factors. The hormonal contraceptives stop the body from ovulating and make adjustments with the cervical mucus making it difficult for the sperm to escape through the cervix and contact the egg. There are also certain hormonal contraceptives such as the extended-cycle pill which contains hormones that are taken in a longer cycle. This reduces the menstrual period from 13 periods a year to only fours, thus letting the woman menstruate only once each season.
These extended-cycle pills contain the same combination of hormones that are commonly used in other contraceptives but the pill needs to be taken continuously for 12 weeks followed by one week of inactive pills which results in a menstrual cycle.
What is the best birth-control method?
With more options to help us control birth, there is a lot that should be considered while taking contraception pills. According to Eosha T. Bond, Doctor of Education, an assistant professor of Epidemiology at New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York, “It varies, and it depends on you and your lifestyle. I try to explain that there's no 'one size fits all.' It’s more, ‘What can I do, and how does my body react?’ There are so many contraceptive methods out there, but every one won’t fit every person.”
Studies show that a condom used by the male is the best way of birth control. While it is almost 82 per cent effective, it is also affordable and acts as the perfect barrier against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). On the other hand, implant has been considered to be 99 per cent effective, where hormone progestin is released under the skin and makes cervical mucus thicker to block out sperms. It lasts almost three years and can be removed at any given time.
However, going for the wrong birth control method can cause damage to your entire body. It is always advisable to consult a doctor before taking any contraception pills due to several reasons:
- It might lead to irregular bleeding, excessive flow and spotting which are reportedly the most common side effects of birth-control pills. Often these can exceed beyond two or three months at which point it is necessary to consult a doctor.
- Sometimes birth control pills can also cause losing memory as there is an influx of hormones that imitate the “pregnancy brain”, a lot of women complain of when conceiving.
- Although it is a myth that all birth control make you gain weight, the Depo-Provera shot is specifically known to make you put on that extra pound. However, this too mostly happens if there is a surplus of micronutrients or vitamins in your diet.
