What Are Birth Control Methods?
Birth control methods are measures taken to prevent pregnancy during sexual intercourse.
Both men and women may prefer different applications for birth control methods.
Today, there are many traditional and modern methods of contraception.
While some methods may be preferred in daily life, some are situations that require surgery.
The most commonly used birth control methods are listed below:
What Will We Learn?
Female Contraceptive Methods
Birth control for women is multi-choice.
Each method has different advantages, disadvantages and success rates.
Birth control methods include methods that are effective up to 99%.
1. Calendar Management
Calendar management, also known as the rhythm method, is one of the most preferred natural birth control options.
If women do not have intercourse during the ovulation period, birth control can be provided.
In order to apply this method, it is necessary to follow the menstrual cycle.
The success rate in women who prefer contraception with the calendar method will vary between 76% and 88%.
2. Suppository
It is one of the phytic barrier methods known as spermicide.
The sperm reaching the egg and starting the pregnancy is prevented by certain chemicals.
The suppository is inserted into the vagina before sexual intercourse.
This prevents sperm from entering the cervix. In this method, the birth control success rate is around 71%.
In other words, it has a low success rate next to modern methods.
Therefore, it should be tried to increase the success rate by using condoms together with the suppository method.
3. Spiral
If women want to choose an effective contraceptive method, the spiral will be the right choice.
In this method, a 2 cm T-shaped plastic piece is inserted into the uterus.
The inserted plastic part is flexible and small.
It can be preferred as copper or hormone spiral depending on preference.
The main task of the spiral placed in the uterus is to change the path of the sperm cells in order to prevent pregnancy.
This method requires a simple surgical procedure.
The spirals are placed by a physician. IUDs, which provide up to 99% success in preventing pregnancy, can provide protection for 10-12 years.
4. Female Condoms
It is a condom used for women.
It is a product that can be used by placing it in the vaginal canal.
It is known as femidom, an abbreviation for female condom.
It is made of latex or polyurethane.
5. Subcutaneous Implant
It is applied as a hormonal birth control method used by placing a small and thin stick under the skin.
The implant placed under the skin has the size of a toothpick.
Its main function is to prevent the thickening of the mucus in the cervix.
Due to the mucus that cannot thicken, the body secretes the hormone progestin, preventing pregnancy.
This method can protect against pregnancy for 4-5 years.
The success rate can be up to 99%.
One of the disadvantages of this method is that it cannot protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
6. Birth Control Injection
Birth control injection is one of the safest methods of birth control.
Needles are applied to women every 3 months.
The needles contain the hormone progestin, which prevents pregnancy.
Since there will be no eggs in the fallopian tubes, it is not possible to become pregnant.
The mucus becomes thicker in women who choose contraception with the needle method.
In this way, the passage of sperm is prevented.
Pregnancy can be prevented up to 94% if needles are given on time and regularly.
7. Birth Control Pills
It is among the most known and most preferred birth control methods.
These pills are sold in packages in pharmacies.
Women should use the birth control pill every day.
Pills are hormonal drugs. It contains progestin and estrogen.
In regular use, it prevents ovulation and prevents fertilization.
Pills should be used according to a schedule.
If you use it on time and every day, it can provide up to 91% effect in preventing pregnancy.
8. Tubal Ligation
This method, which is also used as tube ligation, prevents pregnancy permanently.
It is a safe and effective surgical birth control method.
During the operation, the fallopian tubes are blocked.
Pregnancy is prevented since fertilization does not occur in the tubes during the ovulation period.
The last of the birth control methods applied is tube ligation.
This method eliminates dependence on other methods with lifetime protection and a success rate of up to 99%.
9. Diaphragm
The diaphragm can be used as a barrier that surrounds the cervix and prevents sperm from reaching the eggs.
It is a small circle shaped silicone.
This silicone is foldable and soft. It is inserted into the vagina just before sexual intercourse.
However, silicones should be used with a gel called spermicide to provide full protection.
This method can achieve up to 88% success.
However, it should be used simultaneously with condoms for more effective protection.
Male Birth Control Methods
Male birth control methods include non-hormonal options. The wide variety of birth control options for women is limited for men. Listed below are the most common methods of contraception that can be used for men:
1. Condom
It is one of the most used methods of birth control by men.
Thanks to the rubber condoms that emerged in the 1900s, you can prevent both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
The most important advantage of condoms is that they provide birth control without the need for a hormonal change on both sides.
However, it is a product that should not be misused. It may tear or slip during use.
2. Vasectomy
It is a birth control method that can be used in our country as well as all over the world.
It is an outpatient birth control method.
Tubes, also known as sperm ducts, are tied or cut.
Physicians perform this method with local anesthesia.
This method, which can get results in a short time, is just getting popular in our country.
One of the reasons why this method is less preferred is that it does not allow men to have children again.
You may not be successful in surgical interventions that can be done for reversal.