Difference between revisions of "Contraception"

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Contraception (Lat. against conception) generally refers to methods of preventing pregnancy (birth control). There are many different methods, each having its own level of effectiveness and safety. The safest and most effective form of birth control is abstinence. The argument could be made that this is not actually "birth control" as there was never a risk for a pregnancy, but in common parlance, abstinence is the first line of protection. Except for condoms, most methods offer little protection against sexually transmitted diseases.^[1]

Barrier Methods

Male condom: latex condoms are the most effective method of preventing STDs. 85% effective against pregnancy, increased to 95% if used with intravaginal spermicide - higher effectiveness (99%) when used as directed.
Female Condom
Sponge: 85% effectiveness
Cervical cap: about 85% effectiveness
Diaphragm: about 84% effectiveness
Shield: 85% effectiveness

Hormonal Methods

Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCPs): 92-99% effective when used as directed
Depoprogesterone (Depo-Provera): 97% effective
Vaginal ring (Nuva Ring): 92% effective
"Rhythm method" (also sometimes referred to as a method of "timed abstinence"): low effectiveness
Patch: 99.7% effective

Other

Copper Intrauterine device (IUD): 99% effectiveness
Hormonal Intrauterine device: over 99% effectiveness
Withdrawal: low effectiveness
Spermicide: about 70% effectiveness when used alone
Male Sterilization
Female Sterilization

Religious Perspectives

In general, the Catholic Church is opposed to contraception. Other Christian denominations vary. Islamic and Jewish views are quite diverse.

Information on Birth Control

References

↑ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/birth-control/BI99999

[1] ttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/birth-control/BI99999

[1]

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 *Female Sterilization
-==Statistical implications of failure rate==
-The apparently low failure rates imply to many people that there should be almost no failure.
-However, there is a difference between the lowest observed failure rate (theoretical rate), which is the rate typically reported in controlled studies of the method, and the failure rate for typical users (actual rate), which is the rate reported 'in the field' (i.e., forgetting to take pill).
-Failure Rate is defined as (pregnancies / 100 woman-years (%) )
-Thus a 5% failure rate means that if 100 women used this form of contraception, 5 would be pregnant within one year.
-But sexually active fertile women are not only sexually active and fertile for one year. That time of their lives can go on for as long as thirty years. Women are warned not to stop taking contraceptive precautions until they have not had a menstrual period for one year.
-Government statistics [http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/voting/proj00/tab01.txt] tell us that the female population of the US aged between 18 and 45 is 37,170,000. The figure for sexually active fertile women is higher than that because some younger girls have sex, but these are the least likely to use contraception, and the focus here is on the implications of contraceptive failure rates.
-If 20% of these women are not sexually active or fertile, this leaves 29,736,000. If every one of those women were using the pill – the most reliable method of contraception – as efficiently as possible, a failure rate of 0.1% would mean that there were 29,736 unintended pregnancies every year. A failure rate of 2% would mean that there were 594,720 unintended pregnancies every year. However, some women use diaphragms and condoms, for which the failure rate is much higher.
-These figures assume conservative estimates of sexual activity, and a higher than probable rate of efficient contraceptive usage.