Birth control is a regimen of one or more actions, devices, sexual practices, or
medicationA pharmaceutical drug, also referred to as medicine, medication or medicament, can be loosely defined as any chemical substance intended for use in the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease.- Classification :...
s followed in order to deliberately prevent or reduce the likelihood of
pregnancyPregnancy is the carrying of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, inside the uterus of a female. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets. Human pregnancy is the most studied of all mammalian pregnancies. Obstetrics is the surgical field...
or
childbirthChildbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
. There are three main routes to preventing or ending pregnancy: the prevention of fertilization of the
ovumAn ovum is a haploid female reproductive cell or gamete. Both animals and embryophytes have ova. The term ovule is used for the young ovum of an animal, as well as the plant structure that carries the female gametophyte and egg cell and develops into a seed after fertilization...
by sperm cells ("
contraception"), the prevention of
implantationImplantation is an event that occurs early in pregnancy in which the embryo adheres to the wall of uterus. At this stage of prenatal development, the embryo is a blastocyst...
of the
blastocystThe blastocyst is a structure formed in the early embryogenesis of mammals, after the formation of the morula, but before implantation. It possesses an inner cell mass , or embryoblast, which subsequently forms the embryo, and an outer layer of cells, or trophoblast, which later forms the placenta...
("
contragestion"), and the chemical or surgical induction of
abortionAn abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo. An abortion can occur spontaneously due to complications during pregnancy or can be induced, in humans and other species...
of the developing
embryoAn embryo is a multicellular diploid eukaryote in its earliest stage of development, from the time of first cell division until birth, hatching, or germination...
or, later, foetus. In common usage, term "contraception" is often used for both contraception and contragestion.
Birth control is commonly used as part of
family planningFamily planning is the planning of when to have children, and the use of birth control and other techniques to implement such plans. Other techniques commonly used include sexuality education, prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections, pre-conception counseling and...
.
The history of birth control began with the discovery of the connection between
coitusSexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which the male reproductive organ enters the female reproductive tract. The two entities may be of opposite sexes or not, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
and pregnancy. The oldest forms of birth control included
coitus interruptusCoitus interruptus, also known as withdrawal or the pull-out method, is a technique in which a man withdraws his penis prior to ejaculation during sexual intercourse, with the semen being ejaculated outside of and away from the vagina....
,
pessariesA pessary is a small plastic or silicone medical device which is inserted into the vagina or rectum and held in place by the pelvic floor musculature.- Therapeutic pessaries :...
, and the
ingestion of herbsHerbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, and phytotherapy...
that were believed to be contraceptive or
abortifacientAn abortifacient is a substance that induces abortion. Abortifacients for animals that have mated undesirably are known as mismating shots.Common abortifacients used in performing medical abortions include mifepristone, which is typically used in conjunction with misoprostol in a two-step approach...
. The earliest record of birth control use is an
ancient EgyptAncient Egypt was an ancient civilization of eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. The civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh, and...
ian set of instructions on creating a contraceptive
pessaryA pessary is a small plastic or silicone medical device which is inserted into the vagina or rectum and held in place by the pelvic floor musculature.- Therapeutic pessaries :...
.
Different methods of birth control have
varying characteristicsDifferent types of birth control methods have large differences in effectiveness, actions required of users, and side effects.-Ease of use:Different methods require different actions of users. Barrier methods, spermicides, and coitus interruptus must be used at every act of intercourse. The male...
.
CondomA condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the likelihood of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases . It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner...
s, for example, are the only methods that provide significant protection from sexually transmitted diseases. Cultural and religious attitudes on birth control vary significantly.
History
Probably the oldest methods of contraception (aside from avoiding vaginal intercourse) are
coitus interruptusCoitus interruptus, also known as withdrawal or the pull-out method, is a technique in which a man withdraws his penis prior to ejaculation during sexual intercourse, with the semen being ejaculated outside of and away from the vagina....
, lactational, certain
barrier methodsBarrier contraception methods prevent pregnancy by physically preventing sperm from entering the uterus.-History:The earliest recorded barrier methods are those of stem pessaries, found in Egypt. The diaphragm and reusable condoms became common after the invention of rubber vulcanization in the...
, and herbal methods (
emmenagogueEmmenagogues are herbs which stimulate blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus; some stimulate menstruation. Women have used plants such as mugwort, parsley and ginger to prevent or terminate early pregnancy...
s and abortifacients).
In Russia, to facilitate social equality between men and women, birth control was made readily available. Aleksandra Kollontai (1872-1952) was the commissar for public welfare during this time, she promoted birth control education for adults as well. When it came to birth control in France, women were working for reproductive rights and they helped end the nation's ban on birth control in 1965. Finally in 1970, in Catholic Italy, feminists won the right to gain access to birth control information.
Much earlier than this, satirical English author
Daniel DefoeDaniel Defoe , born Daniel Foe, was an English writer, journalist, and pamphleteer, who gained enduring fame for his novel Robinson Crusoe. Defoe is notable for being one of the earliest proponents of the novel, as he helped to popularise the form in Britain, and is even referred to by some as one...
wrote
Conjugal LewdnessThe full original title of this 1727 essay by Daniel Defoe was "Conjugal Lewdness or, Matrimonial Whoredom", though he was later asked to rename it for the sake of propriety. The modified title became "A Treatise Concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed"....
. The full original title of this 1727 essay was "Conjugal Lewdness or, Matrimonial Whoredom", though he was later asked to rename it for the sake of propriety. The modified title became "A Treatise Concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed". The essay dealt primarily with contraception, comparing it directly with
infanticideInfanticide is the practice of someone intentionally killing an infant. Often it is the mother who commits the act, but criminology recognizes various forms of non-maternal child murder. In many past societies, certain forms of infanticide were considered permissible...
. Defoe accomplished this through anecdotes, such as a conversation between two women in which the right-minded chides the other for asking for "recipes" that might prevent pregnancy. In the essay, he further referred to contraception as "the diabolical practice of attempting to prevent childbearing by physical preparations."
Coitus interruptus (withdrawal of the
penisThe penis is an external sexual organ of certain biologically male organisms, in both vertebrates and invertebrates....
from the
vaginaThe vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
prior to
ejaculationEjaculation is the ejecting of semen from a penis, and is usually accompanied by orgasm. It is usually the final stage and natural objective of sexual stimulation, and an essential component of natural conception. In rare cases ejaculation occurs because of prostatic disease. Ejaculation may also...
) probably predates any other form of birth control. This is not a particularly reliable method of contraception, as few men have the self-control to correctly practice the method at every single act of sexual intercourse. Although it is commonly believed that
pre-ejaculatePre-ejaculate is the clear, colorless, viscous fluid that emits from the urethra of a man's penis when he is sexually aroused. It is similar in composition to semen, but has some significant chemical differences...
fluid can cause pregnancy, modern research has shown that pre-ejaculate fluid does not contain viable sperm.
There are historic records of Egyptian women using a
pessaryA pessary is a small plastic or silicone medical device which is inserted into the vagina or rectum and held in place by the pelvic floor musculature.- Therapeutic pessaries :...
(a vaginal
suppositoryA suppository is a drug delivery system that is inserted into the rectum , vagina , or urethra , where it dissolves....
) made of various
acidAn acid is traditionally considered any chemical compound that, when dissolved in water, gives a solution with a hydrogen ion activity greater than in pure water, i.e. a pH less than 7.0...
ic substances and lubricated with honey or oil, which may have been somewhat effective at killing sperm. However, it is important to note that the sperm
cellThe cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of an organism that is classified as living, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos...
was not discovered until
Anton van LeeuwenhoekAntonie Philips van Leeuwenhoek was a Dutch tradesman and scientist from Delft, the Netherlands. He is commonly known as "the Father of Microbiology", and considered to be the first microbiologist...
invented the
microscopeA microscope is an instrument to see objects too tiny for the naked eye. The science of investigating small objects using such an instrument is called microscopy. Microscopic means invisible to the eye unless aided by a microscope.-History:An early microscope was made in 1590 in Middelburg, The...
in the late 17th century, so barrier methods employed prior to that time could not know of the details of conception.
AsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.6% of the earth's total surface area and with approximately 4 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population.Asia is traditionally defined as part of the...
n women may have used oiled paper as a
cervical capThe cervical cap is form of barrier contraception. A cervical cap fits over the cervix and blocks sperm from entering the uterus through the external orifice of the uterus, called the os...
, and
EuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains , and the Black Sea to the southeast...
ans may have used
beeswaxBeeswax is a natural wax produced in the bee hive of honey bees of the genus Apis. Worker bees have eight wax-producing mirror glands on the inner sides of the sternites on abdominal segments 4 to 7...
for this purpose. The
condomA condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the likelihood of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases . It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner...
appeared sometime in the 17th century, initially made of a length of animal
intestineIn anatomy, the intestine is the segment of the alimentary canal extending from the stomach to the anus and, in humans and other mammals, consists of two segments, the small intestine and the large intestine...
. It was not particularly popular, nor as effective as modern
latexLatex refers generically to a stable dispersion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium. Latexes may be natural or synthetic. Latex as found in nature is a milky sap-like fluid within many plants that coagulates on exposure to air. It is a complex emulsion in which proteins, alkaloids,...
condoms, but was employed both as a means of contraception and in the hopes of avoiding
syphilisSyphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the spirochetal bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The route of transmission of syphilis is almost always through sexual contact, although there are examples of congenital syphilis via transmission from mother to child in utero.The...
, which was greatly feared and devastating prior to the discovery of
antibioticIn common usage, an antibiotic is a substance or compound that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria...
drugs.
Various abortifacients have been used throughout human history in attempts to terminate undesired pregnancy. Some of them were effective, some were not; those that were most effective also had major
side effectsAn adverse drug reaction is an expression that describes harm associated with the use of given medications at a normal dose. The meaning of this expression differs from the meaning of "side effect", as this last expression might also imply that the effects can be beneficial...
. One abortifacient reported to have low levels of side effects—
silphiumSilphium was a plant of the genus Ferula. Generally considered to be an extinct "giant fennel" , it once formed the crux of trade from the ancient city of Cyrene for its use as a rich seasoning and as a medicine...
—was harvested to extinction around the 1st century.
The ingestion of certain
poisonIn the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism...
s by the female can disrupt the
reproductive systemThe reproductive system is a system of organs within an organism which work together for the purpose of reproduction. Many non-living substances such as fluids, hormones, and pheromones are also important accessories to the reproductive system. Unlike most organ systems, the sexes of differentiated...
; women have drunk solutions containing
mercuryMercury , also called quicksilver or hydrargyrum , is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80...
,
arsenicArsenic is the chemical element that has the symbol As, atomic number 33 and atomic mass 74.92. Arsenic was first documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250. Arsenic is a notoriously poisonous metalloid with many allotropic forms, including a yellow and several black and grey forms...
, or other toxic substances for this purpose. The Greek gynaecologist
SoranusSoranus was a Greek physician from Ephesus. He practiced in Alexandria and subsequently in Rome, and was one of the chief representatives of the Methodic school of medicine...
in the 2nd century suggested that women drink water that
blacksmithA blacksmith is a person who creates objects from iron or steel by forging the metal; i.e., by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut. Blacksmiths produce things like wrought iron gates, grills, railings, light fixtures, furniture, sculpture, tools, agricultural implements, decorative and religious...
s had used to cool
metalA metal is a chemical element that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat, forms cations and ionic bonds with non-metals. In chemistry, a metal is an element, compound, or alloy characterized by high electrical conductivity. In a metal, atoms readily lose electrons to form positive ions...
. The herbs
tansyTansy is a perennial, herbaceous flowering plant of the aster family that is native to temperate Europe and Asia. It has been introduced to other parts of the world and, in some areas, has become invasive...
and
pennyroyalPennyroyal is a plant in the mint genus, within the family Lamiaceae. Crushed Pennyroyal leaves exhibit a very strong fragrance similar to spearmint. Pennyroyal is a traditional culinary herb, folk remedy, and abortifacient...
are well-known in folklore as
abortiveAn abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo. An abortion can occur spontaneously due to complications during pregnancy or can be induced, in humans and other species...
agents, but these also "work" by poisoning the woman. Levels of the active chemicals in these herbs that will induce a
miscarriageMiscarriage or spontaneous abortion is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or fetus is incapable of surviving, generally defined in humans at prior to 20 weeks of gestation...
are high enough to perilously damage the
liverThe liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals; it has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
,
kidneyThe kidneys are paired organs, which have the production of urine as their primary function. Kidneys are seen in many types of animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are part of the urinary system, but have several secondary functions concerned with homeostatic functions. ...
s, and other organs. However, in those times where risk of
maternal deathMaternal death, or maternal mortality, also "obstetrical death" is the death of a woman during or shortly after a pregnancy. In 2000, the United Nations estimated global maternal mortality at 529,000, of which less than 1% occurred in the developed world...
from postpartum complications was high, the risks and side effects of toxic medicines may have seemed less onerous. Some herbalists claim that black cohosh tea will also be effective in certain cases as an abortifacient.
Aside from abortifacients, herbal contraceptives in folklore have also included a few preventative measures. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, known in
AyurvedaAyurveda is a system of traditional medicine native to India and practiced in other parts of the world as a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, the word Ayurveda consists of the words , meaning 'life', and , meaning 'related to knowledge' or 'science'...
as a contraceptive, may have antiestrogenic properties.
PapayaThe papaya is the fruit of the plant Carica papaya, in the genus Carica. It is native to the tropics of the Americas, and was cultivated in Mexico several centuries before the emergence of the Mesoamerican classic cultures...
seeds, rumored to be a male contraceptive, have recently been studied for their azoospermic effect on monkeys.
During the
medieval periodThe Islamic Golden Age or the Islamic Renaissance, is traditionally dated from the 9th to 13th centuries for 400 years C.E., but has been extended to the 15th century by recent scholarship...
, physicians in the Islamic world listed many birth control substances in their medical encyclopedias.
Avicenna, known as Abū Alī Sīnā or Ibn Sīnā , and commonly known in English by his Latinized name Avicenna , was a Persian polymath and the foremost physician and philosopher of his time...
listing 20 in
The Canon of MedicineThe Canon of Medicine is a 14-volume medical encyclopedia written by Islamic scientist and physician Ibn Sīnā...
(1025) and Muhammad ibn Zakariya ar-Razi listing 176 in his
Hawi (10th century). This was unparalleled in European medicine until the 19th century.
The fact that various effective methods of birth control were known in the ancient world sharply contrasts with a seeming ignorance of these methods in wide segments of the population of early modern
ChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic, religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who Christians believe was the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, and the Son of God.The term "Christian" is also used adjectivally to...
Europe. This ignorance continued far into the 20th century, and was paralleled by eminently high
birth rateCrude birth rate is the nativity or childbirths per 1,000 people per year.According to the United Nations' World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision Population Database, crude birth rate is the Number of births over a given period divided by the person-years lived by the population over that...
s in European countries during the 18th and 19th centuries. Some historians have attributed this to a series of coercive measures enacted by the emerging modern
stateA sovereign state is a political association with effective internal and external sovereignty over a geographic area and population which is not dependent on, or subject to any other power or state...
, in an effort to repopulate Europe after the population catastrophe of the
Black DeathThe Black Death was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. It is widely thought to have been an outbreak of bubonic plague caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, but this view has recently been challenged...
, starting in 1348. According to this view, the witch hunts were the first measure the modern state took in an attempt to eliminate knowledge about birth control within the population, and monopolize it in the hands of state-employed male medical specialists (gynecologists). Prior to the witch hunts, male specialists were unheard of, because birth control was naturally a female domain.
Presenters at a family planning conference told a tale of
ArabArab people or Arabs are an ethnic group whose members identify along linguistic, cultural or genealogical grounds...
traders inserting small stones into the uteruses of their camels in order to prevent pregnancy, a concept very similar to the modern
IUDAn intrauterine device is a long acting reversible contraceptive birth control device placed in the uterus, also known as an IUD or a coil . Dr. Ernst Gräfenberg of Germany invented an early IUD and was the first person to market these devices...
. Although the story has been repeated as truth, it has no basis in history and was meant only for entertainment purposes.
The first interuterine devices (which occupied both the vagina and the uterus) were first marketed around 1900. The first modern intrauterine device (contained entirely in the uterus) was described in a
GermanGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
publication in 1909. The Gräfenberg ring, the first IUD that was used by a significant number of women, was introduced in 1928.
The rhythm method was developed in the early 20th century, as researchers discovered that a woman only ovulates once per
menstrual cycleThe menstrual cycle is a cycle of physiological changes that occurs in fertile females. Overt menstruation occurs primarily in humans and close evolutionary relatives such as chimpanzees...
. Not until the 1950s, when scientists better understood the functioning of the menstrual cycle and the
hormoneA hormone is a chemical released by one or more cells that affects cells in other parts of the organism. Only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism. It is essentially a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one cell to another. All multicellular organisms...
s that controlled it, were methods of
hormonal contraceptionHormonal contraception refers to birth control methods that act on the endocrine system. Almost all methods are composed of steroid hormones, although in India one selective estrogen receptor modulator is marketed as a contraceptive. The original hormonal method—the combined oral contraceptive...
and modern methods of
fertility awarenessFertility awareness refers to a set of practices used to determine the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's menstrual cycle. Fertility awareness methods may be used to avoid pregnancy, to achieve pregnancy, or as a way to monitor gynecological health.Methods of identifying infertile days have...
(also called natural family planning) developed.
Margaret SangerMargaret Higgins Sanger Slee was an American birth control activist and the founder of the American Birth Control League . Although she was initially met with opposition, Sanger gradually won some support for getting women access to contraception...
(1879-1966) was an American birth control activist and the founder of the
American Birth Control LeagueThe American Birth Control League was founded by Margaret Sanger in 1921 at the First American Birth Control Conference in New York City. The League was incorporated under the laws of New York State on April 5, 1922. Its headquarters were located at 104 Fifth Avenue, New York City from 1921–30 and...
(which eventually became
Planned ParenthoodPlanned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA provides reproductive health and maternal and child health services. Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Inc. ...
). She was instrumental in opening the way to access birth control.
In 1960 the FDA approved the first form of hormonal birth control, the combined oral contraceptive pill.
Physical methods
Physical methods may work in a variety of ways, among them: physically preventing sperm from entering the female reproductive tract; hormonally preventing ovulation from occurring; making the woman's reproductive tract inhospitable to sperm; or surgically altering the male or female reproductive tract to induce sterility. Some methods use more than one mechanism. Physical methods vary in simplicity, convenience and efficacy.
Barrier methods
Barrier methodsBarrier contraception methods prevent pregnancy by physically preventing sperm from entering the uterus.-History:The earliest recorded barrier methods are those of stem pessaries, found in Egypt. The diaphragm and reusable condoms became common after the invention of rubber vulcanization in the...
place a physical impediment to the movement of sperm into the female reproductive tract.
The most popular barrier method is the male
condomA condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the likelihood of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases . It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner...
, a latex or
polyurethaneA polyurethane, IUPAC abbreviation PUR, but commonly abbreviated PU, is any polymer consisting of a chain of organic units joined by urethane links...
sheath placed over the penis. The condom is also available in a female version, which is made of polyurethane. The
female condomA female condom is a device that is used during sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections . Invented by Danish MD Lasse Hessel, it is worn internally by the receptive partner and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering that person's body...
has a flexible ring at each end — one secures behind the pubic bone to hold the condom in place, while the other ring stays outside the vagina.
Cervical barriers are devices that are contained completely within the vagina. The
contraceptive spongeThe contraceptive sponge combines barrier and spermicidal methods to prevent conception. Three brands are marketed: Pharmatex, Protectaid and Today. Pharmatex is marketed in France and Quebec; Protectaid in Canada and Europe; and Today in the United States. For a while, the Today brand was not...
has a depression to hold it in place over the
cervixThe cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal wall. Approximately half its length is visible with appropriate medical equipment; the remainder lies above...
. The
cervical capThe cervical cap is form of barrier contraception. A cervical cap fits over the cervix and blocks sperm from entering the uterus through the external orifice of the uterus, called the os...
is the smallest cervical barrier. Depending on the type of cap, it stays in place by suction to the cervix or to the vaginal walls. The
diaphragmThe diaphragm is a cervical barrier type of birth control. It is a soft latex or silicone dome with a spring molded into the rim. The spring creates a seal against the walls of the vagina.-Use:...
fits into place behind the woman's pubic bone and has a firm but flexible ring, which helps it press against the vaginal walls.
SpermicideSpermicide is a substance that kills sperm, inserted vaginally prior to intercourse to prevent pregnancy. As a contraceptive, spermicide may be used alone. However, the pregnancy rate experienced by couples using only spermicide is higher than that of couples using other methods...
may be placed in the vagina before intercourse and creates a chemical barrier. Spermicide may be used alone, or in combination with a physical barrier.
Hormonal methods
There are variety of delivery methods for
hormonal contraceptionHormonal contraception refers to birth control methods that act on the endocrine system. Almost all methods are composed of steroid hormones, although in India one selective estrogen receptor modulator is marketed as a contraceptive. The original hormonal method—the combined oral contraceptive...
. Forms of synthetic oestrogens and
progestinA progestin is a synthetic progestagen that has progestinic effects similar to progesterone. The two most frequent uses of progestins are for hormonal contraception , and to prevent endometrial hyperplasia from unopposed estrogen in hormone replacement therapy...
s (synthetic progestogens) combinations commonly used include the combined oral contraceptive pill ("The Pill"), the
PatchA contraceptive patch is a transdermal patch applied to the skin that releases synthetic estrogen and progestin hormones to prevent pregnancy. They have been shown to be as effective as the combined oral contraceptive pill with perfect use, and the patch may be more effective in typical use.The...
, and the
contraceptive vaginal ringNuvaRing is the trade name for a combined hormonal contraceptive vaginal ring manufactured by Schering-Plough that is available by prescription...
("NuvaRing"). A monthly injectable form,
LunelleCombined injectable contraceptive monthly injection of progesterone and estradiol taken to inhibit fertility. Brand names include Cyclofem, Novafem, Mesigyna, Lunelle.-History:...
, is not currently available for sale in the United States.
Other methods contain only a progestin (a synthetic progestogen). These include the progesterone only pill (the POP or 'minipill'), the injectables
Depo ProveraDepot medroxyprogesterone acetate is a progestin-only long acting reversible hormonal contraceptive birth control drug which is injected every 3 months....
(a depot formulation of medroxyprogesterone acetate given as an
intramuscular injectionIntramuscular injection is the injection of a substance directly into a muscle. In medicine, it is one of several alternative methods for the administration of medications . It is used for particular forms of medication that are administered in small amounts...
every three months) and Noristerat (
Norethindrone acetateNorethisterone acetate or norethindrone acetate is a progestin used in contraception. It is the acetate ester of norethisterone.Norethisterone is a molecule used in some combined oral contraceptive pills and in some progestogen only pills...
given as an
intramuscular injectionIntramuscular injection is the injection of a substance directly into a muscle. In medicine, it is one of several alternative methods for the administration of medications . It is used for particular forms of medication that are administered in small amounts...
every 8 weeks), and contraceptive
implantAn implant is a medical device manufactured to replace a missing biological structure, support a damaged biological structure, or enhance and existing biological structure. Medical implants are man-made devices, in contrast to a transplant, which is a transplanted biomedical tissue...
s. The progestin-only pill must be taken at more precisely remembered times each day than combined pills. The first contraceptive implant, the original 6-capsule
NorplantNorplant is a form of birth control developed by the Population Council that was first approved in 1983 in Finland, where it was manufactured by Leiras Oy Pharmaceuticals...
, was removed from the market in the United States in 1999, though a newer single-rod implant called
ImplanonImplanon, made by Organon International, is a single-rod long acting reversible hormonal contraceptive subdermal implant that is inserted just under the skin of a woman's upper arm...
was approved for sale in the United States on July 17, 2006. The various progestin-only methods may cause irregular bleeding during use.
Ormeloxifene (Centchroman)
Ormeloxifene (Centchroman) is a
selective estrogen receptor modulatorSelective Estrogen Receptor Modulators are a class of medication that acts on the estrogen receptor. A characteristic that distinguishes these substances from pure receptor agonists and antagonists is that their action is different in various tissues, thereby granting the possibility to...
, or SERM. It causes ovulation to occur asynchronously with the formation of the uterine lining, preventing implantation of a zygote. It has been widely available as a birth control method in
IndiaIndia, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...
since the early 1990s, marketed under the trade name Saheli. Centchroman is legally available only in India.
Emergency contraception
Some combined pills and POPs may be taken in high doses to prevent pregnancy after a birth control failure (such as a condom breaking) or after unprotected sex. Hormonal
emergency contraceptionEmergency contraception , or emergency postcoital contraception, refers to contraceptive measures that, if taken after sex, may prevent pregnancy.Forms of EC include:...
is also known as the "morning after pill," although it is licensed for use up to three days after intercourse.
Copper intrauterine devices may also be used as emergency contraception. For this use, they must be inserted within five days of the birth control failure or unprotected intercourse.
Emergency contraception appears to work by suppressing ovulation. However, because it might prevent a fertilized egg from implanting, some people consider it a form of abortion. The details of the possible methods of action are still being studied.
Intrauterine methods
These are contraceptive devices which are placed inside the
uterusThe uterus is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals, including humans. It is within the uterus that the fetus develops during gestation. The term uterus is used consistently within the medical and related professions; the Germanic term, womb is more common in...
. They are usually shaped like a "T" — the arms of the T hold the device in place. There are two main types of intrauterine contraceptives: those that contain copper (which has a spermicidal effect), and those that release a progestogen (in the US the term
progestinA progestin is a synthetic progestagen that has progestinic effects similar to progesterone. The two most frequent uses of progestins are for hormonal contraception , and to prevent endometrial hyperplasia from unopposed estrogen in hormone replacement therapy...
is used).
Terms used for these devices differ between the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
and the United States. In the US, all devices which are placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy are referred to as
intrauterine deviceAn intrauterine device is a long acting reversible contraceptive birth control device placed in the uterus, also known as an IUD or a coil . Dr. Ernst Gräfenberg of Germany invented an early IUD and was the first person to market these devices...
s (IUDs) or intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCDs). In the UK, only
copperCopper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29.It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is rather soft and malleable and a freshly-exposed surface has a pinkish or peachy color...
-containing devices are called IUDs (or IUCDs), and hormonal intrauterine contraceptives are called
Intra-Uterine SystemThe intrauterine system is a long acting reversible hormonal contraceptive device that is placed in the uterus. An IUS has a hormone cylinder that releases a progestin called levonorgestrel...
(IUS). This may be because there are ten types of copper IUDs available in the UK, compared to only one in the US.
Sterilization
Surgical sterilizationSterilization is a surgical technique leaving a male or female unable to reproduce. It is a method of birth control. For non-surgical causes of sterility, see infertility.Common sterilization methods include:...
is available in the form of
tubal ligationTubal ligation is a permanent form of female sterilization, in which the fallopian tubes are severed and sealed or "pinched shut", in order to prevent fertilization...
for women and
vasectomyVasectomy is a minor surgical procedure wherein the vasa deferentia of a man are severed, and then tied or sealed in a manner such to prevent sperm from entering the seminal stream .-Types:...
for men. Sterilization should be considered permanent. In women, the process may be referred to as "tying the tubes," but the Fallopian tubes may be tied, cut, clamped, or blocked. This serves to prevent sperm from joining the unfertilized egg. The non-surgical sterilization procedure,
EssureEssure is a permanent sterilization procedure for women developed by Conceptus Inc and approved for use in the United States on November 4, 2002.-Procedure and assessment:...
, is an example of a procedure that blocks the tubes, wherein micro-inserts are placed into the fallopian tubes by a catheter passed from the vagina through the cervix and uterus.
Although tubal ligation should be considered a permanent procedure, it is possible to attempt a tubal ligation reversal to reconnect the Fallopian tubes. The rate of success depends on the type of tubal ligation procedure that was originally performed and damage done to the tubes as well as the woman's age.
Behavioral methods
Behavioral methods involve regulating the timing or methods of intercourse to prevent the introduction of sperm into the female reproductive tract, either altogether or when an egg may be present.
Fertility awareness
Symptoms-based methods of
fertility awarenessFertility awareness refers to a set of practices used to determine the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's menstrual cycle. Fertility awareness methods may be used to avoid pregnancy, to achieve pregnancy, or as a way to monitor gynecological health.Methods of identifying infertile days have...
involve a woman's observation and charting of her body's fertility signs, to determine the fertile and infertile phases of her cycle. Charting may be done by hand or with the assistance of software. Most methods track one or more of the three primary fertility signs: changes in
basal body temperatureBasal body temperature is the lowest temperature attained by the body during rest . It is generally measured immediately after awakening and before any physical activity has been undertaken, although the temperature measured at that time is somewhat higher than the true basal body temperature...
, in cervical mucus, and in cervical position. If a woman tracks both basal body temperature and another primary sign, the method is referred to as
symptothermal. Other bodily cues such as
mittelschmerzMittelschmerz is a medical term for "ovulation pain" or "midcycle pain". About 20% of women experience mittelschmerz, some every cycle, some intermittently.-Symptoms and diagnosis:...
are considered secondary indicators.
Fertility monitorA fertility monitor is a computerized device used for fertility awareness. Some brands are marketed only to assist in pregnancy achievement, while other brands are advertised for both pregnancy achievement and as birth control...
s are computerized devices that determine fertility or infertility based on, for example, temperature or urinalysis tests. Calendar-based methods such as the rhythm method and Standard Days Method estimate the likelihood of fertility based on the length of past menstrual cycles. To avoid pregnancy with fertility awareness, unprotected sex is restricted to the least fertile period. During the most fertile period, barrier methods may be availed, or she may abstain from intercourse.
The term
natural family planningNatural family planning is a term referring to the family planning methods approved by the Roman Catholic Church. In accordance with the requirements for sexual behavior in keeping with the dignity of the human person, as maintained by this church, NFP excludes the use of other methods of birth...
(NFP) is sometimes used to refer to any use of fertility awareness methods. However, this term specifically refers to the practices which are permitted by the
Roman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church. With more than a billion members, over half of all Christians and more than one-sixth of the world's population, the Catholic Church is a communion of the Western, or Latin Rite Church, and...
— breastfeeding infertility, and periodic
abstinenceAbstinence is a voluntary restraint from indulging a desire or appetite for certain bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Most frequently, the term refers to abstention from sexual intercourse, alcohol or food. The practice can arise from religious prohibitions or...
during fertile times. FA methods may be used by NFP users to identify these fertile times.
Coitus interruptus
Coitus interruptusCoitus interruptus, also known as withdrawal or the pull-out method, is a technique in which a man withdraws his penis prior to ejaculation during sexual intercourse, with the semen being ejaculated outside of and away from the vagina....
(literally "interrupted sexual intercourse"), also known as the withdrawal method, is the practice of ending sexual intercourse ("pulling out") before ejaculation. The main risk of coitus interruptus is that the man may not perform the maneuver correctly, or may not perform the maneuver in a timely manner. Although concern has been raised about the risk of pregnancy from sperm in
pre-ejaculatePre-ejaculate is the clear, colorless, viscous fluid that emits from the urethra of a man's penis when he is sexually aroused. It is similar in composition to semen, but has some significant chemical differences...
, several small studies have failed to find any viable sperm in the fluid.
Avoiding vaginal intercourse
The risk of pregnancy from non-vaginal sex, such as with
anal sexAnal sex most often refers to the sex act involving insertion of the penis into the anus. The term anal sex can also sometimes include other sexual acts involving the anus, including Anal–oral sex and fingering...
,
oral sexOral sex is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia by the use of the mouth, tongue, teeth or throat. Cunnilingus refers to oral sex performed on females while fellatio and irrumatio refer to oral sex performed on males. Analingus refers to oral stimulation of a person's anus...
, or
non-penetrative sexNon-penetrative sex is sexual activity without vaginal, anal, or oral penetration, as opposed to intercourse, anal sex, or oral sex . The terms mutual masturbation and frottage are also used, but with slightly different emphases...
is virtually zero. A very small risk comes from the possibility of
semenSemen is an organic fluid, also known as seminal fluid, that usually contains spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize female ova...
leaking onto the
vulvaThe vulva refers to the external genital organs of the female. This article deals with the human vulva, although the structures are similar for other mammals....
(with anal sex) or coming into contact with an object, such as a hand, that later contacts the vulva.
Total abstinence
Different groups define the term
sexual abstinenceSexual abstinence is the practice of voluntarily refraining from some or all aspects of sexual activity.Common reasons for practicing sexual abstinence include:*religious or philosophical reasons...
in different ways. When used in discussions of birth control, usually the avoidance of all sexual activity—total sexual abstinence—is the intended meaning. Sometimes people choose to be sexually abstinent to reduce their risk of pregnancy, and abstinence may be included in lists of birth control methods. Those who are sexually abstinent do not have unplanned pregnancies. Other sources instead classify abstinence as not being a form of birth control.
Abstinence as a long term method is not 100% effective in preventing pregnancy: not everyone who intends to be abstinent refrains from all sexual activity, and in many populations there is a significant risk of pregnancy from nonconsensual sex. As a public health measure, it is estimated that the protection provided by abstinence may be similar to that of condoms. Some authorities recommend that those using abstinence as a primary method have backup method(s) available (such as condoms or emergency contraceptive pills).
Lactational
Most breastfeeding women have a period of infertility after the birth of their child. The
lactational amenorrhea methodThe lactational amenorrhea method is a method of avoiding pregnancies which is based on the natural postpartum infertility that occurs when a woman is amenorrheic and fully breastfeeding...
, or LAM, gives guidelines for determining the length of a woman's period of breastfeeding infertility.
Induced abortion
In some areas, women use abortion as a primary means to control birth. This practice is more common in Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine. On the other hand, women from Canada, and other places generally do not use abortion as a primary form of birth control. Abortion is subject to
ethical debateThe ethical aspects of abortion revolve around a series of philosophical questions about the status of embryos, zygotes and fetuses, and the rights of women...
.
Surgical
abortionAn abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo. An abortion can occur spontaneously due to complications during pregnancy or can be induced, in humans and other species...
methods include
suction-aspiration abortionVacuum or suction aspiration uses aspiration to remove the contents of the uterus through the cervix. It may be used as a method of induced abortion, a therapeutic procedure used after miscarriage, or a procedure to obtain a sample for endometrial biopsy. The rate of infection is lower than any...
(used in the first
trimesterThe term Trimester usually means* A period of 3 months.* The division of the academic year. There is, in the Northern Hemisphere, a winter term , a spring term , a summer term and an autumn term...
) or
dilation and evacuationDilation and evacuation literally refers to the dilation of the cervix and surgical evacuation of the contents of the uterus...
(used in the second trimester).
Medical abortionA medical abortion is a type of non-surgical abortion in which a drug is used to induce the abortion. Safe and effective medical abortion methods became an alternative for first trimester pregnancy termination in the 1970s. The most widely used medication are mifepristone or methotrexate either...
methods involve the use of medication which is swallowed or inserted vaginally to induce abortion. Medical abortion can be used if the length of gestation has not exceeded 8 weeks.
Some herbs are considered
abortifacientAn abortifacient is a substance that induces abortion. Abortifacients for animals that have mated undesirably are known as mismating shots.Common abortifacients used in performing medical abortions include mifepristone, which is typically used in conjunction with misoprostol in a two-step approach...
, and some
animal studiesAnimal testing, also known as animal experimentation, animal research, and in vivo testing, is the use of non-human animals in experiments. It is estimated that 50 to 100 million vertebrate animals worldwide — from zebrafish to non-human primates — are used annually...
have found various herbs to be effective in inducing abortion in non-human animal species. Humans generally do not use herbs when other methods are available, due to the unknown efficacy and due to risks of toxicity.
For females
- Praneem is a polyherbal vaginal tablet being studied as a spermicide
Spermicide is a substance that kills sperm, inserted vaginally prior to intercourse to prevent pregnancy. As a contraceptive, spermicide may be used alone. However, the pregnancy rate experienced by couples using only spermicide is higher than that of couples using other methods...
, and a microbicideIn the HIV and STD prevention field the word microbicides refers to a new type of product being developed that could be used vaginally or rectally to reduce a person's risk of HIV infection and possibly other sexually transmitted infections...
active against HIV.
- BufferGel is a spermicidal gel being studied as a microbicide active against HIV.
- Duet is a disposable diaphragm in development that will be pre-filled with BufferGel. It is designed to deliver microbicide
In the HIV and STD prevention field the word microbicides refers to a new type of product being developed that could be used vaginally or rectally to reduce a person's risk of HIV infection and possibly other sexually transmitted infections...
to both the cervix and vagina. Unlike currently available diaphragms, the Duet will be manufactured in only one size and will not require a prescription, fitting, or a visit to a doctor.
- The SILCS diaphragm
The SILCS diaphragm is a silicone barrier contraceptive device which is inserted vaginally to cover the cervix. The SILCS device was developed by the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health and SILCS, Inc...
is a siliconeSilicones are largely inert, man-made compounds with a wide variety of forms and uses. Typically heat-resistant, nonstick, and rubber-like, they are commonly used in cookware, medical applications, sealants, adhesives, lubricants, insulation, and breast implants.Silicones are polymers that include...
barrier which is still in clinical testing. It has a finger cup molded on one end for easy removal. Like the Duet, the SILCS is novel in that it will only be available in one size.
- A vaginal ring
Vaginal rings are 'doughnut-shaped' polymeric drug delivery devices designed to provide controlled release of drugs to the vagina over extended periods of time...
is being developed that releases both estrogen and progesterone, and is effective for over 12 months.
- Two types of progestogen-only vaginal rings are being developed. Progestogen-only products may be particularly useful for women who are breastfeeding. The rings may be used for four months at a time.
- A progesterone-only contraceptive is being developed that would be sprayed onto the skin once a day.
- Quinacrine
Quinacrine is a drug with a number of different medical applications.-Uses:Its main effects are as an antiprotozoal, antirheumatic and an intrapleural sclerosing agent, although it is not commercially available in the United States or Canada.Antiprotozoal use include targeting Giardiasis, where...
sterilization and the Adiana procedure are two permanent methods of birth control being developed.
For males
Other than condoms and withdrawal, there are currently no available methods of reversible contraception which males can use or control. Several methods are in
research and developmentThe phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
:
- As of 2007, a chemical called Adjudin
Adjudin is a drug which is under development as a potential non-hormonal male contraceptive drug, which acts by blocking the production of sperm in the testes, but without affecting testosterone production...
is currently in Phase II human trials as a male oral contraceptiveA male oral contraceptive is a male contraceptive that can be taken in pill form by mouth. They are not commercially available to the public, although several forms are in various stages of research and development.-Botanical compounds:...
.
- RISUG (Reversible Inhibition of Sperm Under Guidance), is an experimental injection into the vas deferens
The vas deferens , also called ductus deferens, , is part of the male anatomy of some species; they transport sperm from the epididymis in anticipation of ejaculation.-Structure:...
that coats the walls of the vas with a spermicidal substance. The method can potentially be reversed by washing out the vas deferens with a second injection.
- Experiments in vas-occlusive contraception
Vas-occlusive contraception is an experimental male contraceptive method that is not yet approved for general use. Proposed methods of vas-occlusive contraception attempt to prevent sperm from traveling down the vasa deferentia...
involve an implant placed in the vasa deferentia.
- Experiments in heat-based contraception
An experimental male contraceptive method involves heating the testicles so that they cannot produce sperm. Sperm are best produced at a temperature slightly below body temperature. The muscles around a male's scrotum involuntarily tighten if the man's body temperature drops, and they loosen,...
involve heating a man's testicles to a high temperature for a short period of time.
Misconceptions
Modern misconceptions and
urban legendAn urban legend, urban myth, or urban tale, more properly a "'contemporary legend'" is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories thought to be factual by those circulating them...
s have given rise to a great many false claims:
- The suggestion that douching
A douche is a device used to introduce a stream of water into the body for medical or hygienic reasons, or the stream of water itself.Douche usually refers to vaginal irrigation, the rinsing of the vagina, but it can also refer to the rinsing of any body cavity. A douche bag is a piece of equipment...
with any substance immediately following intercourse works as a contraceptive is untrue. While it may seem like a sensible idea to try to wash the ejaculate out of the vagina, it is not likely to be effective. Due to the nature of the fluids and the structure of the female reproductive tract, douching most likely actually spreads semen further towards the uterus. Some slight spermicidal effect may occur if the douche solution is particularly acidic, but overall it is not scientifically observed to be a reliably effective method. Douching is neither a contraceptive nor a preventative measure against STDs or other infections.
- It is untrue that a female cannot become pregnant as a result of the first time she engages in sexual intercourse.
- While women are usually less fertile for the first few days of menstruation, it is a myth that a woman absolutely cannot get pregnant if she has sex during her period
The menstrual cycle is a cycle of physiological changes that occurs in fertile females. Overt menstruation occurs primarily in humans and close evolutionary relatives such as chimpanzees...
.
- Having sex in a hot tub does not prevent pregnancy, but may contribute to vaginal infections.
- Although some sex positions may encourage pregnancy, no sexual positions prevent pregnancy. Having sex while standing up or with a woman on top will not keep the sperm from entering the uterus. The force of ejaculation, the contractions of the uterus caused by prostaglandins in the semen, as well as ability of sperm to swim overrides gravity.
- Urinating after sex does not prevent pregnancy and is not a form of birth control, although it is often advised anyway to help prevent urinary tract infections.
- Toothpaste cannot be used as an effective contraceptive.
Effectiveness
- See also the table at: Comparison of birth control methods
Effectiveness is measured by how many women become pregnant using a particular birth control method in the first year of use. Thus, if 100 women use a method that has a 12 percent first-year failure rate, then sometime during the first year of use, 12 of the women should become pregnant.
The most effective methods in typical use are those that do not depend upon regular user action. Surgical sterilization, Depo-Provera, implants, and intrauterine devices (IUDs) all have first-year failure rates of less than one percent for perfect use. In reality, however,
perfect use may not be the case, but still, sterilization, implants, and IUDs also have
typical failure rates under one percent. The typical failure rate of Depo-Provera is disagreed upon, with figures ranging from less than one percent up to three percent.
Other methods may be highly effective if used consistently and correctly, but can have typical use first-year failure rates that are considerably higher due to incorrect or ineffective usage by the user. Hormonal contraceptive pills, patches or rings, fertility awareness methods, and the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM), if used strictly, have first-year (or for LAM, first-6-month) failure rates of less than 1%. In one survey, typical use first-year failure rates of hormonal contraceptive pills (and by extrapolation, patches or rings) were as high as five percent per year. Fertility awareness methods as a whole have typical use first-year failure rates as high as 25 percent per year; however, as stated above, perfect use of these methods reduces the first-year failure rate to less than 1%.
Condoms and cervical barriers such as the diaphragm have similar typical use first-year failure rates (14 and 20 percent, respectively), but perfect usage of the condom is more effective (three percent first-year failure vs six percent) and condoms have the additional feature of helping to prevent the spread of
sexually transmitted diseaseA sexually transmitted disease , also known as sexually transmitted infection or venereal disease , is an illness that has a significant probability of transmission between humans or animals by means of sexual contact, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex...
s such as the HIV virus. The withdrawal method, if used consistently and correctly, has a first-year failure rate of four percent. Due to the difficulty of consistently using withdrawal correctly, it has a typical use first-year failure rate of 19 percent, and is not recommended by some medical professionals.
Combining two birth control methods, can increase their effectiveness to 95% or more for less effective methods. Using condoms with another birth control method is also one of the recommended methods of reducing risk of getting
sexually transmitted infectionsA sexually transmitted disease , also known as sexually transmitted infection or venereal disease , is an illness that has a significant probability of transmission between humans or animals by means of sexual contact, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex...
, including
HIVHuman immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections. Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid,...
. This approach is one of the
Dual ProtectionDual protection or dual method is a strategy to reducing risk of pregnancy and getting sexually transmitted infections. Dual protection can be achieved by consistent use of condoms alone, both with other birth control method or by avoidance of penetrative sex...
Strategies.
Protection against sexually transmitted infections
Some methods of birth control also offer protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The male latex condom offers some protection against some STIs with correct and consistent use, as does the female condom, although the latter has only been approved for vaginal sex. The female condom may offer greater protection against STIs that pass through skin to skin contact, as the outer ring covers more exposed skin than the male condom. Some of the methods involving avoiding vaginal intercourse can also reduce risk: latex or polyurethane barriers can be used during oral sex, and mutual or solo masturbation are very low-risk. The remaining methods of birth control do not offer significant protection against the sexual transmission of STIs.
Many STIs may also be transmitted non-sexually; this is one reason why abstinence from sexual behavior does not guarantee 100 percent protection against sexually transmitted infections. For example, HIV may be transmitted through contaminated needles which may be used in
intravenous drug useIntravenous drug use can refer to:*Drug injection*Intravenous therapy, a medical treatment*Recreational drug use...
,
tattooA tattoo is a marking made by inserting ink into the layers of skin to change the pigment for decorative or other reasons. Tattoos on humans are a type of decorative body modification, while tattoos on animals are most commonly used for identification or branding.Tattooing has been practiced...
ing,
body piercingBody piercing is the practice of puncturing or cutting a part of the human body, creating an opening in which jewellery may be worn. Body piercing is a form of body modification. The word piercing can refer to the act or practice of body piercing, or to an opening in the body created by this act...
, or
injectionsAn injection is an infusion method of putting fluid into the body, usually with a hollow needle and a syringe which is pierced through the skin to a sufficient depth for the material to be forced into the body...
. Health-care workers have acquired HIV through occupational exposure to accidental injuries with needles.
Religious views on birth control
Religions vary widely in their views of the
ethicsEthics is a branch of philosophy which seeks to address questions about morality, such as what the fundamental semantic, ontological, and epistemic nature of ethics or morality is , how moral values should be determined , how a moral outcome can be achieved in specific situations , how moral...
of birth control. In
ChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented by the revelations in the New Testament....
, the
Roman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church. With more than a billion members, over half of all Christians and more than one-sixth of the world's population, the Catholic Church is a communion of the Western, or Latin Rite Church, and...
accepts only
Natural Family PlanningNatural family planning is a term referring to the family planning methods approved by the Roman Catholic Church. In accordance with the requirements for sexual behavior in keeping with the dignity of the human person, as maintained by this church, NFP excludes the use of other methods of birth...
and only for serious reasons, while Protestants maintain a wide range of views from
allowing noneQuiverfull is a movement among conservative evangelical Christian couples chiefly in the United States, but with some adherents in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England and elsewhere. Its viewpoint is to receive children eagerly as blessings from God, eschewing all forms of birth control,...
to very lenient. Views in
JudaismJudaism is a set of beliefs and practices originating in the Hebrew Bible , as later further explored and explained in the Talmud and other texts...
range from the stricter
OrthodoxOrthodox Judaism is a formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmudic texts and as subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and Acharonim.Orthodox...
sect to the more relaxed
ReformReform Judaism refers to the spectrum of beliefs, practices and organizational infrastructure associated with Reform Judaism in North America and in the United Kingdom....
sect. In
IslamIslam Islam Islam ( al-’islām,
[There are ten pronunciations of Islam in English, differing in whether the first or second syllable has the stress, whether the s is or , and whether the a is pronounced as in father, as in cat, or (when the stress is on the i) as in the a of sofa...]
, contraceptives are allowed if they do not threaten health , although their use is discouraged by some.
HindusHinduism is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as ', a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law", by its adherents. Generic "types" of Hinduism that attempt to accommodate a variety of complex views span folk and Vedic Hinduism to bhakti tradition, as...
may use both natural and artificial contraceptives. A common
BuddhistBuddhism, as traditionally conceived, is a path of salvation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality. It encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha...
view of birth control is that preventing conception is ethically acceptable, while intervening after conception has occurred or may have occurred is not.
Birth control education
Many teenagers, most commonly in developed countries, receive some form of
sex educationSex education is a broad term used to describe education about human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexual intercourse, reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, contraception, and other aspects of human sexual behavior...
in school. What information should be provided in such programs is hotly contested, especially in the United States and United Kingdom. Possible topics include reproductive anatomy, human sexual behavior, information on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), social aspects of sexual interaction, negotiating skills intended to help teens follow through with a decision to remain abstinent or to use birth control during sex, and information on birth control methods.
One type of sex education program used mainly in the United States is called abstinence-only education, and it promotes complete
sexual abstinenceSexual abstinence is the practice of voluntarily refraining from some or all aspects of sexual activity.Common reasons for practicing sexual abstinence include:*religious or philosophical reasons...
until
marriageMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
. The programs do not encourage birth control, often provide inaccurate information about contraceptives and sexuality, stress failure rates of condoms and other contraceptives, and teach strategies for avoiding sexually intimate situations. Advocates of abstinence-only education believe that the programs will result in decreased rates of teenage pregnancy and STD infection. In a non-random,
InternetThe Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standardized Internet Protocol Suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
survey of 1,400 women who found and completed a 10-minute
multiple-choiceMultiple choice is a form of assessment in which respondents are asked to select the best possible answer out of the choices from a list. The multiple choice format is most frequently used in educational testing, in market research, and in elections-- when a person chooses between multiple...
online questionnaireWith the increasing use of the Internet, online questionnaires have become a popular way of collecting information. The design of an online questionnaire often has an affect how the quality of data gathered...
listed in one of several popular
search engineA web search engine is a tool designed to search for information on the World Wide Web. The search results are usually presented in a list and are commonly called hits. The information may consist of web pages, images, information and other types of files. Some search engines also mine data...
s, women who received sex education from schools providing primarily abstinence information, or contraception and abstinence information equally, reported fewer unplanned pregnancies than those who received primarily contraceptive information, who in turn reported fewer unplanned pregnancies than those who received no information.
However,
randomized controlled trialA randomized controlled trial is a type of scientific experiment most commonly used in testing the efficacy or effectiveness of healthcare services or health technologies . RCTs are also employed in other research areas, such as judicial, educational, and social research...
s demonstrate that abstinence-only sex education programs increase the rates of pregnancy and STDs in the teenage population.
Professional medical organizations, including the
AMAThe American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated 1897, is the largest association of physicians and medical students in the United States. While its membership has declined in recent years, it claims approximately 20% of practicing physicians as members...
,
AAPThe American Academy of Pediatrics was founded in 1930 and now has 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists as members...
,
ACOGThe American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is a professional association of medical doctors specializing in obstetrics and gynecology in the United States. It has a membership of over 52,000 and represents 90 percent of U.S...
,
APHAThe American Public Health Association is Washington, D.C.-based professional organization for public health professionals in the United States. Founded in 1872 by Dr. Stephen Smith, APHA has more than 30,000 members worldwide...
,
APAThe American Psychological Association is a professional organization representing psychologists in the U.S., with around 150,000 members and an annual budget of around $70m...
, and
Society for Adolescent MedicineAdolescent medicine is a medical subspecialty that focuses on care of patients who are in the adolescent period of development. Patients have generally entered puberty, which typically begins between the ages of 9 to 11 for girls, and 11 to 14 for boys...
, support comprehensive sex education (providing abstinence and contraceptive information) and oppose the sole use of abstinence-only sex education.
See also
- Birth rate
Crude birth rate is the nativity or childbirths per 1,000 people per year.According to the United Nations' World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision Population Database, crude birth rate is the Number of births over a given period divided by the person-years lived by the population over that...
- Population control
Population control is the practice of artificially altering the rate of population growth. Historically, population control has been implemented by limiting the population's birth rate, usually by government mandate, and has been undertaken as a response to factors including high or increasing...
- One-child policy
The one-child policy is the population control policy of the People's Republic of China . The Chinese government refers to it under the official translation of family planning policy...
- Natalism
Natalism or pro-birth is a belief that promotes human reproduction. The term is taken from the Latin adjective form for "birth," natalis....
, promoting childbirth
- National Birth Control League
The National Birth Control League was a birth control organization in the United States. It was founded in March 1915 by Mary Dennett, Clara Gruening Stillman and Jessie Ashley. Its main purpose was to overturn the laws which banned contraceptives from the U.S. mails...
External links