Social Perspectives
Contemporary Issues:
- planning for wanted children
- physical health of mother
- insurance coverage of contraceptives
- population growth
- cultural gender-rule expectations
- wide diversity of views among cultures and religious leaders
Sharing Responsibility
How to share responsibility:
- ask about birth control before intercourse (short-term)
- read and discuss options together (long-term)
- share expenses
- attend a class or clinic together
Choosing a Birth Control Method
- Consider effectiveness and cost
- Consider ease of use and side effects
- Characteristics of ineffective use: guilt, negative attitudes about sex, failure rate (consistent and typical use)
Birth Control: Effective Methods
- Abstinence (no touching)
- Outercourse ( all but penile-vaginal intercourse)
- Hormone-based contraception
- Barrier-based contraception
- Emergency contraception
- Fertility awareness contraception
- Sterilization
Historical Perspectives
Evidence of contraception since the beginning of recorded history
U.S. contraceptive efforts:
- 1800’s Comstock Laws: federal law, illegal to distribute anything that was obscene
- 1915 Margaret Sanger’s: wealthy, thought women’s health in the U.S. was backwards. Released thousands of diaphragms
- U.S. Supreme Court rulings; Griswold vs. Connecticut, Eisenstadt vs. Baird: 1965 states could use contraception for only married couples, 1964 not at all; 1972 it was big for contraception
Failure Rate
Number of women out of 100 who become pregnant after 1 year after using a particular contraceptive
Backup Methods
Contraceptive methods used simultaneously with another method to support it
Hormone-Based Contraceptives
- Oral Contraceptives
- Vaginal Ring
- Transdermal Patch
- Injected Contraception
- Contraceptive Implant
4 Types of Oral Contraceptives
- Constant-Dose Combination Pill
- Triphasic Pill
- Seasonale Pill
- Progestin-Only Pill
Outercourse
Sexual intimacy without penile-vaginal intercourse
Constant-Dose Combination Pill
Birth control pill that contains a constant daily dose of estrogen
- 99% effective
Triphasic Pill
Birth control pill that varies the dosages of estrogen and progestin during the menstrual cycle (change up 3 times)
- 99% effective
Seasonale Pill
Birth control pill that reduces menstrual periods to four times a year (13 to 4); this can be harsh for women
- 99% effective
Progestin-Only Pill
Contraceptive pill that contains a small dose of progestin and no estrogen (not as effective)
- 92% effective
Vaginal Ring and Transdermal Patch
- Hold estrogen and progestin
- Called NuvaRing, and Ortho Evra
- Hormones go into blood stream to prevent pregnancy
- Less side effects using them
Injected Contraceptives
- Called Deposit-Provera
- Active ingredient is progestin
- Lining of the uterus thins
- Progestin alters services mucus
- Combines estrogen and progestin
Contraceptive Implants
- Slender rod placed under the skin of the upper arm
- Releases contraceptive hormones
Birth Control Pill (Pains)
- Abdominal Pain
- Chest Pain
- Headaches
- Eye Problems
- Severe Leg Pain
Condom
Sheath that fits over the penis and is used for protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections
Vaginal Spermicides
Foam that contains a chemical that kills sperm
Intrauterine Device
Small plastic device that goes into uterus for contraception
Emergency Contraception
Hormone pills that can be used after unprotected intercourse to prevent pregnancy
- occurs within 72 hours
- chemical: Copper-T IUD, inserted up to five days after unprotected intercourse (can be 98% effective)
- 3 pills at one time
Barrier Contraception
Two types:
- Chemical Barriers
- Physical Barriers
Chemical Barriers
- Vaginal Spermicides: they are really easy to do, and have no side effects
- Foams (8 inches long and spray into vagina, evacuate instantly)
- Suppositories (small pills and vaginal suppositories, take a little longer to activate) chemical reaction
- Creams (physical barrier device)
- Films (put around finger, and moisture of vagina dissolves and activation of spermicides occurs)
