Those days when fertility was regulated exclusively through abortion have long sunk into oblivion. Today the question of whether to protect oneself or not, everyone decides for himself. Of course, this requires a serious and responsible approach, and if the contraceptive was chosen incorrectly, then the consequences can be the most “deplorable”.
It should be noted that protection should be taken not only as a form of protection against the conception of a child, but also as a form of preserving the health of the mother and the ability to give birth to a strong baby when you wish.
However, it should be said that no contraceptive can give absolute guarantees against pregnancy. Often, to achieve maximum effect, experts recommend the use of combinations of several birth control drugs. In this case, before making a choice in favor of a particular method of protection, it is imperative to consult a doctor.
The classic version of contraception is the so-called barrier methods. In the first half of the last century, their various types were almost the only salvation from an unwanted pregnancy.
At the same time, science gradually developed, and over the years, other types of contraceptives appeared on the pharmacy counters, which lowered the popularity rating of barrier methods of contraception. It is curious that when a modern contraceptive was used, for some reason it gave more complications than the use of standard condoms.
The mechanism of action of the barrier method of contraception is based on the fact that the contraceptive prevents the penetration of sperm into the cervical mucus. We are talking about a condom, a contraceptive sponge, cervical caps and a vaginal diaphragm.
The advantage of such products is that they are used locally and do not provoke the appearance of any changes. Therefore, a contraceptive related to barrier methods has much less contraindications than other variations of protection against unwanted pregnancy. It also effectively protects against sexually transmitted diseases.
However, the barrier method of protection has disadvantages. Compared with intrauterine and oral contraceptives, it is less effective. Some products cause an allergic reaction to rubber or latex in women.
However, reliable contraceptives are also made using various chemical compositions. How do they work? Spermicides are placed in the vagina by means of jelly, foam aerosols or cream, which subsequently destroy the sperm during its movement to the uterus. Taking into account the fact that the sperm is able to “achieve the goal” within one and a half minutes from the end of sexual intercourse, it is safe to say that chemical preparations are inferior to other contraceptive methods in terms of quality and speed of protection against unwanted pregnancies.
Of course, effective contraceptives are not limited to the two described above. There are also biological, calendar, temperature, cervical methods of protection.