›› Birth Control Options
Today, in the 21st
century of medicine and science, there are a lot of different birth
control options. Unfortunately for women, the most modern and
effective birth control options are almost all targeted towards
females. Of course, there are plenty of older methods that
are aimed at men as well.
The oldest and most
tried and tested birth control option is by way of using contraceptive
devices. The most popular of these is still the
condom. Condoms are a very simple concept that has been in
use in one form or other since the time of the ancient
Egyptians. There are also diaphragms, female condoms, and
spermicidal foams that are sometimes used as well. The
problem with contraceptive devices is that they all have a relatively
high rate of failure, and are prone to misuse. If not used
correctly, the rate of failure increases dramatically. Still,
one or more of these methods used together can give a very low
likelihood of pregnancy. More importantly, condoms also
protective against many forms of sexually transmitted diseases
(although not all!) and for this reason alone will probably remain
popular for years to come.
With respect to
avoiding pregnancy as the goal (as opposed to disease) the more modern
and most effective birth control options involved the use of hormone
supplements for women. By taking a low amount of estrogen and
progesterone during the right time of the menstrual cycle, women
effectively trick their bodies into thinking that they are already
pregnant. They are then therefore no longer able to get
pregnant while taking the hormone supplements.
Because being pregnant is a totally natural and not unhealthy
condition, these hormone supplements are a birth control option that is
generally not harmful, however they do have a number of side
effects. The side effects vary from woman to woman, but can
include weight gain, nausea, headaches, moodiness, and strange colored
discharges. Most of these side effects are temporary and fade
with continued use. Also, taking any of this form of birth
control can increase your risk of heart disease, especially if
you’re a smoker.
Hormone supplements are becoming an extremely popular birth control
option in industrialized countries. They are extremely
effective, have a low margin for error, and are often even covered by
health insurance. Birth control options today usually refers
to what kind of hormone supplement to choose from, as there are
different ways of administering the hormones now. You can
take pills, use patches, or get an occasional injection.
There are even types of birth control options that involve place
hormone effusing devices within the body. Which birth control
option is best for you is of course best discussed with your
doctor.
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A Healthy Dose of Good Advice
