Birth Control

Birth control is often referred to as contraception. It is the process inhibiting pregnancy. Various ways of prevention of conception are medicines, various devices, sexual practices or even in some extreme cases even surgical methods. Birth control helps the women to decide whether they would like to conceive after sexual intercourse with their male partners. There are three major birth control practices prevalent

1. Contraception
2. Contragestion
3. Abortion and other surgical methods

Contraception

Contraception is the use of barrier to prevent sperm ovum contact. These barriers could be condoms for males and females, spermicides, contraceptive sponges, diaphragm, cervical caps, the Lea-contraceptive, and many more. There are many other Intra Uterine Devices (IUD) available like copper T 380A that are effective for at least 10-12 years

Contragestion

Besides the contraceptive ways of controlling birth a women may use oral drugs or injectable to prevent from getting pregnant. The pills have two hormones, estrogen and progestin. They stop ovulation and also make the uterine wall thinner. One may also inject medroxyprogesterone acetate as reversible hormonal birth control. It is injected every 3 months and prevents ovulation in women. Another type of emergency contraceptive pill or most commonly referred to as the morning after pill is effective against fertilization and even post fertilization implantations of embryo in womb. For males, there are contraceptive pills that would work as testosterone suppressors

Abortion and Other Surgical Methods

Abortion is a surgical method which may be used to terminate pregnancy long after implantation. It works by operating and removing the embryo from the female fetus and terminating it. Though is is 100% successful, it may infertility in women and may also be fatal in some cases. Contraceptive and contragestional methods of birth control are always recommended than undergoing abortion.

Besides contraception, Contragestion and abortion, a female may also undergo litigation which is a permanent sterilization method. This is done by surgically rendering the fallopian tubes incapable of producing eggs.  A similar process for males is also available that is referred to as vasectomy. It is achieved by either blocking or cutting the vas deferens tubes that carry sperms during ejaculation. Vasectomy is reversible however not recommended as a reversal may lead to higher rate of birth defects.

Why birth control?

The population explosion, depleting resources and modern lifestyles are more inclined towards nuclear families. It has become important to ensure that there are not more than 2 kids to a couple. In other words birth control is the most effective means to action family planning. Except abortion and surgical methods, birth control not only prevents the conception but also consequently lead the partners in sex lead a healthy life. Fewer children in family ensure that there is no oversight in their upbringing, better education and successful life.