Contraceptives and methods of contraception

Molly and Paul have been together for a while. They have sex sometimes, and enjoy it. But neither of them want to have a child. They are too young. They go to school, and they are not ready to take care of a child.

They need to protect themselves somehow, so that they can have sex and still make sure that Molly won’t become pregnant. They use a contraceptive method. - A packet of condoms, please. - One way is to use a condom. A condom is a “barrier” of rubber which is put on the penis before intercourse. When Paul ejaculates, the sperm are released from the penis, but are stopped by the condom. So Molly and Paul don’t need to worry about Molly getting pregnant.

Not only that, the condom prevents sexually transmitted infections. There are more ways to avoid getting pregnant. A woman can take pills that prevent her from getting pregnant. The pills contain hormones that prevent ovulation, or ensure that a fertilised egg does not attach to the uterus and start to grow. These pills can be prescribed by a doctor and obtained from a chemist.

These are contraceptive pills. Anyone who takes these pills cannot become pregnant. This implant can be placed under the skin by a doctor or a midwife. It releases hormones that prevent pregnancy. Anyone who has such an implant doesn’t have to remember to take the pill every day.

This is also true for the hormone intrauterine device, the IUD, which is placed in the uterus by a doctor or a midwife, and releases another type of hormone, that stops sperm from entering the fallopian tube. This IUD looks fairly similar, but this one releases small amounts of Copper instead of hormones. This changes the environment in the uterus, so that you cannot become pregnant. This is a coil. If you have forgotten your pill, or if a condom bursts during intercourse, the coil functions as an emergency contraceptive method.

It can be inserted up to 5 days after the intercourse and still prevent pregnancy. There are also pills which you can take after unprotected intercourse, so as not to become pregnant. These are emergency contraceptive pills. Pills and IUD’s give reliable protection against pregnancy, but there are some downsides: They do not prevent sexually transmitted infections. And the hormones can affect the body in other ways than just keeping you from becoming pregnant.

They can have the effect that the pain during menstruation becomes easier. But they can also affect your mood, so you might feel sad, or have decreased sexual desire. These are contraceptives that can have side effects. If you don’t feel well while using contraceptives, it’s a good idea to talk to a doctor or a midwife. They can help you find the method that suits you best.

But do Molly and Paul have to use a contraceptive? Can’t they just abstain from sex during ovulation? It’s only then that Molly can become pregnant. A couple of days each month. Or, maybe Paul can withdraw his penis before he comes.

No, it’s difficult to control when to come, and to stop the intercourse in time. And Paul’s sperm can live inside Molly’s vagina for several days before an egg arrives. So, these two ways of avoiding pregnancy are unreliable. All contraceptive methods have their pros and cons, and everyone has to find the way that suits them best. Paul and Molly choose the condom.