Topic 3 : Birth Control
Finding information about birth control is the responsibility of both yourself and the person with whom you have sexual relations. There are many people who are embarrassed to discuss sex openly. This causes a lack of knowledge and misunderstanding which then affects sexual health. Having correct, through and plentiful information about sex will help everyone find the best way to make wise choices.
Types of birth control techniques
Condom
-There are many sizes of condoms; you should choose a size that is proper for your penis. You should check the manufacturing date and expiration date before using.
-Don the Condom when your penis is hard. First, squeeze the top of the condom to prevent trapped air, then, place the condom on the top of your penis and roll it down the length. Finally smooth the condom and insure it is pulled all the way to the base of the penis.
-When you have finished using the condom, you should pull out from the vagina while your penis is still hard by catching the edge of the condom and pulling out slowly to prevent the condom from coming off. If you wait until your penis has relaxed inside the vagina, the condom may slip off.
-Nowadays, a condom is the most effective temporary birth control method and it can protect against the transmission of HIV as well as other sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, syphilis and chancre.
Common birth control pills in tablet type
- There are 2 types of these birth control pills: 21 tablets and 28 tablets.
- The 28 tablet type has 7 tablets which are simply vitamins. This helps you remember to continue to take your pills without forgetting.
- Technique to start. You should start taking the first tablet by the fifth day of menstruation and then continuing to take one every day, once a day until all of the pack is gone.
- For 21 tablets, when have finished all of the pack, you should stop taking the pills for 7 days and then start a new pack again. For 28 tablets, you should continue with a new pack immediately.
- There are 4 effects of these birth control pills
1) they stop the growth of ovum and prevent ovulation.
2) They cause the endometrial to become slender which is not conducive for the embryo implantation process.
3) The Mucus of the cervix will become sticky which is not conducive for sperm to swim through the endometrial.
4) They change the movement of the fallopian tube which causes the mixed ovum to move too early and it cannot implant.
- If you forget to take 1 day, you have to take 2 tablets the next day.
- If you forget to take 2 days, you have to take 2 tablets the third day and another 2 tablets the fourth day.
- If you forget to take more than 3 days, you should stop taking that pack and use another birth control technique such as condoms and then start a new pack in the next menstruation.
- When you start the first pack, you have to take your pills for 14 days before the pills will affect birth control. If you have sexual relations during this period, you should use a condom together with your medication.
- Although a women is the one who takes the birth control pills, her man should also warn her to take it continuously.
Emergency birth control pills
- You have to take 2 tablets for effective birth control.
- First tablet, take it immediately or within 72 hours (3 days) after having sexual relations. Efficiency will depend on the period of time that you take it after having sex. If you take it fast, the efficiency of birth control will be higher. Second tablet, take it 12 hours after the first tablet.
- Taking emergency birth control pills is less effective than other birth control methods, so you should take it only in case of emergency. You should not usually take them.
Technique to count safe period or count 7 days before and 7 day after
This is called natural birth control. This is effective only for a woman who has consistent menstruation cycles. It is not proper for teenagers who have changing hormones and for whom menstruation is not constant. Counting before and after a 7 day based from the first date of menstruation. If you know that your menstruation begins regularly at a particular day, then sex will generally not result in pregnancy 7 days before the first day of menstruation and for 7 days after. For this to work, a lunar cycle is generally more predictable than a calendar date.
Ejaculation outside
Ejaculation outside is a natural birth control method that is inconsistent because when a man penetrates the vagina, there is always some secretion which may contain some sperm. Those sperm can swim to mix with the ovum, and pregnancy can occur even without ejaculation. Moreover, ejaculation outside depends on the self control of a man. This is not something which a woman can control.
- Taking birth controlpill, emergency birth control pill, counting days and ejaculation outside are birth control techniques that cannot protect HIV or other sexual transmitted diseases.
- A condom is the only technique that can protect pregnancy, HIV and sexual transmitted diseases.