How Effective is Birth Control

A whopping 50% of all pregnancies in the US are unplanned. This clearly indicates the ignorance of people regarding birth control. There are various birth control methods that can prevent unintended pregnancies. Some of these methods even protect you from Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). However, the degree of effectiveness varies according to each method. In this article we are going to find out efficacy of some of the most widely used methods of contraception. The effectiveness factor is determined by the number of couples that get pregnant within a year of having protected sex with any of the birth control methods.

Pills
Pills are one of the most commonly used way of birth control. They are basically hormone pills which work at various levels to prevent pregnancy. Some of these pills prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg, while some make cervical mucus thick, so that sperms have difficulty reaching an egg. Some pills may even affect the endometrium, so that even if the egg fertilizes, it has difficulty attaching itself to the wall of uterus. These pills mostly contain estrogen and progesterone, two important hormones that control a woman's reproductive system. The problem with birth control pills is that, if you miss a pill or delay it, your chances of getting pregnant are highly elevated. Effectiveness of pills is greatly determined by your diligence. It is estimated that, out of 100 couples taking birth control pills, 8 will become pregnant by the end of year. On a scale of 'less effective' to 'very effective', pills score a grade 'effective'. Besides this, they do not provide any protection against STDs.

Condoms
Condoms are available for men as well as women. Male condoms are highly preferred by couples due to their convenience and cost. Male condoms are made from latex and are to be worn on erect penis during intercourse. Whereas, female condoms are to be inserted inside the vagina prior to intercourse. Male condoms offer better protection than female condoms. Condoms also provide protection from Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). The effectiveness of male condoms is about 85% while that of female condoms is about 79%. Condoms are often used with other birth control methods such as pills, diaphragm, ring, etc.

Ring and Diaphragm
Ring and diaphragm are the methods of female contraception. A ring consists of a latex sheet with a ring on one end. This end has to be inserted in the vagina, while the other end creates a barrier at the opening of the cervix, so that the sperms cannot enter. Diaphragm is a bowl shaped thick latex barrier, which is often used with a spermicide. The bowl is filled with spermicide and inserted in the cervix. Diaphragm is reusable up to two years. However, it should be inserted at least 6 hours before intercourse and should be left there for another couple of hours after intercourse. Ring is an effective method of family planning while diaphragm is only moderately effective. Both of these methods cannot protect you against STDs.

Shot, Emergency Pills and IUD
All of these are highly effective methods of female contraception. Shot is a hormonal injection which is to be taken every 12 weeks. Emergency contraceptive pills are hormone pills which have higher dosage of hormones. IUD is an intra-uterine device which is fitted inside the uterus of the woman to create a barrier against sperms. These methods are about 97% effective in preventing unwanted pregnancies. However, none of them protects you against STDs. Hence, it is better to combine them with condoms. Besides, emergency pills are not a regular method of contraception and should only be taken in case of 'accidents', that too under the supervision of a gynecologist.

Withdrawal and Abstinence
These two are the natural methods of contraception. Withdrawal refers to the act of man pulling out of the vagina before he ejaculates. This method only offers 73% success rate, as some stray sperms may enter vagina long before the man feels an urge to ejaculate. Abstinence on the other hand, is the safest and most effective method of birth control. It refers to the act of refraining from sex! Needless to say, not many couples practice this method and often need a 'real' contraception.

Some form of contraception is always better than none at all. All the couples who are sexually active should practice safe sex to avoid pregnancies and STDs. Hope this article was resourceful.