For the first time in human history, sexual activity was largely freed from the consequences of reproduction. It launched a sexual revolution whose reverberations are still felt across the world today, as use of “The Pill,” as the drug became to be known, became widespread.
It’s so commonplace today that many people forget that the use of oral contraceptives was once illegal. Even with FDA approval, there were still state laws on the books that banned the use of the pill. By 1965, the issue made it to the Supreme Court, which ruled that federal approval superseded state laws that prohibited their use by married people. But it wasn’t until 1972 that birth control became legal for use by everyone.
Interestingly, it is believed that the term “The Pill” was created out of discretion – women who didn’t want to ask directly for an oral contraceptive would mask their request by referring to the item generically.
Widespread Birth Control Use
Today, just about every American uses birth control. The Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that focuses on sexual and reproductive health, found that more than 99 percent of women ages 15 to 44 who experienced sexual intercourse have used at least one birth control method, which can mean they used anything ranging from the Pill to condoms.
But that leaves yet another staggering problem – there is such a mind-boggling array of birth control available that choosing the right method for you may be a daunting challenge. The answers to what type of birth control is right for you is highly individual, based on a number of questions. Some birth control methods last longer; some prevent sexually transmitted diseases; some require a doctor’s advice and/or medical implantation, while others are over-the-counter and generally available at any drug store or pharmacy.
Some of the questions to consider when considering birth control include:
· How often do you have sex?
· How soon do you wish to have children?
· Do you need something to stop sexually transmitted diseases and HIV?
· Do you have any underlying health conditions that may be affected by the birth control? Will you be able to stay on track with its use and use it properly every time?
All of these questions are important and should be carefully considered before moving on to the next hurdle in your selection process – what kind of birth control fits your needs.
Using the Pill
Birth control pills come in two types – the so-called combination birth control pills, which have both estrogen and progestin, and the minipill, which has only progestin.
With the combinational pill, you have different mixtures, active and inactive. These allow you to decide when you will have your period. The conventional packs typically contain 21 active pills and seven inactive, with periods occurring when you take the inactive pills. Combination pills also have varying doses of hormones, which can remain the same or change.
With continuous dosing, you have 84 active pills and seven inactive. Menstruation will only happen four times a year when taking the inactive pills.
While both birth control pills work to regular ovulation, the combination will also work on thickening cervical mucus and thinning your uterus lining. The mini pill does the same but uses the lower dose of progestin to achieve its results.
Talk to your medical professional about which is right for you, particularly if you are older than 35, smoke, are breastfeeding, have high blood pressure, deep vein thrombosis or a history of pulmonary embolisms.
Other Common Types
Here are some of the most popular methods of preventing pregnancies:
1) Intrauterine devices – Known by its acronym, IUD, this is a small piece of T-shaped plastic implanted in the uterus by a doctor or nurse. There are two kinds of IUDs that most people use – the copper IUD,also known as Paragard, which releases a small amount of copper that prevents the sperm from fertilizing the egg. This can last up to a decade, making it a good choice for long-term birth control. The hormonal IUD is inserted into the uterus and releases hormones that prevent pregnancy on a regular basis. There are three types of hormonal IUDs, with effective use ranges from three years to five years. Brand names include Skyla and Mirena. It's painless and unnoticeable, and once inserted, there is nothing else to be done, making it an effective tool for those on busy schedules who are concerned about taking a regular pill or remembering some other method. The devices are also easily removable in case pregnancy plans change.
2) Hormones – This changes a woman’s body chemistry, preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg during the regular monthly cycle. The body chemistry is also altered in other ways that make it difficult to get pregnant. The hormones can be delivered by birth control pills, which have to be taken every day. Hormones can be implanted, delivered by an injection every couple of months, delivered via a skin patch that is changed monthly, or inserted via a vaginal ring and replaced monthly.
3 Barriers – These prevent sperm and egg from meeting and fertilizing. They include condoms worn by the male on his penis, female condoms inserted outside and inside the vaginal canal, cervical caps, and diaphragms, which are inserted into the vagina. These are all effective if used but all have failure rates. They are typically good at prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, but again, no method other than abstinence is 100 percent effective.
4)Natural – These include the so-called rhythm method, wherein women and men abstain from sex at the times when a women is most likely to conceive and total abstinence.
5) Emergency contraception – These include the day-after pill, taken post-intercourse.
6) Sterilization – The most extreme method of birth control, wherein a surgeon makes it impossible to conceive.
Whatever method you choose, it’s best to have a long and detailed evaluation of your intentions, your medical history and your future plans before embarking on a regimen. Birth control options have never been more available, but those who make informed choices generally have the fewest regrets.