The female contraceptives They have evolved, offering a greater degree of effectiveness and fewer side effects. These advances have allowed for the existence of contraceptive methods practically that they adapt to every type of woman.
There is a wide variety of options where couples have the freedom to choose.
Modern contraceptive methods
- Levonorgestrel intrauterine device (IUD): It improves the excessively heavy periods caused by the copper IUD. The hormone levonorgestrel atrophies the endometrium, which reduces menstrual flow, sometimes even eliminating it.
- Subdermal contraceptive: It is inserted in the forearm and lasts for three years. Its function is to prevent ovulation and prevent sperm from reaching the uterus. A healthcare professional inserts the subdermal contraceptive under the skin of your upper arm, and it releases the hormone progestin to prevent pregnancy.
- Birth control pills: They contain two forms of artificial hormones called estrogen and progestin. Progestin also makes the mucus around a woman's cervix thick and sticky. This prevents sperm from entering the uterus. They are commonly used when a woman is breastfeeding and for women with contraindications to estrogen use.
- Female condom: It is inserted into the vagina and prevents pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It is also used inside the anus to protect against STIs. For a long time, it was called a "female condom." However, people of any gender can use it for vaginal or anal sex. Internal condoms are made of a nitrile (soft plastic) outer shell and ring, which is not latex, and a polyurethane inner ring. They also have a silicone-based lubricant on both the inside and outside.
- Vaginal ring: It is safe and practical, it is small, flexible, goes inside the vagina and releases hormones for a month, after which it is advisable to change and put in a new one.
- Contraceptive patch: The contraceptive patch is placed on certain parts of your body, where it releases hormones that are absorbed through your skin to prevent pregnancy. It is shaped like a bandage or patch and must be changed weekly.
- Subcutaneous injection: It is an injection that you receive once every 3 months that contains the hormone progestin; it can be self-administered because it is put with a small needle into the fatty tissue of the abdomen or thigh.
Are contraceptive methods effective?
None of the contraceptive methods are 100% effective Therefore, it's important to keep in mind that the safest option for couples is the condom, which serves two important functions: preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. While oral contraceptives, when taken as directed, without fail and consistently every 24 hours, are highly effective.
What are the risks of taking contraceptives?
Women who take hormonal contraceptives or estrogen-containing pills have a slightly higher risk of developing venous thrombosis, a condition involving blood clots in the veins of the legs, lungs, or brain, and of experiencing strokes and heart attacks. It's important to note that these risks increase significantly for smokers.
Which women are more likely to experience problems due to the use of contraceptives?
Women over 35 years of age, smokers, obese, those who have had a thrombosis in the past or are carriers of family diseases that predispose to this; people who suffer from severe headaches, those who have systemic lupus erythematosus and patients who are going to undergo surgery that requires periods of immobilization.
Conclusions
There is a wide range of contraceptives available to you; choosing one is a task for your doctor and your partner. Every woman is different, so selecting the most effective, safe, and suitable option for you is the responsibility of a healthcare professional who can best guide you.
Don't know where to start? Visit our health clinics nearest you. We have locations in Dallas and Fort Worth. With our family clinics, you'll have professionals who look after your health, your safety, and your quality of life from day one.
Visit us o schedule an appointment as you prefer.
The advice we give to all our patients is to visit us regularly, quit smoking, and live as healthy a life as possible. Watch video: 4 basic rules to have the quality of life you deserve.
