The pros and cons of contraception

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                                          The pros and cons of contraception

These are various methods of contraception. Firstly I will consider male contraceptive methods.

Males may use condoms. The pros are as follows. It lowers the risk of sexually transmitted disease (STD) and is effective against pregnancy. No prescription is needed. As regards the cons, each can only be used once and they can leak or burst. It can slip off if the man remains inside the woman after climax. Also women may be allergic to latex of which the best condoms are made or to spermicides.

Alternatively, the man may practise withdrawal. The pros are no side effects and no cost. As regards the cons, it does not protect against STDs and the man cannot always judge the time of ejaculation.

I will now consider female hormonal methods. Firstly, there are birth control pills. The pros are as follows. They are very effective against pregnancy. They make menstrual cramps and acne. One is less likely to get ovarian and uterine cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian cysts and anaemia. The cons are as follows. They do not protect against  STDs, there is cost  and they have to be taken everyday. They can’t be taken by women with certain medical problems or taking certain medications. Many doctors will not prescribe them to women over 35. They can cause side effects such as nausea, increased appetite or headaches.

Also there are Depo-Provera hormonal injections. The pros are as follows. It provides three months of good protection against pregnancy

To use this method, women receive an injection every 13 weeks. Each injection containing progestin, a hormone much like the hormone a women produces in the last 2 weeks of each monthly cycle. It stops the woman from passing an egg. It also thickens the mucus in the cervix, making it difficult for the sperm to enter the uterus The pros are as follows. It provides three months of good protection against pregnancy and it protects against uterine cancer, they are free on N.H.S. The cons are as follows. It does not protect against STDs. One needs to see one’s health care provider every three months for an injection. It may have side effects such as weight gain, tiredness and possibly a decrease in bone density. Many women have irregular menstrual bleeding for the first 3 to 6 months.

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There is also lunelle hormonal injections. The pros are as follows. It causes less menstrual irregularities than Depo Provera. There are fewer reports of amenorrhea, irregular bleeding and extra long menstrual bleeding. It provides a month of birth control protection and it is very effective against pregnancy. The cons are similar to Depo_ Provera but one must visit the health care provider every month.

There are also hormonal implants (Norplant). The pros are that it protects against pregnancy for 24 hours after insertion for up to 5 years and it can be removed at will. It is very ...

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