On Contraceptives

Many people who are looking to start birth control are hesitant because they're worried they might lose fertility when they're done and want to family plan. However, I'm here to tell you not to worry and look at the facts! In a research study conducted in 2002, their conclusion was that hormonal contraceptives actually improve fertility slightly compared to women who have taken it for a shorter period of time. The data to back this shows that women who have taken birth control anywhere from 3 years and on have a conception percentage of 88-89% within the first 12 months after stopping contraceptive use. This is 3-4% higher than women who have never taken birth control, but equal to women who have only taken it for less than a year to 2 years. This study was conducted for over ten thousand women with no under represented time duration category. Some bias in the reports include the lack of monitoring on which forms of birth control where used for each women such as pill, impl...

     Reproductive hormones are naturally occurring chemical messengers in the form of steroids that are produced by the male or female gonads, which are the testes and ovaries respectively. The main reproductive hormones are estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. These hormones play a fundamental role in how a person experiences puberty, menstruation, menopause, fertility, and sexual desire.       When someone hears the word "hormone" they might be thinking of something radical like taking "roids" or performance enhancers. But these molecules are naturally occurring and provide a single source for a multitude of biological pathways that dictate who we are and how we function.      Steroids are small molecules in comparison to large complex proteins made by the body. It is very hydrophobic, meaning it is not "water-loving". This adds to the properties and function of these molecules as they can passively cross the cells hydrophobic memb...

Sterilization for women is a permanent surgical procedure that is intended for life-long  protections against pregnancy.  Procedure:  Minilaparotomy: small incision in the abdomen for access to the fallopian tubes which are cut or blocked Laparoscopy: insertion of a long, thin tube containing lenses into the abdomen through an incision. This enables access to cut or block the fallopian tubes Action: The goal of this procedure is to prevent the eggs from being released from the ovaries, thereby hindering fertilization Effectiveness:  Most effective contraceptive method however there is a small risk of failure. Less than 1 pregnancy occurs in women per 100, during the first year after the procedure. In the years until menopause, this risk slightly increases to 2 pregnancies per 100 women.  Fertility:  Sterilization is not generally reversible so women lose fertility after this procedure. Even if reversed via expensive surgery, this might not restore ...

There are many options for non-hormonal contraceptives, however not all are available over the counter (OTC). First we will explore OTC options: male and female condoms and spermicides, then we will look at prescription-based options: diaphragms and cervical caps.  Male condoms are sheaths or coverings that fit over a man's erect penis made of thin latex rubber or other materials such as polyurethane, polyisoprene, lambskin or nitrile. Active Ingredient:   None!  Works as a  physical barrier  between the penis and vagina Action:  Prevents the sperm from entering the vagina, thereby  hindering fertilization Effectiveness:  Due to the nature of this barrier, pregnancies may occur due to incorrect use, slips or breaks, therefore it's  highly user dependent . Within the first year of use with a partner,  13 pregnancies  are expected out of 100 women. With correct use for every act of sex, this drops to only  2 pregnancies  per...

Intrauterine copper-bearing devices are small, flexible plastic frames with copper wire around it. Most IUDs, have 1-2 strings tied to them hanging through the cervix into the vagina. Active ingredient:   None! The "active ingredient" of copper-bearing IUDs are not hormones at all but the copper itself Action: The copper in the IUD prevents pregnancy by damaging the sperm chemically , before it has a chance to meet the egg Effectiveness: In the first year of use, less than 1 pregnancy is expected per 100 woman, however this increases slightly to 2 pregnancies per 100 women over 10 years of use.  Protection against STIs:   None Benefits:  IUDs are long-term birth control showing effectiveness for up to 12 years after insertion. Although it must be inserted by a trained professional, there is little maintenance required by the person thereafter making it less prone to user error. IUDs also have to be removed by a professional, however they are immediately rever...

  Implants are small flexible rods that are placed under the skin in the upper arm, it is a  surgical procedure  that must be performed by a  trained professional  for both administration and removal.  Active ingredients:  implants only contain  progestin-like  hormones such as levonorgestrel (LNG) or etonogestrel (ETG) Action:  hormones prevents the release of eggs from the ovaries,  hindering ovulation  and additionally, thickens the  cervical mucus , blocking sperm from reaching an egg Effectiveness:   Highly effective contraceptive with approximately 1 pregnancy expected per 1000 woman in the first year of use, and less than 1  in 100 woman for the following years. In women weighing more, effectiveness may decrease near the end of the implants duration, so they are advised to replace implants sooner than later Protection against STIs:   None Benefits:  Implants are long-term birth control, with one...

Ever wondered what type of injectable contraceptives are out there?  Well, here's the facts! A brief overview on active ingredients, side effects, benefits and more!  Currently there are two main types of injectables available only by Rx, which are progestin-only injectables and monthly combined injectables. Lets get into it! Active Ingredients:  contains either progestin hormone depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) or norethisteron enanthate (NET-EN) Action:  Injected intramuscularl y or in some cases, subcutaneously with newer forms of DMPA. These injectables work by preventing the release of eggs from the ovaries, thereby hindering ovulation Effectiveness:   Highly user dependent , meaning how regularly you stick to your injection schedule will change the effectiveness against pregnancies. Within the first year of use, 4/100 woman will become pregnant when using progestin-only injectables. When taking injectables on time, this risk decreases to less th...

Ever wondered what type of oral contraceptives are out there?  Well, here's the facts! A brief overview on active ingredients, side effects, benefits and more! Currently there are three oral contraceptives available for purchase either by Rx or over the counter (OTC). The most commonly used oral contraceptive is Combined Oral Contraceptives (COCs). Less commonly used are Progestin-Only Pills (POPs) and Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs). Lets take a deeper look into what this means.   Active Ingredients:  two low doses of natural hormones,  progestin and estrogen Action: prevent the release of eggs from the ovaries, thereby hindering ovulation Effectiveness: Highly user dependent , meaning how you take COC's will chance its effectiveness against pregnancy. These pills are daily,  and require consistency . Within the first year of use, 7/100 women become pregnant , however, with no mistakes in use, the risk decreases to less than 1 in 100 women Protectio...