Currently, there is a large selection of contraceptives, so every woman who has an active sex life can independently choose the most suitable means to prevent unwanted pregnancy. There are contraceptives for both men and women. Contraceptives are recommended to be chosen together with a doctor, based on the he alth of the woman's reproductive system and her age.
Types of contraceptives
Contraceptives are male and female. The first is condoms. They come in different materials (polyurethane, latex), different shapes (ribbed, with a mustache, with pimples), classic, super thin and with additional lubrication. Condoms are among the most commonly used contraceptives. Protect against unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
There are several types of female contraceptives:
- oral contraceptives;
- vaginal ring;
- female condoms;
- vaginal diaphragm;
- womb cap;
- intrauterine device.
Hormonal birth control
Oral contraceptives are hormonal birth control pills that contain female hormones that suppress ovulation in order to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Contraceptive pills are most effective in their functions and prevent fertilization in 90% of cases, but they do not save you from STDs. These drugs are also prescribed for the prevention of diseases: endometriosis, infertility, menstrual irregularities.
The vaginal ring is a hormonal contraceptive. It is placed in the vaginal cavity. From the ring, hormones enter the uterus and ovaries, which block the maturation of the egg.
Barrier birth control
Female condoms look like a tube with two ends, one of them is placed in the vagina, the other remains outside. The advantage of female condoms is that they can be inserted into the vagina beforehand. They can stay there without harm to a woman's he alth up to 10 hours.
The vaginal diaphragm is placed inside the vagina and blocks the access of spermatozoa to the cervix. Outwardly, it looks like a cap, it is made of latex rubber and a stainless steel spring.
The uterine cap is similar in appearance to the vaginal diaphragm, but smaller in size. The most convenient to use due to the repetition of the anatomical features of the female body, made of anti-allergic high-techsilicone rubber. Reusable.
Intrauterine device is a device that is placed in the uterine cavity and does not allow a fertilized egg to attach to its walls.
Later in the article we will take a closer look at one of the methods of contraception and protection against sexually transmitted diseases - cervical caps. Otherwise they are called uterine caps.
Contraceptive cap - barrier method of contraception
The purpose of creating this tool was to protect a woman from unwanted pregnancy and STDs, while making this method of contraception the most convenient and easy to use.
The contraceptive cap was made taking into account all the anatomical features of the cervix. Also, during the creation, the state of the cervix on different days of the cycle, the age of the woman, the changes that occur during arousal were taken into account.
The contraceptive cap is made of silicone rubber, which does not cause allergic reactions and cannot be damaged. The product is made of a very soft and flexible material, which is also very durable.
Vaginal cap benefits
The main advantage of the vaginal cap is that contraceptive activity is maintained for 48 hours. The cap can be put on in advance, and not immediately before sexual intercourse, while it can be in the body of a woman for up to 2 days. Howeverstaying in the vagina for more than the prescribed time is not recommended, as this can cause the development of a bacterial infection.
There are a number of other benefits:
- the cap is used in conjunction with any spermicide to achieve the best contraceptive effect;
- cap can be used on any day of the cycle, including during menstruation;
- not hormonal, therefore suitable for breastfeeding women;
- suitable for repeated use.
Disadvantages of the vaginal cap
Despite a number of advantages, the cap has its drawbacks:
- Insufficiently high contraceptive capacity compared to other barrier methods;
- difficulty inserting into the vaginal cavity, especially for the first time;
- during sexual intercourse, the cap may move off the cervix, which will reduce its effectiveness;
- low availability in cities, you can buy in a pharmacy only on order;
- not recommended for cervical erosion;
- not recommended for use in the presence of diseases of the genitourinary system.
You can only select a vaginal cap together with a gynecologist. If the size does not fit a woman, the risk of displacement of the contraceptive during intercourse increases, as well as the likelihood of injury. With prolonged wear and poor hygiene, pathogenic flora can multiply, which leads to inflammation of the vagina (colpitis).
Female contraception should be usedonly after a full-time consultation with a gynecologist and tests that exclude diseases of the reproductive system. Although the cap can be used several times, it is not recommended to use it for more than a year. In order to avoid the development of diseases, careful hygiene of the genitals, as well as the device itself, is important. The contraceptive cap does not give a 100% guarantee. Therefore, it is important to use it with quality spermicides.
Contraceptives of any kind cannot completely eliminate the risk of contracting STDs, HIV or hepatitis, so it is important to be responsible in choosing a partner and not allow unprotected intercourse with unfamiliar people.
