Index
• Contraceptives and contraceptive methods
• STD’s
• What I learned about the subject
Contraceptives and contraceptive methods
I found 11 contraceptives and 5 contraceptive methods:
Contraceptives
1. Birth Control Implant (Implanon and Nexplanon)
2. Birth control patch
3. Birth Control Pills
4. Birth Control Shot (Depo-Provera)
5. Birth Control Sponge
6. Birth Control Vaginal Ring (NuvaRing)
7. Cervical cap
8. Condoms
9. Vaginal condom
10. Morning-After Pill
11. spermicide
1. Birth Control Implant (Implanon and Nexplanon)
• What is a birth control implant:
o The birth control implant is a very tiny thing that is implanted in your arm by a doctor or nurse. The hormones that it spreads out into your body prevent you from getting pregnant for about 4 years. There are two types: Nexplanon and one that’s an older version called Implanon.
• How does the birth control implant work:
o The implant is put under the skin of the upper arm. When it is in your arm it releases the hormone progestin to stop you from getting pregnant.
o The hormones prevent pregnancy in two ways:
Progestin makes the mucus on the cervix thicker, this way sperm can’t swim through to the egg.
Progestin can also stop eggs from leaving the ovaries (called ovulation):no egg…no fertilisation.
2. Birth control patch
• What is a birth control patch:
o The birth control patch is a plastic sticker, you stick to your skin every week for three weeks in a row, than follows a patch-free week.
• How does the birth control patch work:
o The birth control patch releases hormones. The hormones control how different parts of our bodies work. The hormones in the patch are also the same hormones as in the birth control pill that is oestrogen and progestin.
o The hormones in the birth control patch prevent pregnancy the same way as the birth control implant.
3. Birth Control Pills
• What is a birth control pill:
o Birth control pills are a kind of medicine with hormones that you have to take every day. There are very much different kinds of pills. The pill is safe, not expensive, and quite effective if you always take it on time. It not only prevents pregnancy, but the pill has lots of other health benefits, too(prevents osteoporosis etc.).
• How does the birth control pill work:
o The birth control pill works by stopping sperm from meeting an egg.
o The hormones in the pill stop ovulation. No ovulation means there’s no egg hanging around for sperm to fertilize, so pregnancy can’t happen.
o The pill’s hormones also thicken the mucus on the cervix. Thicker cervical mucus makes it hard for the sperm to swim to an egg — kind of like a sticky security guard.
4. Birth Control Shot (Depo-Provera)
• What is the birth control shot:
o The birth control shot is an injection of hormones that prevent you from getting pregnant for three months.
• How does the birth control shot work:
o This method of birth control also uses progestin as a hormone. This keeps eggs from leaving the ovaries. Pregnancy cannot happen if there is no egg to join the sperm. It also makes the cervical mucus thicker. This keeps sperm from getting to the eggs.
5. Birth Control Sponge
• What is the sponge:
o It is made of plastic foam with spermicide(sperm killing solution). It is soft, round, and about two inches in diameter. It has a nylon loop attached to the bottom for removal. It is inserted deep into the vagina before you have sex.
• How does a sponge work:
o It’s keeping sperm from joining with an egg. It works in two ways:
The sponge covers the cervix and blocks sperm from entering the uterus.
The sponge also continuously releases the spermicide that keeps sperm from moving.
6. Birth Control Vaginal Ring (NuvaRing)
• What is the vaginal ring:
o It is a small, flexible ring that has to be inserted into the vagina once a month to prevent pregnancy. You have to leave it for three weeks and take it out for the remaining week.
• How does the vaginal ring work:
o It also releases hormones.
o The hormones in the vaginal ring are the same hormones as in the birth control pill, oestrogen and progestin.
o The hormones in the ring work by keeping eggs from leaving the ovaries. Pregnancy cannot happen if there is no egg to join with the sperm. And making cervical mucus thicker. This keeps sperm from getting to the eggs.
7. Cervical cap
• What is the cervical cap:
o The cervical cap is a silicone cup shaped like a sailor’s hat. It must be inserted into the vagina and over the cervix.
• How does the cervical cap work:
o It keeps sperm from joining with an egg. To make the cervical cap more effective you have to use spermicide.
• The cap works in two ways:
o The cervical cap blocks the opening to the uterus.
o The spermicide stops sperm from moving.
8. Condoms
• What is a condom:
o Condoms are small balloon like and made of latex (rubber), plastic (polyurethane, nitrile, or polyisoprene) or lambskin, it has to be put over the penis during sex and collect semen. The condom also protects against STD’s.
• How does a condom work:
o It stops sperm from getting into the vagina, so sperm can’t meet up with an egg and cause pregnancy.
9. Vaginal condom(female condom)
• What is the vaginal/female condom:
o The female condom is like a little bag that is used during sex to prevent pregnancy it also reduces the risk of std’s. It has flexible rings at each end. Just before intercourse, it is inserted deep into the vagina. The ring at the closed end holds the pouch in the vagina. The ring at the open end stays outside the vaginal opening during intercourse.
• How does the vaginal/female condom work:
o It covers the inside of the vagina and collects semen. This keeps sperm from entering the vagina. Pregnancy cannot happen if sperm cannot join with an egg.
o By covering the inside of the vagina and keeping semen out, condoms reduce the risk of std’s.
10. IUD
• What is an IUD:
o It’s a device that’s inserted in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. It’s long-term, reversible, and one of the most effective birth control methods.
• How does an IUD work:
o Both copper IUDs and hormonal IUDs prevent pregnancy by changing the way the sperm moves so they can’t get to an egg. If sperm can’t make it to an egg, pregnancy can’t happen.
The ParaGard IUD uses copper to prevent pregnancy. Sperm doesn’t like copper, so the ParaGard IUD makes it almost impossible for sperm to get to that egg.
The hormones in Liletta, Mirena, Skyla, and Kyleena IUDs prevent pregnancy in two ways:
• they thicken the mucus that lives on the cervix, which blocks and traps the sperm.
• the hormones also sometimes stop eggs from leaving your ovaries (called ovulation), which means there’s no egg for a sperm to fertilize. No egg, no pregnancy.
11. Morning-After Pill
• What is the morning after pill:
o It is a pill you take in the morning after you had sex so that you can’t get pregnant.
• How does the morning-after pill work:
o Sperm can live inside your body for up to 6 days after sex, waiting for an egg to show up. If you ovulate during that time, the sperm can meet up with your egg and cause pregnancy. Morning-after pills work by temporarily stopping your ovary from releasing an egg. It’s kind of like pulling the emergency brake on ovulation.
o Where you’re at in your menstrual cycle and how soon you take morning-after pills can affect how well they prevent pregnancy. Morning-after pills won’t work if your body has already started ovulating.
12. Spermicide
• What is spermicide:
o It’s a birth control method that contains chemicals that stop sperm from moving. Spermicides are available in different forms, including creams, film, foams, gels, and suppositories.
• How does spermicide work:
o It prevents pregnancy by keeping sperm from joining with an egg. Spermicides are inserted deep into the vagina shortly before intercourse.
o They block the cervix, so sperm cannot reach an egg and keep sperm from moving, so they cannot join with an egg.
Contraceptive methods
1. Breast feeding as birth control
2. Outercourse
3. Sterilisation for women
4. Vasectomy
5. Withdrawal (pull-out-method)
1. Breast feeding as birth control
• How is breastfeeding used as birth control:
o Breastfeeding can be used as birth control when, after giving birth, a woman breastfeeds her baby exclusively. That means the baby does not drink anything besides breast milk. The act of breastfeeding naturally changes a woman’s hormones so that she does not become pregnant.
• How does breastfeeding prevent pregnancy:
o If a woman is continuously breastfeeding, her body does not make a hormone that is necessary for ovulation. Pregnancy cannot happen if an egg is not released.
2. Outercourse
• What is outercourse:
o Outercourse means different things to different people. For some people, outercourse is any sexual activity without vaginal intercourse. For others, it’s sexual activity with no penetration at all oral, anal, or vaginal.
• How does outercourse prevent pregnancy:
o Outercourse prevents pregnancy by keeping sperm out of the vagina. Pregnancy cannot happen if there is no sperm present.
3. Sterilization for Women
• What is sterilization:
o Sterilization is a form of birth control. All sterilization procedures are meant to be permanent.
o During a sterilization procedure, a doctor closes or blocks a woman’s fallopian tubes. Closing the tubes can be done in several ways.
By tying and cutting the tubes this is called tubal ligation.
The fallopian tubes also can be sealed using an instrument with an electrical current.
They also can be closed with clips, clamps, or rings. Sometimes, a small piece of the tube is removed.
Sometimes, tiny inserts are put in the tubes. Tissue grows around them and blocks the tubes. The brand name for this type of sterilization is Essure.
o How does sterilization work:
One egg is released each month through one of the fallopian tubes to the uterus. Sterilization blocks each tube. Pregnancy cannot happen if sperm cannot reach the egg.
4. Vasectomy
• What is vasectomy:
o Vasectomy is a form of birth control for men that is meant to be permanent.
o During vasectomy, a doctor closes or blocks the tubes through which the sperm comes out. When the tubes are closed, sperm cannot leave a man’s body and cause pregnancy.
• How does vasectomy work:
o Sperm are made in the testicles. They pass through two tubes called the vasa deferentia to other glands and mix with seminal fluids to form semen. Vasectomy blocks each tube and keeps sperm out of the seminal fluid. The sperm are absorbed by the body instead of being ejaculated. Without sperm, the “cum” (ejaculate) cannot cause pregnancy.
5. Withdrawal (Pull Out Method)
• What is withdrawal:
o A man who uses withdrawal will pull his penis out of the vagina before ejaculation (the moment when semen spurts out of his penis). Withdrawal is also known as coitus interruptus and the pull out method.
• Withdrawal may be the world’s oldest way to practice birth control. About 35 million couples worldwide rely on withdrawal.
• How does withdrawal work:
o Withdrawal prevents pregnancy by keeping sperm out of the vagina. Pregnancy cannot happen if there is no sperm present. But a lot of times the withdrawal method doesn’t work because men were too late; it’s not very reliable.
STD’s
1. HIV/AIDS
2. Hepatitis
3. Chancroid
4. Trichomoniasis
5. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Genital Warts
6. Herpes
7. Gonorrhea
8. Chlamydia
9. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
10. Syphilis
11. Scabies
12. Pubic “Crab” Lice
13. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
14. Molluscum Contagiosum
15. Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV)
1. HIV/AIDS
• Symptoms:
o Most HIV infections do not have any symptoms. A person with HIV can be healthy and symptom-free for a lot of years. If HIV develops into AIDS, you can get very ill and even die. Signs and symptoms are various, from fever and rashes to lesions, soaking night sweats and blurred vision.
• Treatment:
o There is no cure for HIV, but there are treatments that prolong life, so people with HIV can live long, healthy lives. If someone is exposed to HIV, or thinks he or she may have been exposed, there is a post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) that can reduce the possibility of HIV infection occurring. PEP is medication that should be started as quickly as possible, no later than 72 hours after the exposure.
2. Hepatitis
• Symptoms:
o Most Hepatitis infections have symptoms like fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, headache, fever, dark urine, jaundice and liver enlargement and tenderness.
• Treatment:
o There are no specific cures for HAV or HBV. There are vaccines available and post-exposure prophylaxis that can help prevent infection. There are also medications and treatments that can help lessen the symptoms. For HCV there is no vaccin but there is medication to make the symptoms less severe.
3. Chancroid
• Symptoms:
o Women with chancroid often have no symptoms. Men will usually have a painful, erosive ulcer with ragged edges somewhere on the penis. Tissue around the sores can die and lead to more serious infection if you don’t treat it.
• Treatment:
o Chancroid is treated with antibiotics. Sometimes it is needed to drain severe ulcers or remove dead skin to prevent further, more serious infection.
4. Trichomoniasis
• Symptoms:
o Signs in women are for instance excessive, frothy, yellowish or greenish vaginal discharge. You can also have swelling of the vulva and labia and painful urination. Symptoms in men are painful urination with lesions on the penis, but most of the time men don’t have any symptoms.
• Treatment:
o Trichomoniasis can be treated and cured with antibiotics. It is extremely important to treat partners of anyone with trichomoniasis, because reinfection happens often.
5. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Genital Warts
• Symptoms:
o There are more than 100 different types of HPV. Most of the time there are no symptoms and the virus clears on its own. But there are several types that can cause genital warts or lead to vaginal, anal, throat and cervical cancer. The types of HPV that cause warts do not cause cancer, but they can indicate that you have a higher risk for having the types of HPV that are linked to cancer. The types of HPV that can cause cancer do not show any signs.
• Treatment:
o most of the times the body will clear HPV infections but if that is not the case you have to go to the hospital to let a doctor take a look at it and he will say what you have to do then.
6. Herpes
• Symptoms:
o Most of the time herpes doesn’t show any symptoms. When there are signs, they can include blisters around the genitals or anus. The first outbreak of sores is usually the worst. A person with herpes may have additional outbreaks of sores weeks or months after the first outbreak. These additional outbreaks are less severe, heal faster and occur less often over time.
• Treatment:
o There is no cure for herpes, but there are antiviral medications that can shorten and prevent outbreaks of sores as long as the person uses the medication. Taking this medicine every day can reduce the risk of passing the virus to a partner.
7. Gonorrhea
• Symptoms:
o Many people with gonorrhea don’t have any symptoms. Those who do might notice unusual discharge from the penis or vagina and/or pain or difficultly peeing. Men may have swelling in their testicles and women may bleed in between periods. If you don’t treat gonorrhea it can cause infertility without ever showing symptoms. It can also spread to the blood and joints.
• Treatment:
o Gonorrhea is treated with antibiotics, usually given in a single dose. If you’re treated, your partner should be tested too. You should also wait until you and your partner(s) finish your treatment and until your symptoms disappear (if you have them) before you start having sex again.
8. Chlamydia
• Symptoms:
o Most people with Chlamydia don’t have ever notice it, but those who do might have unusual genital discharge and/or pain and burning when urinating. Women may also have lower back or abdominal pain, nausea, pain during sex, or bleeding after sex and/or between periods.
• Treatment:
o Chlamydia is treated with antibiotics. Some antibiotics can cure it in just one dose, while others may need to be used for seven days. If you’ve been treated, your partner(s) should get tested and/or treated, too. And you should wait seven days or until you and your partner(s) finish the antibiotics (whichever is longer) before having sex again. This is to make sure you don’t spread the infection.
9. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
• Symptoms:
o BV occurs when the balance between “good” and “harmful” bacteria is disturbed. Often there are no symptoms at all, but sometimes BV is accompanied by unusual discharge, strong odor, painful urination, itching, or burning.
• Treatment:
o BV can be treated with antibiotic pills, vaginal creams or suppositories. Sometimes BV will clear up on its own, but getting treatment is important to avoid complications.
10. Syphilis
• Symptoms:
o The signs include a small, painless, firm sore in or around the vagina, penis, mouth or anus. After this you can get rash on the body that is particularly noticeable on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet. Other, less common signs and symptoms are fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, and fatigue.
• Treatment:
o Early-diagnosed syphilis can be treated and cured easily with an injection of penicillin (preferred) or 14 days of antibiotics (for patients allergic to penicillin). For people who have syphilis that was undiagnosed for more than one year, it can be treated and cured with a longer course of stronger antibiotics (an injection once a week for three weeks).
11. Scabies
• Symptoms:
o Scabies causes intense itching and a pimply rash. The itching will often be worse at night than during the day. Itching and rash most often show up on the penis, buttocks, wrist, nipples, waist, shoulder blades, arm pits, elbows and between the fingers, but it is not limited to these areas. Sometimes scabies might also cause tiny burrows in the skin caused by the female mites tunneling beneath the skin.
• Treatment:
o Prescription creams called scabicides are used to treat scabies. These creams kill the mites and some also kill the eggs. The cream will be applied to the skin from the neck down to the toes and washed off after 8-14 hours. There is also an antibiotic that can be taken by mouth in a single dose, followed by another single dose two weeks later.
12. Pubic “Crab” Lice
• Symptoms:
o Pubic lice can cause itching, blue spots and sores in the infected area. It may also be possible to see grey-white lice or hair nits (the egg form of pubic lice).
• Treatment:
o Shampoos or solutions can be used to treat pubic lice. Next to treating the lice, you should also wash clothing and bedding in hot water and dried in a dryer or dry cleaned. It is not necessary to fumigate your home.
13. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• Symptoms:
o Many women with PID don’t have any symptoms at all. If they do have symptoms, they may have abdominal, cervical or uterine pain or tenderness, along with fever or chills. Symptoms of PID usually occur in the first five to ten days of a woman’s menstrual cycle.
• Treatment:
o Numerous bacteria can cause PID, so it is treated with a combination of antibiotics. Depending on the severity of symptoms, antibiotics may be given through an IV or orally. Some PID infections may require hospitalization.
14. Mucopurulent Cervicitis (MPC)
• Symptoms:
o Although MPC sometimes comes with no signs or symptoms, for women it can cause bleeding during or after sex, unusual vaginal discharge, spotting between periods, lower abdominal pain or pain during sex.
• Treatment:
o Depending on symptoms and the results of other STI tests, there are several different antbiotics to treat MPC. Even after treatment, you may be asked to schedule a follow-up to make sure the infection is totally cleared up and there is no risk of getting PID later.
15. Molluscum Contagiosum
• Symptoms:
o Symptoms are shiny, smooth, white, dimpled bumps, with a curd-like core and itching on the genitals and trunk area.
• Treatment:
o Molluscum contagiosum will usually go away on its own within a year without treatment. The bumps can be removed by a doctor in a number of different ways, which is usually done only when there are ten or fewer lesions.
16. Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV)
• Symptoms:
o The first sign is a small painless ulcer at the point of infection—it may be so small, in fact, that you don’t notice it. Swollen lymph nodes are the most common sign and usually appear a week to month later. Stiffness and aching in the groin may also occur.
• Treatment:
o LGV is treated with a three-week course of antibiotics.
What I learned about the subject.
I learned that most of the contraceptives use the hormone progestin and work more or less in the same manner. Next to that I also learned you have to be very careful with having intercourse and that you have to do more things than only an IUD to be protected and that the only thing that really prevents STD’s are condoms and that you have to be very careful.