A contraceptive is the means by which an individual uses to prevent pregnancy. The most widely disseminated are oral contraceptives and condoms. Other than the condom (which is over a millennia old), contraceptives were recently developed over the past six decades. Their use has sparked ethical debates across religions and still aren’t accepted in some societies.
Historical Study
The first contraceptive was the near equivalent to a modern condom without the latex and mass production. The earliest record of which was noted in the legend of Minos and Pasiphae during the second century (Amy and Thiery, 2015). Generally made out of the membranes of slaughtered animals (gallbladders and intestines). They acted as a barrier between the sperm and the vagina to prevent the women from becoming impregnated. In the 16th century, they were also noted of having the ability to prevent the transmission of diseases (Amy and Thiery, 2015). At the end of the nineteenth century, contraceptives in America were outlawed and regarded as immoral (more so in religious circles). However, at the turn of the 20th century, contraceptives began to become legalized in the form of temporary methods (barriers-condoms,natural, and chemical-douches) that were up to the woman’s discretion. The temporary methods were not at effective and some posed physical harm to the women. Contraceptives radically changed in the 1960’s with the introduction of Oral Contraceptives. The beginning movement started with Margaret Sanger’s founding of the American Birth Control League, which later became Planned Parenthood Federation of America (Chadwick, Burkman, Tornesi, Mahadevan, 2011). Prompted by Sanger, two doctors began researching and testing the use of hormone contraceptives. In the 1930’s it was discovered that transferring the ovaries of pregnant animals into nonpregnant animals created temporary infertility. The active agent was discovered to be progesterone and after two more decades or research it was biosynthetically developed. Clinical Trials were ran using Progesterone and Estrogen in the 1950’s in Puerto Rico, because the spread of contraceptives were still a criminal offense in the United States. However, the FDA approved it in 1957 for menstrual disorders and for contraceptive use in 1960. But obtaining the pill was still challenging for married women and near impossible for unmarried one’s in the early 1960s (Chadwick, Burkman, Tornesi, Mahadevan, 2011). At the time more than a dozen states still had laws limiting the sale, distribution, or advertising of contraceptives. Soon after, the pill became under attack. Adverse health effects began surfacing within a year of the pill’s approval: complaints of dizziness, headaches, and nausea, serious and fatal blood clots, links of the pill causing cancer, heart disease, and stroke. After a senate hearing in the 1970’s, informational packets containing warnings were included with oral contraceptives and formulations with lower hormone levels were developed (Kruvand, 2012). Between 1972 and the present multiple forms of long term birth control were introduced: IUDs, patches, suppositories, and injections. In the past few decades, there was a development of a permanent contraceptive for males and females, however they require a surgical procedure. None of these were as simple, easy, effective, or revolutionary as “The Pill” or condoms.
Temporary and Permanent Contraceptives
Contraceptives can be broken down into two or three broad categories based on their effective length of duration: temporary, moderate (technically temporary, but they last from days to months), and permanent.
Temporary
Contraceptives deemed temporary have the ability to be stopped and fertility will return to normal within a day. For some this is considered their greatest strength and weakness.
Condoms
Condoms are considered a barrier form of contraceptives. Barrier contraceptives acts to stop fluids from being exchanged between individuals. Other notable forms are oral dams and female condoms. However, latex condoms are the most effective tool to preventing the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. They’re also easily accessible, requiring no prescription and can be found at most convenience stores. As far as contraceptive effectiveness, they’re a mere 82% effective. A number that can go up or down, based off their storage and correct orientation on the penis.
Rhythm
Rhythm or the method of tracking one’s ovulation cycle and choosing to remain abstinent during periods of ovulation. Although this has been a method relied upon by individuals that have an issue with contraceptives. It has been ranked below withdrawal for effectiveness, although results from one study came back inconclusive.
Withdrawal
Withdrawal is the act of removing the penis from the vagina before ejaculating as to not get any sperm in the vagina. Considerably popular among millennials, it’s considered quite ineffective 78% effective). It does prove to be a rather simple method. However, pre-ejaculatory fluid still contains sperm and can get a female pregnant without other contraceptive use.
Abstinence:
Abstinence is the restraining from sexual activity. In theory, it’s the simplest and most effective contraceptive. However, this isn’t an effective method once sexual activity does occur.
Douche
Douche’s were historically a form of contraceptive that involved spraying or putting chemicals inside the vagina to kill sperm. They were highly ineffective and even dangerous to women. Many douche’s contained chemical that may have damaged the mucus lining and irritated the sensitive skin and chemical balances.
Oral Contraceptives
A pill that contains hormones such as progesterone that act to provide temporary infertility. While it does require daily ingestion to be effective. It is considered to be 99.9% effective and costs mere dollars per month. It can even have some positive side effects and curving symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle.
Permanent
Permanent contraceptives are surgical procedures that result in the sterilization of the individual. These procedures are considered reversible after a second procedure, however it isn’t always successful.
Vasectomy
A procedure that can be done under local anesthetic, by going in through the scrotum to cut or block the tubes that carry the sperm. It requires a full two days off work to heal and is slightly cheaper than a tubal ligation. However, it can still cost up to a thousand dollars and is 99.85% effective.
Tubal Ligation:
A procedure that blocks off the Fallopian tubes by tying or cutting them with a clamp, clip, or ring. It requires a full two weeks to recover and has a complication rate of about 4%. However, it can cost up to $6,000 and is 99.5% effective.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Contraceptives
“Condoms are the only method of birth control on the market today that has proved effective in fighting most STDs. Chemical barriers, such as spermicides, do not block the exchange of bodily fluids at all but actively kill the viruses and bacteria that can cause disease on contact” (McKinsey, 1998). However, the study goes on to state that chemical barriers are only considered effective if they are everywhere that fluids can possibly be exchanged. Which is a large task and nearly impossible to do during intercourse. Yet, it did rate condoms at 98% effective for preventing transmission and female condoms at 97% effective (McKinsey, 1998).