Here’s what needs to happen for pregnancy to occur after sex. Sperm must travel through the vagina, through the cervical opening, through the uterus, and into one of the two fallopian tubes.
If an egg, released during this month’s ovulation, is in the tube, a sperm has a chance to fertilize it. Contraceptives are designed to prevent this process and work in three basic ways. They either block sperm, kill the sperm before they reach the uterus, or suppress ovulation from happening. Blocking is consider the simplest
Male and female condoms stop sperm from getting close to the vaginal space. This barrier is also the reason why, unlike other contraceptive methods, they are able to prevent the transmission of certain sexually transmitted diseases.
Meanwhile, the diaphragm, cervical cap, and sponge work by being positioned over the cervix, barricading the entrance to the uterus. These contraceptives are sometimes called barrier methods and can be used with spermicides, an example of the second category, the disabled.
A spermicide are chemical that disarm, destroys or paralyze the sperm. Today’s spermicides come in different form like foam, cream, jelly, suppositories, and even a thin, translucent film that dissolves in the vagina.
Some of these products can be imbedded that is inserted directly into the vagina before any intercourse, or can be combined with locking methods, such as a diaphragm or a condom, for additional protection. The third class for preventing pregnancy, works by reducing the action of an egg maturing in the ovary. If there is no available egg in the fallopian tube, there is nothing for the sperm to fertilize.
Hormonal contraceptives, including the pill, patch, Depo vaccine, and vaginal ring all release synthetic versions of various combinations of progesterone and estrogen. This cocktail of hormones suppresses ovulation, keeping the immature egg safely sequestered in the ovary. Synthetic progesterone also has a block up its sleeve. This makes cervical mucus too thick and sticky for sperm to swim around easily.
Apparently we have other contraceptives that use multiple ways at the same time. I.e, many IUDs, or intrauterine devices, contain synthetic(kind of man-made) hormones which suppress ovulation. Many of them also contain copper, which kill sperm while also making implementation difficult for the egg in the uterus.
Is one method better than the other?
There are disparity, but a lot of it has to do with how appropriate and simple it is to use each contraceptive correctly.
For example, male condoms would be about 98% effective if everyone used them perfectly.That 98% means if 100 couples correctly used condoms for a year, two women would get pregnant.But not everyone uses them correctly, so they’re only 82% effective in practice.
Other methods, like the patch and pill, are 99% effective when they’re used perfectly. But in practice, that’s 91%.
Spermicide is known to be 85% effective, when use perfectly, and around 71% effective with typical usage.Another important consideration in the choice of contraceptives are side effects, which almost exclusively influence women rather than men.
Hormonal techniques especially can reason signs and symptoms like headaches, nausea, and excessive blood pressure, however they range from girl to girl. That’s why those techniques require a prescription from a doctor. The desire of contraceptive approach is a non-public one, and what works exceptional for you presently may also alternate later.
Scientists additionally preserve to investigate new techniques, inclusive of a male tablet that could save you sperm production. In the meantime, there are pretty some options to dam sperm, disable them, or suppress eggs and hold them out of reach.
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