Your Guide to Birth Control and Unwanted Pregnancies: Methods, Effectiveness, and Choosing What's Right for You

Married for eight years, Robert and Tanya Maxwell had their hands hard attempting to raise six children. As devoted Catholics, the couple felt bound to obey the precepts of their faith.

In 1968, Pope Paul VI published a papal letter entitled Humanae Vitae which said that, “...it is always wrong to use contraception to prevent new human beings from coming into existence.”

The couple were involved in the Catholic lay society and committed to follow the beliefs of their faith. Of their six children, the first three progeny were “intentional” or were created with full purpose on resulting in pregnancy.

They genuinely wanted to just have three children. However, the fourth up to sixth kid might be called “an accident” produced by the fire of desire.

While they remained grateful for having six children, each of whom they considered as a gift from God, they could not help but feel overwhelmed. Having a huge family has certainly taken a toll on their marriage, time, and money.

After significant discussion, the couple chose to pursue birth control measures or family planning. Definitely, the rhythm approach was not suited for them. For the benefit of the whole family's well being, the couple chose to be more open-minded regarding family planning.

Even although Mrs. Maxwell was not too keen on using tactics that were not permitted by the Church, she saw that their conservative values lead them to into difficulties in terms of their family's money.

Ben and Laura, on the other hand, are far from being conservatives. They were married shortly after their high school graduation. Laura, who was just 18 at the time she got married, became pregnant shortly after tying the wedding with Ben. 

 The pair took sex education in school and maintained that they always conducted safe, protected intercourse. Still, life sprung a surprise on them.

Roger and Lisa Cooper, unlike the preceding two couples, had a honeymoon baby. But after establishing a new company, they decided that they would wait to try for the second kid after around two years. 

They made it a condition to achieve success in their company first so that they would be better financially equipped to have a second kid. But only a few short months after her first baby's birthday, Mrs. Cooper found out that she was pregnant with twins!

A lot of couples are worried about the size of their family as a reaction to the need to be more financially and emotionally prepared for the difficulties of having a big brood of children. For that reason, contraception has become a major and vital concern for many couples.

 But even with all the breakthroughs in science and medicine, many are still astonished and overwhelmed by unintended marriages. The reason for this is simply the absence of awareness regarding methods of contraception and family planning.

Here are a list of practical and efficient ways of contraception that every married couples should be knowledgeable about:

1. Th Pill 

It is still the most frequently acknowledged birth control technique. It is a medicine that includes estrogen and progesterone hormones that modify how the body operates and prevents conception. 

The birth control pill inhibits ovulation and thickens the cervical mucus surrounding the cervix, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus to fertilize the egg cells.

Some studies demonstrate that the usage of these so-called combination tablets can lessen the incidence of ovarian and endometrial cancer.

However, scientific research clearly reveals that the usage of the pill significantly raises risk for cervical and liver cancer. The adverse effects connected with the pill differs from one woman to another.

Some of the probable adverse effects include nausea, spotting between periods, depression, weigh gain, among others. The pill is not suggested for people who are diabetic, ladies with high blood pressure, and smokers who are over 35 years old. The pill is often listed as 99% effective as a birth control treatment.

2. The Condom 

A thin latex rubber sheath that fits around the erect penis and blocks the sperm from entrance into the cervix. It is affordable, convenient, and readily accessible. 

The biggest benefit of wearing a condom is that it helps keep the user from developing sexually transmitted illness such HIV and AID. However, the most prevalent criticism about the condom is that some men find it unpleasant and that it diminishes sexual pleasure.

3. Injectable Contraceptive 

Injectable contraceptives include the hormone called Medroxy Progestorone Acetate and stops ovulation for three months. This procedure may be utilized by nursing moms and affords the lady both privacy and ease. 

However, the injectable gives no protection against STDs and the effects of the injection are not instantly reversible after you have been administered.

4. Norplant 

This procedure includes the surgical insertion of six matchstick-sized rods in the underside of the upper arm. These rods emit a low-dose hormone called levonogrestrel which thickens the cervical mucus, thins the lining of the womb, and suppresses ovulation for as long as five years. 

The downside is that some ladies had skin irritation, headaches, dizziness, acne, weight gain, hair loss and nausea.

What contraception is suitable for you? The appropriate solution may genuinely come only from you and your spouse.

Talk to your health care physician about safe and reliable birth control options. Always remember is preferable to utilize some type of birth control technique rather than leave everything to chance. Every couple should be responsible enough to conduct safe sex and avoid undesired pregnancy.