20 Ways To Prevent Pregnancy

Table of content

• 20 Ways to Prevent Pregnancy

• Take-home points

• FAQ on ways to prevent pregnancy

Introduction

Pregnancy in any family is great news to start with! Anyone would love to invite the little version of themselves into the family. But sometimes people want to avoid pregnancy due to various personal reasons. Abortion is not an easy choice so avoiding conception is a wise decision. In this article, you would find ten effective methods to control pregnancy. 

20 Ways to Prevent Pregnancy

Here are the twenty effective methods to control pregnancy. 

BARRIER METHODS

In this method, pregnancy is prevented by blocking the entry of sperm cells into the vagina. 

1. Male condoms

Male condoms have stealth-like shapes which are worn over the male sex organ penis. These condoms are worn over the penis during sexual intercourse which prevents the inflow of sperm cells to the vagina, thus preventing pregnancy. These condoms are low-cost protection devices that don't require you to undergo any medical procedures. However, wearing male condoms doesn't give you cent per cent protection as leakages over broken condoms can occur. 

2. Female condoms

Female condoms are similar to male condoms in terms of their materials and usage. The shape is a funnel shape that fits into the cervix of women. They also don't offer cent per cent efficiency and can also slip out during intercourse. 

3. Diaphragm

Diaphragms are fitted over the cervix with spermicides before sex and taken out six hours after sex. It usually requires medical assistance, unlike condoms. 

4. Cervical cap

Cervical caps like the diaphragms have spermicides to kill sperm and block the entry of sperm. The only difference between the cervical cap and diaphragm is the latter is much larger than the former. 

5. Contraceptive sponge

The sponges are placed in the vagina just like the caps and diaphragms, Just like the name suggests, they are soft and round consisting of a loop on it for removal. They also contain spermicides that can kill the sperm. 

6. Spermicide

They come in various types - gels or creams or foams. These spermicides help in killing the sperm that are entering the vagina, thereby preventing pregnancy. 

HORMONAL METHODS 

These methods involve administering hormones using pills, patches, injections, vaginal rings and skin patches. 

7. Oral Contraceptive Pill

Oral contraceptive pills usually consist of a combination of oestrogen and progesterone, which is taken orally by the women. Some researchers claim that these pills are the source of many cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and stroke - but still, nothing has been proven with enough evidence. 

8. Emergency Contraception Pill (The ‘Morning After Pill)

This pill is called an emergency pill as it has to be taken just after the sex - the sooner you take it, the more probability of preventing your pregnancy. 

9. Patches

These are called 'skin patches' which when stuck onto the skin release hormones like progesterone and oestrogen which prevents pregnancy. 

10. Injection

Hormonal injection mostly contains progestin which on infecting the bloodstream suppresses ovulation, thereby preventing pregnancy. 

11. Vaginal ring

The vaginal ring is a type of hormonal contraceptive similar to hormonal contraception. Women who can't take pills daily can choose this type of vaginal ring. 

INTRAUTERINE DEVICES AND IMPLANTS

They are the most convenient, safe and effective methods of birth control. Once you put these intrauterine devices inside your uterus, they can prevent unwanted pregnancies. 

12. IUDs

These are copper-coated T-shaped structures that are placed in the uterus. This prevents the fertilisation of the eggs with sperm cells, thereby preventing pregnancy. 

13. Contraceptive Implant

Contraceptive implants are small flexible rods placed under the skin of the upper arm by medical professionals. These rods release progesterone which prevents pregnancy. 

14. Sterilization

Sterilization is basically two types - vasectomy and tubectomy. Vasectomy is a male sterilisation technique where the vas deferens (a tube involved in carrying sperm cells from testicles to the penis) are cut out, thereby preventing the inflow of sperm to the penis. In tubectomy, the fallopian tubes of the female reproductive system are tied up so that the terms can't reach the ovulated eggs, thereby preventing pregnancy. Sterilisation methods are usually 100 % effective. But in the case of females, there is a chance of ectotrophic pregnancy where the babies start developing outside the uterus (in the fallopian tube) - So proper care must be ensured! 

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING

15. Track your ovulation

If you are trying to get pregnant, you should keep track of your ovulation signs and symptoms. Ovulation is the release of the egg from the ovary which waits to get fertiliser by the sperm. If you have sex after noting the signs of ovulation, you have a high probability of getting pregnant. If you avoid having intercourse during ovulation (which is normally 14 days after your periods), you can avoid pregnancy. Though the success rate is not high, you can still follow this along by using condoms. Consult your gynaecologist for understanding this method in a better manner. 

16. Measuring basal body temperature

Basal body temperature is the temperature of your body when you are at rest.  The rise in basal body temperature tells you that your body is actively ovulating. Taking this as a cue, you can abstain from sex or use condoms for sex for better protection. 

17. Cervical mucus method

When you are approaching ovulation, your cervical mucus increases to provide a smooth way for the sperm to swim to the uterus. During your fertile days, your cervical mucus would usually have easy-flowing egg-like consistency but when you are not fertile, you may have much stickier mucus. It's relatively safe to have sex when you are having stickier mucus. 

18. Lactational amenorrhoea method (LAM) 

This is a way to prevent pregnancy by breastfeeding. In this, the milk-producing hormones would temporarily put a hold on the egg-producing hormones, thereby preventing ovulation. 

19. Withdrawal method

This is also called the 'pull-out method' - as here you pull out the vagina before letting the ejaculation of sperm into the vagina. Though it has been said theoretically, the success rate is very low as many people fail to pull out at the right time. About 22 out of 100 people get pregnant per year while following the pull-out method. 

20. Track your safe days using the safe day calculator

Safe days are those days when you can have sexual intercourse without the fear of getting pregnant. You just need to keep the track of safe days calculation based on the starting and ending period of periods. Normally, 14 days before your periods are considered safe (after which the ovulation starts which makes you fertile).

Take-home points

• Pregnancy is not always desired by couples consult with your gynaecologist online to discuss the ways to prevent pregnancy. 

• Some contraceptive measures are available that can help you to prevent pregnancy while having intercourse. 

• Condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, IUDs, implants, hormonal injections, and other qualitative methods help in avoiding unwanted pregnancies. 

• The contraceptive methods differ in their efficiency, safety levels, and costs.