Common Characteristics of Contraception
Contraception--any method used by one or both partners to prevent pregnancy--has been practiced in one
form or another since ancient times. However, not until comparatively recently have techniques been devised
that are statistically reliable and safe, as well as sufficiently varied to accommodate particular circumstances.
No single method of contraception is ideal from every point of view. Some methods are unquestionably more
reliable than others, some are more suitable to one's particular sexual habits at a particular time of
life and some are more congenial to one's aesthetic sense or personal convictions.
"Natural" Methods
Rhythm. This method entails abstention from sexual intercourse during that part of the menstrual
cycle when ovulation occurs. Since every few women ovulate with exact regularity, the rhythm method is
likely to have intrinsic inaccuracies. There are several ways of determining when ovulation is taking place;
these include counting the number of days from the beginning of the last period, watching for the slight rise
in temperature that usually accompanies ovulation or noting a change in the vaginal secretion from a thick,
white, sparse discharge to a thin, clear, profuse one, another herald of ovulation. None of these is
foolproof, however.
Withdrawal. This is the oldest method of contraception, and one that is still widely practiced in many
parts of the world. It involves the withdrawal technique (coitus interruptus)--in which the penis is withdrawn
just before orgasm, and the semen is deposited outside the vagina. This method is generally considered unreliable
and unsatisfactory and causes tensions to be built into the sex act.
The Pill
The pill is the most popular and most effective reversible contraceptive method currently available. Oral
contraceptives are available in two types: the combination pill, which contains synthetic estrogen and progestin
and inhibits ovulation and alters the mucous secretions of the vagina, and the progestin-only pill, which alters
both the mucous secretions from the cervix so that sperm cannot penetrate the barrier and the lining of the uterus
so that implantation of the fertilized egg becomes impossible. Of the two, the combination pill is considered the
more reliable, although both enjoy a very high success rate. Most women, especially those under the age of 30 or
35, can safely use the pill, although the combination pill is usually not recommended for women over 35 who smoke
because of an increased risk of heart disease and blood clots.
