Contraceptive

• one or more actions, devices, or medications followed in order to deliberately prevent or reduce the likelihood of pregnancy or childbirth.

• Hormonal: Hormonal contraception may act in one or more ways to prevent pregnancy. It may cause ovulation to cease, preventing the possibility of fertilization; it may thicken the woman’s cervical mucus, making penetration of the uterus by sperm more difficult; or it may alter and thin the endometrium (of uterus) so that a fertilized egg has difficulty implanting.

• Advantages: good birth control, if used correctly

• Disadvantages: do not prevent STD’s

Contraceptives

Contraceptives: hormonal

• Oral: pill, daily• Non-surgical devices: patch,

Nuva-ring (3 weeks on, 1 week off)

• Surgical devices: (implants: under skin or in uterus-years)

• injections: Lunelle (monthly), Depo Provera (3 months)

Contraceptives

• Barrier: prevent pregnancy by physically preventing sperm from entering the uterus through the cervix.

Contraceptives: barrier

• Condom: male, over penis• Cervical cap: over cervix

(need to be fitted for size)• Diaphragm: blocks cervix

(need to be fitted for size)• All need to be used with

spermicide• Condoms can reduce the

risk of transmitting an STD

Contraceptives

• IUD (intra-uterine device): In the United States, there are two types of intrauterine contraceptive available: the copper Paragard (prevents zygote implantation) and the hormonal Mirena.