Birth control methods The voluntary use of contraceptive procedures to prevent fertilization or prevent implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus is termed as birth control. An ideal contraceptive should be user friendly, easily available, with least side effects and should not interfere with sexual drive. The contraceptive methods are of two types – temporary and permanent. Natural, chemical, mechanical and hormonal barrier methods are the temporary birth control methods.
. Natural method is used to prevent meeting of sperm with ovum. i.e., Rhythm method (safe period), coitus interruptus, continuous abstinence and lactational amenorrhoea. a.
Periodic abstinence/rhythm method Ovulation occurs at about the th day of the menstrual cycle. Ovum survives for about two days and sperm remains alive for about hours in the female reproductive tract. Coitus is to be avoided during this time. b.
Continuous abstinence is the simplest and most reliable way to avoid pregnancy is not to have coitus for a defined period that facilitates conception. c. Coitus interruptus is the oldest family planning method. The male partner withdraws his penis before ejaculation, thereby preventing deposition of semen into the vagina.
d. Lactational amenorrhoea Menstrual cycles resume as early as to weeks from parturition. However, the reappearance of normal ovarian cycles may be delayed for six months during breast- feeding. This delay in ovarian cycles is called lactational amenorrhoea.
It serves as a natural, but an unreliable form of birth control. Suckling by the baby during breast-feeding stimulates the pituitary to secrete increased prolactin hormone in order to increase milk production. This high prolactin concentration in the mother’s blood may prevent menstrual cycle by suppressing the release of GnRH (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone) from hypothalamus and gonadotropin secretion from the pituitary. .
Barrier methods In these methods, the ovum and sperm are prevented from meeting so that fertilization does not occur. a. Chemical barrier Foaming tablets, melting suppositories, jellies and creams are used as chemical agents that inactivate the sperms in the vagina. b.
Mechanical barrier Condoms are a thin sheath used to cover the penis in XII Std Biology-Zoology Chapter-