Even with the abundance of contraceptives available, almost half of all pregnancies are unintentional. In her New York Times article, Leslie Berger seeks an answer to this mystery and finds that human behavior and economics lie at the source. Some are simply unable to continue taking birth control because of lack of insurance coverage, while others do not use the products properly.
Dr Nancy Padian, an epidemiologist at the University of California says that "To have a significant effect you have to use a product very consistently.” Most people don't think of how most contraceptives work. According to Berger, "Hormonal contraceptive methods use manufactured estrogen and progestin in different combinations and deliver them in a variety of ways — through pills, shots, skin patches, implants, IUDs and vaginal rings." Considering that there are so many choices, which one works best for each individual person?
The right choice for you depends on lifestyle. Some women prefer the standard pill, established nearly 50 years ago. However, for women who have trouble remembering to take their pill at the same time each day, vaginal rings or patches may be a better choice, since both methods are effective at preventing pregnancy and can be easily discontinued if a woman decides to have a baby. For women who plan to use contraceptives long-term, implants or intra-uterine devices will provide the same protection as other methods without having to worry about taking a pill or changing a patch or ring.
Besides preventing pregnancy, birth control has a variety of other benefits as well. Berger says, "Studies have shown that all those methods reduce the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer. Some may also help protect against osteoporosis." Some drug companies design contraceptives that help maintain clear skin, cause shorter and lighter periods, or reduce the number of periods in a year. One drug, Lybrel, is designed to eliminate periods all together. According to Berger, this is a refined version of the original pill that was introduced in the 1960's. However, many women who participated in the clinical trial dropped out because of breakthrough bleeding.
Alternative birth control methods are in the works, including birth control for men. John Schieszer of MSNBC reports that researchers have had a lot of success with pills, patches, and implants. "An injectible or an implant (similar to Norplant for women) will be the first to be approved. The big studies are now under way,” says Dr. Christina Wang, who is heading up the clinical trials of MHCs at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center."
While birth control for women has been well-known for half a century, male birth control is relatively new, but scientists are hoping it will work just the same as it does for women. If both partners are taking contraceptives, couples could have extra securityin their choices.
The only people who can decide which birth control methods are suitable are you and your doctor. The best method depends on your habits and lifestyle choices. Before taking any method of birth control, discuss potential side effects with him or her to determine which method is the safest. Also remember that contraceptives are effective against pregnancy and not sexually transmitted diseases, so remember to take proper precaution to protect your health.
Resources:
http://health.nytimes.com
http://www.msnbc.msn.com
