The final major project issues I want to design around is about birth control also know as contraception, in 21st century it seems that a lot women and teens are on it for health reason and protection but they often don’t know if their’s right for them or their other choices and or what happening to their body is right, contraception has also got such a bad embrassing stigma around it, while I feel I know about the pill and the other option that are out there due to having to do my own research through the summer I feel it’s still important to research about the choices out there and gather some facts and figures about the topic.
facts about contraception
- Most American women ages 15 to 44 use contraception. Nearly two thirds of women in this age group currently use some form of contraception
- theres 15 different type of methods that can be used
- (24%) of UK women have needed to access contraception during COVID-19, but many have been left in the dark about how and where to do so. – use for research point
- 62 percent of women 20 to 29 currently use birth control.
- 72 percent of women 30 to 39
- the pill is the most common choice but it not for everyone
- birth control dates back to an Egyptian manuscript written in 1550 B.C
- The pill first became available in Great Britain in 1961
- people that are overweight might not struggle with using emergency contrecpation e.g morning after pill due to weight
- 46% uptake of long acting reversible contraceptives
julia Hogan, a contraception and sexual health nurse who works for the charity Marie Stopes, said: “That so many women are being given the pill makes me think that they are not being given information about all the methods,” adding it was likely that women were asking for the pill and were given it without clinicians checking whether a different type of contraception might have suited them better. – I believe that this comment and research is how I feel from my own experiences I feel that the pill is the cheapest choice and is given and people don’t really know what else to go on
the different choices that are;
Implant
- Only includes progesterone meaning people who can’t have oestrogen can use
- a long term conceptaction – last up to 3 years
- The implant is more than 99% effective.
- it doesn’t interrupt sex
- Users won’t have to use plan b due the hormones are protecting
- small flexible plastic rod that’s placed under the skin in your upper arm
- a positive conception choice for users who struggle with remember to take the pill
- Your periods may become irregular, lighter, heavier or longer.
- A local anaesthetic is used to numb the area on the inside of your upper arm.
Cons of implant
- users are struggling to get it remove due to covid times
- cant remove yourself, you got to go the clinic and have it done
- some users periods can me 6 months long with no stopping
- Implant can move and go into the arm do to deep ( meaning struggle to remove)
- A lot of females moods with often negative and they will struggle with this side effect
- you may experience temporary side effects during the first few months, like headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and mood swings
- it doesn’t protect you for STI’s
contraceptive injection
- Depo-Provera is most commonly given in the UK and lasts for 13 weeks. Occasionally, Noristerat may be given, which lasts for 8 weeks.
- Your doctor or nurse will do some tests to make sure that you can have the injection. They check your medical history, make sure that you’re not pregnant and take your blood pressure.
- periods may become more irregular, heavier, shorter, lighter or stop altogether.
- the jab is intersected in the butt cheek and is a long last protection
- It’s not affected by other medicines
Cons injections
- hormones is placed into body at one go, the about hormones can make people depressed
- it can take several months and even a year for the hormones to to leave your system and for your fertility to return to normal.
- Depo Provera injection is it can cause thinning of the bones because it affects your natural estrogen levels
- rare cases you can have an allergic reaction to the injection
- people often feel that they lose their sex drive due the injection and gain weight
Patch
- the patch is more than 99% effective
- each path last for 1 week. You change the patch every week for 3 weeks, then have a week off without a patch.
- don’t need to remember to take everyday it on you
- the patch is still effective even if you have sickness and diaera
- patch can be worn in water and in any sports
- it can help with heavy and painful periods
- patch may protect against ovarian, womb and bowel cancer
- anyone can have the patch expect over 14 stones
- it’s very easy to use and doesn’t interrupt sex
cons on the patch
- can raise blood pressure
- the patch can increase risks of blood clots
- 60 percent more estrogen than when you take other forms of combined hormonal birth control with 35 micrograms of estrogen – the reason for blood cloths or moods swing
- women can gain side effects such headache,
- can’t new used for anyone over 14 stone
- can cause irritation to skin
- break through bleed – level of hormones sometimes won’t work
- cant wear it wear clothes could rub it off
- can mess up periods cycle – shouldn’t miss 2 periods
- only comes in one colour and one level of hormones
Natural family planning
- this is a method of taking your body temperature everyday and following your body guide to see when your fertility during the menstrual cycle so you can avoid pregnancy
- method can be tracked through an app but often people will take a course to understand their body before going on their own and following their own cycle .
- people will feel more better moods as theres no added hormones in body
- 1 woman in 100 who use natural family planning will get pregnant in 1 year.
There are 3 different fertility signals you can monitor and record for natural family planning. These are:
- the length of your menstrual cycle
- daily readings of your body temperature
- changes to your cervical secretions (cervical mucus)
cons
- higher chance of getting pregant over someone who’s on the pill
- you might have to a plan b if you do get pregnant this can’t mess up your body cycle
- it takes 3 to 6 menstrual (monthly) cycles to learn the method.
- It can be much less effective than other methods of contraception if the methods aren’t followed accurately.
Cap/ diaphraphy
- cap is 92-96% effective at preventing pregnancy.
- cap with spermicide any time before you have sex. 3 hours more spermicide is need to be place inside the vagina to keep the users protected
- cap needs to be left in place for at least 6 hours after sex.
- a none hormonal based birth control
- the cap is reusable you just take out and wash
- caps aren’t really used and will often be refused if the person any anything wrong with them of any bad history
cons
- You may develop cystitis (a bladder infection) when using a diaphragm or cap. Your doctor or nurse can check the size – switching to a smaller size may help.
- If you lose or gain more than 3kg (7lbs) in weight, or have a baby, miscarriage or abortion, you may need to be fitted with a new diaphragm or cap.
- the spermicide can cause a irritation for you or your sexual partners.
- you have to be fitted by a doctor and then you have to learn to do it yourself
- it’s one of the most risked birth control as it can be placed wrong
- people can often feel grossed out about the cleaning of the cap
- Some oil based products (like oils and lotions) can damage latex based diaphragms or caps.
- putting it in can interrupt sex and it be of putting and uncomfortable at the start
Ius – the hormonal base coil
- last up 5/6 years
- It does not interrupt sex.
- realise hormones into the bloodstream meaning don’t have remember taking anything as it’s inside
- 99.9% effective – the most effective birth control
- make your periods lighter, shorter or stop altogether
- it can be used by all females espcalliy advised if someone can have estrogen or the pills for health reason
- the ius can be fitted anytime in menstrual cycle
- It’s possible to get pregnant as soon as the IUD is removed.
IUD- copper coil – none hormonal base
- can last 5/10 years
- its 99.9% effective
- can be placed in anytime
- you will still get periods – but they can be heavier
- the copper coil doesn’t have hormones -copper attracts the sprems where they get stuck and die there without getting to eggs
- it does not interrupt sex.
- It’s safe to use an IUD if you’re breastfeeding.
- It’s possible to get pregnant as soon as the IUD is removed.
cons of ius/ ~IUD
- can get infection after fitted but very rare
- still a small chance of getting pregnant
- painful inserting/ body could reject
- doesn’t protect you against STI
- damage to womb – could make a tear
- the IUD – copper has higher chance of Thrush
The combined pill – aka the oestrogen and progeseterone pill
- 99% 1 in 100 will get pregnant
- it does not interrupt sex
- you can use it when breastfeeding
- 1 every day for 21 day then 7 day break for period
- have to take the pill same time every (3 hour window)
- it thicken the music in the womb so it harder for sprem to reach
- there’s more then one brand or type of combined pill
- the different level of hormones in the pill can be increased
- it reduces the cancers, ance
- help regality the period and stop them being so heavy
The progestogen-only pill
- seen as 99% effective but only about 91% effective if not taken right
- take pills non- stop no breaks are needed
- it does not interrupt sex
- you can use it when breastfeeding
- seen as “holiday pill” – used to push period back for short time
- 3-hour progestogen-only pill (traditional progestogen-only pill) – must be taken within 3 hours of the same time each day
- 12-hour progestogen-only pill (desogestrel progestogen-only pill) – must be taken within 12 hours of the same time each day
- reasons why people go on this is due they cant have oestrogen – migraine people or medical reasons
- breakthrough bleeding is more common on this pill
cons of both pills
- if you forget your at risk
- sickness or diarrhoea cancels out pill
- could make you become interfectily
- pcos created from the pill
- side effects – such headaches, mood swings, breast tenderness
- weight gain and depression can caused by the hormones
- The combined pill is not suitable if you are over 35 and smoke
- The pill does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs
- it can increase blood pressure
- it normal to have break through bleed, un
- post ache when coming off pill
- don’t have a real period , pill period aren’t real period
- it can mess up vagina levels increase of thrush
Plan b ( morning after pill)
- this isn’t a daily birth control this is the emergency one if you’ve missed pills or wasn’t protected
- f you are sick within 3 hours of taking you will need to take another one
- the plan b isn’t always free to users in England you have to pay for it and can cost £30
- plan b won’t always work if your your ovationing it’s too late
- being over a certain weight can mean the plan b is less effective
- You need to take an emergency contraceptive pill within 5 days of unprotected sex – the sooner you take it, the more effective it will be
Vaginal ring
- The vaginal contraceptive ring is a small soft plastic ring that you place inside your vagina for 3 weeks and taken out and cleaned and new one placed after period
- the ring works by stopping ovulation, making the fluid in your cervix thicker
- the ring is a combined mixture of both hormones that goes into the blood stream
- The ring can be kept in the vagina while intercourse
- The ring may ease premenstrual symptoms, and bleeding will probably be lighter and less painful.
- the ring isn’t affected if you’re sick (vomit) or have diarrhoea
Cons of the Ring
- can often fall out on it own
- people often find it uncountable
- while you don’t have to take the pill everyday if not changed after a month it won’t be effective enough to prevent pregnancy’s
- commons side effects include Vaginal Dryness, Womb Cramps, Vaginal Discharge
- you can have spotting and bleeding in the first few months
- not often given out why doctors unless you know about it
condoms
- protects against STI and pregnancy
- it’s 95%- 98% effective often recommend with other birth controls
- 2 out of 100 people will become pregnant in 1 year when male condoms are used as contraception.
- doesn’t contain any hormones
cons of condoms
- can easily rip
- can go out date meaning can cause the rips
- The most common thing that can go wrong is a condom breaks, splits, or slips off during sex. If this happens, you may need to use emergency contraception.
- Oil-based products – such as moisturiser, lotion and Vaseline – can damage latex and polyisoprene condoms, but they are safe to use with polyurethane condoms.
- the mood can go due the feeling of the condoms people often pick other methods
references
https://www.self.com/story/birth-control-patch-facts
https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/10-surprising-facts-about-contraception-methods/
https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-birth-control
Georgia Smith 