Contraception includes a number of methods, which reduce or even eliminate the chances of fertilization of the egg by a sperm cell.
The role of the gynecologist is very important, as he is required to inform the couple in every detail about all the methods of contraception and their parameters, to recommend one or the other method depending on the case, even to exclude specific methods that may harm the couple's health.
There are three types of contraception:
Natural Contraception
The natural method includes intermittent intercourse and the rhythm method. Both of these cases show the lowest success rates.
Intermittent intercourse is based on the timely removal of the male molecule from the female, which - however - is not easily predictable.
The rhythm method is about avoiding sexual contact when the woman is in the fertile days of her cycle.
And this way is very little effective, since the woman's cycle is often not stable, so the couple cannot accurately calculate the days of abstinence.
Natural methods include, with less effectiveness, however, the monitoring of body temperature, the control of cervical secretions and vaginal washes immediately after intercourse.
Mechanical contraception
The mechanical method involves the use of a condom and endometrial tubes (coils). The male condom is synthetic rubber that fits over the male molecule and provides the advantage of protection against unwanted pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, as long as it is used correctly by the man. On the other hand, the female condom is a polyurethane sheath with two rings at the ends. The inner (closed) ring covers the cervix, while the outer (open) has a larger diameter and covers part of the labia minora and labia majora.
IUDs are very small plastic or copper objects placed by gynecologists inside a woman's uterus and have a very high success rate of over 97%. They create an aseptic inflammation in the endometrial cavity. From the leukocytes that accumulate due to this inflammation, toxic substances are released that act "defensively" against the spermatozoa and the fertilized egg. This is precisely where their great effectiveness lies. Endometrial glomeruli have a lifespan of up to 5 years.
Mechanical methods of contraception also include the vaginal ring, a flexible ring that releases estrogen and progesterone, thus inhibiting ovulation and - therefore - fertilization.
Hormonal contraception
The hormonal method is related to the taking of contraceptive pills by the woman after the suggestion of her gynecologist and only him. Birth control pills are a combination of estrogen and progestogen. They inhibit ovulation and make the endometrium and cervical mucus hostile to sperm. At the same time, they present a series of additional beneficial effects: they reduce the pain and blood loss of the period, they regulate the cycle and in the long term they can reduce the risks of endometrial and ovarian cancer.
The process of taking contraceptive pills is quite complex: the woman takes a pill every day for 21 days. On the 22nd day she stops using it and 3-4 days later the menstrual period appears. 8 days after the first day of menstruation the woman starts the same process again. However, birth control pills often have side effects. Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, weight gain are some of them.
The hormonal method also includes the morning-after pill, which achieves emergency post-coital contraception. If there is a fear of possible conception, the woman, at most 48-72 hours after intercourse, can take this special pill, which prevents fertilization of the egg by 99%.