Contraception Importance: Five Reasons It Matters

Contraceptives have been around since ancient times, but they’ve only recently become more widely available. Learn why they’re so important today!

Why You Need Birth Control

Birth control or contraception is any method or choice you make to prevent getting pregnant before you are prepared to have a baby.

Having a baby can mean so many things – for some, a time of great joy and new experiences.

But for others, it can be a time of challenge pr burden because you are not mentally, physically or financially prepared.

Some of us who want to have children may want to have a firmer foothold in life or get to a particular stage of life before we start having children.

These are some of the reasons why you might need birth control.

Types of Birth Control

Contraception pills work by preventing ovulation (the release of an egg) and/or fertilization (when sperm meets an egg).

They also prevent pregnancy when taken correctly.

However, there are different kinds of birth control methods available, each with its own pros and cons.

We can classify them broadly as hormone-based and non-hormone-based methods (see below):

Hormone-based

• Combined Contraceptive pills (patch/ring/
• Progesterone Only Pills
• Depo Progesterone Injection
• Progesterone Implant (under the skin)
• Progesterone Coil
• Emergency Birth Control Pills

Non-Hormone based

• Pull Out (Withdrawal) method
• Calendar method
• Fertility Awareness
• Barrier methods – Condoms (male and female)
• Copper Coil

When Should You Start Using Birth Control?

You should consider birth control if you are sexually active, unprepared for pregnancy and looking after a family.

Regular birth control is more effective and cheaper (in the long run) than an emergency method every day/month.

Infogram – Why Contraception Matters

More Reading

• Period Sex, Ampicillin and Two Other Birth Control Myths To Avoid
• Excessive Bleeding After Emergency Birth Control
• Emergency Pill Wahala! Why’s My Period All Over The Place?
• Birth Control Side Effects – These Methods will Not Affect Your Sex Drive!

Editing By AskAwayHealth Team

Disclaimer

All AskAwayHealth articles are written by practising  Medical Practitioners on various health care conditions to provide evidence-based guidance and to help promote quality health care. The advice in our material is not meant to replace the management of your specific condition by a qualified health care practitioner.
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