Birth control: What is best?
Jun 20, 2008
The male contraceptive pill is yet to be released on the market. As women eagerly wait, the answers to the following questions will determine the choice of a family planning method.
By Susan Muyiyi
The male contraceptive pill is yet to be released on the market. As women eagerly wait, the answers to the following questions will determine the choice of a family planning method.
Do you want a method that protects you from sexually transmitted infections as well? How safe is the method regarding your health? When do you want to have the next child? Are you breastfeeding?
The myths
Some will claim these methods make you barren; bleed heavily, or cause cancer after prolonged use.
However, Dr. Godfrey Habomugisa, a gynecologist at Naguru Hospital, refutes such claims.
“Fertility is expected to return soon after a woman stops using the contraceptives. This, however, varies with the method used. That is why before embarking on a method, women should first discuss their needs with experienced medical personnel. Women on the injection may for instance take longer to conceive than those using pills,†Habomugisa explains.
“Nevertheless, each individual case is different, that is why some women react badly to a particular method and others don’t. In short, each woman’s body is different. There could also be other reasons that may delay conception besides the method of contraception.â€
Because women react differently to a particular contraceptive method, it is possible to switch to another more convenient one.
Family planning/contraceptives come in categories as listed below:
Hormonal Methods:
The pill and child-spacing injections are among the most common forms of hormonal methods. The pill protects you from pregnancy for your entire monthly cycle. It is advised to stick to one brand for less side effects and better protection.
Doctors advise women with any of the following conditions not to use the pill: Blood clots in the veins, high blood pressure and smokers and women who are over 35 years face a greater risk of getting a stroke or heart attack. If you are breastfeeding, the oestrogen in the pills or injections reduces the milk supply.
There are two types of pills. One that contains oestrogen and progestin hormones and the other just one hormone — the progestin-only pill (mini pill). The latter is convenient for women who react badly to oestrogen.
The pills and injections will not protect you from HIV or STIs, so be careful. Use with a condom or regularly get tested with your partner to know your statuses.
Injection:
Birth control injections may be given every one to three months. They are recommended for women who don’t want children for a time period of two to three years.
Child spacing can be achieved by using barrier methods including condoms. Besides preventing pregnancy, condom use protects you against sexually transmitted infections (STI) including Aids.
Implants
These are soft tubes (Norplant) that contain progestin and are placed under the skin inside a woman’s arm. They can prevent pregnancy for five years. However, they can be removed before that time if you change your mind.
Side effects: Women complain of side effects similar to those experienced when you are pregnant such as nausea, weight gain, headaches and swelling of the breasts.
Others experience irregular monthly periods with spotting during some months and a heavy flow during others. These are some of the expected side effects, Habomugisa says. However, some side effects, like extreme bleeding, need to be investigated.
Intra-Uterine Devices (IUD)
These can skilfully be positioned in a woman’s womb for up to 10 years. However, IUD like the coil increase the risks of developing Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, if a woman has an STI, says Habomugisa. The IUD may get out of place for some un- explained reasons. And when un-hygienically put, it can cause infections.
Natural methods
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is an option. However, this method only works when you exclusively breastfeed your baby and if you haven’t had your periods since giving birth, says Dr. Tamale Sali, a gynaecologist at the Women’s Hospital International and fertility centre in Bukoto.
The effective use of the rhythm method requires counting the days of your menstral period, in order to take note of your fertile time. The moon beads can help you mark these days. Your safe days fall in the first week after having your periods and seven days before your next. sometimes, sperms can live in the woman’s body for up to three days.
Habomugisa, however, cautions that this method is unreliable because the length of a woman’s cycle is subject to change, due to stress and childbirth. These methods also require a man’s cooperation to be effective. There is also a possibility of miscounting. Use condoms concurrently, he suggests.
The diaphragm
Like the condom, another barrier method is a shallow cup made of soft rubber that a woman wears in her vagina during sex. It covers the cervix, preventing sperm from entering the womb. It is considered effective if used with spermicides.
Where to get services
Child spacing services are available at the Katego Family Planning Clinic in Kamwokya, Bwaise and Owino at a subsidised fee of sh1,000 for the injections, sh500 for pills and sh20,000 for the Norplant. Some private clinics provide the services.
Ask yourself...
- Is abstinence my first choice at this time? Why or why not?
- How important is it that I do not become pregnant right now?
- How effectively does this method prevent pregnancy?
- Do I need protection from sexually transmitted diseases?
- Does this method fit my lifestyle?
- Is it a safe method for ME?
- Are the possible side effects acceptable to me?
- What does it cost to use this method?
- Is this a method acceptable to me AND my partner?
The male contraceptive pill is yet to be released on the market. As women eagerly wait, the answers to the following questions will determine the choice of a family planning method.
Do you want a method that protects you from sexually transmitted infections as well? How safe is the method regarding your health? When do you want to have the next child? Are you breastfeeding?
The myths
Some will claim these methods make you barren; bleed heavily, or cause cancer after prolonged use.
However, Dr. Godfrey Habomugisa, a gynecologist at Naguru Hospital, refutes such claims.
“Fertility is expected to return soon after a woman stops using the contraceptives. This, however, varies with the method used. That is why before embarking on a method, women should first discuss their needs with experienced medical personnel. Women on the injection may for instance take longer to conceive than those using pills,†Habomugisa explains.
“Nevertheless, each individual case is different, that is why some women react badly to a particular method and others don’t. In short, each woman’s body is different. There could also be other reasons that may delay conception besides the method of contraception.â€
Because women react differently to a particular contraceptive method, it is possible to switch to another more convenient one.
Family planning/contraceptives come in categories as listed below:
Hormonal Methods:
The pill and child-spacing injections are among the most common forms of hormonal methods. The pill protects you from pregnancy for your entire monthly cycle. It is advised to stick to one brand for less side effects and better protection.
Doctors advise women with any of the following conditions not to use the pill: Blood clots in the veins, high blood pressure and smokers and women who are over 35 years face a greater risk of getting a stroke or heart attack. If you are breastfeeding, the oestrogen in the pills or injections reduces the milk supply.
There are two types of pills. One that contains oestrogen and progestin hormones and the other just one hormone — the progestin-only pill (mini pill). The latter is convenient for women who react badly to oestrogen.
The pills and injections will not protect you from HIV or STIs, so be careful. Use with a condom or regularly get tested with your partner to know your statuses.
Injection:
Birth control injections may be given every one to three months. They are recommended for women who don’t want children for a time period of two to three years.
Child spacing can be achieved by using barrier methods including condoms. Besides preventing pregnancy, condom use protects you against sexually transmitted infections (STI) including Aids.
Implants
These are soft tubes (Norplant) that contain progestin and are placed under the skin inside a woman’s arm. They can prevent pregnancy for five years. However, they can be removed before that time if you change your mind.
Side effects: Women complain of side effects similar to those experienced when you are pregnant such as nausea, weight gain, headaches and swelling of the breasts.
Others experience irregular monthly periods with spotting during some months and a heavy flow during others. These are some of the expected side effects, Habomugisa says. However, some side effects, like extreme bleeding, need to be investigated.
Intra-Uterine Devices (IUD)
These can skilfully be positioned in a woman’s womb for up to 10 years. However, IUD like the coil increase the risks of developing Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, if a woman has an STI, says Habomugisa. The IUD may get out of place for some un- explained reasons. And when un-hygienically put, it can cause infections.
Natural methods
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is an option. However, this method only works when you exclusively breastfeed your baby and if you haven’t had your periods since giving birth, says Dr. Tamale Sali, a gynaecologist at the Women’s Hospital International and fertility centre in Bukoto.
The effective use of the rhythm method requires counting the days of your menstral period, in order to take note of your fertile time. The moon beads can help you mark these days. Your safe days fall in the first week after having your periods and seven days before your next. sometimes, sperms can live in the woman’s body for up to three days.
Habomugisa, however, cautions that this method is unreliable because the length of a woman’s cycle is subject to change, due to stress and childbirth. These methods also require a man’s cooperation to be effective. There is also a possibility of miscounting. Use condoms concurrently, he suggests.
The diaphragm
Like the condom, another barrier method is a shallow cup made of soft rubber that a woman wears in her vagina during sex. It covers the cervix, preventing sperm from entering the womb. It is considered effective if used with spermicides.
Where to get services
Child spacing services are available at the Katego Family Planning Clinic in Kamwokya, Bwaise and Owino at a subsidised fee of sh1,000 for the injections, sh500 for pills and sh20,000 for the Norplant. Some private clinics provide the services.
Ask yourself...
- Is abstinence my first choice at this time? Why or why not?
- How important is it that I do not become pregnant right now?
- How effectively does this method prevent pregnancy?
- Do I need protection from sexually transmitted diseases?
- Does this method fit my lifestyle?
- Is it a safe method for ME?
- Are the possible side effects acceptable to me?
- What does it cost to use this method?
- Is this a method acceptable to me AND my partner?