Rules for effective contraception. How to protect yourself correctly?

A reliable correctly selected method of contraception can prevent an undesirable pregnancy and at the same time get an unforgettable sensations from intimacy.

The birth and upbringing of a child is a responsible stage in the life of a woman and a man who needs to be prepared morally and financially. Before deciding on this serious step, young people try to get an education, make a career, and get housing. So that an unwanted pregnancy does not take on by surprise and does not put an end to study and work, you should always remember the means of contraception.

Methods of protection

Some methods of contraception came to us from the people and do not cause much trust, others are inventions of modern medicine and seem reliable enough. The most common protection methods are:

• male and female condoms
• hormonal contraceptives
• intrauterine contraceptives (spirals)
• hormone injections
• contraceptive candles
• plasters
• douching
• interruption of sexual intercourse
• calculation of "dangerous" days
• hormonal emergency contraception

Important: no protection can protect from unwanted pregnancy by 100%

How to protect tablets correctly?

Hormonal contraceptives are a fairly reliable and safe modern method of contraception. A gynecologist should choose a contraceptive drug - only in this case the product is guaranteed not to cause harm to health and does not violate the reproductive function.

Regular intake of pills leads to the suppression of ovulation and condensing mucus so that spermatozoa lose the ability to move in the direction of the egg.

Video: Hormonal contraception

Important: taking contraceptives should be regular. Passes or shifts of time techniques are unacceptable.

How to protect yourself from pregnancy without pills?

If the receipt of contraceptives for some reason is impossible, to prevent unwanted pregnancy, one of the following methods will have to be selected:

• condoms - It is best to use if the partner is unstable, because in addition to pregnancy, unprotected sex is dangerous to become infected with sexually transmitted diseases. A condom with a high probability will protect partners from all troubles. There are male and female presents. If the use of a male condom does not raise any questions, then not everything is so unambiguous with a female condom. To choose its correct size, you will have to turn to a gynecologist, otherwise the likelihood of unpleasant sensations during intercourse when using the female condom of the “wrong” size is guaranteed
• hormonal injections -Conducted once every 3 months, the gynecologist is injected. The method is suitable for women over 35 years old who does not plan children in the future
• patch- A hormonal agent that is glued to a naked body and replaced every seven days. The reliability of this method is close to 99.5%. The action of the patch is similar to the action of contraceptive tablets: hormones suppress the maturation of the eggs, which makes pregnancy impossible
• creams, lubricants, candles - drug contraceptives containing substances that destroy the shells of sperm and suppress their activity
• intrauterine spirals -installed by a gynecologist and operate from 2 to 5 years. A fairly reliable method is suitable for women with a permanent sexual partner and not planning children in the near future
• douching - a folk method that is not suitable for regular use and does not give a high guarantee. Consists in the introduction of weak acid solutions inside, destructive to sperm before or immediately after sexual intercourse

Important: the choice of contraception must be discussed with a gynecologist who will select the drug, taking into account the individual characteristics of the female body.

How to protect yourself after childbirth?

After childbirth, the female body is fully restored and prepared for the conduct of sexual activity in 4 to 6 weeks. It is generally accepted that if a woman feeds the baby, she will not be able to get pregnant. However, this opinion is erroneous, and young mothers, who, after childbirth, are not protected from the onset of a new pregnancy, are in the so-called "risk group": 10% of them will become pregnant after 3-6 months, and 55%- after 6 to 8 months . At the same time, the lack of a menstrual cycle does not play a big role, because the first ovulation can occur already on the 25th - 30th day after childbirth. That is why mandatory protection after childbirth is very important for women's health.

Recently born women are suitable for such contraception methods as:

• the method of lactation amenorrhea - a natural method in which the hormone prolactin, produced in the woman’s body during lactation, suppresses ovulation and does not allow a new pregnancy. An important factor responsible for the reliability of this method is the time between the applied the baby to the chest - it should not exceed 3 hours.

Important: if a woman often feeds the baby at any time of the day and at the same time does not offer the baby any other except breast milk of products, in the first few months she will be reliably protected from pregnancy by nature itself. It is necessary to start protected with tablets or other methods with the introduction of complementary foods and a decrease in lactation.

• oral contraceptives (contraceptive tablets) - permissible during breastfeeding from 6 weeks after giving birth, provided that the doctor will be selected
• condoms - the use is allowed from the beginning of the resumption of sexual activity
• pipic dressing (female sterilization) - an operational method carried out under anesthesia. Carried out according to the testimony and desire of women who previously gave birth to 2 or more children
• interrupted sexual intercourse - A fairly unreliable, but popular method of marital pairs. Often leads to pregnancy
• intrauterine spirals (Navy) - compatible with breastfeeding and can be installed immediately after childbirth. However, it is best if the spiral is installed no earlier than 8 weeks after childbirth - this is how the risk of its loss decreases. The Navy can cause discomfort in nursing women, since during lactation the uterus is reduced and the spiral can change its position. The use of a spiral of women with inflammatory processes of the uterus or appendages is unacceptable
• natural method - abstinence from sexual contacts on "dangerous" days. The method is effective by 50% and is suitable for couples, which are not against further replenishment of the family

Video: Methods of contraception after childbirth and lactation

How to protect the man?

Typically, the protection of unwanted pregnancy more worries the woman more, but this is not right - both partners should think about contraception. In addition, modern medicine offers a sufficient selection of contraception means for both women and men. The most affordable "male" means of protection are:

• men's condoms - Inexpensive, easy to use, available means that can not only prevent an undesirable pregnancy, but also protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Should be in the arsenal of each man
• male contraceptives - With regular use, spermatozoa is deprived of the ability to fertilize the egg. Unlike female oral contraceptives, have a number of serious side effects
• interruption of sexual intercourse - It does not protect from pregnancy. Even before the start of the ejaculation, spermatozoa, necessarily contained in natural male lubrication, can quite successfully fulfill their purpose
• vasectomy (male sterilization) - ligation of vas deferens through a small incision in the scrotum. The method is good for those men who are confident in their decision to never have children in the future

Important: according to statistics, 90% of modern men are protected by condoms. Of these, 25% noted that they were personally convinced of the unreliability of interrupted intercourse.

Video: contraception in men

How to protect a woman?

Every woman leading an active sex life dreams of finding a reliable method of contraception, the prolonged use of which will not lead to undesirable consequences. But, unfortunately, there is no universal protection means that would suit everyone.

So, for example, individual allergic reactions to latex make it impossible to use condoms during intercourse, and with unsuccessful inflammations, the introduction of an intrauterine spiral is prohibited. Also, the schedule and features of the work can prevent a woman from taking oral contraceptives regularly and strictly according to schedule.

Such a highly effective option as ligation of pipes is not suitable for those who plan to have a child in the future. Based on such circumstances, a female contraceptive should be selected.

Important: it is desirable that a gynecologist who pre-informed about the characteristics of the woman’s body is engaged in the selection of a contraceptive.

What is the best way to protect yourself?

If we talk about reliable protection, you will have to choose between mechanical (condoms, spirals), chemical (candles, creams) and hormonal (tablets, injections) contraceptives. However, none of them still can guarantee one hundred percent protection.

Important: there are only two maximum reliable methods from unwanted pregnancy: abstinence from intimate life and sterilization.

Such methods of protection as interrupted sexual intercourse, douching and the so -called calendar method do not deserve attention - all of them leave a rather great chance for pregnancy.

Do I need to protect yourself during menstruation?

The widespread myth that a woman cannot get pregnant during menstruation still continues to mislead young people and refuse contraception these days.

Important: a woman can get pregnant during menstruation. However, the risk of pregnancy is still slightly lower than on ordinary days of the cycle.

The highest probability of getting pregnant during "critical days" in women with short cycle (21 - 23 days). In this case, normal ovulation occurs already on the 6th - 7th day, which means that it just coincides with the last days of menstruation. And even if ovulation occurs a few days after the end of menstruation, there is no guarantee that a sperm that has retained its viability does not wait for it.

Happy owners long cycle Also, do not relax. In the body of every woman at least once in a life, but a hormonal failure with shortening or lengthening of the menstrual cycle occurs. And when exactly this same failure will happen to anyone.

From here we can conclude: it is necessary to be protected during menstruation.

Emergency contraceptive

Emergency (postcoital) contraception is a technique of special hormonal drugs or the introduction of an intrauterine contraceptive within 1 to 3 days after unprotected intercourse in order to avoid pregnancy.

Oral postcoithic drugs Postinor, ginodrapon and Agest contain “shock” doses of the hormone of the left -winged. These funds are the more effective than before they were adopted after sexual intercourse. Their serious disadvantage is the tangible negative impact on the health of the ovaries and the high probability of menstrual cycle failures.

An indication for taking emergency oral contraceptives can be:

• unprotected sexual intercourse
• broken sex
• a torn condom

Taking postcoite drugs is contraindicated to women:

• suffered uterine bleeding
• suffering from severe headaches
• over 35 years old
• having a long smoking experience

Important: oral emergency contraception agents cannot be used more often twice a year.

Video: Emergency contraception

The introduction of an intrauterine spiral within 5 to 7 days after unprotected contact does not allow a fertilized egg to go to the implantation phase. This tool is aborting and should only be used in the absence of inflammation of the uterus and ovaries.

Important: only a gynecologist can put an intrauterine spiral.

Biological (or calendar) protection method

To use the calendar protection method, you need to know the exact menstrual cycle. Women with an irregular cycle should focus on the last 6 to 8 months. Among these cycles, you need to choose the shortest one and take 18 from the number of days in it. The resulting value is the first day when protection using condoms, tablets or other protective equipment is mandatory. The last day of protection of protection is determined in this way: 11 from the number of days of the longest cycle should be taken away 11.

Important: the biological method of protection is one of the most unreliable. It is only suitable for those couples that do not mind getting a child.

Protection by folk remedies

Protection by folk remedies can be used in cases where modern contraceptives are not available for any reason. As they say: "This is better than nothing." The most popular ways to avoid unwanted pregnancy with the help of folk wisdom include:

• douching acidified with water. Immediately after sexual intercourse, water with lemon juice, vinegar or citric acid dissolved in it is introduced into the vagina. In theory, spermatozoa should die in an acidic environment
• douching your own urine. A rather risky method, because the probability of catching an infection from the introduction of decay products inside. So the desire to protect yourself from unwanted pregnancy can end in a hospital bed
• douching with a solution of potassium permanganate. An important condition for the reliability of this method - the solution should be strong enough. But do not forget that a strong solution of potassium permanganate, introduced into the vagina, will inevitably cause a strong burn of the mucosa
• hot bath for a man before sexual intercourse. The man should take a very hot bath a few minutes before intimacy. Spermatozoa must lose their strength and ability to fertilize
• hot bath with mustard for a woman after intercourse. 1 tbsp is poured into a hot bath. Dry mustard and mix water well. A woman should sit in such water as long as possible
• conductive soap and tablets. Immediately before sexual intercourse, a woman introduces a piece of gray laundry in the vagina, and immediately after intimacy - 1 - 2 aspirin tablets
• the use of dried grass of the shepherd bag. A woman should take 1 tbsp daily. This crushed grass. According to folk beliefs, this tool will protect her from pregnancy

Important: folk methods of protection not only do not give reliable protection against unwanted pregnancy, but are also able to cause severe irritation and impaired vaginal microflora.

When choosing a particular method of contraception for yourself, think about whether your use will change your life in the near future. If the method seems quite acceptable to you and quite reliable, you can safely use it, having previously agreed the details with your partner.

Video: How not to get pregnant? Contraceptive means