Regulation of Reproduction by Dopamine
Nira Ben-Jonathan in Dopamine, 2020
Birth control methods to prevent pregnancy include physical barriers, hormone contraceptives, and surgical ablation methods, which vary in efficacy, side effects, and permanence. Physical barrier methods include intrauterine devices (IUDs) that can be impregnated with copper or progestin, sponges, cervical caps, vaginal rings, and diaphragms and also spermicides for women and condoms for men. Hormonal contraceptives include pills that contain various combinations of estrogen and progesterone, intradermal implantable progesterone rods, injectable Depo-Provera (medroxy-progesterone acetate), and estrogen/progestin-containing skin patches. Emergency contraceptives (also known as the “morning-after pill”) refer to the use of drugs or devices as an emergency measure to prevent unwanted pregnancy. These include levonorgestrel (Plan B One-Step), a progestin only pill that prevents ovulation. Surgical ablation methods include tubal ligation or sterilization in women and vasectomy for men. Vasectomy, or the disconnection of the vas deferens in the scrotal area, is an effective method of male contraception. Because of sperm storage in the ampulla, men remain fertile for 4–5 weeks after vasectomy.
The quest for wellness: Public health and environmental concerns
Lois N. Magner, Oliver J. Kim in A History of Medicine, 2017
The pill revolutionized birth control but it was not the only available form of contraception. Other approaches to birth control include IUDs (intrauterine devices) and hormonal implants, also known as long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC). For women who could not take oral contraceptives, IUDs seemed to offer a convenient alternative. However, until 1976 manufacturers of medical devices did not have to prove that their products were safe or effective before they were sold in the United States. In 1968, A. H. Robins Corporation began marketing a new IUD known as the Dalkon Shield. The shield was marketed as a safe, modern contraceptive. Unfortunately, the shield proved to be less effective and more dangerous than other IUDs. By 1974 there was a significant body of evidence that the Dalkon Shield caused pelvic infections, miscarriages, sterility, and deaths. A. H. Robins advised doctors to remove the device from patients, but did not make this warning public until forced to do so in 1984. Faced with 14,000 Dalkon Shield-related lawsuits, A. H. Robins declared bankruptcy in 1985.
Complex Issues Related to Human Reproduction in Modern Society
Anne George, Oluwatobi Samuel Oluwafemi, Blessy Joseph, Sabu Thomas, Sebastian Mathew, V. Raji in Holistic Healthcare, 2017
Effective birth control is not acceptable in many cultures and at the same time, a safe alternative to abortion is not available to most women especially poor, single women. Whether we approve of birth control or not, we must recognize that it is a woman’s predicament when there is not a man or family support in pregnancy. At one time, men were equally responsible for contraception but over the past forty years or so it has become the responsibility of women. This is partially due to the sexual freedom that women have attained which has given men more freedom from the responsibility of pregnancy. The result of this has meant a huge increase in sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) which were a big deterrent for both men and women when syphilis was life-threatening, but now STD’s are easily treated. Nevertheless, STD’s are a big issue related to sexual freedom but for most women, the risk of pregnancy is much more of an issue than the risk of STD’s.
Contraceptive use in Appalachian women who use drugs and were recruited from rural jails
Published in Social Work in Health Care, 2020
Gretchen E. Ely, Braden K. Linn, Michele Staton, Travis W. Hales, Kafuli Agbemenu, Eugene Maguin
The majority of the sample (96.5%) reported using one or more forms of birth control (Table 1) over the course of their lifetimes and most (70.5%) used multiple methods of contraceptives during their lifetimes, most frequently two or three methods, but as many as six different types of methods. The most frequently used type of birth control method was a male condom, followed by oral contraceptives (birth control pills), contraceptive injections (i.e. Depo-Provera), and intra-uterine devices (IUDs). The most frequently reported method combinations were male condoms and birth control pills (27.8%) and male condoms, birth control pills, and contraceptive injections (20.3%). While a high percentage of women reported lifetime use of some form of contraceptive, less than one-third of the sample used some form of contraceptive in the last six months prior to their incarceration, during the time they were recently using drugs. Of the 125 women using a birth control method within the six months prior to their incarceration, the overwhelming majority, 76% (n = 95), used male condoms and considerably fewer used oral contraceptives (birth control pills) or IUDs (both 14.4%) or contraceptive injections (13.6%). Of the women who used multiple methods in the past year, 20 of the 23 combined male condoms with IUDs, contraceptive injections, and/or oral contraceptive pills.
Sexual Health Equity in Schools: Inclusive Sexuality and Relationship Education for Gender and Sexual Minority Students
Published in American Journal of Sexuality Education, 2018
Emily Meadows
The use of condoms and birth control such as oral contraceptives, the patch, the ring, the shot, implants, and intrauterine devices is commonly referred to as “safer sex” because these methods can reduce rates of unplanned pregnancy. Barriers such as condoms and dental dams also help to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth, and those who say they are not sure of their sexuality, are less likely than their heterosexual peers to use condoms and any of the aforementioned forms of birth control during sex (Kann, 2016, p. 51). This same demographic is also less likely to have ever been tested for HIV (Kann, Olsen, & McManus, 2016, p. 52). Sexually active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men are at greater risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection, including syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015).
The Relationship between the Sexual Double Standard and Women’s Sexual Health and Comfort
Published in International Journal of Sexual Health, 2022
Michael J. Marks, Tara M. Busch, Ashley Wu
Finally, SDS endorsement was not related to comfort discussing birth control with one's OBGYN. One possible explanation for this effect is that most women who use birth control pills begin taking them at age 16 (Gesselman et al., 2017), and our sample is much older than this (Mean age = 31.07). As such, many of the women in our sample may already have well-established birth control routines, and either because they are routine or established, there is seldom a reason to discuss birth control with their OBGYN. Another possibility is that the women in our sample who use birth control obtain it over the counter (e.g., condoms, spermicide), from an establishment or practitioner other than an OBGYN (e.g., Planned Parenthood, family practitioner), or use IUDs (which require little maintenance and are becoming increasingly popular; Hubacher & Kavanaugh, 2018) so there again may be little need to discuss birth control with an OBGYN.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill
- Contraceptive Implant
- Contraceptive Patch
- Sterilization
- Tubal Ligation
- Vasectomy
- Intrauterine Device
- Hormonal Contraception
- Vaginal Ring
- Injectable Birth Control