Pregnancy is a happy event if it is a planned one. Pregnancy brings with it joy and lots of responsibility. When a couple is not prepared to handle the responsibility, it is better for them to avoid pregnancy. Contraceptives are the best options of avoiding pregnancy. Contraceptives are the safe way of avoiding pregnancy. There are different contraceptive devices available in the market. Read on to know about some options of avoiding pregnancy.Avoiding an unplanned pregnancy is all about taking the correct decisions at the correct time. There are huge varieties of contraceptives available in the market that can help you avoid pregnancy. Once you engage in sexual intercourse, the possibility of pregnancy remains. The best and the most effective option to avoid pregnancy are to avoid sexual intercourse all together.
Tips for Preventing Unplanned Pregnancy
Here are few options that will help you avoid unplanned pregnancy.
Avoid sex
As discussed above, this is the most effective way to avoid an unplanned pregnancy. If you choose not to have sex, there is no way that you can get pregnant. Abstinence is by far the safest and most effective mode of birth control. Once you decide to have sexual intercourse, you can resort to a wide variety of contraceptive options, but the nagging possibility of a pregnancy still remain as there are several other associated factors related to each of the methods. For artificial contraceptive methods to be effective, it requires an alignment of your bodily system, the mechanism and the timing.
Use a Condom
This is a barrier method where the male wears a condom on his penis before vaginal penetration. This is a considerably safe method as it also effectively prevents the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases too. According to studies it offers about 90% protection against unwanted pregnancies. Being easily accessible, effective and inexpensive, it is advisable to use a condom before every intercourse. It is necessary to change it every time as there is a possibility of wear and tear in the latex condoms and even a minute breakage can cause the semen to pass through into the vagina and result in pregnancy. Condoms with spermicides are even more effective as the spermicide kills the sperms that may have accidentally spilled into the vagina, thereby preventing the possibility of pregnancy.
Female Sponge
Women can avoid pregnancy by using the sponge as it is a safe birth control measure and unlike other options (for women), it is hormone free. It is convenient to use and very effective as well. The only problem is that it is yet not widely available, at least in the local drug stores. The sponge needs to be inserted inside the vagina and can effectively protect sexually transmitted diseases too.
Female Contraceptive Devices
You can choose to use a diaphragm which is a tiny flexible rubber disc. This needs to be inserted into the cervix through the vagina of the woman under a clinical setting. The diaphragm is customised in terms of size and it covers the cervix thereby creating a barrier for the semen. It also carries spermicide and needs to stay in the woman for at least 6 hours following an intercourse.
IUD
IUD or intrauterine device is another option. It is a contraceptive implant that is inserted inside the uterus and can be carried for 5-10 years. It is very effective in preventing an unplanned pregnancy, although she might face a few side effects like abnormal menstrual bleeding accompanied by cramps.
The Pill
Birth control pill is the most popular amongst the contraceptive options used by women. It works on the hormones that trigger ovulation and prevents it, thereby preventing pregnancy. Pills are highly effective and it is advisable to take them under medical prescription. Since the pill and other similar contraceptive methods that work with female hormones, like the patch, etc, there is a possibility of associated side-effects like usual weigh gain, nausea and depression.
