Zeeburg Secondary School ejaculates outside of the woman’s vagina.
This method is practiced
with the hope that no sperm will get inside the female to fertilize an
Integrated Science
egg. This is not a reliable method because the lubricating fluids that
Garde 10 leave the penis at the start of sexual intercourse may contain some
Birth Control Methods sperm.
Contraception or birth control methods prevent unexpected Barrier birth control methods
pregnancies by preventing fertilization and implantation. The ways in Condom and spermicides
which they work are:
A condom is a thin, latex rubber tube that is used to cover the erect
• preventing ovulation, so there is no egg to fertilize penis before sexual intercourse. During ejaculation the sperm are
• preventing the sperm and egg meeting which prevents fertilization caught in the condom and so do not enter the vagina. Condoms are a
reliable method of contraception, especially if used with a spermicide
• preventing a fertilized egg from becoming implanted in the uterus.
which is a chemical that kills sperm.
Natural birth control methods
The spermicide is usually in the form of a cream or tablet, which is
Abstinence inserted in the vagina about 10 minutes before sexual intercourse. The
Individuals who choose not to have sexual intercourse, of any form, use of a spermicide without additional protection is not a reliable
are said to practice abstinence. Abstinence is the most effective method of contraception. The chemical found in the spermicide is also
method of birth control as well as protection against most sexually believed to provide some form of protection against sexually
transmitted infection. transmitted infections.
The rhythm method
A woman can study her menstrual cycle to determine the times at
which she is most likely to be fertile and so become pregnant. A
woman is most likely to become pregnant around the time of
ovulation, which is about day 14 of her menstrual cycle. A woman’s
fertile time occurs between days 11 to 14. Therefore, she must avoid
(unprotected) sexual intercourse during this time if she does not want
to become pregnant.
Withdrawal
This method involves the male withdrawing his penis from the vagina
of the female when he senses that he wants to ejaculate. Therefore, he
Intrauterine device (IUD)
This is a plastic or metal device that is inserted into the uterus of the
woman by a doctor or nurse. It prevents the implantation of a fertilized
egg in the wall of the uterus. This is a reliable method of
contraception, and it is one of the most widely used methods. A side
effect is an increased risk of infection of the uterus.
Diaphragm
The diaphragm is a dome shaped rubber cap with a metal spring on its Hormonal methods of birth control
edge. It is smeared with a spermicide before the woman inserts it into
Oral contraceptive
her vagina, to cover the cervix. The diaphragm blocks the entrance to
the uterus, preventing sperm from entering the uterus and reaching the The oral contraceptive is simply known as ‘the pill’. This
ovum. contraceptive usually contains two female hormones, oestrogen and
progesterone, which stop ovulation (prevent the release of matured
eggs from the ovary). The pill also prevents pregnancy by thickening
the mucus in the cervix, therefore making it difficult for the sperm to
reach the uterus or fallopian tube. The pill is taken orally (by mouth)
every day for three weeks. No pills are taken during the fourth week
and bleeding usually occurs during this time. Another oral
contraceptive is the ‘morning after pill’. This prevents implantation of
the fertilized egg in the uterus and can reliably do so if taken up to
three days after sexual intercourse. One side effect may be nausea.
Injectable hormone contraceptives Tubal ligation
Depo-provera is a hormone contraceptive which is injected rather than A tubal ligation is a surgical procedure done on women. It is also
taken by mouth. It contains the hormone progestin which a woman known as ‘tying the tubes’ because the procedure used to involve tying
produces during the last two weeks of her monthly cycle. This and cutting the oviducts. This prevents the egg released from the ovary
hormone prevents ovulation and thickens the mucus around the cervix, each month from travelling to the uterus, as well as preventing sperm
making it difficult for the sperm to enter the uterus. It is a very reliable reaching the egg in the oviduct.
method of contraception, which is administered by a doctor and
repeated every 13 weeks.
Surgical methods of contraception
Vasectomy
Vasectomy and tubal ligation are permanent contraceptive methods in
which the individual has an operation to prevent the normal passage of
their sex cells through the tubes of the reproductive system. A
vasectomy is carried out on a man and involves tying and cutting the
sperm duct, therefore preventing the sperm travelling from the testes to
the urethra. When the man ejaculates, his semen will no longer contain
sperm.
