WELLNESS AUTHOR
Allison Drinnon
BIRTH CONTROL BREAKDOWN n Here is a breakdown of the
numerous types of birth control that offer protection from pregnancy so you can better understand your options.
W
hether it’s used for protecting yourself during intercourse, avoiding the risk of pregnancy or dealing with hormones, there are a variety of types of birth control, each with a purpose. The two main types are temporary/ impermanent and permanent.
I M P E R M AN EN T
For females, impermanent birth control options are offered in numerous forms: • Spermicide includes chemicals that block the cervix entrance and immobilize the sperm from reaching the egg. Spermicide can be found in creams, gels, films and suppositories but must be used with a condom, diaphragm or cervical cap to work.
about 79% effective at preventing pregnancies by itself. • A diaphragm is a rubber, dome-shaped device placed over the cervix and behind the pubic bone. The ring surrounding the device keeps it in place during intercourse. Used alone, the diaphragm is around 77 to 83% effective at preventing pregnancy.
• Internal condoms, or female condoms, resemble a tunnel with one blocked end. The device has two flexible rings on each end with connecting polyurethane plastic. The closed-off ring is inserted first and held behind the pubic bone while the open end remains outside the body. Internal condoms are
FEBRUARY 2022
• A cervical cap works similar to the diaphragm in which the rubber latex device is suctioned over the cervix to block sperm from entering the uterus. It is
56
