7 contraceptive secrets that couples must know

When it comes to contraception, some key facts are not known to most women and are not given enough attention. In actual practice, it is impossible for contraceptive methods to be 100% safe, nor is it possible to prevent sexually transmitted diseases...

The following 7 incomplete facts may have a serious impact on your life.

Secret 1: Weight Matters

For women aged between 18 and 39, if their weight is equal to or greater than 58 kg, there is a 60% chance that oral contraceptives will fail, especially those with low estrogen levels. Overweight women have a faster metabolism and need more hormones to prevent conception. Moreover, birth control pills have a lipolytic effect and may "stay" in the places where fat is stored in the body and cannot reach the blood where they should go to actually take effect. If you weigh more than 58 kg, it is best to ask your doctor to recommend other more reliable methods, such as intrauterine contraceptive devices, or a combination of birth control pills and condoms to ensure safety.

Secret 2: The most effective ones are the ones that last

In fact, there are many very effective contraceptive methods that you are not aware of, have never imagined, and have never been recommended to you. Curious? - The intrauterine device is one example.

Generally speaking, today's intrauterine contraceptive devices are quite safe. Only one brand called "Dalkson Shield" once had deviations and "disappeared" from the market in the 1970s, but it still affected the reputation of the IUD to some extent. Although IUDs are quite common in some countries, less than 1% of women choose to use them. This situation is not optimistic, because for monogamous families, although the intrauterine contraceptive ring cannot guarantee that you will not contract sexually transmitted diseases, it is indeed the most effective contraceptive measure. Once inserted, you can forget about its existence. Not only does it not have the hormonal side effects that other contraceptives may bring, but it is also extremely effective - with only a 1% failure rate.

Secret 3: Hidden dangers of condoms

Some condoms are made of non-noxynol-9, a spermicide, which is not only ineffective in preventing sexually transmitted diseases, but may increase the risk of contracting AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Its working principle is to achieve the purpose of contraception by destroying the sperm cell membrane. In the process, the protective membrane on the edge of the vagina may also be destroyed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration believes that the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases using condoms increases due to cell damage, and is considering putting warning labels on finished products containing spermicidal ingredients.

Pay attention to the handling method after use. When pulling out, press the root and pull it out slowly, otherwise it may fall off in the vagina. If you do not leave the body for a while after ejaculation, the male genitals will shrink and there is a risk of semen leaking out.

Secret 4: Strictly take medication on time

The principle of oral contraceptives is to artificially create a pregnancy-like state by taking sex hormones and inhibit ovulation. If used correctly, it is a contraceptive drug that can achieve excellent contraceptive effects. Its characteristics are reliable effect and easy use.

However, because it contains estrogen, it should be taken only after consultation with a doctor. When you start taking it, you don't have to wait a whole month for it to work, and you don't have to start on a certain Sunday. Perhaps many people have heard that the most magical number is 7 days, which is completely false! After taking the medicine for 1 week, some auxiliary measures (such as condoms) are still needed.

Secret 5: Can ordinary contraceptive products be equated with brand names?

Generic contraceptives are at least 60% cheaper than brand-name ones, making them more attractive. But some experts believe that there is no evidence to show that the two are equally effective and safe. So, does this mean that the chances of "unexpected pregnancy" are much greater when taking ordinary products? No one can be sure. When it comes to something as serious as contraception, there's no room for guesswork. Experts certainly don't object to you using ordinary products, but you should remember that this is different from a headache. If one medicine doesn't work, you can try another. The risk of testing birth control pills is too great. You won’t know whether they work until something troublesome appears in your body.

Secret 6: More Hormonal Options

Nowadays, two new products are popular on the market: contraceptive patches and contraceptive rings, which are as effective as oral medications and even safer, without the need to remember the days every day. The contraceptive patch is a sticky patch that is one inch long and half an inch wide. It is applied to the buttocks, abdomen, torso or upper arm for three weeks each month. It releases hormones that prevent ovulation into the body through the surface of the skin. The contraceptive ring is a flexible ring containing hormones that is inserted into the vagina. It is left in place for three weeks and removed one week later, and your period will arrive as scheduled. Possible adverse reactions: increased vaginal discharge, inflammation or pain. But as long as they are used properly, these two products can guarantee a 99% success rate.

Secret 7: The chance of getting pregnant during contraception is greater than you think

To ensure that the birth control pill is effective, it should be taken at the same time every day. Integrate it into your daily life to help you remember time better, such as taking it every morning after brushing your teeth. If you forget to take the dose, read the precautions carefully to see what you can do to make up for it, so as not to waste all your efforts. If women who choose condoms have less secretions, they can apply some lubricating ointment when using them to firmly secure them and prevent them from slipping, which will achieve better results.