5 methods of male contraception

Every year there are 16.7 million unwanted pregnancies worldwide. For some reason, the choice of contraceptives is considered to be women's concern since they are to bear and give birth to a child. But the process of contraception involves two people, so both women and men should worry about choosing methods of contraception.

Let's have a look at 5 options of male contraception:

1. Condoms

• The world's first condom is now in the national Museum of Cairo. It is a leather bag that belonged to the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
• Nowadays condoms are made from latex and polyurethane.
• Scientists from the Australian University of Wollongong are working on creating a new type of contraceptive. The unique development will allow you to save and even increase sexual pleasure. The condom is meant to be made of a special material – polymer hydrogel. Thanks to this substance, the revolutionary condom will be able to spread the lubricant and provide a small dose of medication (for example, viagra).
• Everyone knows about male condoms. But there are also women's ones. This is a small bag, which is most often made of polyurethane. It is inserted into the vagina and secured there with elastic rings.
• According to WHO, men's latex condoms protect against HIV and other STIs by 85%.
• Condom effectiveness to protect against unwanted pregnancy is 98%.
• 50% of men do not know how to put on condoms correctly. 10% put them on inside out and then have to turn them out. 4% use the same contraceptive several times. College students do not leave a space at the tip of the condom. But this can lead to the breaking of the thin latex during ejaculation (Hello, pregnancy, HIV, sexual infections).

2. Calendar-based contraceptive method (tracking the menstrual cycle)

• The length of the menstrual cycle is about a month. But women can get pregnant only at certain times of the month – within a few days after ovulation. However, there is one important point: sperm can live in the cervix for up to 7 days. This means that sex a week before ovulation is not a priori safe. Tenacious spermatozoa can fertilize an egg, and a woman will get pregnant. In general, the essence of the calendar method is to determine the "safe" and "unsafe" days for sex.
• This method works for women with a regular menstrual cycle without missed or delayed menstruations.
• There are many tracker apps that help you calculate ovulation. But they are usually used to determine the best chance of becoming pregnant. Not the other way around. That is why this method has another name - "natural family planning".

3. Hormonal contraception

• Birth control pills are the most common method of contraception among women in the United States.
• Birth control pills are a type of contraception that is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. But some studies have found that hormonal contraception is less effective for women whose body weight is more than 70 kilograms. That means that the real protection effectiveness that pill provides would be around 91%.
• Birth control pills do not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
• Taking hormonal contraceptives has many side effects. The main components of such pills activate blood coagulation. That in turn increases the risk of thrombosis. Moreover, it was recently confirmed that hormonal medications (pills and intrauterine devices) can increase the risk of developing depressive disorders by 40%.
• Sometimes hormonal drugs are prescribed to women to treat acne or to lower abnormally high levels of male hormones.

4. Intrauterine devices

• These devices are placed in the vagina for a certain number of years. The procedure can only be done by a professional.
• Intrauterine contraceptives are made of copper or silver with some plastic (for example, an intrauterine spiral). Silver and copper destroy spermatozoa. And the spiral itself prevents the attachment of the egg to the wall of the uterus. Even if fertilization was successful, the embryo will not develop.
• Another type of intrauterine contraceptive is the vaginal ring. It releases hormones that suppress ovulation.
• The effectiveness of intrauterine contraception against unwanted pregnancy is 98%.
• But these devices do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
• The disadvantages of this type of contraception also include the fact that the installation of these devices is an expensive and in some cases painful procedure.

5. Withdrawal method

• Withdrawal method is the practice of withdrawing the penis from the vagina before ejaculation.
• This method is not considered an official method of contraception. It also does not protect against STIs.
• The effectiveness of the withdrawal method to prevent pregnancy among couples aged 30 was 73%.
• Such a low percentage rate is based on the fact that spermatozoa are contained not only in the ejaculate, but also in the natural lubricant of men, although in a small amount. But this may be enough to fertilize the egg.

Choosing a method of contraception is a personal matter for everyone. If you can't decide which method to use, it's best to consult a specialist.