Best Birth Control Options

The abundance of birth control options available to women today has made lessened the problems of unplanned pregnancies. From the birth control pill, the sponge,the female condom, and the IUD, women are better able to control their health and bodies.

The IUD And Pregnancy Prevention

An important birth control option that has been used with great success over the years is the intrauterine device, commonly referred to as the IUD. This method of birth control has been a reliable form of birth control since the early 1970's. As you can see, the history of IUD's and pregnancy prevention is a short one. That said, they are a very safe and very effective method of birth control.

The device is comprised of a t-shaped plastic material that is filled with pregnancy-preventing hormones. A physician is able to insert the device directly into the uterus, via the vagina. Once the mechanism is inserted, a string attached to the end of the device is made to hang down into the cervix. The purpose of the string is for the woman to ensure the device is properly in place, as well as for the doctor in the event of its removal.

The Two Main Types Of IUD's

The first type, as well as the most commonly utilized, is comprised of plastic with copper wiring wrapped around the device (Copper IUD's). The efficacy of the copper style is rather high, with the usual effectiveness lasting for as long as ten years. The second type of device is made primarily of levonorgestrel which is a estrogen-like hormone that is very effective in preventing pregnancy. The benefit of the levonorgestrel device as opposed to the copper style device mainly stems from the latter being known to increase the likelihood of pelvic inflammatory disease, which is greatly reduced when using the levonorgestrel device.

Both types of products prevent pregnancy by repelling and killing off sperm that enter the female. The levonorgestrel causes the lining of the cervix to form a thicker lining which makes it difficult for sperm to move through. The copper device, on the other hand, is itself highly poisonous to the sperm, causing sperm death.

Regardless of the specific type of device used by women as a form of pregnancy prevention, the main benefit of these two types of birth control options are effective and safe for women.