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Condoms or condoms are popular forms of contraception that have no side effects and are easy to use. But how safe are they and is it possible to get pregnant with a condom? Experience shows that a mechanical contraceptive does not always serve as a 100% guarantee of the absence of unwanted pregnancy.
How reliable are different methods of contraception?
A very reliable method: sterilization
Sterilization is an operation that prevents a person from having children. In men, this is a vasectomy; in women, it is usually a tubal ligation, or “ligation.”
How well the method works : sterilization is very effective Contraception, more than 99%.
Why it may not work : failures are associated either with irregularities during the operation, or with the fact that pregnancy occurs immediately after the operation, when the contraceptive effect is not yet detected. Therefore, for the first time after sterilization, you need to use an additional method of contraception.
Sterilization is irreversible, that is, you won’t be able to change your mind and have a child after it unless you take care of freezing sperm or eggs for the IVF procedure in advance.
In general, the decision is complex, therefore in Russia restrictions are imposed on sterilization: it is done either for medical reasons, or if a person is over 35 years old, or if a person already has at least two children. Federal Law “On the Fundamentals of Protecting the Health of Citizens in the Russian Federation” dated November 21, 2011 N 323-FZ.
A very reliable method: intrauterine devices
Intrauterine devices (also called spirals) are special devices that are placed directly into the uterus.
Hormone IUDs work in much the same way as other hormonal methods. But copper-containing IUDs without hormones cause aseptic inflammation, which prevents pregnancy.
How well the method works : both hormonal and copper-containing IUDs are more than 99% effective.
Why it may not work : intrauterine devices begin to work only some time after installation, so most conceptions occur in the first week of using the device. In addition, both hormonal and copper-containing devices can become dislodged and even fall out of the uterus, but this is extremely rare.
Reliable method: hormonal contraception
Hormonal contraception is based on the use of synthetic analogues of estrogen and progesterone - hormones that are responsible for the menstrual cycle. In fact, they create an artificial cycle in which pregnancy does not occur. Due to changes in hormonal levels:
- ovulation disappears, that is, the egg does not mature;
- the epithelial layer does not form in the uterus, so that the fertilized egg (if it appears) has nowhere to attach for development;
- The mucus in the cervix becomes thick, so sperm cannot penetrate the uterus.
How well the method works: the most reliable hormonal remedy is implants; they are effective in more than 99% of cases. In second place are injections with 94% effectiveness. Pills, patches and rings also work well: they are 91% effective when used routinely Effectiveness of Family Planning Methods
Why it may not work: Hormonal imbalances can be caused by several reasons.
- Missed pills, missed injection or ring replacement. In order for hormones to work, you need to follow the schedule according to which they enter the body. So for women who do not like discipline, it is better to choose not pills, but rings or injections - at least you don’t have to monitor the use of these drugs every day.
- Antibiotics. Some antimicrobial agents reduce the effectiveness of hormones.
- A pill that didn't have time to work. For example, if a woman vomits after taking it.
Reliable method: barrier contraception
Barrier methods prevent the egg and sperm from meeting, preventing the sperm from entering the uterus. Barrier methods include:
- male condoms;
- female condoms;
- diaphragms;
- spermicides;
- sponges.
How well the method works: all barrier contraceptives work with varying degrees of success. Male condoms are 82% effective, diaphragms are 88% effective, but spermicides are only 72%. The remaining barrier methods in terms of reliability are right between male condoms and spermicides. Is it possible to get pregnant while on birth control.
Why it may not work: most often, barrier contraception fails due to trivial errors in use. Until now, not everyone knows how and when to put on a condom, although this is the most common and accessible method. In addition, condoms break, diaphragms and sponges become dislodged at the most inopportune moments.
Unreliable method: natural contraception
There are also natural methods of birth control. They do not require pills, condoms or IUDs. You just need to take care of yourself and comply with all agreements with your partner.
What are the natural methods of contraception?
- Interrupted sexual intercourse. “Interrupted” means that the act itself ends before ejaculation.
- Calendar method or method of measuring basal temperature. A woman monitors her menstrual cycle and determines the day of ovulation by measuring her temperature. On days when it is possible to conceive a child, partners do not have sex.
- Lactational amenorrhea. While breastfeeding, many women cannot become pregnant.
How well the method works : Natural methods of contraception work poorly, their effectiveness does not exceed 75–78%. Lactational amenorrhea works Breastfeeding, but only if the child is no more than six months old and is fed every 4-6 hours, and without formula milk or complementary foods - only in this case the body regulates the supply of hormones so that the egg does not mature.
Why it may not work : any error in cycle calculation or temperature measurement, a small change in natural rhythms can lead to pregnancy. And interrupted intercourse works poorly because the lubricant that is released before ejaculation already contains sperm.
https://youtu.be/uQz6BaFEsXY
Method four: douching
An acidic environment is deadly for sperm – and that’s a fact. Therefore, the answer to the question of how not to get pregnant without a condom is douching with an acidic solution. There are various options for solutions: lemon juice, vinegar essence, diluted in certain proportions, etc. However, it should be noted right away that these options are not entirely and not always effective, and sometimes can be quite dangerous for your health, since acidic solutions can cause dysbacteriosis, burn the mucous membrane of the woman’s internal genital organs. Especially if you have an active, regular sex life. However, if the use of this method is more for you as an exception, then we will give a couple of recipes.
Lemon juice. Dip your fingers in squeezed lemon juice and run them inside yourself. Repeat the procedure several times and do not wash the juice out of your body after this for at least 2-3 hours. He will come out on his own later with secretions.
Fresh urine. Many recommendations on how not to get pregnant without a condom boil down to careful, deep washing with your own urine, immediately after intimacy. Of course, not a very pleasant ending to lovemaking, but, in the end, better than urine therapy or an unwanted pregnancy.
What else can symptoms indicate?
All early pregnancy symptoms are inaccurate. Pregnancy is only one of the reasons that can cause them. A woman can feel the same thing when breastfeeding, and with strong weight gain, and when changing hormonal contraceptives. These are common signs of many ailments and even diseases:
- premenstrual syndrome;
- urinary tract infections;
- hormonal imbalance;
- approaching menopause;
- poisoning;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- stress;
- lack of sleep;
- colds.
How to reduce the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections if a condom breaks?
What can be advised to reduce the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection? The woman needs to stand up immediately to allow semen to flow out of the vagina. It is necessary to immediately wash the genitals thoroughly with soap. Be sure to douche with an antiseptic solution - potassium permanganate, boric acid, furacillin. Insert a suppository with Betadine into the vagina, treat the external genitalia with a solution of Betadine or Miramistin. To reduce the risk of disease, this should be done as soon as possible. After this, be sure to consult a dermatovenerologist and get tested. You should not self-medicate by taking antibiotics and other medications. Only a doctor can correctly prescribe the necessary medications.
It must be remembered: some diseases have a long incubation period, and they can only be detected through laboratory tests. The earlier the disease is identified, the more effective its treatment will be.
How to test for pregnancy at home
The easiest and cheapest way is to buy a pregnancy test at a pharmacy or supermarket (yes, they sell them there too). In a few minutes, fears will be confirmed or dispelled.
Home tests work more or less the same way: they determine the level of a certain hormone in the urine - human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This hormone is actively released in the female body during pregnancy.
Each test has its own nuances of application: for some you need to collect urine, for others this is not required. Some tests show results in 5 minutes, others in 10. Therefore, you must read the instructions carefully so as not to panic due to invalid results.
Method five: more steam, less risk
Of course, hot water can kill living organisms. However, the existing misconception that a woman taking a bath with very hot water for 15 minutes after sexual intercourse can “kill” sperm that have penetrated the uterus and prevent conception is nothing more than a myth.
But the advice to make love in a sauna is based on common sense. However, its point is not to warm up the woman’s body in a sauna and thereby “neutralize” the penetrated sperm. This advice applies more to men, and a woman in the sauna can only keep him company.
Sperm cannot be produced at excessively high temperatures. Overheating of the scrotum can easily be caused by taking an excessively hot shower, bath, frequent visits to the bathhouse, wearing too tight swimming trunks or trousers, or using an electrically heated blanket for night sleep. All this can disrupt the process of sperm formation. In order for a man’s sperm to become partially “safe” over the next 24 hours, it is enough for him to spend an hour or two in the sauna. As history confirms, it was this method that was used in the East to protect against unwanted pregnancy: before the night of passion, a man spent some time sitting over a bucket of boiling water.
Overheating of the scrotum can easily be caused by taking an excessively hot shower, bath, frequent visits to the bathhouse, wearing too tight swimming trunks or trousers, or using an electrically heated blanket for night sleep. All this can disrupt the process of sperm formation. Even a common flu with a three-day temperature of 38-39°C can worsen sperm viability for the next three months.
What to remember
- There are no 100% reliable methods of contraception, short of complete abstinence.
- If you use contraception strictly according to the instructions, its effectiveness increases.
- The most reliable methods today are surgical methods (they are irreversible and have many limitations) and intrauterine devices.
- In second place in terms of reliability are hormonal contraceptives.
- In third place are barrier methods. Moreover, condoms work better than spermicides. The effectiveness of condoms is reduced due to improper use.
- Natural methods of contraception work the worst: calendar, temperature measurement, or interrupted coitus. You can also get pregnant while breastfeeding.
- The most effective methods of contraception have contraindications, so you should consult your doctor before using them.
Rules for using a condom
Based on common mistakes, it is not difficult to determine the basic rules for using condoms, which should protect a couple from an unwanted pregnancy.
Did you know? Condoms can make very beautiful outfits, as can be seen in the work of the Brazilian designer A. Bertini. By the way, he also creates magnificent sculptures from the specified raw materials.
The list of requirements looks something like this:
- Condoms should be stored only in dry rooms, protected from direct sunlight or heat;
- it is worth opening the package only by tearing the corner, especially since all manufacturers take care of the ease of performing this task;
- when purchasing another pack, be sure to check its integrity and normal expiration date in order to exclude the possibility of loss of protective properties;
- if you are going to use this contraceptive for the first time, then you should read the instructions included with it in advance in order to perform all the steps correctly;
- one condom can only be used once;
- You should wear a condom at the beginning of sexual intercourse;
- You should not use two condoms at once, as this will only reduce the effectiveness;
- do not use lubricants based on fat and oil, as they negatively affect the latex layer;
- Immediately after ejaculation, the latex product should be removed.
Important! Proper use of a condom requires not only knowledge of the rules for putting it on, but also the nuances of removing it, with the obligatory retention at the base so that it does not slip and the seminal fluid does not leak out.
Video: how to use condoms correctly
Calendar method and calculation of safe days - does it make sense?
The basis of the method is calculating safe days. How to determine these safe days? The viability of the sperm is about three days, while fertilization of the egg occurs within two days after ovulation . Thus, two days should be added to the day of ovulation (in both directions): for a cycle of thirty days it will be the fifteenth day, for a cycle of twenty-eight days it will be the thirteenth. It is believed that it is on these days that there is a risk of getting pregnant, but on the rest you can “not worry.”
