The importance of Birth Control in an Adolescent life
Introduction
Birth control is any method that is used to prevent conception. Birth control in adolescents is important because this is the time they become sexually active. It is used by both genders and helps to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancies. Knowing about the importance of birth control is crucial in an adolescent life because it is during that part of life that humans start to experiment with physical needs.
Birth control which is also known as contraception is intended to prevent pregnancy. The different methods of birth control work in different ways. According to Stoppler (2016), birth control types are placed in three main categories. These are reversible and permanent types of birth control and emergency contraception. Types of birth control that prevent the sperm from reaching the egg include condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, withdrawals and contraceptive sponges hence referred to as the barrier methods. Other types that prevent the woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs that could be fertilized include vaginal rings, birth control pills, patches, injections, and emergency pills.
Stoppler (2016) states that there are other types of birth control such as IUD devices which are implanted in the uterus and can last for several years. Another one is an implantable rod that contains a progestin hormone and is put under the skin on the inside of the upper arm. There is also sterilization which prevents a woman from conceiving permanently and it also prevents a man from getting a woman pregnant. Natural birth control includes the ovulation test kits, examination of the cervical mucus, and the menstrual cycle tracking.
For the hormonal birth control types, the side effects are nausea and vomiting, acne, weight gain, bleeding or spotting, breast tenderness, and swelling, mood swings, changes in the menstrual flow, and sexual desire. Oral contraceptives could lead to serious complications such as stroke, heart attack clotting of the blood, and high blood pressure. Women who smoke heavily are at a higher chance of getting these serious complications because “cigarette smoking increases the risk of these complications” Stoppler (2016). The side effects of the barrier methods of birth control are urinary tract infection mostly when using a diaphragm and spermicide. When a diaphragm is left for longer hours, they are an increase in the risk of getting toxic shock syndrome. Other people may develop allergies from the chemicals that are used in the spermicide creams or products. This may irritate the penis or the vagina.
Emergency contraception birth control side effects are vomiting and nausea, headache, exhaustion, dizziness, breast pain, and pain in the lower abdomen. The IUDs side effects are worsening of the menstrual bleeding and cramping. Another rare side effect is the puncture of the uterus. For the hormonal IUDs, they cause side effects similar to the ones of the hormonal contraceptives. How you use a birth control method matters and being that “abstinence is the only 100% effective birth control method, other methods can be almost as effective when used properly Stoppler (2016).” The efficiency of a birth control method depends on the correct use of the method.
According to Stoppler (2016), the least sufficient birth control methods include, having no birth control at all which means that” using any type of birth control is better than using none at all. “Stoppler (2016. Others are spermicide, female condom, and withdrawal. The most effective types of birth control methods are, implants and the IUDs, birth control injections, birth control pills, and the vaginal ring. Other most effective methods are male condoms, diaphragm, cervical caps, and the birth control sponge.
Higgins & Smith (2016) state that birth control is used to reduce pregnancies that are not intended and also to decrease the morbidity and the mortality that is related to pregnancy. It also has social and economic benefits especially for women, for example, they can reach the level of education they would like to. It also helps one to have personal freedom in the stability and satisfaction in a relationship. This means that birth control use is important in both sexual and general health and being that “contraception is expressly designed for sexual activity,” Stoppler (2016) sexual acceptability influences a person to use birth control. The more often a person is interested in engaging in the sexual act influences them to use contraceptives.
The use of contraceptives is associated with a variety of advantages for women, men, children, and the community as a whole. It hinders any chances for unplanned pregnancies and abortions and” past improvements in the use of birth control show the role it can play in reducing unplanned pregnancy and abortion” Kye, Gootman, Ng & Finely (2014). These unplanned pregnancies and abortions currently affect the people that are not using any birth control. It helps to improve maternal and infant health and family wellbeing. It is mainly used because most of the men and women including the young adults are sexually active. Research has shown that when birth control use became known by unmarried women, abortion and unwanted pregnancy reduced as the use of contraceptives increased.
According to Curtis, Huber & Moss-Knight (2010), the effects of not using birth control are a pregnancy that itself has risks of morbidity and mortality. Unwanted pregnancy leads to abortion which could lead to death and research has shown that “fifty-five million unintended pregnancies in developing countries occur every year to women not using a contraceptive method” Curtis, Huber & Moss-Knight (2010). When mortality risks that are associated with using the different methods of birth control are compared to those that are associated with no use of any method, the ones with no use are the risks associated with pregnancy and abortion. Using no method of birth control has a higher risk of death than using any kind of birth control.
Before starting birth control, it is important to find out which birth control will be convenient for you and your partner. It is good to consider a method that does not have serious side effects and one that you will use consistently. It is good to consider the method of birth control is effective and how reversible it is in case one would wish to get pregnant. It is also good to consider if the method is affordable and how easy it is to get birth control. Some other methods need you to visit a doctor for a prescription and to get advice on the type that suits you. Because” no method of birth control is perfect” according to Kaunitz (2020), it is important that you balance the merits and demerits of each type of birth control and then choose the type that will be effective and that you will be able to use it correctly.
Conclusion
Birth control is important for men, women, and young adults. The different methods of birth control help a person choose the method that works best for them. Due to the side effects that are as a result of the birth control, it is advisable to visit a physician to get better advice. Birth control helps to prevent unplanned pregnancies and abortion increasing social and economic benefits. It is good to consider the different types of birth controls and choose the one that you will be able to use correctly and consistently.
References
Curtis C. Huber D. & Moss-Knight T. (2010) Post abortion Family Planning: Addressing the Cycle of Repeat Unintended Pregnancy and Abortion Retrieved from https://www.guttmacher.org/journals/ipsrh/2010/03/postabortion-family-planning- addressing-cycle-repeat-unintended-pregnancy-and#
Higgins, Jenny A, and Nicole K Smith. “The Sexual Acceptability of Contraception: Reviewing
the Literature and Building a New Concept.” Journal of sex research vol.53, 4-
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Kutinz M.A. (2020) Patient Education: Which Method is Right for Me? (Beyond the Basics)
Retrieved from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/birth-control-which-method-is-right-for-me-beyond-the-basics?topicRef=8419&source=see_link
Kaye, K., Gootman, J.A., Ng, A. S., & Finley, C. (2014). The Benefits of Birth Control in
America: Getting the Facts Straight. Washington, DC: The National Campaign to Prevent
Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy Retrieved from https://powertodecide.org/sites/ default/
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Stoppler C.M. (2016) 15 Birth Control Options (Types and Side Effects) Retrieved from
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