CONTRACEPTION AND BIRTH CONTROL
Although most couples in Britain now use some form of birth control, the full range of contraception methods available, with their respective advantages, drawbacks and percentage failure, are still not widely known.
Indeed the percentage failure may come as a nasty surprise, depending on whether one looks at the theoretical failure rate or the real one. For example, the pill and the sheath are considered almost 100% reliable, though their actual failure rate is 5% to 10%.
One must also take the side effects into account, though people are often unaware of these. The most effective methods – the pill, mini pill, coil and sterilization – are also those that have most disadvantages in health terms.
In fact the choice of a contraception method should be dictated by the couple’s age and family situation.
The best method for teenagers having only occasional intercourse is a sheath worn by the boy.
For young couples with a regular sex life, the pill is the best solution.
After the birth of a child, the pill may be abandoned owing to the health problems it may lead to in the long term. The alternative chosen is generally a coil or a diaphragm.
Once the couple has the number of children they were aiming for, the ideal solution is sterilization of one or other of the partners. But they must be certain that no unforeseen event (e.g. divorce or death) will change their decision to have no more children.
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