7.7: hormonal and barrier methods of contraception

Benefits of using oral contraceptives

Oral contraceptives include the pill, and are more than 99% effective if they are taken correctly and can reduce the risk of certain cancers

Risks of oral contraceptives

Side effects include changes in weight, mood and blood pressure due to containing high levels of oestrogen (although modern pills contain less oestrogen than in the past)

Non hormonal methods of contraceptives

These do not rely on hormones, and instead focus on barrier methods, surgery or timing of sex

Examples of non hormonal methods of contraception

Condoms, diaphragms (barrier methods)

Intrauterine devices such as the coil

Spermicide

Abstinence or only having sex after menstruation

Surgical methods including vasectomy or histerectomy

How do barrier methods work?

They prevent the sperm from reaching the egg so prevent fertilisation

How do non hormonal IUDs work?

They can be made of copper so kill sperm and prevent eggs from implanting into the uterus

How do spermicides work?

They kill or disable sperm

How do surgical methods work?

They remove the reproductive organs

In women, they cut and tie the fallopians tubes (oviducts) so that no egg can travel to the uterus

In men, they cut the sperm ducts so that no sperm can fertilise an egg