Women’s contraception: puberty to menopause
Contraception is chosen differently depending on whether you’re a teenager, a young mother or approaching the menopause. Take some time out to educate yourself…
- Teenage contraception: double protection
- Young sexually active women: planning pregnancies
- Emergency contraception to avoid an unwanted pregnancy
- New mothers: contraceptive caution following pregnancy
- The older woman: contraception and health in perspective
- Multiple partners: protection is the priority
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There’s a different contraceptive approach for every women’s age group and each style of sex life. Whichever method you choose, it has to offer the best possible compromise between being effective, safe and simple to use.
From the still virgin teenager to the mother nearing the menopause, from the couple in a steady relationship to the serial bed-hopper, contraceptive needs are very different. There is no one-size-fits-all, but depending on your lifestyle, two concerns should guide your choice:
- Preventing an unwanted pregnancy
- Preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Teenage contraception: double protection
It’s easy to imagine the turmoil caused by an unwanted teenage pregnancy. 2009 statistics tells us that more that 38,000 young women under 18 fell pregnant in England and Wales with around 18,000, or around half of those resorting to a termination of their pregnancy. Nearly 4,000 terminations were carried out on young girls under the age of 16.
In addition, it’s vital for teenagers to prevent AIDS and the other STIs, whether it’s when having sex for the first time or at the beginning of a new relationship. These two risks lead to teenage girls’ need to be doubly protected, using condoms and taking an oral contraceptive. But how many young girls take these precautions before becoming sexually active?
The oral contraceptive seems to be the best method of contraception for young girls who need a very effective contraceptive since they are at the peak of their fertility, and who run only a minor risk of complications from the Pill. On the other hand, topical contraceptives, such as spermicides or the diaphragm, should be avoided at this age, because they are less effective and above all, not simple to use in practice.
Whatever stage your sex life is at, it’s important to know that you can’t just get contraceptives on the spur of the moment as and when the need arises. You need to discuss it with a doctor, in advance. In fact, to be safe and effective, the contraceptive must comply with some straightforward but very specific rules. Taking a friend’s Pill and following friends’ advice can easily lead to you believe you’re protected when you’re not. Family planning centres are able to give out all the necessary advice. And they also have an advantage in that they hand out condoms for free.
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Copyright © 2010 Doctissimo
Posted 07.07.2011
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