Merciful 1/Merciful - Disc 1.iso/software/b/birds_&_bees/bird&bee's.dms/bird&bee's.adf/bc.all

Text File | 1986-06-21 | 12KB | 380 lines

    Contraception (or birth control)
refers to the attempt to ensure that
sexual intercourse does not result in
pregnancy. The need for safe, effective
methods of contraception arises because
men and women frequently desire the
physical and emotional pleasures of
sexual intercourse, without the possi-
bility of creating a baby. This is
particularly true with married couples
who want to plan for children. With
unmarried couples the safest and most
reliable form of birth control is not
to engage in sexual intercourse.
    1Sexual intercourse does not always
result in pregnancy.] 2However, you
must remember that sexual intercourse
(even once) can result in pregnancy
even with birth control.] You will re-
call from earlier lessons that pregnan-
cy occurs only when the male's sperm
fertilizes the female's egg. This can
only occur at certain times of the
month (because of the woman's menstrual
cycle), and even then it is dependent
upon the sperm being healthy enough to
reach and fertilize the egg.
    There have been numerous myths
regarding effective means of birth
control. 3Until the medical advances of
the 20th Century, there were no re-
liable means of contraception other
than abstinence (not having inter-
course) or barrier methods (blocking
the sperm from reaching the egg).]
However, even today with modern medical
"miracles" abstinence (not engaging in
sexual intercourse) is still the only
100% effective method of birth control
other than medical operations (vasec-
tomies for men and tubal ligations for
women). Thus, abstinence is the recom-
mended way to see that you do not get
pregnant (or get someone else
pregnant).
    The next several lessons will des-
cribe the more common birth control
methods currently available in North
America. These lessons are not designed
to provide all the information one
would want to have before deciding on
the best contraceptive to use. If you
feel that you must engage in sexual
intercourse (and are willing to risk
the possibility of pregnancy or social
diseases caused by intercourse and des-
cribed in the lesson on sexually trans-
mitted diseases), 2then you should con-
sult your doctor and if possible your
parents to discuss the best method to
protect you (or your lover) from get-
ting pregnant.]

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2Intercourse always results in
pregnancy.
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1You can get pregnant the first time
you have intercourse.
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1There are many ways to prevent
pregnancy.
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1A family doctor and/or your parents
should be consulted when choosing a
method of birth control.
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    The rhythm method of birth control
has been used for centuries. 2It is
considered the only acceptable family
planning method (other than abstinence)
by some religions.] 1Unfortunately, it
is a very poor method of birth
control.]
    This oldest and simplest method of
birth control relies on the woman's
ability to predict when she will have
her period, and then calculate when she
will be ovulating (producing eggs).
During this fertile period, she will
abstain from intercourse. 4However, all
women are not the same, nor are they
perfectly consistent.] Therefore,
3there is considerable room for error
in estimating the woman's fertile
days.]
    There is a slightly more reliable
(but also "natural") method of family
planning called the BBT (basal body
temperature). This requires the woman
to monitor her body temperature (with a
special thermometer) in order to help
her predict when she is ovulating. Even
when combined with the rhythm (or
"calendar") method described earlier,
these are highly unreliable methods for
avoiding pregnancy, and often lead to a
"big bundle of joy."

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2The rhythm method is a good method of
birth control.
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2Some religions disapprove of birth
control, including the rhythm method.
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2It is easy to determine when a woman
is ovulating (and therefore when NOT to
have sex if pregnancy is to be
avoided).
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2The rhythm method is a good contracep-
tive method for many teenagers.
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    1Condoms are one of the few birth
control options available to men.] A
condom is an elastic sheath that is
placed over the erect penis to collect
the man's semen and not allow it to
enter the woman's vaginal canal. Con-
doms are often called "rubbers," after
the material of which they are made.
    2Considered one of the better forms
of contraception, condoms are very com-
mon because of a number of very attrac-
tive properties]:
    a) They are usually effective if
used properly.
    b) 3They are easy to purchase (at
any pharmacy) and are not expensive.]
    c) They are easy to use and do not
require medical supervision.
    d) They can reduce the chances of
spreading sexually  transmitted
diseases.
    The most commonly heard criticisms
of the condom are that it reduces sen-
sitivity and that having to put it on
can spoil the romantic mood. 4There is
no evidence to suggest that men are
less sensitive while wearing a condom.]
The feeling of its interfering with the
lovemaking mood is an individual opini-
on. Most responsible people feel that
this is a small price to pay for redu-
cing the risk of pregnancy.
    However, even if the man is wearing
a condom a woman can still become preg-
nant. If the man puts on the condom
right before he ejaculates (has a cli-
max) there is a chance that the earlier
entry might have made the woman preg-
nant (since a man's lubrication fluids
sometimes contain sperm). Further, if
the condom breaks during usage or is
defective the woman may become preg-
nant. Remember, the only 100% effective
way to avoid pregnancy is not to engage
in sexual intercourse!

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2Besides condoms, there are many other
contraceptive devices available to men.
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1The condom is generally considered to
be one of the better methods of contra-
ception.
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1Anybody can buy a condom.
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2Condoms reduce the man's ability to
"feel" his partner.
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    Birth control pills (often called
just "the pill") have been available in
this country since 1960. They are a
very effective means of contraception
for women if taken as prescribed by a
physician.
    3Oral contraceptives (pills) are
like artificial hormones. Stated sim-
ply, they convince the woman's natural
hormone system that she is already
pregnant, which means there is no
reason to produce any more eggs.]
    Despite some recent news stories,
1the pill is one of the better methods
of birth control. If taken properly,
there is very little risk of getting
pregnant. It is also quite safe for
most people, particularly younger
women.] However, because they have a
major effect on your body, it is im-
portant to see your doctor regularly
while taking the pill.
    2In order to function properly, the
pill must be taken regularly (daily).]
It is not meant to be a "morning after"
pill. This means you cannot have inter-
course first and then take the pill. In
fact, it is usually not for several
weeks after the first pill is taken
that intercourse can take place without
the risk of pregnancy.
    If the pill is not taken reliably,
and without consultation with a medical
person, damage to your body can result.
Further, if you do not know all the
facts about birth control pills, you
may take them incorrectly and still get
pregnant.

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1The pill is probably a good form of
contraception for teenagers.
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1The pill must only be taken as pres-
cribed by your medical expert.
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2The pill prevents pregnancy by killing
the male's sperm before it can fer-
tilize the egg.
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1The diaphragm is a dome-shaped rubber
device that is placed in the woman's
vagina to seal off the opening to the
cervix.] If properly placed it will
form a barrier preventing the sperm
from moving into the uterus.
    2The initial fitting for the dia-
phragm is made by a gynecologist.]
Before engaging in intercourse, the
user must be sure to insert the dia-
phragm carefully and apply a sperm-
icidal jelly. 4The spermicide's func-
tion is to kill sperm cells] and it
also helps to seal the diaphragm to the
cervix.
    3The diaphragm is not usually re-
commended for teenagers because it
requires a great deal of care and res-
ponsibility.] The diaphragm must be
used with a spermicidal cream or jelly.
Its reliability is relatively poor, but
this is due to widespread careless
usage.
    There are other forms of vaginal
spermicides: foam, tablets, and suppo-
sitories. In each instance the goal is
to kill the sperm as they enter the
woman's body. None of these methods is
very reliable unless combined with
another birth control device such as a
condom or diaphragm.

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2The diaphragm can be used by a man.
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2A diaphragm can be borrowed from a
friend if she wears the same dress
size.
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2The diaphragm is frequently recommen-
ded to teenagers.
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2A spermicide is a male sex organ.
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    1The IUD (intrauterine device) was
a very popular method of birth control
during the 1960s and '70s.] 2Because of
the shape of one of the more common
IUDs, you may have heard them referred
to as "coils."] Their popularity has
declined recently because of some
medical evidence suggesting that
several of the IUDs may have caused
unexpected side effects.
    The IUD is a metallic and/or plas-
tic device that is fitted by the phys-
ician into the woman's uterus. 3It
prevents the woman from becoming preg-
nant by interfering with the fertiliza-
tion process. There is still some un-
certainty as to exactly how some of
them accomplish this.]
    The IUD has several advantages and
disadvantages:
    a) If fitted properly, it is very
reliable and effective for a long
period of time.
    b) It cannot be felt during inter-
course (although some women complain of
abdominal pain during their period).
    c) It is inexpensive and requires no
attention other than periodic check-ups
by the gynecologist.
    d) The long-term medical implications
of IUD use are still unclear. Although
millions of women have used IUDs for
long periods of time, a smaller number
of women seem to have suffered a var-
iety  of complications.

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2The IUD has never been popular in the
United States.
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1A coil is the same thing as an IUD.
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2The IUD acts in much the same way as a
spermicide.
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    There are now operations available
to men and women who desire to have
intercourse, but do not wish to have
children. 4Since the ability to reverse
or undo one of these operations is not
assured, they are not recommended to
young people who are not married.] They
are mostly used for married couples who
do not want any more children (or any
children).
    2Men are sterilized by an operation
called a vasectomy.] The goal of the
vasectomy is to cut out a piece of the
vas deferens. This prevents the sperm
from joining with the rest of the sem-
inal fluid. Therefore, the man can have
a normal sex life, including ejacula-
tion. The lack of sperm in his semen
would not be noticeable except under a
microscope. The vasectomy is very reli-
able, but because it is very difficult
to reverse it is not often used by
young or unmarried men as a means of
contraception.
    3A woman who desires to be surgi-
cally sterilized undergoes a tubal
ligation.] In this operation, the doc-
tor cuts or seals the Fallopian tubes,
thus preventing the sperm from reaching
the egg. 1Like the vasectomy, the tubal
ligation]: a) does not interfere with
the ability or desire to engage in
sexual intercourse, b) 1is a highly
effective contraceptive method], and c)
is very difficult to reverse.

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1Surgical operations (sterilization)
are an effective means of birth
control.
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2A vasectomy works equally well on men
and women.
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1A man cannot have a tubal ligation.
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1Serious thought should be given to
having one of these operations.
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