Birth control
hideBirth control is a regimen of one or more actions, devices, sexual practices, or medications followed in order to deliberately prevent or reduce the likelihood of pregnancy or childbirth. There are three main routes to preventing or ending pregnancy: the prevention of fertilization of the ovum by sperm cells ("contraception"), the prevention of implantation of the blastocyst ("contragestion"), and the chemical or surgical induction of abortion of the developing embryo or, later, fetus. In common usage, term "contraception" is often used for both contraception and contragestion.
Birth control is commonly used as part of family planning.
The history of birth control began with the discovery of the connection between coitus and pregnancy. The oldest forms of birth control included coitus interruptus, pessaries, and the ingestion of herbs that were believed to be contraceptive or abortifacient. The earliest record of birth control use is an ancient Egyptian set of instructions on creating a contraceptive pessary.
Different methods of birth control have varying characteristics. Condoms, for example, are the only methods that provide significant protection from sexually transmitted diseases. Cultural and religious attitudes on birth control vary significantly.
For more information about Birth control, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
News tagged with contraception
AIDS research reveals a lack of family-planning programs in Uganda
Medicine & Health / HIV & AIDS
Nov 23, 2009 |
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University of Alberta graduate student Jennifer Heys wants to make her message clear: there needs to be more education in Ugandan communities about contraception.
The IUD is the most popular long-acting contraceptive amongst Europeans
Oct 28, 2009 |
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A European study has defined the profile for the usage of long-acting contraceptive methods. The work, presented with the National Congress of Gynaecology award, shows, amongst other things, that 10% of women ...
RU-486 abortion drug to be allowed in Italy
Medicine & Health / Medications
Jul 31, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Italy has approved the use of the abortion drug RU-486, drawing fierce protests by the Vatican.
Young Australians not as 'sex savvy' as they think
Jun 03, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Young Australians need to be better informed about the use of emergency contraception to reduce terminations and unwanted pregnancies.
Injectable testosterone may provide effective male contraception
May 04, 2009 |
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Researchers in China may have found a method for male contraception that is effective, reversible and without serious short-term adverse effects according to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's ...
FDA to allow 'morning-after' pill for 17-year-olds
Medicine & Health / Medications
Apr 22, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Women's groups cheered the government's decision to allow 17-year-olds to buy the "morning-after" emergency contraceptive without a doctor's prescription, but conservatives denounced it as a blow ...
China fights gerbil plague with 'the pill'
Mar 25, 2009 |
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Authorities in northwestern China have resorted to using a contraception-abortion pill to rein in a plague of gerbils which is threatening the local desert ecosystem, state media said Wednesday.
Education may improve hospital prescription rate of emergency contraception to teens
Mar 05, 2009 |
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Many doctors don't offer emergency contraception pills to adolescents who may benefit from them during emergency department visits because of misinformation about how the medicine works, according to a study by The Children's ...
Repeat pregnancies among UK teenagers on the increase
Jan 26, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- An expert in health services at The University of Nottingham is calling for urgent action to improve contraceptive advice and services to reduce the growing number of repeat teenage pregnancies in the United ...
Education needed to decrease teens' misconception about emergency contraception
Aug 19, 2008 |
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Targeted health education may help urban, minority adolescent women better understand how the emergency contraception pill works and eliminate some misconceptions about side effects, confidentiality and accessibility, according ...
