Women's health issues — contraception

IN recognition of Women's Month, female physician Dr N. Zondi of Kranskop is highlighting issues affecting women.

Unintended pregnancies occur mostly because male partners are reluctant to use condoms, negligence, rape, poor access to family planning facilities and lack of knowledge on what options are out there.

Complication of these unplanned pregnancies are abortions, mostly unsafe (which result in a lot of deaths), poverty, depression etc.

Methods

Birth control pills (91% effective), the injection (94% effective), a condom (98% effective), intrauterine device (IUD, IUC, IUS) 99% effective, contraceptive implant is 99% effective ( implanon/nexplanon), hormonal patch (91% effective), hormonal ring (91% effective), cervical caps (88% effective), diaphragms (88% effective).

Other methods include the use of spermicides (high failure rate if used alone, unless if used with a condom), or sterilisation, which is where the tubes of a male are cut or tied in order to prevent sperm excretion to the woman which will result in no fertilisation.

Hormonal contraception share certain side effects, but some people may not experience any at all.

Speak to a health care worker (a reliable source) to find a contraceptive method that may best suit you.