EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION

Emergency contraception means using a copper IUD or birth control pills to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse. If pills are used within 72 hours after unprotected sex has taken place, they prevent about 75 percent of the pregnancies that would have occurred. An IUD can be effective if it is inserted up to 7 days after unprotected sex.

The emergency method used most often is a double dose of one of the stronger combined contraceptive pills. Twelve hours later, another double dose is taken.

Emergency contraception is not the same as a medical abortion. Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy.

Emergency contraception is prescribed by a doctor or clinic nurse after unprotected sex or an accident with a birth control method. It is also used after a rape.

Emergency contraception does not protect against STDs.

BREASTFEEDING AND CONTRACEPTION

Breastfeeding can protect a woman against pregnancy for about 6 months after childbirth, if the baby is given no other food or milk and nurses often.

When you start giving your baby other food or milk, or if your periods begin, you must use birth control right away if you want to avoid another pregnancy.

If you want to use a contraceptive method while breastfeeding, some birth control methods are better than others. Good methods to use are condoms, diaphragms, the cervical cap, the IUD, and spermicides. If you have been using a diaphragm or cervical cap, you need to be refitted. The shape and size of your vagina and cervix may have changed.

Combined birth control pills are not recommended because the estrogen in the pills will decrease your milk supply. POPs may be used if you prefer pills to the methods above.

WHAT IS EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING?

If you wish to use breastfeeding as a means of birth control, you must be nursing exclusively or almost exclusively, which is:

• Nursing frequently, whenever the baby is hungry, both day and night;
• Not offering the baby a bottle, pacifier, or other nipple substitute;
• Not supplementing breast milk with other sources of nourishment, such as juice or cow's milk.

When any of these criteria is not being met, it means that you are no longer exclusively (or almost exclusively) breastfeeding, and you cannot rely on LAM for birth control. When you start to give your baby other foods, or have to stop nursing for some reason (and do not want another child right away) you will need to start using some other form of contraception. Furthermore, any vaginal bleeding after the first month postpartum is also an indication that you should begin to use another method.

ABORTION

Today, both surgical and medical abortions are available. Surgical abortions most often use a suction technique to empty the uterus. Medical abortions use pills to make the uterus empty itself.

Surgical abortions take less time and at this time are still easier to obtain. Medical abortions are only available for very early pregnancy. They cause cramps and you will observe more bleeding.

If you are considering an abortion, it is important not to delay. The earlier it is done, the easier it is and there is less chance of complications. Later abortions take longer and may require a hospital stay.

Disclaimer! In many countries abortions are forbidden.