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Birth control is a very controversial topic that many are not that well versed with. If you have been considerate about the prospect of starting birth control, knowing the basic facts about birth control is a necessity.
Owing to the lack of education surrounding the same, it is often hard for a number of people to have a better perception of the benefits and the risks that come along with the intake of the birth control. If you have been on a similar boat, it is time to make better choices in life.
By the end of this article, you will know all the things to know about birth control that not many are aware of all the more.
Birth Control Facts
While the basic statistics about birth control and even the normal prospects surrounding the same are quite extensive, it is important that one knows and has the basic idea when it comes down to the birth control facts to have a clear idea about everything surrounding it.
Let us take a look at some of the most important ones, shall we?
1. Age isn’t a Factor When it Comes to IUD
IUD, otherwise known as the Intrauterine devices are quite an effective form of birth control which more or less last you for 10 years and can be reversed at any time through that time.
Owing to the 99% fail safe, this is considered as one of the best forms of birth control that one can opt for without having any kind of regrets whatsoever. While women before had this notion that the insertion of the IUD could end up causing infections, doctors now have clarified that the same is safe to use and doesn’t impose any possible risk associated with the pelvic infections beyond the insertion window.
If you have a monogamous relationship, IUD is actually quite safe to use and doesn’t cause any risk of infection as such.
2. Older Women are More Likely to Use Birth Control
The one fact that stood out of the rest is on further inspection they found that only 47% of the women in the age group of 15-24 years use birth control in comparison to 67% in the age group of 25-34 years and 70% in the women over the age of 35 years.
This itself showcases that young women are less likely to be on birth control in comparison to older women.
3. Pills Weren’t the First Form of Oral Contraception
While the birth control pills are often the most common form of contraception now, it wasn’t the very first form or oral contraception available.
In the previous decades way back in history, people relied on the consumption of a number of herbs and alternative medicine to keep the possibilities of unwanted pregnancies at bay. A plant is known as Silphion and even pomegranate seeds were believed to have potent benefits in handling the risks associated with unwanted pregnancies.
4. Can make periods more comfortable
Yet another one of the amazing facts about birth control is the fact that it can make one’s period a lot more comfortable and less painful. While the hormones present in the oral contraceptives are predominantly targeted to help alleviate the condition associated with the prevention of pregnancy, the same has been found to have beneficial impacts in handling pregnancy too.
Apart from controlling the flow of the blood, it has also been found to have beneficial in handling the accessory symptoms like managing the cramps and the weakness that one feels as well.
5. Birth Control is Needed Even When You are 40
It doesn’t matter whether you are in your 40s or late, if your reproductive cycle is active, chances of getting pregnant are still persistent which is why it is important to ensure that you manage the same without any further arguments.
When it comes to answering the FAQs about birth control, it is important to be on your birth control until your menopause hasn’t been reached.
6. Birth Control Pills aren’t for Every Woman
When it comes to oral birth control, the pills are possibly the most effective and sought after mode of treatment. It is effective and does have a number of positive impacts in helping ease the signs and symptoms associated with periods but the same does come with its fair share of side effects too.
Often times, the side effects of these pills override the benefits, so, if you are planning on starting out with the birth control pills, it is best suggested to first consult the doctor and then be aware of the side effects that come along with this condition.
One of the most common risks that come with the birth control pills is the fact that it raises the risks associated with the blood clots in the body. It is thus best assured to keep certain things into account and then proceed further.
7. IUDs Can Rip the Head of the Sperm
One of the facts about birth control is the fact that IUD is one of the most effective forms of contraception that works like magic.
The primary reason through which the same affects the process of contraception is by making the uterus of the bearer a very hostile environment for the sperm to thrive and promote further fertilization altogether.
This is the reason why they are considered as one of the best available options around. The main reason why it is possible is because of the presence of copper which has spermicide properties. Not just that, even the ones without copper have been found to have impacted by ripping the head of the sperm off from the tail.
8. Be Careful of the Medications you Consume
Majority of the times, it is the antibiotics which have been regarded as the ones causing the primary risk. The main reason behind the same is because of the fact that antibiotics have been found to enhance the liver functions which end up elevating the rate of metabolism, thus ending up metabolizing the birth control pill as well.
Given that the pills are often broken down faster with the consumption of the antibiotics, its effects are reduced to a certain extent.
9. Can Boost Overall Health
Apart from the pregnancy, it has a number of positive benefits, on your overall health, like helping relieve the pain symptoms of periods and even helping cure the acne on the face and body.
Birth control has also been found to have beneficial impacts in preventing the risks of certain forms of cancer, especially ovarian cysts and cancer, colon cancer and even endometrial cancer as well.
It has other accessory health benefits including regulation of the fibrocystic breast changes and the salient ones altogether.
10. Contraceptive Patches are Often a Better Option
As we did mention before, oral contraception is often not the best option for some women and if you have experienced some of the downsides that come with it and want to avoid that, the contraceptive patches are often considered as a better option.
Even these come along with similar kind of risks when it comes to the timing and such of the same. It is best suggested to maintain the time when it needs changing but other than that, they are quite a good option to look into if you want to keep the risks of pregnancy at bay.
11. Researchers are Still Not 100% Sure How IUD works
You will be surprised to know about one of these birth control facts that even researchers are still conducting research to find the exact reason as to how IUD functions in preventing pregnancy.
While some research suggests that the IUD ends up affecting the sperm motility and disintegrates the structure of the sperm, thus preventing it from reaching the egg in the first place.
Additionally, some other studies also suggest that IUD has an impact in thinning out the cervical mucus which prevents the embryo from sticking on to the uterus for further development.
There are ongoing studies battling out to find the exact root cause as to what it is that ends up making IUD one of the most foolproof form of contraception.
12. Helps Prevent a Number of Diseases
One of the most important facts about birth control is that it helps in not just preventing pregnancy but also a number of other serious diseases as well.
Cancer is one of the most common forms of disease that is effectively prevented if you have been taking your birth control from time to time. Statistics suggest that women who are on their birth control are 50% less likely to develop the risks associated with ovarian cancer.
Additionally, it also reduces the risks of endometrial cancer and colorectal cancer by 30% and 20% respectively.
The same has also been found to have beneficial impacts in preventing the risks associated with the condition of rheumatoid arthritis by 19% as well.
13. Male birth control are in progress
Hormonal contraception has been a matter of grave importance for the male individuals as well and researches have been conducted over time to find the possible impacts altogether.
Over 40 years of research has gone into this specific subject to find a solution that would actually show some fruitful results in the long run. Majority of the trial medications that the researchers developed were found to be testosterone blockers which weren’t necessarily the ideal prospect.
14. The active ingredient of the birth control pills come from yam
While the prior studies in history did find that the main ingredient for the pills could be derived from animals, the same was not an economical choice.
It was later with further conducted studies that the researchers found that the primary ingredient for the birth control pills can effectively be extracted from yam.
The same was derived back in the 1950s when a company synthesized Progestin which is the main ingredient in the birth control pills from a type of yam known as barbasco.
15. There are No Long Term Effects
One of the best facts about birth control is the fact that it doesn’t bring on any kind of negative impact on the body on prolonged consumption as well.
They won’t wreak havoc on your body which is one of the most popular reasons behind why it is actually a good enough option to take a peek into. If you still have been struggling day in and day out, it is best suggested to ensure that you take the time out to handle the consequences by talking to the doctor about it.
When it comes to the facts about birth control, the possibilities are quite abundant. It is important that you always consult a doctor before you end up starting the birth control or any form of contraception for that matter. It is necessary that you know your facts and only then should you proceed along with the same.
