EFFECTIVENESS OF CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS
| With normal use | With excellent use (without omission) | |
| Pill | 0.8% | 0.3% |
| Condom | 15% | 2% |
| Intermittent intercourse | 27% | 4% |
| Intrauterine device (Coil) | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Mirena coil | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Avoiding fertile days | 15% | 9% |
| Avoidance based on symptoms/temperature | 12% | 2% |
| Sterilization (fallopian tube blockage surgery) | 0.5% | 0.5% |
Percentage of women who will become pregnant within the first year of use
The birth control pill
It is a very effective method, with an excellent protection rate, when used consistently. The side effects described in the package are many, but most are rare and mild. The most annoying is a mild fluid retention, with ‘bloating’ low in the abdomen and weight gain of approximately 1.5 kg.
Significant long-term side effects include
- increased risk of venous thrombosis, but ultimately extremely small in absolute terms. The pill increases the risk 3 times, while during pregnancy it increases 12 times! However, its use is contraindicated in women with a previous history of thrombosis, with a blood disorder (thrombophilia), with massive varicose veins, severe obesity, mobility problems.
- risk of arterial stenosis (so it affects, in a different way, both veins and arteries). It can contribute to hypertension, angina pectoris and coronary heart disease. Of course, the pill is just the icing on the cake, the woman who will get all these disorders already has more dangerous risk factors (smoking, cholesterol, obesity, lack of exercise, age, history of migraines, high blood sugar). The pill is therefore contraindicated in smokers over 35.
- increase the risk of breast cancer. Again of course the absolute figures are very small. The risk increases by 20% and is equivalent to that of a woman who learns that her aunt had breast cancer. Extending the intake for many years does not cause a further increase in risk. This risk ceases to exist 10 years after stopping the pill. Therefore, if the woman stops the pill at 35, by 45 – when breast cancer appears – the additional risk due to the pill will have been eliminated.
- small increase in the risk of gallstones (gallstones) and liver adenoma (benign tumor). A related contraindication is therefore the history of liver diseases.
All these risks exist as long as we take the pill and, when it is stopped, they soon disappear. It is important to say that prolonging taking the pill for many years does not multiply these risks. On the contrary, they remain stable throughout the administration period. So there is no value in taking the pill for a shorter period of time or taking short breaks to ‘wash’ our body.
There are many myths about the pill. The pill does not affect sexuality or future fertility. It improves and regulates the cycle and drastically reduces period pain. In the long term, it reduces the chance of developing ovarian cysts and ovarian cancer. It also seems to reduce the likelihood of endometriosis. Some pills also contain an anti-androgen component, and improve acne, oily skin and hair growth.
The endometrial coil (intrauterine contraceptive device- IUCD)
It is an excellent contraceptive method and quite misunderstood. The reason is that the older type of glomeruli were associated with a risk of infection, salpingitis and future infertility. Later studies proved that the risk of infection is less due to the device itself and more due to its non- proper, non-sterile placement.
If it is inserted with a correct, aseptic procedure, the risk is minimized. In fact, all infections during the use of a coil occur in the first 20 days after its placement. However, the newer types are better behaved. And those that release small amounts of progesterone hormone (Mirena coil), seem to have not only a neutral but also a beneficial role against infections. The Mirena IUCD also boasts the highest contraceptive effectiveness, compared to all other methods.
The condom
It is effective when used correctly and on time. However, studies say that for every 100 condoms used, two will break.
So use carefully.
