Birth Control and Plan B

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Life Centers provide clients with information on the most common forms of Birth Control in order to help them make informed decisions.

There are three kinds of Birth Control:

  1. Barrier methods
  2. Hormonal Birth Control
  3. Natural Family Planning

Barrier Methods

Barrier methods block the man’s sperm from reaching the woman’s egg, thus preventing the creation of an embryo. These include:

  1. Condoms
  2. Spermicides
  3. Contraceptive sponge
  4. Diaphragms

Hormonal Birth Control

The Pill, the Depo-Provera Shot, the Patch, and Implants are examples of artificial hormonal contraceptives – steroids. They are often a combination of estrogen and progestin. They work in three ways:

  1. They prevent ovulation
  2. They increase the thickness of cervical mucus, which in turn slows down sperm mobility, making fertilization less likely in the event ovulation does occur.
  3. They decrease the thickness of the uterine lining. If fertilization has occurred the newly created embryo cannot implant and grow, resulting in a chemical abortion.

Plan B or Emergency Contraceptive consists of a high dose of Levonorgestrel and acts in a similar way as above mentioned contraceptives. Manufacturers warn, due to its high dosage of hormones, Plan B should not be used as a routine Birth Control.

The IUD (hormonal or copper) works by irritating the lining of the uterus, preventing the implantation and growth of the embryo, the newly created life.

Note: Life Centers do not provide Birth Control.

Any medication carries the possibility of inducing side effects. It is advisable to read all data regarding side effects such as carcinogenic (cancer related) possibilities; risks of increase of breast, cervical and liver cancer; deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or other health impacts. It is highly recommended to see a doctor before beginning any medication regiment.

No contraceptives are 100% effective and most birth control methods do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs.) Only Abstinence is 100% effective and carries no side effects. If you have been sexually active, you could avoid additional exposure to STIs by abstaining from ongoing sexual behavior.

Natural Family Planning

NFP methods treat each woman as unique and are based on over 30 years of scientific research on human fertility. The methods are based on the observation of naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile – and infertile – phase of the woman’s menstrual cycle. Couples then can use the information to help achieve – or postpone – pregnancy. No drugs, devices or surgical procedures are used in the practice of NFP.