Do you know all the contraceptives out there?

We all know what a condom is, who should use it, what it is used for and what is its approximate percentage of reliability, well, we sure do not know everything about condoms or all the contraceptives that are currently on the market. There is a great variety beyond the prophylactics, gummies or whatever we want to call them, and today we are going to discover them all, both for girls and boys.

Contraceptives are a group of contraception methods, that is, their main function is that there is no conception. In other words, they prevent pregnancies, but some of them also protect us from Sexually Transmitted Diseases, known as STDs.

We are going to talk about female contraceptives and also male ones. In some we will go deeper, with the aim of being well informed and that this text falls into the hands of those who need it, especially teenagers on the way to their first sexual relations.

Male contraceptives

The low amount of contraceptives available for men is clear evidence of the heteropatriarchy that has always left all the responsibility to women and now, in the middle of the 2021 century, research is beginning on a possible injectable contraceptive, a gel and a kind of pill.

At the moment we only have a real, reliable method available to everyone: the condom . We are going to explain how it is placed properly, the percentage of reliability and at the moment it is the only one that could protect us from STDs, that is why its use is always recommended, whether we know our sexual partner or not.

The first thing is to make sure that it is not expired, not damaged, not previously opened, or anything similar. Next, we place the packaging with the part without drawing facing upwards and when opened it should look like a “hat”. If so, we have done well. We will try not to manipulate it too much so that it does not drag bacteria from our hands to the condom or remove lubricant.

If we put it on backwards, it will unwind during sex. If so, we take it off and open a new condom, since the old one could have traces of STDs, for example. Using a new condom is recommended for oral sex.

Un plátano con un condón

Female contraceptives

The list is very long, and this is not a medical article so we cannot and should not recommend one type of contraceptive for every type of woman. We recommend going to the gynecologist or a specialist who will inform us much better and will recommend the best contraceptive for our specific case.

  • Female condom: a sleeve that is larger than the male condom and is placed over the walls of the vagina. (The only one that protects from STDs).
  • Diaphragm: half circumference of latex or silicone and is placed deep in the vagina before intercourse. Partially protects against STDs.
  • Cervical cap: similar to the diaphragm and covers the cervix. It protects slightly from STDs and is for single use only.
  • Vaginal ring: a ring that is inserted into the vagina before sex and releases hormones similar to the pill. Lasts 3 weeks and does not protect against STDs.
  • Combined pill . It does not protect against STDs.
  • Gestagen pill . It does not protect against STDs.
  • Skin patch It does not protect against STDs.
  • Subdermal implant . Lasts up to 5 years, but does not protect against STDs.
  • Hormonal injection . Reproductive capacity can be lost and does not protect against STDs.

Permanent contraceptives

There are a number of contraceptive methods that are permanent and none of them protect us women against STDs, or the men with whom we have sex. There are 3 methods and they are very well known, both for women and men. All 3 require deep reflection, talking about it with our partner, being very sure of making that decision, consulting all doubts, thinking ahead, etc.

  • Tubal ligation: the fallopian tubes unite in such a way that the ovum does not reach the uterus and cannot meet the sperm, yes, the period does continue to appear every month, only that there is no ovum and there can never be a pregnancy.
  • Vasectomy: there are reversible and irreversible ones and consist of cutting the tubes through which the sperm travels. The question is whether after this operation the man can come, and the answer is yes, only that the semen will not have sperm.
  • IUD: better known as an intrauterine device and it is shaped like a T, it is only used by doctors and it is a very serious decision. It does not protect against STDs, but it is very effective against pregnancy. If it is used for a long time, women run the risk of becoming sterile. There are two types, the hormonal one that lasts up to 5 years and the copper one that lasts up to 5 years if we are young and if we are over 40 years old we can use it until we reach menopause.

Una pareja con pies descalzos en la cama

Methods not recommended

We want to make clear that the only viable and effective method against unwanted pregnancies and that help us avoid contracting an STD are condoms, whether female or male. These are remedies that are not recommended under any circumstances and that we should not believe in anyone’s word or in “for once nothing happens.”

If a boy tells us to use one of these methods or tells us that he is sterile and that is why he does not use a condom or throws the bluff that there is no size for him, let us know that it is a huge RED FLAG and a red light that shouts that it is not there and that we leave.

  • Home remedies such as herbal teas and food mixes.
  • Bouncing after intercourse.
  • Maintain seated sex, believing that the semen will not rise.
  • Do a lot of sports after making love.
  • The reverse gear, that is, taking the penis out before coming.
  • Controlling the menstrual calendar is not useful, since the rule can get out of control or there may be failures that make us get pregnant, apart from the risk of contracting an STD.
  • Use the morning after pill as if they were jelly beans. It is a very strong hormonal shock that can cause serious disorders in our body if we take them uncontrollably.