Cervical method of contraception (also cervical mucus method, Billings method)- one of the methods of both pregnancy prevention and natural family planning. It got its name from the Australian doctor John Billings, who noticed that cervical mucus changes in consistency before ovulation, so it can be used to determine fertility days in the menstrual cycle.
Description of the cervical method of contraception
The cervical method of contraception consists in daily monitoring of the state of the consistency of cervical mucus and recording observations from a specially created table, starting from the last day of menstruation. For this purpose, one must choose conventions so-called "dry" days, when the vagina remains dry to the touch inside, the so-called. "fertile" days when you can observe different types, as well as the so-called. "dangerous" days, during which the mucus has a wet and viscous consistency. The last “dangerous” day is the most favorable for conception, the so-called “peak day”.
According to the cervical method of contraception, in a time period unfavorable for conception, cervical mucus has a thick, possibly lumpy consistency, it forms the so-called "cork". In this case, the discharge is almost invisible, and the vagina is more “dry” to the touch. Closer to the period of ovulation, the discharge becomes more fluid, as well as transparent. From now on, it is necessary to refrain from sexual intercourse or use other contraceptive methods (for example, a condom) if a cervical contraceptive method is used to avoid unwanted pregnancy.
During the period that is most favorable for conception, the mucus is quite "viscous", and it can be easily stretched between the fingers. This cervical mucus resembles raw egg white in consistency. After the cessation of ovulation, the discharge again becomes thick, and then completely disappears. Since the structure of the cervical mucus is modified a few days before and also a few days after the end of ovulation, it is possible to calculate the approximate day of ovulation. After three days after the “rush day” favorable for conception and before the onset of menstruation, according to the method of cervical contraception, it is allowed not to protect yourself.
Disadvantages of the cervical method of contraception
The cervical method of contraception has the following disadvantages:
- imbalance in the level of hormones that affect the formation of cervical mucus can serve as a source of viscous and wet mucus several times per menstrual cycle, although ovulation does not occur. Therefore, it is possible to make a mistake, consider that the “peak day” has already passed, and stop using contraceptives ahead of time;
- the cervical method of contraception is not suitable for females with diseases of the uterine cervix or vagina, since in this case it is not possible to determine the consistency of the secreted mucus;
- "dry" vagina means "safe" days, that is, days unfavorable for conception. However, many females experience discharge throughout their menstrual cycle. Therefore, the cervical method of contraception is also not suitable for them;
- the cervical method of contraception as a method of preventing pregnancy is not very effective, the Pearl index is approximately equal to fifteen, that is, fifteen women out of a hundred who were protected by this method for one year still became pregnant. But with proper implementation, as well as qualified training, the Pearl Index for the cervical method of contraception is from one to three.
Combination with other methods
The combination of the cervical method of contraception with the temperature increases its effectiveness, the resulting combination (the so-called symptothermal method) has greater reliability, almost similar to that of hormonal contraception.
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| Symtothermal method of contraception |
About 90% of women of childbearing age use any method of contraception. But despite this, 55% of pregnancies are unwanted. About 43% of pregnancies end in childbirth, 13% in spontaneous miscarriages, and 44% in medical (elective abortions).
There are numerous methods of contraception, but none of them is 100% effective. The theoretical effectiveness of contraceptives is somewhat greater than clinical, which is associated with the peculiarities of the individual use of these methods.
Natural methods of contraception
Natural methods of contraception include intermittent withdrawal, coitus interruptus, lactational amenorrhea, the rhythm method (symptothermal or calendar), and differ in that they use mechanical or chemical barriers. Many religious or philosophical couples use these methods of contraception, although they are the least effective.
Periodic withdrawal (rhythm method)
Operating principle. The rhythm method is a physiological method of contraception based on the fact that fertility is most likely during the periovulatory period, so it is during this period that abstinence is recommended. This method requires precise control of menstruation and instructing patients in the physiology of menstruation and fertilization and signs of ovulation. Signs of ovulation are determined by the nature of the cervical mucus (thin, clear mucus on the eve of ovulation), basal body temperature (increase above 37 ° C in the postovulatory phase), documentation of preovulatory (may be short-term pain, slight spotting) and premenstrual changes (premenstrual syndrome). The efficiency of this method is low - 55-80%.
Advantages and disadvantages ki. The advantages of the method are the absence of the use of exogenous both mechanical and chemicals, which is important for certain groups of people for religious or philosophical beliefs. Disadvantages are the need for abstinence, the possibility of use only by married couples, the need for training in methods of controlling ovulation, use only with regular.
Coitus interruptus
Coitus interruptus is the removal of the penis from the vagina before ejaculation - one of the oldest methods of contraception. Most of the seminal fluid is outside the female reproductive tract, reducing the chances of egg fertilization.
Efficiency. The application failure rate is 15-25% of cases, which may be due to the deposition of seminal fluid in the vagina (prejaculation) before orgasm or its deposition at the entrance to the vagina. The disadvantages of the method are the high failure rate and the need for self-control of ejaculation.
lactational amenorrhea
There is hypothalamic suppression of ovulation caused by breastfeeding. Extending the period of breastfeeding is used by many couples as a method of contraception.
Efficiency. The duration of the period of hypothalamic suppression of ovulation during the feeding period is highly variable. In 50% of lactating women, ovulation is restored 6-12 months after delivery, even if lactation continues. So, 15-55% of women who breastfeed can become pregnant.
An increase in the effectiveness of lactational amenorrhea can be achieved using certain principles:
1) breast milk should be the only food for a newborn (on demand and without a night break);
2) the duration of the use of this method should not exceed 6 months. If these principles are observed, the failure rate of the lactational amenorrhea method can be reduced to 2%.
Advantages and disadvantages. lactational amenorrhea does not affect breast-feeding. But low efficiency in violation of the rhythm and nature of feeding a newborn reduces the number of supporters of this method.
barrier methods of contraception
The principle of operation of barrier methods of contraception is based on preventing sperm from entering the uterine cavity and further into the fallopian tubes and abdominal cavity.
Male condom (condom)
The effectiveness of latex male condoms is 85-90% and increases with strict adherence to the rules of use, avoiding semen leakage before using the condom, using condoms with spermicides, or when condoms and spermicides are used together.
Advantagesand shortcomings. Condom really protects against STDs, including HIV infection. The disadvantages are the possibility of hypersensitivity to latex, lubricants or that are part of the condom; the need to interrupt intercourse and a possible decrease in sensitivity.
female condom
The female condom is made of polyurethane and has 2 elastic rings on both sides. One ring is inserted deep into the vagina, and the other is placed near the entrance to the vagina. The effectiveness of women's condoms is somewhat less than men's, and the failure rate is 15-20%.
Advantagesand shortcomings. The female condom also protects against STDs; use is controlled by women. The disadvantages are its high cost and big sizes, the need to use immediately before sexual intercourse. Acceptability of this method of contraception is higher in men (75-80%) than in women (65-70%).
Vaginal diaphragm
The vaginal diaphragm is a round rubber or latex device surrounded by an elastic ring that is inserted into the vagina just before intercourse and covers the cervix. The diaphragm and spermicides should be inserted into the vagina immediately before intercourse and remain there for 6-8 hours after intercourse. If another sexual intercourse occurs within 6-8 hours after the first intercourse, additional spermicides are introduced into the vagina without removing the diaphragm.
Efficiency. Although the theoretical effectiveness of this method of contraception is 94%, the real one does not exceed 80-85%.
Advantages and disadvantages. A side effect of using a diaphragm can be bladder irritation, colonization of microorganisms, including Staphylococcus aureus, which can lead to the development of toxic shock syndrome. Women may be sensitive to latex, rubber, or spermicide. The diaphragm must be fitted and inserted by a physician and replaced every 5 years or when weight gain or loss is >5 kg. Women with pelvic prolapse cannot use this method of contraception.
Cervical caps
Cervical caps are small, soft rubber cups that fit directly over the cervix to prevent semen from entering the uterine cavity. Caps are selected by a doctor and applied together with a spermicidal gel. The effectiveness of using cervical caps is similar to vaginal diaphragms - 80-85%.
Advantagesand disadvantages. The cap can remain on the cervix for 1-2 days. But most women complain of an increase in vaginal discharge after the first day, inconvenience when inserting and withdrawing caps. The main reason for failures is a violation of the localization of the caps. In this regard, the frequency of using this method is low, 50-70% of women refuse to use it after the first attempt.
Spermicides
Spermicides can be presented in various forms- creams, gels, suppositories, foams and contraceptive films. The most widely used spermicides are nonoxynol-9 and octoxynol-9. These agents rupture the cell membranes of the spermatozoa and also act as a mechanical barrier in front of the cervical canal. Spermicides must be inserted into the vagina at least 30 minutes before sexual intercourse in order to be able to be dispersed into the vagina. Spermicides can be used as a separate method of contraception. But their effectiveness is greatly increased when used simultaneously with condoms, cervical caps, diaphragms and other contraceptive methods.
Advantagesand disadvantages. The advantages are the variability of forms and the cheapness of the method, the ability of nonoxynol-9 to reduce the risk of STDs, including the transmission of HIV infection. The disadvantages are the possibility of side effects (irritation of the vagina and vulva), a relatively high failure rate when used alone.
Intrauterine contraception (spiral)
(Navy) - a plastic device that often has a metal component (copper, silver, etc.) and is inserted into the uterine cavity using a special cannula - conductor. This helix has tendrils that help control localization (possibility of expulsion or migration) and facilitate removal of the IUD. The IUD has been used for contraception since 1800.
In modern practice, the most common 3 typesNavy:
1) Navy with copper (Multiload, Sorreg-T);
2) IUD with progesterone;
3) IUD with levonorgestrel (intrauterine system "Mirena").
About 100 million women worldwide use the IUD, making it one of the most popular methods of contraception. Usually it is used by patients with contraindications to the use of oral contraceptives, with a low risk of STDs, married, multiparous women.
Principleactions. The mechanism of action of the IUD has not been fully elucidated. It is believed that the IUD leads to a sterile inflammatory process in the endometrium, contributes to the immobilization of spermatozoa and their destruction by inflammatory cells. This reaction to foreign body increases with the addition of copper, progesterone or levonorgestrel, etc. to the IUD. The IUD does not affect ovulation and does not cause miscarriages.
Progesterone-containing IUDs increase the density of cervical mucus and cause atrophic changes in the endometrium, preventing implantation. The IUD can also reduce the movement of fluid in the fallopian tubes, which interferes with the transport of eggs, sperm, and blastocysts. Copper disrupts sperm motility and capacitation.
Levonorgestrel-containing IUDs should be administered in the first 7 days of the menstrual cycle or immediately after the termination of pregnancy. Copper-containing IUDs can be inserted on any day of the menstrual cycle after pregnancy has been ruled out, as well as immediately after an abortion or after childbirth, or 6 weeks after childbirth (“interval IUD insertion”).
EfficiencyNavy very high. The failure rate is 0.1-2% and is the smallest (0.1%) when using Mirena. But during the first year of use, the failure rate can be somewhat higher - up to 3%, which is associated with undiagnosed expulsions or dispositions of the IUD.
Advantagesand disadvantages. Side effects rare but can be dangerous and cause pain, bleeding, pregnancy, IUD expulsion, perforation, and pelvic infection. Women who use an IUD have a greater risk of pelvic inflammatory disease associated with contamination of the endometrial cavity during IUD insertion. But, on the other hand, pelvic infections are rare during the first 20 days after IUD insertion.
Prophylactic administration of antibiotics (doxycycline or azithromycin) during IUD insertion helps prevent ascending infection. Before the introduction of the IUD, screening for STDs, especially gonorrhea and chlamydia, is mandatory. Modern progestin-containing IUDs may even reduce the risk of ascending infection by thickening cervical mucus.
The frequency of spontaneous abortions against the background of the IUD reaches 40-50% of cases. When pregnancy occurs against the background of the IUD, the latter should be removed by gentle traction on the antennae. The use of an IUD is not associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations. The intrauterine device is inserted by the doctor. This is a long-term method of contraception. "" is introduced every 5 years, IUD with progesterone - annually.
The IUD does not increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy, as previously thought, but on the contrary, it has some protective effect, although it is less than when using oral contraceptives. Mirena and progesterone-containing IUDs have healing effect in relation to dysfunctional uterine bleeding in women of reproductive age.
Measuring basal temperature, calculating ovulation, tracking the consistency of cervical mucus are all different methods of natural contraception. Trust them or not? Read our article.
Natural planning methods involve tracking and fixing indicators female body during the entire menstrual cycle - ovulation calculation, tracking the consistency of cervical mucus, etc. Such methods of contraception are not effective compared to modern pills and even barrier methods of contraception.
The effectiveness of natural contraception is only 60%, and at the same time requires close and daily attention to the indicators and signals of the girl's body.
How do natural methods of contraception work?
Natural methods of protection have a general focus, and are based on the observation of certain symptoms and manifestations of the female body. The entire menstrual cycle is usually divided into two phases: fertile (when conception occurs and is possible), and infertile phase (when conception is impossible). Fixing these phases will allow you to highlight a special period - withdrawal, when the possibility of becoming pregnant is more likely.
Natural methods of contraception are not ways to protect against unwanted pregnancy, but only allow you to determine the best period for conception - the fertile phase. You can use this information in different ways - disclaimer sexual relations will be the best prevention of unwanted pregnancy, regular sex during this period will promote conception.
Pros and cons of natural methods of contraception
Some of the benefits of the natural method of contraception include:
- Dual use - detection of the fertile phase for conception or its prevention;
- Absence of complications and undesirable effects;
- The financial side of the issue is the lack of cash costs;
- Increasing the role and participation of men in the prevention of unwanted pregnancy. In addition, men get to know and understand better how a woman's reproductive system works.
The pros and cons include:
- Inefficiency. In 50% of cases, these methods are ineffective, and pregnancy occurs;
- Daily routines and recording of one's condition can sometimes be burdensome;
- For accurate calculations and error prevention, it is necessary to have a certain list of knowledge and take into account many individual characteristics.
- Forced need to refuse sex during the dangerous period of the fertile phase;
- The presence of concomitant diseases, namely vaginal infections, will greatly complicate the determination of the nature of cervical mucus;
- Lack of protection against sexually transmitted infections;
- High risk of unwanted pregnancy.
Calendar method of contraception
Using the calendar method, you can calculate auspicious days for conception by analyzing the duration of menstrual cycles over the past six months - a year. The method is based on several principles:
- occurs 14-15 days before the onset of a new menstrual bleeding;
- Fertilization of the egg can be carried out for another 24 hours after ovulation;
- Spermatozoa remain viable and, accordingly, the possibility of fertilization for 5-7 days after entering the female body.
The beginning of the fertile period is determined by simple calculations, for this you need to know the duration of the shortest menstrual cycle, and subtract 18 from this figure - the result will be the beginning of the period. To determine its end, the number of days of the longest cycle is needed, from which 11 is subtracted. According to observations, it is impossible to say about the reliability of the method.
Scientists during the year observed 100 couples who were protected by this method, and 14 to 50 couples became pregnant.
Temperature method of contraception
The temperature method is based on the relationship between increase and ovulation. To obtain results, every morning immediately after waking up, you need to measure the body temperature rectally, for 5 to 6 minutes.
In the first phase of the menstrual cycle, the temperature will be stable, and will stay at 36.8º. But upon the onset of the ovulatory period, the temperature will rise to a mark of 37.2 - 37.8º, and will not decrease until the onset of menstrual bleeding. For most girls, ovulation occurs about two weeks before a period. This method does not allow you to accurately calculate the date of ovulation itself; its completion can only be judged by the fact of the onset.
Studies have proven the low effectiveness of this method - out of 100 observed couples during the year, 20 - 50 become parents.
Interruption of sexual intercourse
One of the most ancient, widely known and used methods of protection is coitus interruptus. Thus, the man does not allow the penetration of sperm into the genital tract of the girl, removing the penis some time before ejaculation.
There are quite a few reasons for the inefficiency of this method, ranging from the difficulty of reacting in time to ignorance of some physiological features of the male genital organs and the ejaculation process itself. Due to the anatomical and physiological features, a small amount of spermatozoa are contained in the preputial sac, and are able to be released at the very beginning of sexual intercourse along with natural lubrication.
Excretion study or Billing method
The main diagnostic criterion in the onset of the fertile period, according to this technique, will be changes in the cervical mucus. Throughout the menstrual cycle, the nature of female secretions and mucus changes. Gynecologists use a simple test - thin, clear mucus that stretches into threads between the fingers will indicate ovulation. At safe cycle times, the mucus will be thicker and more stringy.
The advantages of this method of calculating the fertile phase include the absence of the need to use chemicals and the barrier method of protection. But, like any other method of natural contraception, the Billing method is not accurate and has low efficiency. The girl needs a long period of observation, certain knowledge, self-discipline and abstinence from sex throughout the entire period of the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle.
Who Should Use Natural Methods of Contraception?
- Girls who have contraindications to the use of chemical and physical methods of contraception;
- Girls with regular menstrual cycles;
- Couples for whom the use of other methods of contraception is prohibited by philosophical, personal or religious beliefs;
- Couples who are ready to take a break from intimate life for more than a week, just in the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle;
- Girls who are not a burden to carefully monitor the slightest changes in their body and record them daily.
Undoubtedly, concern for the health of women has reached unprecedented heights in our days. IN last years The development of reproductive medicine is successfully progressing by leaps and bounds, perinatal centers and family planning centers are being opened in different parts of the country. Achievements of biologists and pharmaceutical industry specialists allow modern woman humanity to be not only a loving mother and guardian hearth, but also having received a decent education, to achieve career heights in the chosen profession, becoming the pride of their family.
This is great, but it wasn't always like this. Not so many years have passed since then, when women, who do not have such an impressive arsenal of contraceptives, went to all sorts of tricks in order to plan childbearing, using the possibilities inherent in the body by nature. So, based on physiology, natural or biological methods of contraception appeared in the life of adults.
What is meant by natural contraception?
In the modern world, adherents of this direction most often remain couples who reject other contraceptives from religious or any other beliefs, and are also very confident in the abilities of their own body.
Like other contraceptive methods, biological has a number of pros and cons. Let's start with the benefits:
- The process provides for the mutual participation of partners.
- There is an additional opportunity to know your body.
- Side effects are not observed.
- There are no financial costs.
As negative points, the partners using the considered tactics noted the following:
- The added responsibility and self-control of both natural contraceptives does not work in favor of their sexual pleasure.
- The need for a partner to scrupulously observe and record changes in the ovulatory cycle every day.
- No barrier against sexually transmitted diseases.
- Addiction intimate relationships from the working schedule, time frames, temperature regime, human traits and more.
So, if a man and a woman completely trust each other and are going to practice physiological contraceptive methods, they need to choose the best one for themselves, which means exploring the options that are most popular.
Coitus interruptus
One of the well-known is the technique of interrupted coitus. The mechanism of such protection from conception is not complicated: during intercourse, a man needs to have time to remove the penis from the vagina just before ejaculation, preventing spermatozoa from entering there.
Despite the general availability and, at first glance, the utmost simplicity, such tactics cannot serve as a worthwhile barrier against unwanted fertilization. This is also evidenced by the Pearl index, which determines the effectiveness of a contraceptive by the number of pregnancies that occurred in a hundred women in 12 months. In this case, the indicator is quite high and reaches 25.
It is worth considering the risks:
- Viable spermatozoa can be contained not only in the seed during its eruption, but also in the urethral lubricant released during friction.
- Long-term use by a male partner of an interrupted act does not have the best effect on his reproductive system, provoking the occurrence of prostatitis.
- Such sexual contact does not bring complete relaxation to the strong sex and is not approved by sexologists.
Symptothermal, or multicomponent method
The above methods of family planning are usually understood as the following ways of contraception:
- temperature;
- calendar;
- cervical secretion control.
temperature method
Its essence lies in the daily recording of thermometer readings measured in the rectum, in order to then establish the time period of fertility by temperature changes.
At the beginning of the ovulatory cycle, the readings on the thermometer fluctuate between 36.5-36.6, and just before ovulation itself (from 12 to 24 hours), a pre-ovulatory drop occurs. The readings drop sharply, so that after ovulation it rises again to the level of 37.0-37.5. The last numbers continue to hold until menstruation.
Fertile time is set taking into account the viability of male and female germ cells. It is important to remember that sperm live in a woman's genital tract for 3 to 7 days. With a 28-day menstrual cycle, the fertile period occurs from 6-7 to 12-14 days. At this time, the probability of conceiving a child is highest. After ovulation is complete, the egg dies and pregnancy becomes impossible. The days after ovulation and before the onset of menstruation are considered absolutely safe.
Obstetrician-gynecologists usually give their patients some advice on how to apply this technique correctly:
- Rectal temperature is measured every morning after sleep with the same thermometer at the same hours with an exposure time of at least 7-10 minutes.
- Monitoring should be carried out for 6-12 cycles.
- For clarity, a kind of graph should be built from the recorded data.
- Non-standard behavior of the temperature curve may indicate any pathological processes, a stressful situation and other problems.
Pearl index at correct use temperature method ranges from 0.3 to 6.6.
calendar method
The name suggests that this idea is related to the female menstruation calendar. It is based on the definition of fertility days when a partner ovulates. This is important because on the days of ovulation, the egg from the follicle moves into the fallopian tube and stays there for up to a day. The meeting at this moment of the egg with the sperm is fraught with inevitable fertilization.
Further, the question will be natural: how to calculate the “dangerous” time period? You need to be patient, as it will initially require careful observation and keeping a "menstrual diary" for 6 or more cycles.
Scheme for determining fertile days:
- Select the longest cycle from the recorded ones and subtract 8-10 from the total number of days in it, but not more than 11.
- After the last ovulation before the onset of menstruation, it should take from 12 to 16 days (on average 14), but for greater confidence in the result, it is recommended to add a few days. This will calculate the last fertile day of the cycle.
- From the total number of days of the shortest of the past cycles, from 19 to 21 days are subtracted, but not less than 18. This is due to the duration of the existence of spermatozoa in the female genital tract (up to 7 days). This is how the first "dangerous" cyclical day is calculated.
In the period of risk established by the above calculations, sexual contacts should be avoided or additional protection should be resorted to.
The Pearl Index in this case ranges from 14 to 40.
It is important to know:
- The calendar method is not suitable for a woman with irregular menstruation and within six months after an abortion.
- The viability of male germ cells may be longer than expected, and pregnancy cannot be avoided.
Cervical secretion control
It is the turn to mention such a technique as determining the viscosity of the cervical secret. The nature of the cervical mucus lining the cervix varies depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle.
- When approaching ovulation, the amount of secretory secretions increases, and its viscosity decreases.
- At the end of menstruation, there is little cervical mucus, and soon it begins to resemble a viscous paste in its consistency. Such a habitat is unfavorable for spermatozoa.
- In the first phase of the cycle, the secret acquires a light creamy whitish or yellowish texture and becomes suitable for male germ cells.
- At ovulation, the mucous secretions become liquid, plentiful, similar in appearance to the protein of a raw egg. The mucous membrane of the vulva is maximally hydrated. This best time for conception.
The Pearl Index of this contraceptive scheme is relatively low - 6-39.
There are restrictions:
- Sufficient length of "dangerous" time is unacceptable for couples with an intense sex life.
- The technique is not suitable for a woman suffering from inflammatory diseases of the genital area, since the nature of the cervical secret changes.
- Insufficient experience prevents a correct assessment of secretion, and, therefore, there is no confidence in the effectiveness of the method.
Lactational amenorrhea method
In conclusion, it is worth paying attention to such a method of preventing unwanted fertilization as lactational amenorrhea. This method has come down to our times, passed from mouth to mouth through the maternal line. It is no coincidence that in Russian villages, peasant women most often stayed in two roles: a nursing mother or in anticipation of offspring.
With active breastfeeding breast milk a woman's body inhibits the production of hormones that cause ovulation. At the end of breastfeeding, a woman can again successfully become pregnant.
The effectiveness of the lactational amenorrhea method is 98%, but for a successful result, it is worth observing some conditions:
- The baby should be fed only breast milk. Supplementation with water, supplementary feeding with a mixture, introduction of complementary foods is not allowed. An actively and frequently suckling infant will then be the best guarantee of the effectiveness of the method.
- A good contraceptive effect persists for six months from the moment the child is born. Further protection measures are shown below.
It is not forbidden to let natural contraception into your intimate life for couples in whose relations mutual understanding reigns. At the same time, when making a decision to apply biological protection, it is better not to show independence, but to use the help and advice of a qualified obstetrician-gynecologist.
Since ancient times, people have tried to control childbearing. Women tried to save themselves some trouble or prevent the birth of a child from the wrong man. Men did not always want children to appear every time after he "inadvertently" dropped his seed. The appearance of an unscheduled, completely legitimate heir or bastard was often quite inopportune for the rulers. And it was not easy to economically feed and raise numerous offspring. From time immemorial, they have racked their brains and thorny empirical way to prevent conception.
Today, out of a hundred women, 64 are protected. WHO statistics say that it is thanks to modern contraception that it has been possible to reduce maternal mortality by half, and infant mortality by three times.
All currently existing methods of contraception were known back in ancient world. Let's try to trace the development of each of them from time immemorial to the present day.
natural contraception
It refers to methods that do not require the use of special equipment. Success is guaranteed only by knowledge and some skills.
Coitus interruptus
This method today, according to statistics, is used by about 7% of the stronger sex.
The Latin phrase coitus interruptus - "interrupted sexual intercourse" probably gave the name to the old way prevention of conception, which is always at the disposal of a man. It was used by the ancient Africans.
The third book of Genesis spoke of the popularity of this method in ancient Palestine.
Details about him are told in the Biblical story about Onan, who was forced by his own father to copulate with his brother's wife. Then the unfortunate one was noticed in sin - he spewed his seed onto the earth. As often happens, the story passed from mouth to mouth, overgrown with other details, and as a result, poor Onan began to be mentioned in completely different circumstances.
Yogi way
A curious physiological contraception was developed in India. Men owned a special yoga technique called "vairoli mudra", which allowed them to block the sperm channel.
With the help of a special massage of the abdomen, the uterus was moved forward or backward for a woman. Later, European women who ended up in the Dutch part of the colony were also taught this method of protection.
Prolongation of lactation
The poorest African tribes still practice this barbaric method of contraception. A nursing mother, prolonging lactation for several years, simply depletes her body, and conception is impossible due to dystrophy of the uterus and infertility.
Ogino method
Simple biological method developed by a Japanese doctor, after whom he was named. This attentive and experienced gynecologist suggested abstaining from sexual intercourse 8 days a month. Only 2% of women in the world use the calendar method, perhaps because a whole 96 days without sex accumulate in a year.
Some, in order to shorten the time frame of the ban, use the method of daily measurement of basal temperature, which gives a more accurate idea of the onset of ovulation, and therefore "dangerous" days.
Samurai egg
The ancient Japanese method of male contraception required only striving and self-discipline: it was necessary to patiently keep the “male dignity” in a vessel with water at a temperature of at least 40 degrees for a couple of months for just a few minutes. This protected against surprises after intercourse with the opposite sex, at least for several months.
By the way, modern men inadvertently have the same "greenhouse effect", warming what belongs to their primary sexual characteristics in traffic jams, sitting behind the wheel for several hours a day.
Barrier contraception
In an effort to take control of childbearing into their own hands, the advanced thought of mankind went another path, inventing special means who stood as a barrier between a man and a woman.
Chastity belt
Probably the most insurmountable barrier was the "chastity belt", which was invented long before the Middle Ages. Even in ancient times, such "haberdashery" was quite popular among the mighty of the world of this, although such remedies are often associated with the Arab World. They were widely used in the Middle Ages, when they were called "Bergamum castle" or "Venetian lattice". Skillful craftsmen tried to come up with a "lock" with a special secret. Some were equipped with a small guillotine that cut off everything they tried to open the belt, at the same time collecting "evidence" that could tell about female infidelity attempts.
Male barrier contraceptives
In the era of Lucretius and Ovid, the "forefather" of the modern male condom was widespread - a bag of oil-soaked fabric or papyrus, fish bladders, and sheep's caecum. IN Ancient China silk condoms were sewn, and in ancient Japan, "kyotai" were made from horns or thin leather.
A new era of the condom was opened along with America, bringing syphilis to Europe and an urgent need to somehow protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases. And in the 17th century, the personal physician of Charles II, the Englishman Condom, in the second round, following the ancient people, guessed that linen bags serve not only to prevent sexual infections, in particular syphilis imported from overseas, but also from unwanted pregnancy.
At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, the first rubber condom appeared, it resembled a “cap” that slid over the upper part of the male “dignity”, and was immediately anathematized by moralists. However, the natural need for contraceptives outweighed the hypocrisy, and sales of rubber condoms were breaking records.
Competitors did not doze off, and therefore, after just some ten years, a seamless condom appeared, and after a couple of decades - latex.
Folklore in the USSR dubbed condoms "rubber product No. 2", giving primacy to gas masks. Everyone knows that there was no sex in the Soviet Union, so Soviet pharmacies often decorated chaste announcements “there are no products No. 2!” In the early 70s, it was a big deal to buy pantyhose, toilet paper and a paper bag of condoms, which were prudently packed in pairs.
And for the Olympics-80, the "light" industry prepared a surprise for the "builders of socialism" - a kind of quality mark. Now the packaging with the condom was decorated with a proud inscription: "Checked by electronics."
Every year, about 2.5 billion condoms are produced in the world, although only 4% of men use them.
There are 3 sizes:
regular - 16 in length and 3.5 cm in diameter;
"king size" - for specimens up to 20 cm;
"pitt-thai" - 15 cm in length, popular in Southeast Asia.
Female barrier contraceptives
It is not known for certain where the “pro-mother” of female diaphragmatic rings, a half of a lemon that was inserted into the vagina, was first used in Ancient Africa or China.
Approximately in the 15th century BC, according to mythology, the king of Crete, Minos, was famous for the fact that scorpions and snakes swarmed in his sperm. Then one of his cunning wives figured out how to protect herself from adversity with the help of a goat's bladder.
By the time of Casanova's adventures in Europe, "advanced users" were already "packed" with this gadget.
In 1908, neck caps were invented to protect the female uterus from sperm intervention.
Modern caps have a diameter of 5.5 cm, fit snugly to the cervix, leaving almost no chance for sperm to penetrate inside.
Spermicides
This type of contraception has never given a 100% guarantee, according to statistics, most often women have an unwanted pregnancy, using it. Out of 100 women who use spermicides, about 20 become pregnant in a year. Nevertheless, the method has a rich history and has been very popular at all times.
Hungry for love pleasures, the ancient Arab tribes widely used tampons soaked in special balms to prevent conception.
In ancient India, ladies practiced mixtures of sacred elephant droppings, honey and cotton.
IN Ancient Egypt more revered crocodiles, so the main ingredient was their excrement. The recipe has come down to us thanks to the Petri papyrus, dated 1850 BC.
The Egyptians were the first to soak vaginal tampons with vinegar, which inhibited zealous sperm.
Avicenna described a recipe for spermicide with pomegranate pulp and narcotic substances.
A decoction of lemon and mahogany was used for contraception by the Indians long before the arrival of Europeans.
In Australia, a mixture of fucus and pond extracts was used for this.
In Sumatra, women relied entirely on opium tincture for this purpose.
The most terrible method was common in China, where mercury was injected into the vagina to prevent conception.
Published in 1933, Knocke's book contained 180 substances that were used in spermicidal recipes, including: juniper, asparagus, ginger root, mistletoe, burdock, shepherd's purse, and many others.
Modern spermicides have little in common with the ancient ones, but are also injected into the vagina before the onset of sexual intercourse and have a destructive effect on spermatozoa. They are available in the form of tablets, suppositories, foam sprays and creams.
intrauterine contraception
Today it is chosen by 17% of women.
The first attempts to apply it lead to ancient times. Camel drivers, intending to cross the desert, in order to protect the females from pregnancy, burdensome on the way, laid stones in the uterine cavity of animals.
Even 3 millennia ago in Japan, geisha and quite respectable young ladies placed silver balls in the uterus in order to protect themselves from conception.
At the beginning of the 20th century, loops of catgut were introduced into the uterus for contraception, and then strings of gold, silver and copper.
The invention of plastic, the Margulis coil and the Lipps loop revolutionized contraception.
In 1952, in parallel to each other, two scientists at once, Oppenheimer in Israel and Ishihama in Japan, conducted successful clinical studies of plastic uterine rings.
In the 60s of the last century, there was a real boom in the Navy.
male spiral
More recently, a method of male contraception, which is highly effective and harmless to health, was invented, which did not find a large audience. The male spiral is complex structure equipped with a gel that has a spermicidal effect. The construct is inserted into the seminal canal and then into the scrotum, where it opens like an umbrella.
Hormonal contraceptives
It is hard to imagine, because sex hormones were discovered by science relatively recently, in 1929, but even Dioscorides in the 1st century AD testified that mandrake or Dioscorea, as he called the plant, was used to prepare a decoction that guaranteed protection from conception.
American Indians, not without reason, believed that diligent eating of parsley saves from pregnancy. The Jews chewed gum for the same purpose. In ancient India, they took a decoction of carrot seeds, the recipe of which was described by Hippocrates.
China invented and massively used a contraceptive based on cottonseed oil, until it turned out that in more than a third of men it causes infertility.
Modern pharmacology uses for the synthesis of the sex hormone, progestogen, which then goes to the production of hormonal contraceptives, Mexican licorice root extract, which has long served alternative medicine faithfully.
In the middle of the last century, Georges Pincus announced the effectiveness of progesterone against unwanted conception, and in 1960, WHO already allowed the use of the first contraceptive pills, which are now used by 60% of women.
Since then, hormonal contraceptives have undergone significant evolutionary growth, along with a decrease in the concentration of steroids, unwanted side effects have decreased and new valuable properties have appeared, for example, a beneficial effect on the skin, hair, etc.
Modern complex oral contraceptives (COCs) provide one hundred percent protection against unwanted pregnancy under the only condition - constant intake.
For ladies with a "girl's memory" they came up with other hormonal contraceptives that lead to temporary sterility due to the presence of hormones:
Injections;
Patch;
Subcutaneous implants;
Postcoital contraception
This method lies in the fact that some substances prevent the onset of pregnancy, even if the egg has been fertilized by a sperm. Today, this method is considered emergency and is used relatively rarely. Usually, such “first aid” is recommended if the woman was raped, for some reason she could not use another method, the integrity of the condom was broken during intimacy, etc.
Among the drugs that are used postcoital contraception:
mifepristone,
difuston,
postinor,
Surgical methods of contraception
They are the most cardinal, and consist in the sterilization of individuals of both sexes. They give one hundred percent protection against conception, as they lead to artificial infertility.
Female sterilization is carried out with ligation or dissection of the fallopian tubes, or a combination of two methods.
Male sterilization or vasectomy takes only a quarter of an hour. During the operation, the seminal ducts are cut or bandaged.
Given that a man may want to "take back" his voluntary decision to be infertile, a technique has been developed to block the seminal duct with rubber valves that can always be removed through simple manipulation.
Moreover, reverse vasectomy is practiced, which allows you to return the possibility of conception in 90%.
The topic of contraception from time immemorial is one of the most important for mankind. Nowadays, in the massive increase in the popularity of abortion and the spread of HIV, AIDS and other dangerous diseases - especially. Even the popular adult film actress Elena Berkova called for safe sex, who supported the social marathon #DayWithout. Treat your health and the health of your partner carefully, friends!
