Contraceptive options for mothers after giving birth

Choosing a method of contraception after giving birth is a matter of concern for many women in order to avoid affecting both mother and baby. With the variety of contraceptive methods available today, the following article will help you find the right method of contraception for you and bring the highest efficiency.

Barrier methods of contraception work by keeping the sperm from reaching the egg. They don't affect hormones, interfere with lactation, or have any significant side effects.
Barrier methods of contraception, including:
Male condom: A thin tube-like condom made of rubber or polyurethane that hugs the erect penis and holds semen while sexual relations. Condoms provide significant protection against HIV and many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Unlike many other birth control methods, you and your partner can use a condom as soon as you're ready to have sex again. So even if you don't intend to rely on condoms for long, you can use them while choosing your preferred method of birth control. Female condom: A thin polyurethane bag that is inserted into your vagina before sex to prevent pregnancy and avoid exposure to sexually transmitted diseases. Soft loops at the ends keep the bag in place. Female condoms can be used as soon as you are ready to have sex again.

The diaphragm is a shallow dome-shaped device that is inserted into the vagina and covers the cervix during sex. This method prevents sperm from passing through your cervix. You can try inserting a diaphragm at your six-week postpartum visit. Even if you've used a diaphragm in the past, you may need a different size diaphragm after pregnancy and delivery. Uterine cap: A device made from a soft condom shaped like a sailor's hat. The size of the uterine cap is smaller than the diaphragm, which is placed deep into the vagina before sex. This device captures your cervix and prevents sperm from entering your uterus.

These birth control methods use synthetic hormones to prevent ovulation, thin the lining of the uterus so an egg can't implant there, and thicken cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching an egg. The pills are available by prescription only and are highly effective at preventing pregnancy, although they do not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
You can prevent pregnancy by using an estrogen method 4 weeks after giving birth, such as the combined oral contraceptive pill, the contraceptive patch ... because estrogen increases the risk of blood clots forming in the first weeks after born. These methods are not recommended for nursing mothers because estrogen can reduce the quantity and quality of breast milk.
Several hormonal methods of contraception, including:

Progestin-only birth control: This is a type of birth control pill that contains a small amount of progestin. It comes in a pack of 28 pills and you need to take one a day to get a steady dose of the hormone. Progestin-only birth control pills need to be taken at the same time each day. This is considered an effective method of birth control for women who want to use birth control pills but are breastfeeding or cannot take estrogen supplements for some other reason. If you are not breastfeeding your baby exclusively, you can start using this medicine soon after giving birth. If your baby is taking nothing but breast milk, it's best to wait until six weeks after birth to start using it. By that time, your milk supply will be well established and your baby will be more mature. Combination birth control pills: Commonly known as oral contraceptives, are a type of pill that contain estrogen and progesterone. With most brands of these birth control pills, you need to take one pill a day for 21 days and then take nothing for the next seven days. NuvaRing: This is a small, transparent ring that you insert into your vagina at the start of your period. Once inside, the ring secretes low amounts of estrogen and progesterone at a constant rate. You must use a new IUD after 28 days. The Ortho Evra patch is a thin, beige square that you stick to your skin like an adhesive bandage. The patch then releases a low amount of estrogen and progesterone. You change the patch once a week for three consecutive weeks and then don't wear the patch for a week before starting the cycle again.

The birth control shot (Depo-Provera) is another form of hormonal birth control pill and is given every 3 months for people who want highly effective contraception but don't want (or can't use) an IUD. , can't take estrogen, or has trouble remembering when to take it. However, it's not a good method for women who plan to start conceiving within the next few years because it can take more than a year after your last injection for your fertility to return. Many experts recommend that breastfeeding mothers wait 6 weeks after giving birth to start using this method, although some suggest that women who are not fully breastfeeding can start from 3 weeks postpartum. Postpartum contraceptive implant: the only implantable birth control method in the United States, is a flexible, matchstick-sized flexible stick that is inserted under the skin of your arm, where it continuously secretes a small amount. small progestin. Once implanted, it is highly effective and can be maintained for up to three years. Your fertility will soon return after the implant is removed. 3 weeks after birth, you can have the implant inserted if you are not exclusively breastfeeding and four weeks after birth if your baby is exclusively breastfed.

The non-hormonal IUD is a small T-shaped device made of flexible plastic. There are two types of IUDs available in the United States. One uses copper and the other uses the synthetic hormone progestin. They can be used for three to twelve years.
The IUD provides effective, long-lasting, and safe protection for nursing mothers. You can insert an IUD during sex if you want. The IUD is not recommended for use in women who are at high risk for sexually transmitted diseases.

These are behavioral techniques for contraception, they work best if you are highly disciplined. these methods are inexpensive and cause no side effects but do not protect you against sexually transmitted diseases.
Lactation Amenorrhea Method (LAM): This technique is based on the fact that breastfeeding slows down fertility again after birth. LAM is up to 98% effective if you fulfill all its conditions: you're exclusively breastfeeding, you haven't had your period yet, and you gave birth to your baby less than six months ago. When the mother has her period again, this method no longer works. Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM): These methods teach you to observe your monthly cycle so you can predict which days you are fertile and which days you are not. Some studies ask you to observe physical changes related to fertility, such as fluctuations in basal body temperature and changes in the texture of cervical mucus. Fertility awareness approaches present specific challenges for postpartum mothers. For example, you need to take your basal temperature at the same time every morning after at least 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

Sterilization is considered a permanent method of fertility control. Although you can sometimes get pregnant again after having this technique, they are expensive, complicated, and only a small number of men/women are able to get pregnant again. Only choose this option if you are 100% sure that you do not want more children. This method will not affect your hormones, sex drive or milk volume..

Vasectomy : A safe and highly effective method of contraception for men. The doctor cuts or blocks the two vas deferens, which carry sperm from the testicles to the sac in the scrotum to store semen before ejaculation. (The sperm is then reabsorbed by the body. Men with a vasectomy can still have sex and ejaculate. However, their semen won't contain any sperm, so it can't be fertilized. fertilize an egg and induce conception Female sterilization : There are surgical and non-surgical options Tubal ligation is a surgical procedure in which a doctor cures, cuts, or constricts a woman's fallopian tubes to release an egg. you can't get your sperm , you can use Essure birth control - this is a non-surgical sterilization method in which implants are inserted vaginally into the fallopian tubes.If conventional contraception fails or If you forget to use it or use it incorrectly, using emergency contraception can significantly reduce your chances of getting pregnant. Emergency contraception is a commonly used method of contraception. (Also, you can insert a copper IUD to prevent pregnancy after having unprotected sex.)
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Reference source: babycenter.com