The Purpose of Birth Control

Essay by EssaySwap ContributorCollege, Undergraduate February 2008

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Birth Control is the voluntary limitation or control of the number of children conceived, by planned use of contraceptive techniques. Although there are several popular, more widely used methods such as the birth control pill, the condom and abstinence, there are many more uncommon, less used methods such as the birth control patch and rhythm method. In this essay, the topics that will be discussed are certain types of birth control, the effectiveness and risks of certain birth control methods, and what is the best method of birth control (for you) and how to chose it.

There are many types of birth control, some more commonly used than others. The male condom is a sheath that is placed over the erect penis blocking the passage of sperm. The male condom does not require a prescription to buy, it can be bought at any local drug store. The female condom is a lubricated sheath which is shaped like the male condom.

The closed end has a flexible ring that is inserted into the vagina. It can be bought at any local drug store and is available without a prescription. The diaphragm is a dome-shaped rubber disk with a flexible rim that covers the cervix so that sperm can't reach the uterus. A diaphragm has to be bought through a prescription because the women must be fitted for the proper size. A cervical cap is a soft rubber cup with a round rim, which fits snugly around the cervix. This also can only be purchased with a prescription since each woman must be fitted to ensure proper fit. The sponge is a disk-shaped device containing the spermicide nonoxynol-9. The sponge can be purchased at a local drugstore. Spermicide is a foam, cream, jelly, film or tablet that contains nonoxynol-9 (a sperm killing...