Contraception is the intentional prevention of conception through the use of various devices, sexual practices, chemicals, drugs, or surgical procedures. Women register high numbers on use of contraceptives as opposed to their male counterparts.
Oral contraceptives include: implants, injectables, patches, vaginal rings, intra uterine devices use of condoms and lactation amenorrhea in females. In males they are two main methods use of condoms and vasectomy.
Over 65% of women have been on contraceptives with 371 million women from low and lower-middle income countries, compared to 284 million a decade.
Advantages of using contraceptives include: Reduce rates of unintended pregnancies, reduce the need for unsafe abortion, reduce HIV transmissions from mothers to newborns, benefit the education of girls, create opportunities for women to participate more fully in society, including paid employment.
Mary a third-year student who has been on contraceptives for close to two and a half years encountered some of its side effects which included nausea, irregular periods, spotting in between periods, headaches, breast tenderness and swellings.
The side effects were noticeable for 2 and half months.
However, for Eunice a fourth-year student, she did not experience any form of side effects. Eunice has been on contraceptives for 3 years now. She remains positive on the use of contraceptives, they have been of advantage to her.
The mother of one said, “proper adherence to drugs and observing all measures put in place enables one to remain in good reproductive health.”
Women are advised to visit their physicians before making use of any of the modern contraceptive methods, this will help them seek proper advice on which method is best suited for their bodies. This will help reduce the side effects they are prone to.
Prolonged use of contraceptives may lead to slightly increase your risk for breast, liver, and cervical cancers, raise your risk for blood clots and heart attack after the age of 35, lead to depletion of vitamin C, as well as other key vitamins like B12, B6 and folate, and minerals such as zinc, selenium, and magnesium and low levels of these vitamins can significantly impact your mood, create fatigue, and lead to other symptoms, especially headache.
Government and non-governmental organizations have made efforts to improve on reproductive health in females. The government has enabled sale of contraceptives and putting in place legislation to advance Sexual Reproduction and Health Rights (SRHR) as part of achieving universal health coverage.
Non-governmental organizations such as Family Health Options Kenya (FHOK) have offered SRH/FP to marginalized areas as well as educating the public on the importance of a healthy reproductive system.
The Writer, Purity Benjamin is a First Year Applied Computer Science Student at Chuka University.
Good job prepare one on male contraceptives