- Sex - Another Sex Tutorial | Page 9

menstrual cycle and
reduces period pain and heavy bleeding in
many women. Mild side effects occur in
some women who take the Pill, but they
usually disappear after a few months. They
may include nausea, headaches, and
depression, weight gain and some bleeding
between periods. If side effects persist, the
doctor or clinic will usually recommend a
change of contraception. Before your doctor
prescribes the Pill, he or she will ask for your
medical history, including incidence of
thrombosis in your family. The health risks
involved in taking the Pill are slight when
compared to the risks of pregnancy and
childbirth.
The combined Pill
contains synthetic forms of the sex
hormones estrogen and progesterone, which
interfere with the woman's regular 28day
menstrual cycle. In a woman who is not
taking the Pill, production of the sex
hormones fluctuates during the cycle, and it
is this fluctuation that triggers ovulation.
When the Pill keeps the hormone level
artificially constant, the signal to ovulate is
cancelled out. The same happens during
pregnancy, which is why overlapping
pregnancies do not occur. Anyone who
smokes heavily may be at risk of thrombosis,
smokers and those who are over 35 are
often advised not to take the combined Pill.
http://sweetecstacy.com/tutorial/contraception.htm (2 of 7) [10/5/2003\
9:18:32 PM]

another sex tutorial - CONTRACEPTION
The progestogen -
only Pill
is not, as sometimes
assumed, a low dose Pill, but one containing
a single hormone, progestogen. It has the
effect of thickening the secretions in the
cervix, which makes it difficult for sperm to
pass. It can be taken by breast feeding
mothers, unlike the combined Pill, which
suppresses lactation.
The condom is 85-98 per cent
effective as a method of contraception.
Condoms work by preventing the sperm from
getting to its destination, and they do not
interfere with the body's chemistry. The
condom is also the key to safe sex as it
protects against all sexually transmitted
diseases. For more details about condoms
and how to use them, see page 128.
Caps and diaphragms
act as a contraceptive by forming a barrier
across the neck of the womb (cervix), which
prevents the sperm from reaching and
fertilizing the egg. A good fit is crucial. You
need to be examined by your doctor or family
planning clinic so that the right-sized cap or
diaphragm can be chosen, and you can be
shown how to insert it. A cap or diaphragm
should always be used with a spermicide.
This combination has been found to be a 95
per cent safe contraceptive. Smear a little
spermicide on to the diaphragm and around
the rim, to facilitate insertion. Squeeze the
diaphragm into a boat shape and insert it as
you would a sanitary tampon, opening the
lips of the vagina with one hand. When the
rim rests behind the pubic bone at the front
and the dome covers the cervix at the back,
it is in place. Doctors recommend that you
should not leave the diaphragm or cap in
place for longer than 24 hours, but you
should wait for at least six hours after
intercourse before removing it. Remember
that spermicide will be effective only for
http://sweetecstacy.com/tutorial/contraception.htm (3 of 7) [10/5/2003\
9:18:32 PM]

another sex tutorial - CONTRACEPTION
about three hours, so you will need to put
more into the vagina if you have intercourse
after the diaphragm or cap has been in place
for that length of time. When you remove the
diaphragm or cap, wash it carefully in warm
soapy water and allow it to dry in a warm
place, or pat gently with a towel.
The female condom is
as effective as other barrier methods. It lines
the vagina and has an inner ring that sits
over the cervix and an outer ring that lies flat
against the labia. The female condom is
made of colorless odorless polyurethane.
The woman pushes the condom up inside
her vagina before intercourse, and
afterwards removes it and disposes of it. Like
the male condom, the female condom is not
reusable. It comes ready lubricated for easy
insertion and no spermicide is necessary.
Female condoms are made in one size only
and will fit all women. During intercourse, it is
a good idea for the woman to guide the
man's penis into the condom to make sure it
does not enter the vagina outside the
condom. As the female condom is loose
fitting, it will move during sex, but you will still
be protected, because the penis stays inside
the condom. To remove the condom after
sex, simply twist the outer ring to keep the
semen inside, and pull the condom out
gently.
The I U D (intra-uterine device) or coil is
a small plastic and copper device that is
inserted into the womb to prevent
conception. Only a doctor trained in family
planning can do this. The IUD comes
compressed in