Most newlyweds are not ready for children. They are still getting to know one another, and throwing a third human into the mix too early can ruin the natural evolution of a relationship. There may also be financial constraints; weddings are expensive, and it takes time to save money for a new house, pay off cars, and move far enough ahead in the company to make a decent wage.
These are the years to use condoms. According to Consumer Reports, condoms are still the best and safest method to prevent unwanted pregnancy and stop the spread of STDs. Unlike other forms of birth control, condoms have no side effects, and they are reliable. Of 120 samples tested, the best did not break, even when inflated with 27 pounds per square inch (psi) of air pressure. Eighteen percent of the worst broke under similar pressures, proving yet again that cheap is not the same as inexpensive a pregnancy now costs about $10,000.
If condoms are effective, using two forms of prevention are even better. Just as you wear a lifejacket, but also check to make sure the boat has no holes, you use a condom, but back it up with another method. Spermicide works by killing sperm before they find their way past the cervix to fertilize the egg. A sponge combines spermicide with a polyurethane barrier sperm can’t penetrate. Early studies linked spermicides to birth defects and spontaneous abortions, but researchers later concluded the concern was unwarranted.
Birth control pills prevent ovulation, and the patch and ring are variations on this method. The hormones used in birth control pills (or patches and rings) can produce ‘breakthrough’ bleeding, or bleeding between menstrual cycles, but the incidence decreases over time with continual use. Birth control pills also have a small but significant risk of blood clots.
Over the age of 35, the risk of heart disease increases, particularly if a woman smokes. The most common side effect associated with the ring was vaginitis, or inflammation of the vaginal area.
An IUD, or intra-uterine device, prevents the fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus, and has one of the lowest failure ratings of any birth control method on the market because it doesn’t rely on a woman’s memory (like birth control), or have to be applied before every intercourse. IUDs can cause pelvic inflammatory disease in the first month after insertion, and can cause a woman’s periods to be heavier and more painful for the first few months. After that, side effects are minimal.
The rhythm method relies on a woman’s natural cycle, and is rarely as effective as other methods because ovulation cycles can vary with the moon, illness, stress, or naturally fluctuating levels of hormones as a woman ages.
Condoms are clearly the first line of defense in the fight against unwanted pregnancy (and STDs). Inexpensive, easily applied, coming in dozens of sizes, refined to deliver ultimate sensation, with expanded tips to contain excess fluid, condoms come first and are always reliable. Together, condoms and birth control are all you will need to ensure you and your spouse have enough time to put together a life, and a potential future, in which your children will be loved, protected, and provided for.
For more information visit: More is Better: Choose your Safe Sex Methods in Abundance