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ee, a Christmas present for your wife! How nice. Is this why most vasectomy cases come in December?
Some women
try forever to become pregnant while others either are “tied and fried” or
“snipped and clipped” and ... then want more kids.
“I’m 24 and want to have my tubes tied.” “I’m 42, can I have
mine untied”?
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e can have it done in the doctor’s office,
that’s the reason we’re interested in the vasectomy.” “No muss, no fuss
right, Doc?” “Out playing basketball and jogging the next day, right?” “Gigantic blue balls? Well, accidents do happen.
“I’d like some birth control pills.“Do - you mind if I eat my lunch while
I have my pap smear”? “Sure,
why not.”
Your
wife said no action unless....”
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’m only 32 but have used the pill for 18 years. Should I stop?”
“You have a boyfriend but don’t take your pills everyday?”
“Within the next 2 weeks you’re expecting three kids to be born all by different women? Yes, maybe it would be a good idea to have a vasectomy.”
“In three weeks bring in WHAT”? “You take your pills daily and you have had two kids and one miscarriage while doing that?"
“Have you ever spotted before when – you were off the pill?”
“You are finally regular? No more cramps?”
“Yes, your breasts may get larger.”
“Yes, you can have headaches or high blood pressure.”
“How does it work? You
mean the hormones?”
LET’S
DISCUSS today’s options for birth control including the IUD, cervical barriers
(diaphragm, cervical sponges, cervical plugs), spermicides, condoms, birth control pills,
vasectomy and tubal ligation.
The IUD is a small piece of molded material with a string attached. Occasionally the hormone progesterone is incorporated. The IUD is inserted through the cervix into the uterus usually during a menstrual period when the cervix is more open and the woman is definitely not pregnant. By causing a change in the lining of the uterus the IUD interferes with the growth of the fertilized egg.
Common problems with the IUD, including premenstrual bleeding, pain, and
spotting during the first two to three months usually go away. The most dangerous problems are pelvic infections - which may
lead to sterility, and ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy in the fallopian tube).
Because of the serious complications, women interested in having children should
avoid the use of an IUD.
The diaphragm
and cervical cap are two of the most
effective barrier methods. Sperm is blocked from entering the uterus. The diaphragm
is a rubber pouch stretched over a flexible wire frame and specialty fitted to
the vaginal
cavity.
Usually not more than six hours before sexual intercourse the diaphragm and a
spermicidal jelly are inserted and left in place for at least six hours so that
the chemical may kill the sperm . The cervical
cap is much smaller and fits tightly over the cervix by suction.
Spermicides
are
chemicals which kill sperm. They may be creams, jellies or foams and are
inserted into the vagina shortly before intercourse. Once there, they tend to
lose strength and may cause an allergic reaction with redness and itching. Sperm being able to live
in a woman’s body for as long as six days after intercourse, (at an average of
four) are killed by spermicide. This depends, however, on its strength and
contact.
A condom
is a tube-shaped piece of thin latex rubber closed at one end, and rolled onto
an erect penis before intercourse. For maximum reliability condoms should be
used in conjunction with a spermicide.
The condom also provides
protection against sexually transmitted diseases (especially herpes, AIDS,
chlamydia and gonorrhea).
Birth control pills containing synthetic estrogen and progesterone are the most effective and commonly used birth control pills. They work to stop ovulation as well as producing mucous which plugs the opening of the uterus. By taking the birth control pill regularly, a woman has one chance in a thousand of becoming pregnant. Since the reduction of estrogen in the combined pill, the link with breast cancer has weakened. Recent studies suggest any risk is small.
Women using the pill for longer than four years may be more susceptible, however, to cancer of the cervix, although this may depend on their sexual behavior. A regular Pap smear for early detection because of increasing susceptibility is encouraged. Birth control pills are known to protect women against both cancer of the ovaries and uterus.
Side effects include headaches,
nausea, gall bladder disease, interference with antibiotics, yeast infections,
spotting, bleeding, absence of bleeding, pregnancy, weight gain and mood
changes.
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enerally, surgical sterilization leads other forms of contraception in couples aged 30 to 44 and for those who no longer desire children.
A vasectomy can be performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia with less danger than a female surgical sterilization. Two cuts are made on either side of the scrotom, and the vas deferens (sperm carrying tube) is cut and tied or cauterized (fried). Complications of a vasectomy include pain, swelling, temporary bruising of the scrotom, stomach and thighs, infection, bleeding, and spermatocele (a sac of sperm). After a vasectomy some other method of contraception should be used for the first four weeks. Two consecutive sperm free specimens generally guarantee sterility. After sterilization a man produces sperm free semen.
Tubal
ligation or female sterilization may be performed with either a general or
local anesthetic with two tiny cuts made just below the navel.
A !aparoscope (a telescope to look inside the body) is inserted and
cautery or tiny metal or plastic rings or clips are used for either cutting or
tying up the ends of the fallopian tubes so that the eggs produce in the ovary cannot reach
the uterus.
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O, when Christmas or New Year’s roll around this year,
don’t be surprised if your honey requests a special something from you. And be careful before you look into your Christmas
stocking this year! Who knows what you’ll find...
... Eh, What’s up, Doc?
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