ContraceptionAlmost 3,500 years ago, men in Egypt wore condom-like sheaths as attractive andeye-catching penis covers. By the 18th century, condoms were being made from sheepintestines. In Victorian England, sexual stimulation was believed to shorten one's life, sosex once a month was considered more than enough. In the ancient Middle East, Arabsplaced pebbles in the uteruses of female camels when they set off on long journeys. Theythought that a foreign object in the uterus prevented pregnancy. In today's society, thereare many types of contraceptives designed to fit our changing lifestyles. Eighty-fivepercent of women who don't use contraceptives during vaginal intercourse becomepregnant each year. The only guarantee against pregnancy is not having intercourse, but ifused correctly the modern methods of contraception can reduce the risk of pregnancy. Except for abstinence, the male condom, which is made of a tight material thatcovers the entire penis, is the safest way to prevent AIDS and STDs. They are also nearlyone-hundred percent effective in preventing pregnancy when used properly and withspermicide. The failure rate of a condom, when used correctly and by itself, is about twopercent. More often they fail around twelve percent of the time. There are a few differenttypes of materials that condoms are made of . The most popular are made of latex.Polyurethane or animal skin are also used. The latex condom is the strongest of the three.The many kinds of condoms on the market are lubricated, non-lubricated, ribbed, andlubricated with spermicide. They also come in a wide variety of sizes. All of these can bepurchased at local drug stores, gas stations, grocery stores, health clinics, and manydoctors' offices. A more recent type of birth control is the female condom, which is sold in theUnited States under the name Reality. It is a polyurethane tube that looks a bit like a bigmale condom. One end goes inside the vagina, covering the cervix, and the other restsoutside, which creates a little plastic tunnel. The cost is about three times of a malecondom and some people find it creepy looking. This condom is a good method for thosewomen whose partners refuse to wear a condom or have trouble sustaining an erectionwhen they use a condom. It is also good for the females who are sensitive to latex. Thisis the only other birth control method besides the male condom that offers STD and HIVprotection. The failure rate is about twenty-six percent, but some test show that it is morereliable if used consistently and correctly. The pill is also another commonly used form of birth control. It is a tiny little pillthat should be taken at the same time everyday. If used in the proper manor, they arealmost one-hundred percent effective, but they don't offer any protection against HIV andSTDs. If the user sometimes forgets to take them, take them at different times everydayor use antibiotics while on the pill, then they are about ninety percent effective. Somewomen experience side effects, such as, painful breasts, weight gain, nausea, headaches,and depression, while others experience no side effects. There are different varieties of the

Pill so a switch can be made if the user is having problems. One good note for womenwith painful periods is that the Pill often makes their time of the month almost cramp-freeand shorter. The Pill may protect against ovarian cancer, but nobody knows the effects ofusing daily hormones for a long time. The Pill has also been linked to heart attacks,strokes, breast cancer, and cervical cancer. The Pill is a little more expensive than eitherof the condoms which will cost approximately $200 a year, plus the clinic visit, but all ofthis may be covered by insurance or Medicaid. Another form of contraception is Norplant, which consists of six match-sizecapsules that are implanted in the upper arm. Over five years, they slowly releasesynthetic progestin. Only about four percent of the woman who use Norplant for thecomplete five years get pregnant. The teenagers who use Norplant are less likely to getpregnant than the ones who use the Pill simply because they forget to take it. Smokersshould avoid using Norplant because it increases the risk of cardiovascular problems. Likethe Pill, it has also been linked the breast cancer About seventy-five percent of the womenwho use Norplant have irregular menstration for the first year, and some have seriousspotting in between menstration cycles. This method does not offer STD or HIVprotection. Noplant may be less effective for women who way more than 154 pounds.The cost ranges from about $345 to $370 for a five year period. Depo-Provera is another treatment for birth control. This an injection of syntheticprogestin, which seeps into the bloodstream gradually over the next three months. It isninety-nine percent effective and research show that it causes fewer health problems thanthe Pill. Some women have menstrual irregularities and weight gain, and it may alsoincrease the risk of breast cancer in younger women. This method does not offerprevention against STDs and HIV. The cost is normally around $120 a year. The diaphragm, one of the oldest forms of birth control, is a disk shaped shallowcup that is filled with spermicidal cream or jelly and is inserted into the vaginal cavity priorto having sex. It is about ninety-four percent effective if used consistently and correctly.There are almost no side effects or dangers and it offers some protection against thegonorrhea and trichomoniasis. It costs around $20 plus the clinic costs. Finally, Spermicides are great to use with a condom but they are not as safe whenthey are used alone. They increase your protection against gonorrhea and chlamydia.Spermicidal foams and suppositories seem to work better than creams or jellies, which areusually designed to be used with a diaphragm. When used alone the effectiveness rangesfrom 3 to 21 pregnancies per 100 users. In conclusion, there are many different types of birth control methods in today'ssociety. Not all of them are made for every individual out there. It all depends on therisks and side effects that you want to take. Some are more reliable and healthy whileothers are unpredictable and strenuous on the body. The costs can range from 75 cents aday to $200 a year. Nothing is 100 percent effective against pregnancy, STDs, and HIV,except for abstinence.