Clarifying Misconceptions

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I read this on a social network site; let’s deconstruct it in a discourse analysis:

HOW TO TREAT A WOMAN - Wine her. Dine her. Call her. Hold her. Surprise her. Compliment her. Smile at her. Listen to her. Laugh with her. Cry with her. Romance her - Encourage her. Believe in her. Cuddle with her. Shop with her. Give her jewelry. Buy her flowers. Hold her hand. Write love letters to her. Go to the ends of the earth and back again for her.

HOW TO TREAT A MAN: Show up naked. ♥Bring chicken wings & beer. Don't block the TV.

HOW TO TREAT A WOMAN

         Do people really need advice on how to treat other human beings? Some people do, and so many articles in magazines talk precisely about that, how to treat a woman, how to make her feel special, and ultimately how to love her. Yet people seem to not understand the articles as easy written as they seem. A closer look into the anatomy and physiology of the human body tells us that men and woman are not that distant from each other. One must understand how the central nervous system works in order to understand anyone, man, woman, child, elders.  

Wine her

         It was a professional OBGYN that advised that women should have at least one or two glasses of wine before intercourse, why, because as she said: “Women are very anxious when they are to have intercourse”. This issue has gone so far as men using roofies in alcoholic drinks in order to take advantage of women. No wonder women are so anxious when having intercourse. Did you know that 1 of five of your girlfriends have been sexually assaulted? And it all started by a man/woman wining her first, trying to take the edge off.

Dine her

         The dining date is a part of our culture. We see it in the media for as far as we can remember. The old dinner date, were the couple meet in a safe public place and then at the end of the date someone get’s invited for tea or coffee, ending up in a one night stand or a torrid relationship. Usually in these dinning dates the men is expected to pay for the meal, and usually some men expect women to engage in sexual intercourse with them, simply because they paid for the meal. That is why more women are inclined to pay for the meal, just to feel in control of the situation, and avoid any misunderstandings. Yet the fact that a woman wants to feel in control of the date can make men grow accustomed to use them for their money, and some women do not mind paying men things and pampering them. But the old custom of taking a woman out on a romantic date has dissipated, it has been substituted for casual sex, and we only see the dinner date in films.   

Call her

         The fact that a woman demands to be called the next day after a date or after a sexual encounter is not unexpected. It is polite to call someone the day after (be it a man or a woman), to thank them for a lovely time, to know if they got home alright, and maybe ask for a second date. What is not polite is never calling at all. Now why do women demand to be called on the phone? Maybe it is because they have been stood up so many times, used in one night stands, or maybe men really do not want to deal with them, or they dislike them so much that it is unbearable to call her the next day. A simple phone call can avoid much discomfort for both parties.  

Hold her/ Cuddle with her/ Hold her hand

         This means that a woman needs to be held or hugged in order to feel loved and safe. What a misogynistic point of view, not all women need to be held or hugged when they are on a date, it feels nice and it leads to more intimacy. Yet many women have their reservations and wonder “why this guy is slobbering all over me”. Many rapists like to hold and hug their victims until they get their way with them, many serial killers kill their victims when they hugged them or hold them. And many men want to be held, hugged and feel secure in the warm embrace of a woman. Yet some women are cold and distant because they do want to hold their man, but are afraid to do so, afraid he will reject her advances. Never reject a person when they are being nice to you, if you are not attracted to that person and you do not want that person to touch you, then you should have thought of that before having sex with them. There is nothing more despicable than a person who rejects intimacy and refuses to reciprocate the act.  

Surprise her

         This type of surprise can vary depending on the age and status of a woman. But it is universal among all human beings. Who does not want to be surprised with a gift or special attention? A woman (as well as a man) likes to be surprised by flowers, candy, jewelry, a romantic spontaneous date, an unplanned sexual encounter with her lover, a man cooking for her (though he cannot cook), some lingerie, an impromptu midnight escapade, great conversations, book and music exchange, simply watching a movie, working out, be it anything you can think of you’d like to be surprised by. If it is a married woman, who feels the spark has gone away, she might want to reconnect with her husband intimately, she might need more help with the kids and the house work or she might need more sexual gratification, or simply to spend more quality time with her partner.   

Compliment her

         Women complain that men do not compliment them enough, yet women complement each other most of the time. Women notice things like hair, makeup, shoes, nails, fashion, and attitude toward physical appearance. Some men can notice if a woman has done her hair or her nails, yet do not compliment them, and women want to be taken notice of. This is a cry for attention on the women’s part, and it has stirred many arguments between partners. Women need to realize they do not need to rely on men’s compliments in order to feel special or loved. When a woman knows she looks good in certain attire, shoes, make up, or jewelry, she acts the part, so if you act the part, then why do you need to be complimented? Maybe there is some void she needs to feel, or is just simply a cry for attention, why not focus your attention on more important matters, discuss interesting topics, and you will see that there is more to life than being complimented on your hair or what you wore that day. Now some compliments are always the basis for stirring up things in the boudoir, and that is acceptable. Some men use compliments in order to bed women, and some women fall on the trap, this are the same women who demand to be complimented for minuscule things. Then after the one night stand or drive through relationship they complaint they have been taken advantage off. Men (most men) do not want to be in a relationship with someone who demands to be complimented for every little detail; men want to be complimented too.

 Smile at her

         This statement implies that men do not smile as often to women. What is a smile?  A smile is a facial expression formed by flexing the muscles near both ends of the mouth. The smile can also be found around the eyes. Among humans, it is an expression denoting pleasure, joy, happiness, or amusement, but can also be an involuntary expression of anxiety, in which case it is known as a grimace. Smiling is something that is understood by everyone despite culture, race, or religion; it is internationally known. Cross-cultural studies have shown that smiling is a means of communicating emotions throughout the world. A smile can also be spontaneous or artificial. It was Richard III who said: “I can smile, and murder while I smile”.  Smiling is a signaling system that evolved from a need to communicate information of many different forms. One of these is advertisement of sexual interest. Female smiles are appealing to males, increasing physical attractiveness and enhancing sex appeal. However, recent research indicates a man's smile may or may not be most effective in attracting women, and that facial expressions such as pride or even shame might be more effective. I have to disagree on that research; a man’s smile is as precious as a woman’s smile.    

Listen to her

         Has anybody ever tell you: “You hear, but you do not listen”? If someone has told you that, let them go, and never tell this to anybody either. This implies that you do not registrate what that person is telling you. Only a person who doesn’t know how the brain functions will say such a thing. This expression was used when referring to mentally challenged individuals, or people with disabilities. There is this misconception that men do not listen to women. Men listen to women; they just don’t want to hear them complain about the same thing over and over. Unless he has some sort of disability that requires you to repeat to him the same request, do not engage in such masochistic behavior. Every human being can listen, deaf people do it by sign language, and lip reading, they understand better than most of us can, blind people listen by reading and using their sense of hearing, so for a woman to demand from a man to be listened to is to say that she is arrogant and a cretin, and utterly stupid. 

Laugh with her

         The person who originally wrote this is truly either a robot or a dog. What human being would demand another person to laugh with them? This seems like a list of demands on how to treat a woman. What woman would go as far as to ask a man to laugh with her? Laughter should come naturally, unless you want him to fake that too, you better stop demanding so much from him.

Cry with her

         Crying is optional. It is intimate; most of us do it in private. Yet when someone, anyone comes crying to you for a serious reason you do not turn them away, you cry if your tears come out, if you cannot cry, then do not worry. Some women demand that men should cry with them, isn’t that horrible? Imagine being in a relationship where a woman demands you to cry for every stupid thing she can think of? And men still stay with women like that.  

  Romance her

         On romance: women want to feel special, they want to be seduced, and they want men to pursue them, to take control of them, to make them feel something. But men cannot read minds, what is a man supposed to know what a woman likes if she never tells him directly? Women commit the same mistake over and over, they give hints here and there of what they want, and they complaint when they are not romanced the way they want to be.

Encourage her

         This seems that a woman needs for a man to encourage her in order for her to do things she would not normally do. There are times when humans need encouragement in hard situations, yet demanding to be encouraged for every little detail is exhausting to anyone.   

Believe in her

         Does this statement imply that women are not trustworthy? Apparently so. Some women would ask of a man to believe in them, in the choices they make for both of them, economically, socially, even sexually. And some men follow their lead until the relationship is over and you end up going out with a shattered man that has been destroyed by a demanding woman.

Shop with her

         Before going shopping with anyone, ask yourself who is going to pay. Some women ask men to accompany them shopping and the men end up paying for most of the things. Some men enjoy paying, and shopping with their gals. Some men hate shopping with them, especially if it is going to take all day. Some men enjoy shopping with them if it is something they both have in common. Shopping should not be a requisite on how to treat a woman, it denotes that she is a massive consumerist, a shopaholic and just interested in money.  

Give her jewelry

         Yes buy her love with jewelry, the shinier the better. The more jewelry you give to a woman the more she will think of you as a money person, whom she can get anything of, she will never take you seriously, and she will only take your money seriously. Any woman who asks a man for jewelry is seriously desperate for material things and not emotional connections. If a man wants to give woman jewelry he better make sure she is not going to expect him to give her more. Gift giving should be spontaneous, interesting and above all never about taking advantage of the other person.

Buy her flowers

         Yes, buy her flowers and contribute to global warming and deforestation. Some flowers you do not need to buy, yet some women do not like such flowers. They want a huge bouquet, the most expensive one in order to feel like they are worth something. If you ever encounter such women, discard them. A flower is a living being, by picking out a flower from a garden you are killing, and sacrificing oxygen in order to give it to someone who won’t appreciate it. Make sure the woman you are with do understands your efforts to please her, and make sure she can reciprocate by bringing you fresh picked flowers once in awhile.   

Write love letters to her

         I have to agree on this one. The act of mailing love letters has grown extinct. Emails have become a substitution up to a certain point when men grow tired of writing or answering the letters, because of time constraints or simply loss of interest. Not many men like to read long letters especially poetry, yet if you can find a man that enjoys reading your letters then treat him good, these are extinct. The act of writing love letters can heal much insecurity, it can facilitate expressionism, and it can help relationships that are on the verge of a break up. But do not wait until that point, make it a habit to write to your loved one what you feel, what you want him or her to do to you, tell your desires and secrets. It is an art form, where you can express your feelings, especially if you are timid, it can help you communicate better with your partner. Afterwards you can discuss the letter; it will help much more than saying nothing and expecting something from the other person. How many love letters have you written that have gone unanswered, undiscussed, and ignored? How does that make you feel? If it makes you feel like not writing a love letter to anyone ever again, don’t worry, it shall pass. If you encounter someone who doesn’t take notice of your love letters, never acknowledges them, discusses them or read them, you know it is time to dump them. It is a great insult to send a letter so intimate and not be at least read or acknowledged.

Go to the ends of the earth and back again for her.

         Do men need to give up their identity and their time in order to please women? No. Pleasure should be mutual, when two people get together they should do things for each other, sexually, emotionally, physically, in any way they can. Otherwise don’t get into a relationship with another person, if you are not ready to share, if you don’t want to share then stay by yourself, and don’t seek companionship. Even in a one night stand things go wrong, that is why is called a one night stand, because it was so awful you cannot see the other person ever again. There are one night stands that are reciprocal, where the couple does things for each other, yet that is a minuscule percentage.

HOW TO TREAT A MAN

         Do women need a guide on how to treat men, and vice versa? At first glance we see a variety of articles in magazines and in the media sending us messages on how to treat men, as if they are a totally different species so distant from us women. Men and woman are human beings, and human beings have almost the same anatomy and physiology. The brain of a man and a woman is almost identical, mental processes vary according to different situations, yet there is no enigma trying to solve here. You treat a man with the same respect you treat yourself.

Show up naked

         This statement implies that in order to treat a man you must show up naked in his presence, just like slaves did so many centuries ago and modern day sex slaves do right now as you read. Prostitutes do it all the time for men, and strippers do it to please them. So you have to compete with the sex industry, porn stars, prostitutes, strippers and god knows what else to treat your man. Men as well as women enjoy visual stimuli, women enjoy when men show up naked, yet there is the element of shame. Some women are ashamed to show up naked at a man’s house, or his bedroom, because they feel insecure about their bodies, maybe they are too fat (so they think) and that impedes them to show up naked. Maybe women think is a turn off for the men to see them naked with everything exposed, they feel they will be rejected by them. This is a matter to be discussed and is a personal matter of choice for a woman, how secure and comfortable she feels with her body? This will be revealed to her in time. Yet so many confident women are rejected by men when they show up naked, so ask first before showing up naked.
♥Bring chicken wings & beer

         Yes it has a heart in it; apparently chicken wings and beer are loved by men. Yet what if he is vegetarian, or a non drinker, then what? Bring him something you know he likes and you can enjoy together. This statement is simply a stereotype and is followed by so many men and woman that they take it as a mantra.

Don't block the TV

         Yes don’t block the TV, because all men do is watch TV. Maybe they do it in order to escape the nagging. Men as well as women have every right to watch any kind of program they desire.

Conclusions:

         Notice the list of demands on how to treat a woman? Is longer and has so many demands that are useless and pointless. On the other hand the list of demands on how to treat a man is shorter and stereotyped. According to the feminist theory neither of those lists is right. First of all if you have to demand any type of attention, from a man or a woman then you do not deserve to be in a relationship with anyone.

          Intimate relationships are about connecting with the person, sharing the same interests, and ultimately creating a sexual connection that can be mutually beneficial for both parties. Sexual connections are hard because they come with baggage from previous lovers, men and women grow accustomed to a certain type of sexual routine and at first glance it is difficult to eradicate the previous sexual behavior. Yet it is not impossible if there is a stronger connection that can support the intimacy.

         First you establish an intellectual connection with the person, if that is not established then everything else falls apart. There is nothing more unappealing than dating someone whom you have nothing in common with, only sex, yet sex is not everlasting, at one point it has to end, and when it does, what the hell are you going to do with that person? Men as well as women, have the need to connect, to fell special, loved, wanted, taken care of, listened to, and pampered. Men as well as women have issues with their bodies; they feel depressed, sad, lost, mad, and angry, thought they do not communicate it as much as women do.

         Will there ever be a time where men are capable to be themselves around women? Will women be able to be themselves around men? Nobody wants to be rejected; therefore people go to extremes to put emotional barriers around them to avoid being hurt. The worst enemy you can have is yourself. Once you let your fundamental darkness cloud your thoughts you are lost, and you need to search for yourself and what you are, what you want and what you need in order to be truly happy.

         Many men and women feel alone in despair because they need a partner, which is natural and sad at the same time. So many men and women put their trust into others just to be taken advantage off, treated like they are nothing, used sexually, emotionally, economically, physically and then discarded. Some women engage in one night stands thinking it was not a one night stand, only to realize after a few days later and many unanswered calls that the guy took advantage of her, and vice versa. People need to start being honest with each other, and stop giving the run around, sometimes is better to tell the truth though at first glance it would hurt, than just ignore the person or avoid them. Remember that what evil you do to others someone will do it far worse to you. So be wise, and treat people with the same respect you would want to be treated.  

         

On Birth Control

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                Birth control is a regimen of one or more actions, devices, sexual practices, or medications followed in order to deliberately prevent or reduce the likelihood of pregnancy or childbirth. There are three main routes to preventing or ending pregnancy: the prevention of fertilization of the ovum by sperm cells ("contraception"), the prevention of implantation of the blast cyst (contragestion), and the chemical or surgical induction of abortion of the developing embryo or, later, fetus. In common usage, term "contraception" is often used for both contraception and contragestion.

            Birth control is commonly used as part of family planning

            The history of birth control began with the discovery of the connection between coitus and pregnancy. The oldest forms of birth control included coitus interruptus, pessaries, and the ingestion of herbs that were believed to be contraceptive or abortifacient. The earliest record of birth control use is an ancient Egyptian set of instructions on creating a contraceptive pessary.

            Different methods of birth control have varying characteristics. Condoms, for example, are the only methods that provide significant protection from sexually transmitted diseases. Cultural and religious attitudes on birth control vary significantly.

            Probably the oldest methods of contraception (aside from avoiding vaginal intercourse) are coitus interruptus, lactational, certain barrier methods, and herbal methods (emmenagogues and abortifacients).

            In Russia, to facilitate social equality between men and women, birth control was made readily available. Aleksandra Kollontai (1872-1952) was the commissar for public welfare during this time; she promoted birth control education for adults as well. When it came to birth control in France, women were working for reproductive rights and they helped end the nation's ban on birth control in 1965. Finally in 1970, in Catholic Italy, feminists won the right to gain access to birth control information.

            Much earlier than this, satirical English author Daniel Defoe wrote Conjugal Lewdness. The full original title of this 1727 essay was "Conjugal Lewdness or, Matrimonial Whoredom", though he was later asked to rename it for the sake of propriety. The modified title became "A Treatise Concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed". The essay dealt primarily with contraception, comparing it directly with infanticide. Defoe accomplished this through anecdotes, such as a conversation between two women in which the right-minded chides the other for asking for "recipes" that might prevent pregnancy. In the essay, he further referred to contraception as "the diabolical practice of attempting to prevent childbearing by physical preparations."

            Coitus interruptus (withdrawal of the penis from the vagina prior to ejaculation) probably predates any other form of birth control. This is not a particularly reliable method of contraception, as few men have the self-control to correctly practice the method at every single act of sexual intercourse. Although it is commonly believed that pre-ejaculate fluid can cause pregnancy, modern research has shown that pre-ejaculate fluid does not contain viable sperm.

            There are historic records of Egyptian women using a pessary (a vaginal suppository) made of various acidic substances and lubricated with honey or oil, which may have been somewhat effective at killing sperm. However, it is important to note that the sperm cell was not discovered until Anton van Leeuwenhoek invented the microscope in the late 17th century, so barrier methods employed prior to that time could not know of the details of conception. Asian women may have used oiled paper as a cervical cap, and Europeans may have used beeswax for this purpose. The condom appeared sometime in the 17th century, initially made of a length of animal intestine. It was not particularly popular, nor as effective as modern latex condoms, but was employed both as a means of contraception and in the hopes of avoiding syphilis, which was greatly feared and devastating prior to the discovery of antibiotic drugs.

            Various abortifacients have been used throughout human history in attempts to terminate undesired pregnancy. Some of them were effective, some were not; those that were most effective also had major side effects. One abortifacient reported to have low levels of side effects—silphium—was harvested to extinction around the 1st century. The ingestion of certain poisons by the female can disrupt the reproductive system; women have drunk solutions containing mercury, arsenic, or other toxic substances for this purpose. The Greek gynecologist Soranus in the 2nd century suggested that women drink water that blacksmiths had used to cool metal. The herbs tansy and pennyroyal are well-known in folklore as abortive agents, but these also "work" by poisoning the woman. Levels of the active chemicals in these herbs that will induce a miscarriage are high enough to perilously damage the liver, kidneys, and other organs. However, in those times where risk of maternal death from postpartum complications was high, the risks and side effects of toxic medicines may have seemed less onerous. Some herbalists claim that black cohosh tea will also be effective in certain cases as an abortifacient.

            Aside from abortifacients, herbal contraceptives in folklore have also included a few preventative measures. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, known in Ayurveda as a contraceptive, may have anti-estrogenic properties. Papaya seeds, rumored to be a male contraceptive, have recently been studied for their azoospermic effect on monkeys.

            During the medieval period, physicians in the Islamic world listed many birth control substances in their medical encyclopedias. Avicenna listing 20 in The Canon of Medicine (1025) and Muhammad bin Zakariya ar-Razi listing 176 in his Hawi (10th century). This was unparalleled in European medicine until the 19th century.

            The fact that various effective methods of birth control were known in the ancient world sharply contrasts with a seeming ignorance of these methods in wide segments of the population of early modern Christian Europe. This ignorance continued far into the 20th century, and was paralleled by eminently high birth rates in European countries during the 18th and 19th centuries. Some historians have attributed this to a series of coercive measures enacted by the emerging modern state, in an effort to repopulate Europe after the population catastrophe of the Black Death, starting in 1348. According to this view, the witch hunts were the first measure the modern state took in an attempt to eliminate knowledge about birth control within the population, and monopolize it in the hands of state-employed male medical specialists (gynecologists). Prior to the witch hunts, male specialists were unheard of, because birth control was naturally a female domain.

            Presenters at a family planning conference told a tale of Arab traders inserting small stones into the uteruses of their camels in order to prevent pregnancy, a concept very similar to the modern IUD. Although the story has been repeated as truth, it has no basis in history and was meant only for entertainment purposes. The first intrauterine devices (which occupied both the vagina and the uterus) were first marketed around 1900. The first modern intrauterine device (contained entirely in the uterus) was described in a German publication in 1909. The Gräfenberg ring, the first IUD that was used by a significant number of women, was introduced in 1928.

            The rhythm method was developed in the early 20th century, as researchers discovered that a woman only ovulates once per menstrual cycle. Not until the 1950s, when scientists better understood the functioning of the menstrual cycle and the hormones that controlled it, were methods of hormonal contraception and modern methods of fertility awareness (also called natural family planning) developed.

            Margaret Sanger (1879-1966) was an American birth control activist and the founder of the American Birth Control League (which eventually became Planned Parenthood). She was instrumental in opening the way to access birth control. In 1960 the FDA approved the first form of hormonal birth control, the combined oral contraceptive pill.

Physical methods and reproductive technology

Physical methods may work in a variety of ways, among them:

1. Physically preventing sperm from entering the female reproductive tract

2. Hormonally preventing ovulation from occurring;

3. Making the woman's reproductive tract inhospitable to sperm; surgically altering the male or female reproductive tract to induce sterility. Some methods use more than one mechanism. Physical methods vary in simplicity, convenience and efficacy.

Barrier methods place a physical impediment to the movement of sperm into the female reproductive tract.

            The most popular barrier method is the male condom, a latex or polyurethane sheath placed over the penis. The condom is also available in a female version, which is made of polyurethane. The female condom has a flexible ring at each end — one secures behind the pubic bone to hold the condom in place, while the other ring stays outside the vagina.

            Cervical barriers are devices that are contained completely within the vagina. The contraceptive sponge has a depression to hold it in place over the cervix. The cervical cap is the smallest cervical barrier. Depending on the type of cap, it stays in place by suction to the cervix or to the vaginal walls. The diaphragm fits into place behind the woman's pubic bone and has a firm but flexible ring, which helps it press against the vaginal walls.

            Spermicide may be placed in the vagina before intercourse and creates a chemical barrier. Spermicide may be used alone, or in combination with a physical barrier.

            There are varieties of delivery methods for hormonal contraception. Forms of synthetic estrogens and progestin’s (synthetic progestogens) combinations commonly used include the combined oral contraceptive pill ("The Pill"), the Patch, and the contraceptive vaginal ring ("NuvaRing"). Not currently available for sale in the United States is Lunelle, a monthly injection.

            Other methods contain only a progestin (a synthetic progestogen). These include the progesterone only pill (the POP or 'minipill'), the injectables Depo Provera (a depot formulation of medroxyprogesterone acetate given as an intramuscular injection every three months) and Noristerat (Norethindrone acetate given as an intramuscular injection every 8 weeks), and contraceptive implants. The progestin-only pill must be taken at more precisely remembered times each day than combined pills. The first contraceptive implant, the original 6-capsule Norplant, was removed from the market in the United States in 1999, though a newer single-rod implant called Implanon was approved for sale in the United States on July 17, 2006. The various progestin-only methods may cause irregular bleeding during use.

            Ormeloxifene (Centchroman) is a selective estrogen receptor modulator, or SERM. It causes ovulation to occur asynchronously with the formation of the uterine lining, preventing implantation of a zygote. It has been widely available as a birth control method in India since the early 1990s, marketed under the trade name Saheli. Centchroman is legally available only in India.

Emergency contraception, Emergency contraceptive availability by country

            Some combined pills and POPs may be taken in high doses to prevent pregnancy after a birth control failure (such as a condom breaking) or after unprotected sex. Hormonal emergency contraception is also known as the "morning after pill," although it is licensed for use up to three days after intercourse.

            Copper intrauterine devices may also be used as emergency contraception. For this use, they must be inserted within five days of the birth control failure or unprotected intercourse.

            Emergency contraception appears to work by suppressing ovulation. However, because it might prevent a fertilized egg from implanting, some people (Who?) consider it a form of abortion. The details of the possible methods of action are still being studied.

                                   Intrauterine methods

            These are contraceptive devices which are placed inside the uterus. They are usually shaped like a "T" — the arms of the T hold the device in place. There are two main types of intrauterine contraceptives: those that contain copper (which has a spermicidal effect), and those that release a progestogen (in the US the term progestin is used).

            The terminology used for these devices differs in the United Kingdom and the United States. In the US, all devices which are placed in the uterus to prevent pregnancy are referred to as intrauterine devices (IUDs) or intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCDs). In the UK, only copper-containing devices are called IUDs (or IUCDs), and hormonal intrauterine contraceptives are referred to with the term Intra-Uterine System (IUS). This may be because there are ten types of copper IUDs available in the UK, compared to only one in the US.

Sterilization

            Surgical sterilization is available in the form of tubal ligation for women and vasectomy for men. Sterilization should be considered permanent. In women, the process may be referred to as "tying the tubes," but the Fallopian tubes may be tied, cut, clamped, or blocked. This serves to prevent sperm from joining the unfertilized egg. The non-surgical sterilization procedure, Essure, is an example of a procedure that blocks the tubes, wherein micro-inserts are placed into the fallopian tubes by a catheter passed from the vagina through the cervix and uterus.

            Although tubal ligation should be considered a permanent procedure, it is possible to attempt a tubal ligation reversal to reconnect the Fallopian tubes. The rate of success depends on the type of tubal ligation procedure that was originally performed and damage done to the tubes as well as the woman's age.

Behavioral methods

            Behavioral methods involve regulating the timing or methods of intercourse to prevent the introduction of sperm into the female reproductive tract, either altogether or when an egg may be present.

Fertility awareness

            Symptoms-based methods of fertility awareness involve a woman's observation and charting of her body's fertility signs, to determine the fertile and infertile phases of her cycle. Charting may be done by hand or with the assistance of software. Most methods track one or more of the three primary fertility signs: changes in basal body temperature, in cervical mucus, and in cervical position. If a woman tracks both basal body temperature and another primary sign, the method is referred to as symptothermal. Other bodily cues such as mittelschmerz are considered secondary indicators.

            Fertility monitors are computerized devices that determine fertility or infertility based on, for example, temperature or urinalysis tests. Calendar-based methods such as the rhythm method and Standard Days Method estimate the likelihood of fertility based on the length of past menstrual cycles. To avoid pregnancy with fertility awareness, unprotected sex is restricted to the least fertile period. During the most fertile period, barrier methods may be availed, or she may abstain from intercourse.

            The term natural family planning (NFP) is sometimes used to refer to any use of fertility awareness methods. However, this term specifically refers to the practices which are permitted by the Roman Catholic Church — breastfeeding infertility, and periodic abstinence during fertile times. FA methods may be used by NFP users to identify these fertile times.

Coitus interruptus

            Coitus interruptus (literally "interrupted sexual intercourse"), also known as the withdrawal method, is the practice of ending sexual intercourse ("pulling out") before ejaculation. The main risk of coitus interruptus is that the man may not perform the maneuver correctly, or may not perform the maneuver in a timely manner. Although concern has been raised about the risk of pregnancy from sperm in pre-ejaculate, several small studies have failed to find any viable sperm in the fluid.

Avoiding vaginal intercourse

            The risk of pregnancy from non-vaginal sex, such as with anal sex, oral sex, or non-penetrative sex is virtually zero. A very small risk comes from the possibility of semen leaking onto the vulva (with anal sex) or coming into contact with an object, such as a hand, that later contacts the vulva.

Abstinence

            The practice of avoiding all sexual activity is termed sexual abstinence. Aside from assisted reproductive technology, pregnancy can only occur when semen enters the vagina. Therefore, people who are both sexually abstinent and who do not experience rape do not experience unplanned pregnancy. Sometimes people choose to be sexually abstinent to reduce their risk of pregnancy, and abstinence is often included in lists of birth control methods. Other sources say instead that people who are abstinent have no need for birth control.

            Relying on abstinence is not 100% effective in preventing pregnancy: not everyone who intends to be abstinent refrains from all sexual activity, and people who maintain abstinence can still become pregnant as a result of rape. As a public health measure, it is estimated that the protection provided by abstinence is similar to that of condoms.

 Lactational

            Most breastfeeding women have a period of infertility after the birth of their child. The lactational amenorrhea method, or LAM, gives guidelines for determining the length of a woman's period of breastfeeding infertility.

 Induced abortion

            In some areas, women use abortion as a primary means to control birth. This practice is more common in Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine. On the other hand, women from Canada and other places generally do not use abortion as a primary form of birth control. Abortion is subject to ethical debate.

            Surgical abortion methods include suction-aspiration abortion (used in the first trimester) or dilation and evacuation (used in the second trimester). Medical abortion methods involve the use of medication which is swallowed or inserted vaginally to induce abortion. Medical abortion can be used if the length of gestation has not exceeded 8 weeks.

            Some herbs are considered abortifacient, and some animal studies have found various herbs to be effective in inducing abortion in non-human animal species. Humans generally do not use herbs when other methods are available, due to the unknown efficacy and due to risks of toxicity.

 Methods in development

 For females

Praneem is a polyherbal vaginal tablet being studied as a spermicide, and a microbicide active against HIV.

BufferGel is a spermicidal gel being studied as a microbicide active against HIV.

Duet is a disposable diaphragm in development that will be pre-filled with BufferGel. It is designed to deliver microbicide to both the cervix and vagina. Unlike currently available diaphragms, the Duet will be manufactured in only one size and will not require a prescription, fitting, or a visit to a doctor.

The SILCS diaphragm is a silicone barrier which is still in clinical testing. It has a finger cup molded on one end for easy removal. Like the Duet, the SILCS is novel in that it will only be available in one size.

A vaginal ring is being developed that releases both estrogen and progesterone, and is effective for over 12 months.

Two types of progestogen-only vaginal rings are being developed. Progestogen-only products may be particularly useful for women who are breastfeeding. The rings may be used for four months at a time.

A progesterone-only contraceptive is being developed that would be sprayed onto the skin once a day.

Quinacrine sterilization and the Adiana procedure are two permanent methods of birth control being developed.

For males

Male contraceptive

            Other than condoms and withdrawal, there are currently no available methods of reversible contraception which males can use or control. Several methods are in research and development:

As of 2007, a chemical called Adjudin is currently in Phase II human trials as a male oral contraceptive.

RISUG (Reversible Inhibition of Sperm under Guidance), is an experimental injection into the vas deferens that coats the walls of the vas with a spermicidal substance. The method can potentially be reversed by washing out the vas deferens with a second injection.

Experiments in vas-occlusive contraception involve an implant placed in the vasa deferentia.

Experiments in heat-based contraception involve heating a man's testicles to a high temperature for a short period of time.

 Misconceptions

Modern misconceptions and urban legends have given rise to a great many false claims:

            The suggestion that douching with any substance immediately following intercourse works as a contraceptive is untrue. While it may seem like a sensible idea to try to wash the ejaculate out of the vagina, it is not likely to be effective. Due to the nature of the fluids and the structure of the female reproductive tract, douching most likely actually spreads semen further towards the uterus. Some slight spermicidal effect may occur if the douche solution is particularly acidic, but overall it is not scientifically observed to be a reliably effective method. Douching is neither a contraceptive nor a preventative measure against STDs or other infections.

It is untrue that a female cannot become pregnant as a result of the first time she engages in sexual intercourse.

While women are usually less fertile for the first few days of menstruation, it is a myth that a woman absolutely cannot get pregnant if she has sex during her period.

Having sex in a hot tub does not prevent pregnancy, but may contribute to vaginal infections.

Although some sex positions may encourage pregnancy, no sexual positions prevent pregnancy. Having sex while standing up or with a woman on top will not keep the sperm from entering the uterus. The force of ejaculation, the contractions of the uterus caused by prostaglandins in the semen, as well as ability of sperm to swim overrides gravity.

Urinating after sex does not prevent pregnancy and is not a form of birth control, although it is often advised anyway to help prevent urinary tract infections. Toothpaste cannot be used as an effective contraceptive.

Effectiveness (See also Comparison of birth control methods)

            Effectiveness is measured by how many women become pregnant using a particular birth control method in the first year of use. Thus, if 100 women use a method that has a 12 percent first-year failure rate, then sometime during the first year of use, 12 of the women should become pregnant.

            The most effective methods in typical use are those that do not depend upon regular user action. Surgical sterilization, Depo-Provera, implants, and intrauterine devices (IUDs) all have first-year failure rates of less than one percent for perfect use. In reality, however, perfect use may not be the case, but still, sterilization, implants, and IUDs also have typical failure rates under one percent.        The typical failure rate of Depo-Provera is disagreed upon, with figures ranging from less than one percent up to three percent.

            Other methods may be highly effective if used consistently and correctly, but can have typical use first-year failure rates that are considerably higher due to incorrect or ineffective usage by the user. Hormonal contraceptive pills, patches or rings, fertility awareness methods, and the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM), if used strictly, have first-year (or for LAM, first-6-month) failure rates of less than 1%. In one survey, typical use first-year failure rates of hormonal contraceptive pills (and by extrapolation, patches or rings) were as high as five percent per year. Fertility awareness methods as a whole have typical use first-year failure rates as high as 25 percent per year; however, as stated above, perfect use of these methods reduces the first-year failure rate to less than 1%.

            Condoms and cervical barriers such as the diaphragm have similar typical use first-year failure rates (14 and 20 percent, respectively), but perfect usage of the condom is more effective (three percent first-year failure vs. six percent) and condoms have the additional feature of helping to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as the HIV virus. The withdrawal method, if used consistently and correctly, has a first-year failure rate of four percent. Due to the difficulty of consistently using withdrawal correctly, it has a typical use first-year failure rate of 19 percent, and is not recommended by some medical professionals.

            Combining two birth control methods, can increase their effectiveness to 95% or more for less effective methods. Using condoms with another birth control method is also one of the recommended methods of reducing risk of getting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. This approach is one of the Dual Protection Strategies.

Protection against sexually transmitted infections

Safe Sex

            Some methods of birth control also offer protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The male latex condom offers some protection against some STIs with correct and consistent use, as does the female condom, although the latter has only been approved for vaginal sex. The female condom may offer greater protection against STIs that pass through skin to skin contact, as the outer ring covers more exposed skin than the male condom. Some of the methods involving avoiding vaginal intercourse can also reduce risk: latex or polyurethane barriers can be used during oral sex, and mutual or solo masturbation are very low-risk. The remaining methods of birth control do not offer significant protection against the sexual transmission of STIs.

            Many STIs may also be transmitted non-sexually; this is one reason why abstinence from sexual behavior does not guarantee 100 percent protection against sexually transmitted infections. For example, HIV may be transmitted through contaminated needles which may be used in intravenous drug use, tattooing, body piercing, or injections. Health-care workers have acquired HIV through occupational exposure to accidental injuries with needles.

Religious and cultural attitudes, Religious views on birth control

            Religions vary widely in their views of the ethics of birth control. In Christianity, the Roman Catholic Church accepts only Natural Family Planning, while Protestants maintain a wide range of views from allowing none to very lenient. Views in Judaism range from the stricter Orthodox sect to the more relaxed Reform sect. In Islam, contraceptives are allowed if they do not threaten health, although their use is discouraged by some. Hindus may use both natural and artificial contraceptives. A common Buddhist view of birth control is that preventing conception is ethically acceptable, while intervening after conception has occurred or may have occurred is not.

Birth Control Education

            Many teenagers, most commonly in developed countries, receive some form of sex education in school. What information should be provided in such programs is hotly contested, especially in the United States and United Kingdom. Possible topics include reproductive anatomy, human sexual behavior, information on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), social aspects of sexual interaction, negotiating skills intended to help teens follow through with a decision to remain abstinent or to use birth control during sex, and information on birth control methods.

            One type of sex education program used mainly in the United States is called abstinence-only education, and it promotes complete sexual abstinence until marriage. The programs do not encourage birth control, often provide inaccurate information about contraceptives and sexuality, stress failure rates of condoms and other contraceptives, and teach strategies for avoiding sexually intimate situations. Advocates of abstinence-only education believe that the programs will result in decreased rates of teenage pregnancy and STD infection. In a non-random, Internet survey of 1,400 women who found and completed a 10-minute multiple-choice online questionnaire listed in one of several popular search engines, women who received sex education from schools providing primarily abstinence information, or contraception and abstinence information equally, reported fewer unplanned pregnancies than those who received primarily contraceptive information, who in turn reported fewer unplanned pregnancies than those who received no information. However, randomized controlled trials demonstrate that abstinence-only sex education programs increase the rates of pregnancy and STDs in the teenage population. Professional medical organizations, including the AMA, AAP, ACOG, APHA, APA, and Society for Adolescent Medicine, support comprehensive sex education (providing abstinence and contraceptive information) and oppose the sole use of abstinence-only sex education.