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What Mothers and Daughters Should Know About Birth Control
By Carma Haley
Norplant
One of the newer methods of birth control is Norplant. The protection of Norplant comes from the insertion of six match-stick-sized capsules placed under the skin of the upper arm. These capsules deliver a constant level of progesterone -- a female hormone -- into the body, which prevents an egg from being released and thickens the cervical tissue layer, preventing pregnancy. Norplant offers no protection against STDs and is 99.95 percent effective in protecting against pregnancy.* The Norplant device, once inserted, is effective for up to five years. The cost of the Norplant is $500 to $600 for an exam, the implants and insertion. Cost of removing the implants upon evidence of complications can be as much as $200.
Complications of Norplant can include headache, dizziness, discoloration or discomfort at the insertion site, irregular menstrual periods or absence of flow, and weight gain. Woman who have diabetes, high cholesterol or blood pressure, heart disease, seizures that require medication, serious depression, conditions that may be aggravated by fluid retention, serious liver disease, breast cancer or are breastfeeding should use caution when considering the Norplant as their method of birth control.
Barrier Methods
This category includes condoms, spermicidal creams, gels, suppositories and foams, the diaphragm and the cervical cap. Barrier methods offer protection by not allowing the sperm access to the uterus where it would fertilize the egg and result in a pregnancy. These methods offer protection against pregnancy but -- with the exception of the condom -- do not protect against STDs. The effectiveness of the barrier methods ranges from 74 to 98 percent in protecting against pregnancy. The cost for barrier methods of birth control can be as little a $3 to as much as $50. With the exception of the cervical cap and the diaphragm, all of these barrier methods can be purchased over the counter with no need to seek professional instruction or direction for their use. Both the cervical cap and diaphragm must be fitted by an OB/GYN physician for proper protection.
