Some types may have other side effects progestin only

Some types may have other side effects
•
Progestin-only pills, contraceptive skin patch, vaginal ring, injections,
implants

Intrauterine Contraceptives
•
IUD
•
Placed in uterus through cervix to provide protection from
pregnancy for 5-10 years
• Mechanism not understood, but may affect sperm/egg
movement and/or affects lining of uterus to prevent
implantation
•
Redesigning to reduce previous associated risk of PID &
infertility
•
Two available – ParaGard (no hormones) & Mirena (progestin)
•
>99% effective
•
Possible discomfort, cost, complications, no STI protection

•
Emergency Contraception
•
Morning-after pills
•
NOT abortion pills (this method will not work if the woman is
already pregnant)
•
Behavioral Methods
•
Require self-control, diligence, commitment, may be more
prone to user error
•
Withdrawal
•
Abstinence & “Outercourse”
•
Fertility Awareness Methods (cervical mucus method; body
temperature method)
•
Surgical Methods
•
Female & Male Sterilization

Abortion
•
Termination of pregnancy by expulsion or removal of the embryo or fetus
from the uterus
•
Most occur because of unintended pregnancies
•
May happen because of rape or incest
• May be due to financial or emotional inability
• Legalized in 1973
•
Prior to this, women who wanted to terminate had to travel to another country,
consult an illegal abortionist, or perform their own abortion. Procedures
sometimes led to infertility or death
•
Pro-choice – woman’s right to make decisions about her own body & health
•
Pro-life – embryo or fetus is a human being with rights that must be
protected
•
Emotional aspects – no evidence to show that abortion causes long-term
mental health outcomes in women
•
Best predictor of post-abortion well-being is pre-abortion well-being
•
Factors that contribute to higher risk of negative response after are: perception of
stigma, need for secrecy, low levels of social support for decision, prior history of
mental health issues, low self-esteem, avoidance & denial coping strategies

Methods of Abortion
•
Determined by how far along the woman is
•
Read more in your book p.183-184
•
Surgical
•
During 1
st
trimester - Suction curettage (aka vacuum
aspiration or dilation & curettage (D&C))
•
During 2
nd
trimester – Dilation & evacuation (D&E)
•
During 3
rd
trimester – rare; D&E or induction abortion.
Partial birth abortions have been banned
•
Medication
•
No entry in uterus; 97% will experience complete abortion
with this method

After Tiller
• Reality is complicated, but abortion is often presented as a black & white
issue
•
Film framed from POV of 4 drs that perform late-term abortion
• They recognize the moral & ethical complexity better than anyone
•
3
rd
trimester, those performed after the 24
th
week of pregnancy;
comprise <1.2% of all abortions that occur in the U.S.