Answers FAQ
Birth Control FAQs
Reviewed by John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP, on November 6, 2017
Test your Knowledge!
- What are methods for contraception?
- What are the health benefits associated with oral contraception?
- Using condoms can cause erectile dysfunction. True or false?
- Barrier methods of birth control can involve injectable medicines. True or false?
- Most types of birth control can prevent sexually transmitted infections. True or false?
- What are some types of permanent birth control?
- A vasectomy is a permanent sterilization procedure meant for men. True or false?
- Estrogen and progestin are the two hormones combined in oral contraceptives, or "the pill"? True or false?
- What is a contraception contains a chemical that kills sperm?
- Improve your Health I.Q. on Birth Control
- Birth Control Related Slideshows
- Birth Control Related Image Collections
Q:What are methods for contraception?
A: Contraception can involve sterilization, the permanent prevention of a woman being able to get pregnant or a man's sperm from being able to impregnate a woman.
Other types of contraception involve blocking the release of eggs from the ovaries or creating a barrier for sperm so that they are not able to reach the egg.
Q:What are the health benefits associated with oral contraception?
A:Oral contraceptives can have some health benefits.
They may reduce the severity of menstrual cramps, improve acne, protect against iron deficiency anemia, and increase bone density. Oral contraceptive use may also reduce the risk of developing ovarian, endometrial, and colon cancers.
Q:Using condoms can cause erectile dysfunction. True or false?
A:False.
While some men complained of erection loss when using condoms, a study has shown that many of these men experienced problems with erections regardless of whether or not condoms were used.
Q:Barrier methods of birth control can involve injectable medicines. True or false?
A:False.
Barrier methods of birth control are physical or chemical barriers that prevent sperm from passing through the woman's cervix into the uterus and fallopian tubes to fertilize an egg. Some methods also protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Q:Most types of birth control can prevent sexually transmitted infections. True or false?
A:False.
Condoms can help protects against sexually-transmitted infections, but most methods (such as diaphragms or oral contraceptives) do not.
Q:What are some types of permanent birth control?
A:Sterilization is an example of a permanent method of birth control.
Such methods may be appropriate for people who are certain they no longer desire the ability to conceive a child.
Q:A vasectomy is a permanent sterilization procedure meant for men. True or false?
A:True.
A vasectomy is a surgical procedure blocks the vas deferens, the tubes that carry sperm from the testes to the urethra. This prevents them from reaching the semen so that they cannot fertilize a woman's egg.
Q:Estrogen and progestin are the two hormones combined in oral contraceptives, or "the pill"? True or false?
A:True.
Oral contraceptive pills typically contain a combination of estrogen and progestin hormones.
Q:What is a contraception contains a chemical that kills sperm?
A:Spermicides are chemicals that kill sperm.
They are available as a cream, gel, or foam. Nonoxynol-9 is the chemical found in spermicide products.
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