The Misunderstanding of Contraceptives Affecting Teenage Pregnancy Rate

As humans, it’s expected to eventually engage in sexual relationships with a significant other. When it comes to topics of sex and relationships with intimate couples, many may consider using a form of birth control. As all women and men should have the control over when they are ready to become parents; religious and moral values may lead them to other alternatives.

Prior to the modern methods of birth control, women relied on withdrawal or broken abstinence. These methods often failed. Historical evidence of pregnancy prevention dates back to ancient Egypt in 3000 B.C. Drawings found from the time period show men wearing condoms, although it is not clear if they were traditional in nature or used for sex (Birth Control). The earliest evidence of a contraceptive device used by women also comes from Egypt in 1850 B.C. A set of instructions on how to create an object or mixture that is inserted into the vagina to block or kill sperm, was found from that time (Birth Control). Various materials were tried for condoms, from lamb intestines to linen, but condom usage grew after Charles Goodyear improved the processing of rubber. This was the leading to the mass production of rubber condoms in 1844 (Birth Control).

It wasn’t until Margaret Sanger became the leader in the movement to secure reproductive rights for women when the issue of birth control became a big deal. The contraceptive movement began in the early nineteenth century; its first significant advocate was for pregnancy prevention (Chesworth). She was the founder of the first birth control clinic in the United States and later, of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the International Planned Federation (Chesworth). Sanger was born into a devo...

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...act and support declines substantially over time.

Birth control, or contraception, is the use of physical barriers, timing of sexual intercourse, chemicals, or a combination of these methods to prevent pregnancy. Many methods have been designed for women's use, but few are available to men (Birth Control). The principal birth control methods, in order of decreasing effectiveness are, surgical procedures, oral contraceptives, long lasting hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine device, diaphragm, condoms, spermicides, and selective abstinence. Birth control by heating the scrotum, and withdrawal before ejaculation (Birth Control). Oral contraceptives or birth control pills contain various amounts of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. These mimic the natural condition of pregnancy, during which a woman normally cannot become pregnant (Birth Control).