Contraception deliberately prevents or reduces the likelihood of a woman becoming pregnant. Mechanisms which are intended to avoid the fertilisation of an ovum by a spermatozoon are countless, although not equally reliable: sexual abstention, ‘coitus interruptus’ (withdrawal), the calendar method, condoms, intra-uterine devices, the birth control pill and other hormonal methods of contraception.
Birth control is not unusual nowadays. Inspired by important social and moral objections, people used to disapprove of sexual intercourse before marriage and children were only born ‘spontaneously’ after marriage. These days, matrimony is no longer a stipulation for having children: many couples – married or not – delay ‘reproduction’ until they feel ready for it. Others choose voluntarily not to have children.
All this has been made possible thanks to the advancement of medicine and a broad range of birth control methods is available today. While the introduction of the birth control pill in the 60s gave rise to polemic discussions, today this pill and other hormonal methods of contraception are a common aspect of every young and confident woman, who decides to postpone having children.
Unfortunately, hormonal birth control methods do not protect you against HIV infection and other sexually transmittable diseases.
The method of contraceptive patch was introduced in South Africa by Janssen-Cilag Women's Healthcare in 2005. Now, South African women can choose a contraceptive they only have to think about once a week. Applied directly to the skin, the contraceptive patch prevents pregnancy. In clinical studies, the contraceptive patch was 99% effective is preventing pregnancy, comparable to today's leading birth control pills and offers women simplicity with the convenience of once-a-week application.
