Celebrating World Contraception Day
Do not hide your method to your partner, successful contraception needs collaborative efforts.
September 26 is aimed to spread the word about contraception and safe sex. With information this generation of adults could make informed decisions until every pregnancy in the world is a planned one.
Dr Josephine Ngomane says, “Today’s message is based on Hosea 4:6, My people perish or are destroyed due to lack of knowledge, because they have rejected knowledge.”
She adds that contraception works well when both partners are fully committed to it. She emphasised, however, that abstinence remains the best method for the young and unmarried persons.
Types of contraceptive methods available in public clinics:
• Two to three months’ injections
• Oral (pills)
• Implants (implanon)
• Tubal ligation for females
• Vasectomy for males.
The dos and don’ts of contraceptives
1. Do not hide your method to your partner, successful contraception needs collaborative efforts.
2. Do not use alcohol with contraception, it may lead to irresponsible behaviour.
3. Do not smoke when on hormones (pill, injection or implanon), smoking increases the risk of strokes/heart attacks.
4. Do not miss your pill or miss your appointment for injections and removal or insertion of an implanon because it will disturb the balance of hormones in the body, meaning the method with fail.
5. Avoid taking certain medication, like antibiotics. Always give your doctor a full history of your medication when sick.
6. If on oral contraceptives, keep them safely away from children and at a temperature around 25 degrees centigrade and if not sure, use condoms as a back-up.
Ngomane advised the citizens of the country to use family planning clinics.
