FREE ESSAY ON ARTIFICIAL CONTRACEPTIVES

ARTIFICIAL CONTRACEPTIVES

Argumentative Essay
Artificial Contraceptives
Artificial Contraceptive should be eliminated. This 
is my argument. Why you ask? Well, although my viewpoint 
sounds a little radical, I have come up with several 
reasons why natural is better.
Funk and Wagnall's New Encyclopedia defines with birth 
control as any method used to prevent pregnancy from 
occurring. Methods available today range from permanent 
procedures such as surgical sterilization to temporary 
methods that must be with each act of intercourse. 
Sterilization, for example, has an effectiveness range from 
99.5-99.9%. Yet, we must keep in mind that this operation 
can be rather expensive, costing up to $2,500. In 
addition, complications like infections or blood clots may 
occur (Planned Parenthood, pg. 3). Moreover, sometimes 
people later regret not being able to have children.
Another form of birth control is the intrauterine 
device or IUD. IUD's are tiny metal or plastic loops or 
coils that are placed in the uterus. They have an 
effectiveness of 95-99%(Funk & Wagnall's, pg.98). A 
physician must insert IUD's, but they can remain there 
until it is desired to be removed for a pregnancy. 
Although they sound ideal, some women have experienced 
uterine cramps and increased menstrual flow when using an 
IUD. (Billings, pg.63) in fact, some devices increase the 
risk of pelvic infection(Funk & Wagnall's, pg.98).
Further, in Perry and Dawson's book, Nightmare, they 
proclaim the dangers of IUDs. They focus, especially, on 
the Dalkon Shield IUD; an IUD described as "the safest and 
most satisfying form of contraception." In their book, 
Perry and Dawson state that "more than 12,000 women have 
filed damage suits for complications ranging from 
debilitating pain and severe bleeding to perforated uteri, 
unplanned pregnancies, spontaneous miscarriages, and septic 
abortions(Perry & Dawson, pg. 1).
Yet, another method of birth control is the oral 
contraceptive, better known as "the pill". Oral 
contraceptives are chemicals that work by altering a 
woman's normal hormonal patterns so that ovulation does not 
occur(Funk & Wagnall's, pg.98). The pill is nearly 100% 
effective when taken according to directions. More 
recently, however, "Oxford University researchers showed an 
association between oral contraceptives and an increased 
risk of blood clots affecting the veins and arteries to the 
legs, lungs, and brain"(Billings, pg.164). In addition, 
the estimated risk of heart attack is 2.8 times higher in 
Pill-users than on non-users(Rosenfield, pg.96). Moreover, 
studies from the World Health Organization states, "the 
risk of death increases markedly among women over the age 
of 35, especially if they are also smokers, are overweight, 
or have diabetes, and have used the pill for a long time" 
(Billings. Pg. 172). Lastly, former chairman of the ob-gyn 
department at John Hopkins, Dr. Allan Barnes, stated that 
"The risks of birth control pills far outweighed their 
benefits"(Perry & Dawson, pg. 24-25).
On the other hand, barrier methods like the use of 
condoms and diaphragms are inexpensive and have no side 
effects. In fact, they have an effectiveness range from 
86-97%(Funk & Wagnall's, pg. 98). But, I must also add, 
they provide a false sense of security.
Often, sexually active people who tend to relay on 
condoms and diaphragms become a little irresponsible. They 
feel secure against pregnancy. Nevertheless, this is when 
trouble arises.
For instance, youngsters, being told that condoms and 
diaphragms are safe, are many times lured to believing that 
it is okay to have sex. Yes, condoms and diaphragms do 
provide protection, but many times they are forgotten to be 
used, especially when sexual intercourse is spontaneous. 
In short, if artificial contraceptives were not available, 
youngsters as well as adults would not be forced to take 
sexual intercourse as a highly responsible act. This 
would, most likely, decrease the amount of youngsters 
taking part in premarital sex. As a result, there would be 
least teenage pregnancies.
Now that I have started the pros and cons to 
artificial contraceptives, one question may remain I your 
head: " How does she plan to prevent pregnancy?" The 
answer or solution is natural. The reasons so many 
problems arise with artificially prevent life. Life is 
something that happens naturally. Therefore, if life is 
desired to be prevented, it should be prevented naturally 
as well.
Naturally family planning is becoming more and more 
popular. This is because as dissatisfaction with 
contraceptives drugs and devices grows, so grows the number 
of women seeking a fertility control method that is 
natural-that does not interfere with the body's normal 
processes(Billings, pg. 185).
We know that nature has provided various indications 
that ovulation is occurring or has occurred. These 
indications have been researched, and many different 
methods of natural birth control have been devised. Among 
them are the Rhythm Method, the Basal Body Temperature 
Method, the Sympto-Thermal Method, and the Ovulation 
Method(Billings, pg. 186).
Of all the main candidates, my personal choice is the 
Ovulation or Billings Method. This is because it is 
suitable for everyone. The Ovulation Method can be used by 
all women at all phases-whether her menstrual cycles are 
regular or irregular, during adolescence, coming off the 
pill, when breast feeding or approaching the 
menopause(Billings, pg. 14).
The Billings Ovulation Method was developed by 
Melbourne physician Dr. Evelyn Billings together with her 
husband, Dr. john Billings. In her book, Billings 
describes that the basis of the method is awareness of the 
mucus at the vaginal opening. Basically, the mucus can 
indicate whether you are fertile or infertile by its 
sensation and appearance(Billings, pg. 12).
When the mucus indicates possible fertility, it is 
necessary to postpone sexual intercourse if a pregnancy is 
not desired. For most couples, this means that up to half 
the days of a typical cycle are available for intercourse. 
In general, days available for intercourse are scattered 
throughout the cycle, so that abstinence is not required 
for lengthy periods in any cycle. In longer cycles, a 
greater portion of the cycle is available(Billings, pg. 
12).
Billings also states that like other methods, it is 
susceptible to the human factor, but couples who are 
motivated to make it work will find it safe, reliable and 
simple to use. As a matter of fact, preliminaries findings 
indicate an effectiveness of about 99%. This means that 
among 100 couples who follow the method guidelines for a 
year, an average of one pregnancy can be expected to occur. 
This with the effectiveness of artificial contraceptives 
methods including the pill and IUDs(Billings, pg. 13).
As also mentioned in her book, the method requires a 
high level of motivation and cooperation. Yet, unlike 
other contraceptives, the method causes not side effects or 
changes in the natural body processes. With this method no 
equipment is necessary, making it inexpensive. In 
addition, a bonus to the method is the "sense of wonder and 
deep satisfaction that comes from tuning in to the natural 
rhythms of your own body"(Billings, pg. 15).
often, artificial contraceptive advocators agree that 
natural family planning is not reliable. Part of their 
argument is that it never worked in the past centuries. In 
addition, they state that the number of children per 
household has decreased from 10-15 to 2-3 in the past fifty 
years(Billings, pg. 53). Yet the reason for the decrease 
is that children in the past were needed to help out the 
family, for example to work in the fields. On the other 
hand, today children represent a great economic cost to 
parents. A cost, which in turn, is one of the most common 
reasons couples choose to use contraceptives in the first 
place(Billings, pg. 54).
In addition, the Ovulation Method is so reliable that 
many women have discovered the significance of the mucus 
themselves, and have used it as a sign of their fertility 
or infertility even without the scientific verification of 
the method that is available today(Billings, pg. 13).
"For instance, it is known that at least three African 
tribal groups (the Taita, Kamba, and Luo) have used the 
mucus produced by the cervix as a marker of fertility for 
generations past. [In addition], an elder of an Australian 
Aboriginal tribe, Nirangi, recently described how young 
girls of his tribe were taken away to a sacred place by the 
older women and taught about the mucus. [Also], in western 
societies, it is not unusaul to hear of an individual woman 
who has discovered for herself the message of the 
mucus"(Billings, pg. 14).
In sum, if artificial contraceptives were eliminated, 
we would be forced to relay on natural family planning. In 
doing so, sexual intercourse would become for everyone as 
an act of high responsibility. Moreover, if this method 
was well taught and adopted by everyone, it is possible 
that we might even decrease the number of unwanted and 
aborted children.
Works Cited
Billings, Evelyn. 1st Ed. The Billings Method. Random 
House: New York, 1980.
Perry, Susana and Jim Dawson. 1st Ed. Women and The Dalkon 
Shield. New York: Macmillan, 1985.
Rosenfield, Albert. Responsible Parenthood, The Child's 
Psyche Through the Six-Year Pregnancy. 1st Ed. Holt, 
Rinehart and Winston: New York, 1980.
Funk and Wagnall's. Contraceptives. 30 vols. Raintree 
Milwaukee: WI, 1997. 3.