A woman's life seems richer and more vibrant than a man's. Her unique physiology grants her a sacred mission—to nurture life. From innocence to maturity, women navigate countless challenges regarding love and reproductive health. Proactive life planning, especially in managing reproductive health risks throughout one's entire lifespan, can be significantly improved. Scientific contraception is the first step in caring for yourself.At the recent four-year summary and advancement meeting for the "Care for Her, Nurture the Future" Post-Abortion Care (PAC) public welfare project, our publication consulted attending experts on knowledge related to women and contraception.
Not Ready for Parenthood:
Perhaps you've just entered marriage and haven't fully enjoyed your romantic twosome life; perhaps you're busy with work and not yet prepared to care for a child. Yet "love" is beautiful and indispensable.Therefore, only by enhancing young people's awareness of contraception and encouraging them to make responsible choices about their sexual behavior and reproductive health can we increase safe contraception rates and improve reproductive health education standards.
While there are various contraceptive methods available, their effectiveness varies significantly.Surveys reveal that a significant number of young people are unaware of what constitutes safe and reliable contraception. Many women seem to place great trust in the "natural" rhythm method, yet this so-called "safe period" approach is highly unreliable. For women with a 28-day menstrual cycle, the "safe" window lasts only about one week. Moreover, factors like climate, diet, emotions, and environment can cause fluctuations in ovulation timing, or even trigger additional ovulation.
Furthermore, withdrawal (coitus interruptus) is an extremely unreliable method. Ejaculation and withdrawal are a continuous action separated by an extremely short interval. Most men cannot accurately time this, often failing to withdraw the penis from the vagina before reaching climax. This results in the initial ejaculate entering the woman's vagina, which contains the highest concentration of sperm, making pregnancy highly likely.
Short-acting oral contraceptives are currently a highly effective and suitable routine contraceptive method for people of reproductive age. Compound short-acting oral contraceptives contain estrogen and progestin that suppress ovarian ovulation and thicken cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching the egg, thereby achieving highly effective contraception.Additionally, as a reversible contraceptive method, short-acting oral contraceptives do not affect future fertility or conception.
Other advantages of using oral contraceptives include: high effectiveness when used correctly according to instructions; convenience; no impact on sexual experience, requiring no interruption of intercourse; certain types of pills may alleviate heavy menstrual bleeding or menstrual cramps; some formulations may improve acne; and they can be taken long-term.
After an Unavoidable Pregnancy Termination:
When a woman of childbearing age experiences an unintended pregnancy, she should decide whether to carry the pregnancy to term based on her specific circumstances. If termination becomes necessary for various reasons, she should cooperate with medical professionals to terminate the pregnancy and take maximum measures to protect her uterus in future life.
Terminating a pregnancy is akin to a blind person feeling their way around a watermelon. Doctors perform the procedure "blindly," breaking up the fetus before suctioning or scraping out the fragments and membranes to end the pregnancy. If scraping is too shallow, incomplete removal may necessitate a second procedure. If too deep, excessive scraping inevitably causes endometrial trauma.Furthermore, surgical instruments damage the uterine lining, disrupting the body's natural defense mechanisms. This increases the risk of post-operative complications like pelvic infections, menstrual irregularities, and secondary infertility. Statistics show that approximately 88.2% of women with secondary infertility have undergone pregnancy termination.
Thus, pregnancy termination harms both body and mind, making effective contraception the fundamental way to avoid such harm. Most women mistakenly believe they cannot conceive quickly after termination. In reality, without contraception, pregnancy may occur before menstruation resumes. Failure to use contraception may lead to repeated terminations within a short period, causing significant harm to reproductive health.Among various contraceptive methods, combined oral contraceptives (COCs) offer high efficacy and immediate accessibility, making them well-suited for post-abortion contraception. They are increasingly recommended and widely adopted in clinical practice. Clinical trials demonstrate that COCs are more effective than condoms, and they can be initiated immediately following any abortion method.
Postpartum Lactation Period:
The lactation period represents a unique physiological phase in a woman's life. Traditional misconceptions suggest that pregnancy is unlikely during lactation or amenorrhea, leading to delayed postpartum contraception. In reality, non-lactating mothers typically resume ovulation and menstruation within 4-6 weeks postpartum.Breastfeeding mothers often experience amenorrhea, leading some to mistakenly believe that the absence of menstruation means no ovulation and thus no possibility of pregnancy. This is incorrect. Breastfeeding mothers may resume ovulation even without menstruation. Failure to use contraception during this period can easily result in an unplanned pregnancy.
If you think this is an opportunity for a second child, you are mistaken. After giving birth to the first child, only by planning a reasonable birth spacing interval can the mother safely undergo another pregnancy and delivery. If the mother had a cesarean section, postpartum contraception is especially crucial. Otherwise, due to incomplete healing of the scarred uterus or other factors, a subsequent pregnancy may lead to serious complications such as uterine rupture, placental abruption, or severe anemia.
Postpartum contraception has long been a critical yet underemphasized aspect of family planning and contraceptive services. In China, studies indicate that approximately one-third of women primarily rely on the rhythm method and/or withdrawal as their first choice for postpartum contraception, while another third favor condoms. Both methods carry a relatively high failure rate.If an unintended pregnancy occurs shortly after childbirth and is terminated, the surgical risks increase significantly. For instance, terminating a pregnancy within a year of a cesarean section can lead to uterine perforation due to incomplete healing of the incision and may also increase the likelihood of incomplete suction. In summary, considering both the mother's physical health and the serious consequences of pregnancy termination, breastfeeding mothers should adopt scientifically proven contraceptive methods to achieve effective contraception.
Before and After Having a Second Child:
With the relaxation of the two-child policy, many couples wish to add a sibling to their family, providing companionship as the children grow. However, from the perspective of the second child's health, a mother's short-term recurrence of pregnancy is particularly detrimental to the baby's development.
The fetus relies on the mother's body to absorb nutrients for its growth. Adequate nutrition is the most critical factor influencing pregnancy outcomes. If the mother's nutritional supply is insufficient, the balance between maternal and fetal needs is disrupted, leading to competition for nutrients between the fetus and the mother.An overly short interval between pregnancies depletes the mother's reserves of nutrients like iron and folate. This nutritional depletion directly increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes for both mother and fetus. Extensive clinical research shows that pregnancies spaced 18-23 months apart yield the lowest rates of low birth weight, preterm birth, and small-for-gestational-age infants. After the first pregnancy, consistent use of highly effective contraception is essential.
Even after delivering a healthy second child, women must remain vigilant about contraception to prevent unintended pregnancies and surgical complications. Long-acting, highly effective methods such as the levonorgestrel intrauterine device (IUD), copper IUD, or continuous combined oral contraceptive pills (COCPs) offer reliable protection.