Ception

V O L . 1 | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3
CEPTION
INCEPTION
EXCEPTION
MISCONCEPTION
DECEPTION
The casics -What ic
contraception?
All about Side effects and
other exceptions
Male contraception, -does it A criticism on the
exist?
pharmaceutical industry

ONTENTS

1..........Inception
3.........Exception
4..Misconception
5.........Deceptio
n
6..Preconception

IN
CEPTION

how to not get
pregnant
birds & bees
Sex refers to all acts that can sexually arouse you. Sex is more
than sexual intercourse (penetrative sex). It also includes
things such as kissing, caressing, fingering, and oral sex. You
can also have sex with yourself. This is called masturbation.
Sexuality is a central part of human life. It is a normal and
positive way to express yourself. Sexuality involves not only sex
but also other matters. For example: sexual pleasure and
intimacy, anatomy and having children, as well as taboos and
values on sexual orientation.
For a woman to become pregnant an egg must be fertilised by
a sperm. Sperm leaves the penis and enters the body through
the vagina. The sperm then swims up to meet the egg. This can
happen after two pople have unprotected sex (penis in vagina
sex without a condom), when the sperm swims to meet with an
egg. This can also happen during any sexual activity where
semen (see-mun) containing sperm ends up anywhere near the
opening of the vagina. The sperm and egg meeting is called
fertilisation. This fertilised egg then needs to travel to the
uterus and implant into the uterine lining. The egg, now called
an embryo (em-bree-oh), grows and develops into a baby over
a 40 week period. From the eighth week of pregnancy, the
embryo is often called a foetus (fee-tuss).
the womans job ?
When you think about birth control, your mind probably goes to
the pill for women. Researchers are working on one for men,
too, but it’s not a reality yet. Still, men have several options to
help avoid an unplanned pregnancy.
Why consider male contraceptives? For one thing, the pill isn’t
foolproof. Or your partner may not be able to take the pill
because of side effects. Or they may not use any forms of
birth control.
Women also tend to bear most of the responsibility and cost of
birth control, and female methods tend to be more expensive
than those for men. If you want to play a more equal role, talk
with your partner about the best way to do so.
To learn more about this head to the chapter: Misconception
contraception
Contraception is the deliberate use of artificial methods or
other techniques to prevent pregnancy as a consequence of
sexual intercourse. The major forms of artificial contraception
are: barrier methods, of which the commonest is the condom
or sheath; the contraceptive pill, which contains synthetic sex
hormones which prevent ovulation in the female; intrauterine
devices, such as the coil, which prevent the fertilized ovum
from implanting in the uterus; and male or female sterilization.
what to consider
Many elements need to be considered by women, men, or
couples at any given point in their lifetimes when choosing the
most appropriate contraceptive method. These elements
include safety, effectiveness, availability (including
accessibility and affordability), and acceptability. Voluntary
informed choice of contraceptive methods is an essential
guiding principle, and contraceptive counseling, when
applicable, might be an important contributor to the
successful use of contraceptive methods.
In choosing a method of contraception, dual protection from
the simultaneous risk for HIV and other STDs also should be
considered. Although hormonal contraceptives and IUDs are
highly effective at preventing pregnancy, they do not protect
against STDs, including HIV. Consistent and correct use of the
male latex condom reduces the risk for HIV infection and other
STDs, including chlamydial infection, gonococcal infection,
and trichomoniasis.

types of
contrace
ptive
methods

Reversible Methods of Birth Control
Intrauterine Contraception
Copper T intrauterine device (IUD)—This IUD is a small device that is shaped in the form of a “T.”
Your doctor places it inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy. It can stay in your uterus for up to 10
years. Typical use failure rate: 0.8%.1
Hormonal Methods
Implant—The implant is a single, thin rod that is inserted under the skin of a women’s upper arm.
The rod contains a progestin that is released into the body over 3 years. Typical use failure rate:
0.1%.
Injection or “shot”—Women get shots of the hormone progestin in the buttocks or arm every three
months from their doctor. Typical use failure rate: 4%.
Combined oral contraceptives—Also called “the pill,” combined oral contraceptives contain the
hormones estrogen and progestin. It is prescribed by a doctor. A pill is taken at the same time
each day. If you are older than 35 years and smoke, have a history of blood clots or breast cancer,
your doctor may advise you not to take the pill. Typical use failure rate: 7%.1
Hormonal vaginal contraceptive ring—The ring releases the hormones progestin and estrogen. You
place the ring inside your vagina. You wear the ring for three weeks, take it out for the week you
have your period, and then put in a new ring. Typical use failure rate: 7%.
Barrier Methods
Diaphragm
Diaphragm or cervical cap—Each of these barrier methods are placed inside the vagina to cover
the cervix to block sperm. The diaphragm is shaped like a shallow cup. The cervical cap is a
thimble-shaped cup. Before sexual intercourse, you insert them with spermicide to block or kill
sperm. Visit your doctor for a proper fitting because diaphragms and cervical caps come in
different sizes. Typical use failure rate for the diaphragm: 17%.
male condom
Male condom—Worn by the man, a male condom keeps sperm from getting into a woman’s body.
Latex condoms, the most common type, help prevent pregnancy, and HIV and other STDs, as do the
newer synthetic condoms. “Natural” or “lambskin” condoms also help prevent pregnancy, but may
not provide protection against STDs, including HIV. Typical use failure rate: 13%.1 Condoms can
only be used once. You can buy condoms, KY jelly, or water-based lubricants at a drug store. Do
not use oil-based lubricants such as massage oils, baby oil, lotions, or petroleum jelly with latex
condoms. They will weaken the condom, causing it to tear or break.

female condom
Female condom—Worn by the woman, the female condom helps keeps sperm from getting into her
body. It is packaged with a lubricant and is available at drug stores. It can be inserted up to eight
hours before sexual intercourse. Typical use failure rate: 21%,1 and also may help prevent STDs.
Fertility Awareness-Based Methods
fertility awareness-based methods
Fertility awareness-based methods—Understanding your monthly fertility patternexternal icon can
help you plan to get pregnant or avoid getting pregnant. Your fertility pattern is the number of days
in the month when you are fertile (able to get pregnant), days when you are infertile, and days when
fertility is unlikely, but possible. If you have a regular menstrual cycle, you have about nine or more
fertile days each month. If you do not want to get pregnant, you do not have sex on the days you are
fertile, or you use a barrier method of birth control on those days. Failure rates vary across these
methods.1-2 Range of typical use failure rates: 2-23%.
Permanent Methods of Birth Control
male and female permanent contraception
Female Sterilization—Tubal ligation or “tying tubes”— A woman can have her fallopian tubes tied (or
closed) so that sperm and eggs cannot meet for fertilization. The procedure can be done in a
hospital or in an outpatient surgical center. You can go home the same day of the surgery and
resume your normal activities within a few days. This method is effective immediately. Typical use
failure rate: 0.5%.1
Male Sterilization–Vasectomy—This operation is done to keep a man’s sperm from going to his penis,
so his ejaculate never has any sperm in it that can fertilize an egg. The procedure is typically done
at an outpatient surgical center. The man can go home the same day. Recovery time is less than one
week. After the operation, a man visits his doctor for tests to count his sperm and to make sure the
sperm count has dropped to zero; this takes about 12 weeks. Another form of birth control should be
used until the man’s sperm count has dropped to zero. Typical use failure rate: 0.15%.
Which contraceptive method is the best for you?
take this quiz to find out:

help us to
provide
education and
contraceptive
to people in
need

E X C E P T I O N
SIDE EFFECTS OF CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS

E X C E P T I O N
The most common side
effects are spotting or
bleeding between periods
(this is more common with
progestin-only pills), sore
breasts, nausea, or
headaches. But these usually
go away after 2 or 3 months,
and they don't happen to
everyone who takes the pill.
Birth control shouldn't make
you feel sick or
uncomfortable.
S I D E E F F E C T S

Experiences
"Even having been on birth control for
over six years, I still feel like the
conversation around different options is
not where it should be. My ob-gyn is
more on the traditional side, and though
I've expressed interest in other methods,
my doctor just tells me the pill is the
'safest' method in regard to blood clots
and other side effects. And sadly, that's
the end of the conversation every time.
E M M A , 2 5
"I decided to go on it on my own when I was
15 after I lost my virginity. I remember being
a little bit embarrassed and mostly stressed
trying to figure out the logistics of how I
was going to go to CVS to fill a prescription
without my parents knowing. I wasn't going
out of my way to hide it, but I wasn't ready
to tell them I was sexually active yet and
figured this would be kind of a giveaway."
K A T E 2 0
"I started birth control when I was 14 due to
the extreme cramps I was getting. Plus, I
wanted to feel prepared and have
ownership and control over my body. My
general practitioner grew up with my mom,
so it was a bit of a difficult experience
asking her for it (but my mom and I are
pretty open about this stuff).
K C , 1 9

Doctors Reply
Dear Emma,
Dear Kate,
Dear KC,

WHAT OPTION DO MEN CURRENTLY HAVE?
Currently, men have only two effective options for
birth control: male condoms and vasectomy.
However, condoms are single-use only and prone to
failure. In contrast, vasectomy — a surgical procedure
— is considered a permanent form of male
sterilization. Although vasectomies can sometimes be
reversed, the reversal surgery is expensive and not
always successful. Therefore, men need an effective,
long-lasting but reversible contraceptive, similar to
the birth control pill for women.
Researchers have been playing around with the
idea of male contraception for decades, but a
lack of urgency surrounds the issue.
Regardless of ample enthusiasm for the idea,
the fact remains that pursuing male
contraceptives like the ones described above
would involve significant effort on the part of
both male volunteers and the male-led
pharmaceutical industry. Myriad hormonal
and non-hormonal methods have been
studied at least partially, but these studies
receive little funding and almost no media
attention, and abandonment and incompletion
are rampant. Public access to male
contraception requires completed and
successful clinical trials, which in turn
require significant funds and far more
participants. Pharmaceutical companies have
expressed little interest in male
contraception, presumably because the
complex drug would not become profitable for
many years.
H O W S O O N ?
" W H E R E T H E
H E L L I S
B I R T H
C O N T R O L
F O R M E N ? "
Do
you
want
to
make
the
DIffeREncE ?
Scan the QR code and sign the petition
to contribute to the research, for male
contraception

ECEPTION
RAGE

F U C K
T H E
P H A R
M A
Marketing decisions, rather than scientific innovations, have guided
the develop ment and positioning of contraceptive products in recent
years. Pharmaceutical companies have been content with th status
quo, offering women small lifestyle add-ons to basically the same old
I N D U
oral contraceptives, seeking to maximize profits and minimize losses
rather than to develop true innovations in birth control. Therefore, for
the past 50 years, the Pill has retained the dubious honor of being the
least unsatisfactory choice in contraception for American women.
S T R Y
You are IN RAGE? You should be. You want to pressure the industry?
You should. Write a email to pharmaceutical@industry.com and tell
them how you feel!

preconception
/ noun /
a preconceived idea
or prejudice.

A Guide on how to destigmatize*
1. Be open! There is no shame in
using contraceptives or having
sex.
2. Talk about preconception with
your friends and family.
3. Stay informed! Read CEPTION
or other books, articles ect.
4. Start with yourself: Reflect on
how you feel about the topic and
why
*Contraceptive use is not a sign of a man’s masculinity or a woman’s promiscuity. However,
contraceptives are still taboo topics in the 21st century. If you follow a few simple steps, you
can help to destigmatize the topic.

GET INVOLVED
sign these petitions:
donate to:
learn more about
male contraception:
check out these
innovative companies:

U P C O M I N G C E P T I O N
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SPECIAL THANKS TO: BENNI, LOTTI, MAXINE, LILLI