OPTION 2 - ALTERNATIVE ASSIGNMENT: REFLECTIVE ASSIGNMENT While listening to this week’s archived Seminar, complete a reflective document

MN577 Contraceptive Management: Unit 4 Seminar.

1. The main topic of discussion for the unit 4 seminar was contraceptive management:
   1. A contraceptive was defined as a method that serves to prevent pregnancy.  Contraceptives are divided into two categories, hormonal contraceptives and barrier devices. Hormonal contraceptives are birth control pills, skin patches, implants, injections, and intrauterine devices. Barrer devices are such as condoms, cervical caps, and sterilization.
2. Under contraceptive management, the subtopics discussed were;
   1. Considerations such as;
      1. How well does the contraceptive prevent pregnancy?
      2. What are the health risks involved?
      3. How much does the method of birth control cost?
      4. Does one have an underlying medication condition or lifestyle practices that may pose a threat when using a birth control method?
      5. Does one want a method to use only during sex or is it supposed to be always working?
      6. Is the method long-lasting, reversible, and always in place?
   2. The best contraceptive methods:
      1. The use of IUDs, Progestin implants, and tubal sterilization was discussed as the most effective birth control method with a less than 1% failure rate which means that is almost 100% effective.
      2. The use of condoms is about 98% effective when perfect use. It is highly advantageous since it is the only birth control method that protects against sexually transmitted diseases.
      3. Birth control pills have a 91% effectiveness.
3. Interesting points:
   1. One interesting point I learned during the seminar is that birth control pills can come in a combination of Progestin and estrogen or Progestin alone. I was not aware of the latter until hearing it from the seminar.
4. Recommendations.
   1. In line with the seminar, I believe that the condom is the safest and most reliable contraceptive. When perfectly used, the condom has no side effects, unlike other contraceptive methods which are linked to serious side effects such as heavy bleeding.