Practically speaking, it is really not a good idea to have a big family taking into consideration the rising costs of living. How is a big family created? A family can grow big when children are born almost every year. Some couples are even having a hard time raising just two children even though they both have stable jobs.

Other than that, it is no secret that most couples today engage in pre marital sex and without the adequate protection such an act can end up with an unplanned pregnancy. Getting pregnant out of wedlock is one thing and getting pregnant at a young age and being jobless is also another issue, but either way both can be prevented.

Contraceptives are used to prevent the meeting of the woman's egg cell and the man's sperm inside the woman's uterus. By hindering such an event, pregnancy cannot take place.

1. Condoms

These come in two forms the male condom and the female condom. We often see male condoms being sold in pharmacies while the female condom is seldom sold. Condoms are made of latex and are designed to cover the penile shaft or the vaginal canal. This type of contraception works by preventing the sperm cells from entering into the woman's uterus. Aside from preventing pregnancy condoms also reduce the rate of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases.

2. Pills

Pills also come in different types and one such type is the combined pill. This type combines two synthetic hormones and works by preventing the ovaries from releasing egg cells each month. With the absence of the egg cells the sperm has nothing to fertilize.

Another type is the progesterone only pill which works by thickening the mucous membrane of the cervix thus shutting off the entrance. When the mucous of the cervix is really thick, the sperm cannot gain entrance to the uterus.

The last type of pill is the emergency pill. This pill is taken 3 days after having unprotected sex but there is a catch. This pill works better if it is taken sooner. It works either by delaying ovulations, preventing the release of an egg cell or stopping the egg from settling on the womb.

3. Injectable contraception

The effect of this type of contraceptive is more or less the same with the combined pill. This contraceptive can protect a woman from pregnancy for about 12 weeks. So if you want to be protected most of the time you would want to have this contraceptive injected to you every 3 months.

4. Abstinence

This is a natural form of contraception. Abstinence basically means not having sex. This is really not a reliable type of contraception since the success will depend on the couple's ability to say no.

Each type works differently and each type varies as to their success rates. But the best way to ensure the effect of these contraceptives is by combining two of them. It would be best if both couples use one type of contraceptive.