Contraceptivos

Abstract

A contraceptive may be defined as a mean of avoiding pregnancy, including all kinds of procedures which are used with this purpose, independently of its mechanism of action. Contraceptives are always used with the idea of avoiding pregnancy and not to produce any therapeutic effect at all. In fact in practice a relative importance is given to the mechanism of action; with attention placed solely upon its efficiency. Ordinarily a contraceptive may gain in favour upon another one simply for utilitarian reasons: for example, to prevent secondary effects, the chemical contraceptive is abandoned and the intrauterine device is adopted. . In general terms contraceptives designate as well all types of means which also act after fecundation has taken place, that is, which interrupt pregnancies. We can include in this context, for example, the so-called «morning-after pill». On the other hand, there axists a general tendency to avoid the term «abortive» with reference to those means which act after fecundation. This is what happens very often in the case of sorne oral contraceptives, which for advertising purposes are called ovulation inhibitors, while in reality very often the effect produce is the interruption of embryonic development, preventing thus the implantation. The transition from using contraceptives to abortion, which is often encountered in many instances, brings into evidence, leads to a much more realistic view against contraceptives than that which is usually made. The important thing is to reach the very core of the problem: a widespread use of contraceptives will not avoid abortions.