Archive:Contraception
The term, 'contraception' derives from the Latin 'contra', which means 'against', and the word 'conception', [1] which is the non-technical term for fertilization. [2] 'Contraception' may be used to refer merely to the prevention of fertilization, but it is more commonly used to refer to the means employed to avoid fertilization. When referring to a means of prevention, it is synonymous with contraceptive birth control. Any procedure or device which would keep a sperm cell from fertilizing the egg, therefore, can be considered to be contraception.
Contrasted with Other Birth Control
Birth control can refer to anything which would prevent childbirth. Methods of birth control can be classified by the stage of reproduction which is achieved before the process is brought to a halt. If a form of birth control seeks to prevent the sperm from fertilizing the egg, then it is contraceptive[3]. If fertilization has already occurred, but the form of birth control seeks to prevent the implantation of the embryo into the uterine lining, then it is a contragestive. [4] Just as a contraception is the avoidance of conception, contragestion is the avoidance of gestation. If implantation has already occurred, but the form of birth control seeks to end gestation by terminating the pregnancy prior to birth, then it is an abortion.
- Contraception: contraceptives prevent the sperm from fertilizing the egg
- Contragestion: contragestives prevent implantation after fertilization has occurred or by causing the uterine lining to shed after implantation.
- Abortion: implantation has occurred, but pregnancy is terminated before it comes to term
Controversy Over Categories
- See also Beginning of pregnancy controversy
Because the word, 'contragestive' is a medical term which is not in common usage, there is controversy about the classification of contragestive birth control. Since both 'contraception' and 'abortion' are non-technical terms which are used in everyday speech, non-surgical birth control is usually divided into either 'contraceptives' or 'abortifacients[5]'. Those who contend that pregnancy does not begin until implantation say that since abortions are terminated pregnancies, contragestives cannot cause abortions and cannot be abortifacients. They argue, therefore that contragestives are only a form of contraception. On the other hand, those who contend that pregnancy begins at conception argue that contragestives do terminate a pregnancy, and therefore are abortifacients.
References
- ↑ [1] conception - definition of conception in the Medical dictionary - by the Free Online Medical Dictionary
Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers. 2007
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008
Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. 2009
The American Heritage Medical Dictionary Copyright 2007, 2004
- ↑ [2] fertilization - definition of fertilization in the Medical dictionary - by the Free Online Medical Dictionary
Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers. 2007
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright 2007, 2004
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Copyright 2008
Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. 2009
McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. 2002 - ↑ [3]contraceptive - definition of contraceptive in the Medical dictionary - by the Free Online Medical Dictionary
McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. 2002
Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers. 2007
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright 2007, 2004
Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. 2009
Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary, 3 ed. 2007 - ↑ [4]contragestive - definition of contragestive in the Medical dictionary - by the Free Online Medical Dictionary
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright 2007, 2004 - ↑ [5] 'abortifacient - definition of abortifacient in the Medical dictionary - by the Free Online Medical Dictionary
McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. 2002
Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers. 2007
Mosby's Medical Dictionary, 8th edition. 2009