Essay On Contraception

Dictionary.com defines population control as a policy of attempting to limit the growth in numbers of a population, esp in poor or densely populated parts of the world, by programmes of contraception or sterilization. (“Population control Definition & Meaning”) More than 7,900,000,000 people are living in the world. Some countries can’t provide for their growing population, so they use population control. When someone says population control you may think about carnage (Unit 14, pg. 177). However, population control is very different in various countries. (7) For example, here in the United States, the “population control method” is not automatically (Unit 5, pg. 62) applied. On the other hand, in China, the population control method is applied automatically. Although the US uses different methods than other countries use, it still would be considered a way of population control because it is limiting the population’. (8)

There are many different types of birth control methods. The first and 100 percent effective method is abstinence. This is when you simply don’t have sex. Then the method is progestin arm implant for women. The implant is almost 100 percent effective and one of the most effective reversible contraceptives. An example of this implant would be Nexplanon. The Cleveland Health Clinic states “Nexplanon is a single rod of hormone (the size of a matchstick) that is placed directly under the skin of the upper arm by a physician. It delivers a progestin hormone (no estrogen), over a three-year period.” (“Birth Control Options & Types: Risks & Effectiveness”).  The next method would be hormonal contraceptives. Hormonal contraceptives include birth control pills, vaginal rings, and the patch. All of these are meant for women. The pill is taken daily, the vaginal rings are used once every month, then the patch is changed weekly. used correctly hormonal contraceptives are 99 percent effective making them much more effective than barrier methods. Furthermore, the Cleveland Clinic states, “nine out of 100 women will get pregnant each year on the pill because they do not use it correctly.” (“Birth Control Options & Types: Risks & Effectiveness”). (7) There also is a pill called an emergency contraceptive, also known as the morning-after pill or plan b. The women take this after unprotected sex. The next five mentioned methods are either put on the body or inserted in the body. The first is an IUD that is inserted into the woman's uterus. Next, there is the diaphragm and the cervical cap, both are placed against a woman's cervix. Finally, there are female and male condoms.

The final methods do not use any medication or material. The first is withdrawal or the pullout method. Cleveland Clinic states “These are not effective methods of birth control when used on their own. Out of every five women using these methods to prevent pregnancy, one will get pregnant by the end of the year.” (“Birth Control Options & Types: Risks & Effectiveness”). The next method would be a woman keeping track of her cycle. There are days when women have a higher chance of getting pregnant than others. The last two methods are sterilization and they require surgery. Female sterilization is called a Tubal Ligation or getting your tubes tied. Cleveland Health Clinic states, “This causes permanent sterility by preventing transport of the egg (ovum) to the uterus. This also blocks the passage of sperm up the tube to the ovulating ovary where fertilization normally occurs.” (“Birth Control Options & Types: Risks & Effectiveness”). Male sterilization is called a Vasectomy. A Vasectomy is typically done in a physician’s office. Cleveland Health Clinic states the following about a Vasectomy, "requires cutting and sealing the vas deferens, the tubes in the male reproductive system that carry sperm. A vasectomy prevents the transport of sperm out of the testes.” (“Birth Control Options & Types: Risks & Effectiveness”)

How population control relates to Brave New World and Frankenstein. First, let's start with Brave New World. In Brave New World people are not reproduced like they are in the real world. Chapter 1 states, “a bokanovskified egg will bud, will proliferate, will divide. From eight to ninety-six buds, and every bud will grow into a perfectly formed embryo, and every embryo into a full-sized adult” (Huxley). This is a way of population control because Bokanosky’s process can control how many embryos are made (embryos becoming humans) and which eggs and sperm are put together to make an embryo. Next, let’s talk about Frankenstein. In Frankenstein Victor creature along with this creature, he created a new life. Chapter 5 states, “I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard” (Shelly). This shows that Victor did create a life and since he was successful he could have easily gone on to bring to life more creatures. More creatures mean more people added to the population. Both books show population control even though it is different ways.

Birth control is one of the major ways that the world can control the population. Birth control is one of the major ways that the world can control the population. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states, “64.9%—or 46.9 million of the 72.2 million women aged 15–49 in the United States—were currently using a method of contraception.” (“Products - Data Briefs - Number 327 - December 2018”). That percent shows that over half of the women ages 15-49 are using some form of birth control. Although there is a big percentage of women using a method of birth control, it still isn’t 100 percent effective. (7) The Guttmacher Institute states, “there were 98 pregnancies for every 1,000 women” (“Unintended Pregnancy in the United States”). When you do the math with the data that's given around 479 women get pregnant unintentionally. 479 unintended births (possibly more if you count twins, triplets, etc.) are way better than having the possibility of 72.2 million more births each year (still not counting twins, triplets, etc.). If those final numbers you see now how birth control controls the population.  

How population control affects the world. How population control affects the world. Right now it is very hard for the world to keep up with the growing population and its effects. Population Matters states, “Biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, deforestation, water and food shortage—these are all exacerbated by our huge and ever-increasing numbers. Our impact on the environment is a product of our consumption and our numbers.” (“The Facts”). This statement gives many examples of how the rapidly growing population affects the environment and world we live in. One example of a food shortage would be the national formula shortage. Therefore, this shortage is a huge problem because how are the women that can’t produce breast milk or choose not to use their breast milk supposed to provide a nutrient source for their child. (7) Along with the growing population affecting the humans in the world, it also affects the animals. The Center for Biological Diversity states, “As our growing human population reaches farther and farther into remote areas in search of room to build cities, housing developments, golf courses, and new farms, we're squeezing wildlife into ever smaller habitat refuges, often leaving endangered species nowhere else to go.” (“Tackling the Population Problem”). This statement is very true. If you go and drive around in almost any city you are going to find a construction site building new housing. Most of the time this area was where trees and plants were growing, a great place for animals to live. If the rapid growth of the population can be slowed down, then it may be able to dissipate (Unit 8, pg. 101) the rate of construction.

Even though the United States utilizes different methods of population control than other countries, it still would be considered a method of population control due to the effect it has on the population of the United States. With the United States’ population growing by 10,267 each day and the world’s population growing by 385,000 each day, it is a good idea to enhance (Unit 12, pg. 149) your education about the effects the growing population has on the environment. It would also be good to disseminate (Unit 11, pg. 139) your knowledge on the effects of the growing population and how it can be controlled. Birth control is one of the major methods that help to control the population and most people don’t even know it. “Our population has become so large that the Earth cannot cope.” (“The Facts”)