Birth control, also known as contraception and fertility control, refers to methods or devices used to prevent pregnancy.[1] Planning and provision of birth control is called family planning.[2]Safe sex, such as the use of male or female condoms, can also help prevent transmission of sexually transmitted infections.[3][4] Contraceptive use in developing countries has cut the number of maternal deaths by 44% (about 270,000 deaths averted in 2008) but could prevent 73% if the full demand for birth control were met.[5][6] Because teenage pregnancies are at greater risk of poor outcomes such as preterm birth, low birth weight and infant death, some authors suggest adolescents need comprehensive sex education and access to reproductive health services, including contraception.[7][8] By lengthening the time between pregnancies, birth control can also improve adult women's delivery outcomes and the survival of their children.[5]
A male birth control might not be so far away as most people thought – especially as Scottish scientists have uncovered a key gene essential for sperm development. The gene, which for some reason was named called Katnal1, is critical for sperm production, as it enables the little guys to mature; thus, if a pill [...]
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Fri, May 25, 2012
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