Contraception (or, in other words, contraception) is a term denoting several methods that cause temporary (in some special cases permanent) inability to fertilize, resulting in an unplanned pregnancy.
People have been working on the possibility of preventing unwanted pregnancy since ancient times. Already in the earliest civilizations, people noticed that women soon after giving birth, as well as those who regularly breastfeed, did not get pregnant, even despite regular unprotected sex. It would be an exaggeration to say that breastfeeding is one of the oldest forms, albeit partly unconscious contraception. Women in some primitive tribes in the tropics are not even significantly reduced. This is due to the fact that they are either pregnant or breastfeeding. And until they finish breastfeeding, they are pregnant again. It was found that this group of women has a lower incidence of ovarian cancer, as well as malignant neoplasms. the disease of the uterus itself. This is due to the fact that with regular and frequent breastfeeding or pregnancy, ovulation does not occur, i.e. the rupture of a mature follicle with an egg in the ovary. At the same time, there is no “injury” of the ovary and, as a consequence, the possible formation of a tumor from rapidly dividing regenerative cells. This reduces the risk of certain types of ovarian cancer. As for endometrial cancer, this protective mechanism of breastfeeding and pregnancy is slightly different. Namely, during the first half of the menstrual cycle, there is a significant predominance of female estrogenic hormones. They, if they act on their own (without progestogen) and for a long time, lead to excessive growth of the uterine mucosa and, eventually, to cancer. In the case of pregnancy, breastfeeding, or the use of combined hormonal contraceptives, these levels are balanced, as well as the level of the “protective” hormone progestogen is balanced. This reduces the excessive effect of estrogens on the lining of the uterus and, ultimately, the risk of cancer.
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