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Freudenrich, Ph.D., Craig. "How Sex Works." 16 April 2001. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-reproduction.htm> 17 May 2008.
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Contraception and STDs
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Contraception and STDs
As you can see from the process of sexual reproduction, there are several ways to prevent the sperm and egg from coming together. These methods of contraception fall into the following categories:
- Not engaging in sexual activity - abstinence
- Preventing a follicle from developing - birth control pills
- Placing a barrier between sperm and egg - condoms (male/female), cervical caps, diaphragms
- Killing the sperm - spermicides
- Surgery - blocking the sperm or egg with surgical procedures like tubal ligations (in women) or vasectomies (in men)
- Timing - avoiding intercourse during the period of maximum fertility
See FDA: Birth Control Guide for details, including information on the effectiveness of various contraception methods.
Sexual activity carries certain risks of diseases caused by:
- Bacteria (gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia)
- Protozoa (trichomoniasis)
- Viruses (genital herpes, HIV/AIDS)
For more information on human reproduction and related topics, check out the links on the next page.
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Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this How Stuff Works article:
Freudenrich, Ph.D., Craig. "How Sex Works." 16 April 2001. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/human-reproduction.htm> 17 May 2008.
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