Final answer:
The areola is a pigmented area of the breast surrounding the nipple, with areolar glands that secrete lubricating fluid during breastfeeding. It is not a contraceptive method. The role of the areola is related to lactation, not to preventing pregnancy.
Step-by-step explanation:
An areola is not a contraceptive method; rather, it is a highly pigmented, circular area surrounding the nipple on the breast. The areola varies in size and contains areolar glands, which secrete a lubricating fluid important for the comfort of the nipple especially during breastfeeding. The color of the areola may deepen during pregnancy and the entire region, including the nipple and areola, is involved in the process of lactation, where a baby nurses to draw milk from the breast.
Contraceptives, on the other hand, are methods or devices used to prevent pregnancy. Types of contraceptives include barrier methods, like condoms; hormonal methods, such as birth control pills or hormonal implants; natural family planning; and withdrawal. While the breasts do play a role in reproduction, particularly after childbirth in the form of lactation, they are not related to contraception directly. However, it's worth mentioning that breastfeeding can have a natural contraceptive effect known as lactational amenorrhea, which can temporarily suppress ovulation.
The breasts, including the areola, are considered accessory organs of the female reproductive system. Their primary function is to provide milk through lactation, not to serve as a form of birth control.