TresSugar

6 Things That Could Make the Pill Fail

Annie Scudder — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 02:00:13 PDT

A hangover isn't the only side effect of heavy drinking. As the Huffington Post reports, binge drinking can increase the risk of pregnancy for women on the pill. It's the perfect, yet not-so-sexy, storm of heavy drinking and vomiting, followed by unprotected sex. See, if you vomit shortly after taking your pill, it's no longer in your system. Why else does the pill fail? Here are six things to look out for. And always consult your doctor if you have any questions!

Inconsistency. Taking your pill at the exact same time every day greatly reduces the risk of failure. And while obesity used to be considered a factor that could impact the effectiveness of the pill, a recent study said consistency, not weight has the greatest impact. If you forget to take more than one pill in a month, be sure to use backup birth control and call your doctor or pharmacist for specific advice.
St. John's Wort. The natural supplement can increase the breakdown of your pill's estrogen, making it less effective.
The antibiotic rifampin. According to the Mayo Clinic, the risks of antibiotics interfering with the pill are greatly overstated. Yet, the antibiotic rifampin (Rimactane) does have an impact, so check with your doctor if you are prescribed antibiotics.
Other medications. Some yeast-infection medicines, HIV treatments, or anti-seizure medication could counteract the pill. If you ever fill a new prescription, always ask if you need to use a backup form of birth control.
Temperature. Be sure to store your pack in a cool place. If it's left in the sun or in extreme heat (or cold) it could become less effective.
Vomiting or diarrhea. If you're ill within 30 minutes of taking your pill - thanks to alcohol or something else - treat it as if you missed it.

If you want to (or can't help but) forget the pill, there's always non-hormonal birth control.

Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pills Could Come to a Kiosk Near You

Tara Block — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:40:05 PDT

In a two-day hearing that began yesterday, the FDA is in discussions to expand the number drugs that can be available over the counter, and birth-control advocates are looking to add oral contraception to the list today. Right now the drugs in question include cholesterol, asthma, migraine, and blood-pressure meds. If birth control pills are considered for over-the-counter availability, one of the ideas is to deliver them at drugstores via a computer kiosk. These kiosks would ask women the same health-related questions a doctor would ask - like whether they smoke or not - making sure the women should take the pills.

Women may have to pay more for over-the-counter birth control (insurance companies cover prescriptions, not over-the-counter drugs), but it would increase access when it's not convenient or possible to get a prescription. I know I've heard women complain of getting stuck on vacation without access to a doctor or having to spend an hour in a doctor's office waiting room when their prescriptions run out, and sometimes that can cause a lapse in taking their pill. Would you root for over-the-counter birth control pills?

John McCain and 6 Other Republicans Showing Support For Birth Control

Tara Block — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:50:58 PDT

With all the outspoken Republican politicians like Rick Santorum speaking out against contraception these days, it's surprising to hear anyone from the right say something positive about birth control. But former presidential candidate and current Arizona Senator John McCain was the voice of reason on Meet the Press this weekend when he said that the GOP should "get off that issue" of contraception, adding "I think we ought to respect the right of women to make choices in their lives."

McCain's statement signals a change of course, since earlier this month he voted in favor of Senator Roy Blunt's amendment that would've let any employer opt out of providing health care coverage for religious or moral reasons. After high profile efforts to limit contraception access, we're seeing a few GOP politicians showing their support for birth control - or at the very least wariness about amendments like Blunt's - with recent statements. This could merely be a smart strategic move for Republicans, as single women voters, or "swingles," are the fastest growing voter block and have the potential to swing the election. Whatever the motivation, a vote in favor of women's rights is something we'll stand behind. Check out some of the recent pro-birth control statements from Republican politicians now.

You Might Be Catching an STD From Online Dating

Annie Scudder — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:40:42 PDT

Our neighbors up north are having more problems down south. In Canada, syphilis and chlamydia rates have risen and some public health experts point to the popularity of online dating as a likely culprit.

When you meet someone online, you probably know a good amount about his or her interests, background, and personality before you get in bed thanks to the profile and communication that happens upfront. This greater sense of intimacy might make people less likely to use condoms with partners they meet online, versus those they meet out at a bar, for example.

Since 2000, cases of syphilis grew 10 times, chlamydia rates have jumped 66 percent, and HIV rates among heterosexual women have also spiked in Canada. And in America, rates are up, too. A survey of online dating trends in Canada found that 25 percent of Canadians have tried online dating and 16 percent had sex with someone they met online. The author of Seductive Delusions - How Everyday People Catch STDs explains the risk: "Typically, the more we know someone, the less likely in general we are to think they have an STD . . . ‘Oh, they’re like me, they’re not going to have an STD.'" Older people, who are no longer at risk of pregnancy or worry about performance issues are also likely to skip condoms. And just the mere fact that it's easier for everyone to find sex partners online could help explain the uptick.

So whether or not you spot a lack of personal pronouns, a short profile, or other signs that a guy is lying on his profile, use a condom when you sleep with him!

Women Only? Not Even Close

The Good Men Project — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:36:54 PST

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, The Good Men Project.

There's been some talk over, what, the last couple months, regarding ladies and their access to birth control. Or basic health care. Or abortions. Or breast exams. Really, pick any of them. Now, while I could (quite easily) get going regarding Komen's debacle with Planned Parenthood or the #issacircus of a hearing that ruined my day, that's not what I'd really like to discuss with Good Men today.

Objectifying Ryan Gosling

Of course, some of you might tell me that you don't want to hear my rants because, hey, those be lady problems and why would you rant to men about them (*please note* I did not say all of you – just… some).

And that, now that you mention it, is exactly my point.

All of these controversies, from Komen to birth control, have been overwhelmingly framed in this way: religious/moral freedom vs. women's rights. Or something along those lines. Here, the details aren't what's important –the point is the vs. women part.

X, Y, Z vs. women. Period. Just us ladies, out there all on our own. Wantin' things like breast exams and the pills. It's a woman's-issues thing, right?

Ahem. Wrong.

I am so done with these arguments being framed this way. These are not women's-only issues and rights. These are far far more than that.

Why? Well, since you asked, let me try to explain.

First, let's just pretend we're talking about birth control – namely, birth control pills, or maybe even morning after pills. For sake of simplicity, let's also narrow that into birth control only used for avoiding pregnancy – the idea that ladies be only wanting the birth control so they can be having the sex without the procreating. Forget all other arguments. For now.

I find it rather interesting that no one seems to bring up with whom all those ladies be having all the sex without the babies with. Well. Lesbians don't really worry about getting preggers all that much. So that leave . . . menfolk, or ladies born as men. And, ya know, I would hazard a guess that a great majority of that sex involving penises would be within committed, monogamous relationships. I would also hazard a guess that, in those committed, monogamous relationships, part of the reason the lady be on the pill is because she is not using condoms with her partner. Why? Because she probably trusts him and they no longer have need to worry about STIs, being in a committed, monogamous relationship. And a lot of people don't really like the whole condom thing, and will avoid when it becomes safe to do so.

Some of those relationships are probably marriages, where both would like to avoid having a kid/having more kids. Both husband and wife are being responsible to what they want and the children they can provide for.

Sure, some of the ladies who be on the pill are probably not in committed, monogamous relationships. Maybe a few of them throw caution to the wind every night. Or something. But, you know, if pregnancy is on the line, they're still engaging le sexy times with a dude. A dude who probably as into getting someone pregnant as his ladyfriend is.

Am I getting my point across? All these "X, Y, Z vs. ladies rights" conversations keep kind of saying that it's only the ladies having sex without the babiez. All by themselves. When, um, hello. Hi there. Birds and bees calling.

Yes, the women are the ones who have to take a pill as a very consistent method of engaging le sexy times without le bébéz. Men don't have that option (yet). But that doesn't mean these aren't men's issues. If you want to be having sex without procreation, this is how you do that – men and women. Both of us. Together. Doing this deed. Together. Does it matter who is swallowing (ahem) the pill?

Keep reading below.

Then and Now: Mitt Romney's Positions on Reproductive Rights

Annie Scudder — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:35:00 PST

Happy Super Tuesday! Today 10 states will vote in GOP presidential primaries, as Mitt Romney hopes to gain the final momentum needed to clinch the party's nomination. When running for the Senate or governor in liberal Massachusetts, Romney took nuanced positions on topics like abortion and emergency contraception. But over time some of his positions on reproductive rights have changed in significant ways. In the '90s he said, "I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country," while today he wants to see the end of Roe v. Wade and abortion limited.

Still, Romney has been somewhat consistent on a few issues and has offered some explanations on others, saying he simply changed his mind on abortion and that it's OK to. Let's evaluate Mitt Romney's reputation as a flip flopper now to see where he stood and now stands on issues crucial to women voters.

5 Reasons to Be Glad the Respect For Rights of Conscience Act Failed

Annie Scudder — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:40:46 PST

Meet Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri. The Senate just narrowly voted 51 to 48 against his amendment, called the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, or the Blunt amendment. The proposed law was a response to the Obama Administration's rule that all insurance plans provide free birth control, and would have let any employer opt out of providing health care coverage that violated their conscience or religious. Here are five reasons to be happy it's not the law, for the time being.

It didn't just apply to religious and religion-sponsored organizations. While Senator Blunt framed it as a question of religious liberty, the bill would have let any employer impose their religious views on their employees.
It allowed employers to opt out of any type of health care coverage they object to. For example, if having a child out of wedlock violated an employer's conscience or religion, they could deny coverage for it. Other examples: an employer could refuse fertility treatment for gay or single women.
It would give your employer, not your doctor, control over your medical decisions.
Supporters of the amendment aren't considering women's point of views. If you saw the recent panel convened by Congressman Darrell Issa to discuss religious liberty and contraception, you know that it had no women on it.
It could be life threatening. All hospitals, for example, would have free range to deny a woman an emergency abortion if her life was threatened.

Even GOP candidate Mitt Romney opposed it, at least briefly. He said yesterday, "I'm not for the bill, but look, the idea of presidential candidates getting into questions about contraception within a relationship between a man and a woman, husband and wife, I'm not going there." Of course, then he walked back on that answer, saying he didn't understand the question and supports the bill. While the Blunt amendment is gone for now, we can probably expect more debates over social issues and women's health as the presidential election draws nearer.

SNL's Really!?! With Seth and Amy Takes on Birth Control Debate

Tara Block — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 17:10:00 PST

Just when we thought she couldn't get any cooler, one of our favorite funny ladies Amy Poehler stopped by Saturday Night Live last night and gave a great rant with Seth Meyers on the birth control debate via Really!?! With Seth and Amy. The pair rightly called out congressman Darrell Issa for his all-male panel on Obama's birth control mandate, Foster Freeze for his antiquated birth control idea (keep your legs closed), and Mike Huckabee's anti-birth-control line: "We're all Catholic now." To that last argument, Amy pointed out that the majority of Catholic women use contraception, saying, "You know who's not all Catholic now? All Catholics now." Thanks, Seth and Amy, for waking people up to the ridiculousness going on right now in regards to women's reproductive rights; let's hope it helps! Check out the clip now, and weigh in below.

Obama Compromises on Contraception

Annie Scudder — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:20:55 PST

Despite the fact that 99 percent of women who have ever had sex - religious or not - have used contraception, the Obama administration's decision to make birth control free under all employer health insurance packages has caused a controversy. Today, the White House announced that it will make a change to its new policy to accommodate religious institutions, such as Catholic hospitals and universities, who do not want to cover prescriptions like the pill. Under the compromise, religious employers would not have to offer free birth control. Rather, insurance companies themselves would have to provide free contraception to workers at religiously sponsored institutions if the worker requests it.

The original policy, similar to laws that already exist in states like California and Oregon, would have required groups affiliated with religious institutions, like hospitals, charities, and universities, to provide insurance plans that cover birth control for free. Churches themselves would be exempt. But some religions, like the Catholic Church, oppose all forms of birth control, and leaders, especially the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, put pressure on the White House to change course, threatening to make this a major campaign issue.

So far, it looks like the compromise has pleased both sides. Planned Parenthood's President Cecile Richards said it "does not compromise a woman's ability to access this critical birth control benefits," and Sister Carol Keehan, the president of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, says she is "pleased and grateful that the religious liberty and conscience protection needs of so many ministries that serve our country were appreciated."

Are Your Birth Control Pills Safe?

Shape — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:06:17 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Last year during my annual exam, when I complained to my doctor about my terrible PMS, she was quick to pull out her pad and give me a prescription for the birth control pill Yaz. "You're going to love this," she said. "All of my patients that are on it think it's the best. It's even helped some of them lose weight!"

Less PMS and not having to worry about my weight? I was sold, even though I'd only intended to talk to her about lifestyle and/or diet modifications since my birth control needs were already taken care of. Before I stopped into the pharmacy, however, I looked up the pill online (Paging Dr. Google!). The results were anything but the lovefest I'd been promised. In fact, the information I found scared me so badly that I never filled that prescription.

Am I Normal? Your Top Six Sex Questions Answered

It quickly became evident that I wasn't the only woman concerned when Yaz and it's sister pill Yazmin, two of the most popular pills on the market, came up for review by the FDA after reports that the manufacturer may have hid and minimized critical health risks. But is the hysteria warranted?

Find out how safe birth control pills are after the break!