TresSugar

What's the Right Birth Control For You? Part Three

DearSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Birth control can be really annoying, but if you're sexually active, it's necessary if you want to prevent yourself from becoming pregnant or contracting an STI. I've talked about some common forms of birth control and some less common forms, but there are still more options.

Want to see them? Then read more.

Method	Pros	Cons
The Shot	Once you get the shot, it'll prevent you from getting pregnant for three months, and it's 99.7 percent effective.	It's a shot so if you hate needles, this method isn't for you. Plus you have to go to your doctor's office to get it, and some women complain of irregular bleeding and weight gain. Also, if you're thinking about becoming pregnant, after your last injection, it can take six to 12 months to become fertile again. It also doesn't protect you against STIs.
Implanon	Once inserted, it'll prevent pregnancy for up to three years, and is 99 percent effective. Some women love it and experience no side effects.	It has to be surgically implanted by a doctor, and some women complain of irritation, burning, pain, or oozing where the implant was inserted or removed. Since it is a type of hormonal birth control, for all three years you could experience irregular bleeding, mood swings, depression, weight gain, acne, sore breasts, stomach pain, swelling in your ankles and feet, headaches, or nausea. It may be difficult to remove because thick scar tissue can form around the implant. To top it all off, this method doesn't protect you against STIs.
FAM (Fertility Awareness Method)	This is a great method if you are very aware of your cycle, and have the time to chart your daily morning temperature, the position of your cervix, and the feel of your cervical fluid, so you can figure out the exact day that you ovulate. This method helps a woman feel more in control, and if she knows what days she's most fertile, she can avoid unprotected sex.	This method can be really challenging, especially if you have irregular cycles. It takes a lot of effort, responsibility, and awareness of your body, and if you have a very short cycle (less than 26 days) there aren't many days where you're not fertile, so you'll end up needing another form of birth control like condoms.
Pull and Pray (not very effective but since people do use this method, I had to include it)	It's free, and if you're in a monogamous relationship and would be happy to be a mom then this method is great for you since many women have gotten pregnant this way.	Since pre-ejaculate can contain sperm, even if the man pulls out before he orgasms, some sperm can still be inside you, therefore you can easily become pregnant. This method won't protect you against STIs. Also, if your man has a hard time controlling his orgasms, he may end up ejaculating inside you before he gets a chance to pull out.

I hope you all found this information to be helpful. I know it may seem a bit monotonous but you can never be too informed!

What's the Right Birth Control For You? Part Two

DearSugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:00:00 -0700

If you're sexually active, choosing the right method to prevent pregnancy and protect you from STIs can be a tough decision. I've already told you about some popular methods of birth control, but here are some other options you may want to consider.

To see them read more.

Method	Pros	Cons
The Patch	You only have to think about it once a week and it's discreet (you wear it on your upper arm, upper torso, belly, or bum). You can bathe, shower, work out, or swim with it, and it's 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy.	Some women don't like taking hormones since there are serious risks involved such as blood clots and stroke. It may leave a sticky mark on your skin, and you have to check it every day because some women complain that it peels or falls off.
IUCs (previously called IUDs)	It's inserted in your uterus, so it can't be felt during sex. Also, it can be left inside you for up to five or 10 years (depending on the kind you get), so it's great if you know it'll be a while until you're ready to start a family or if you've already had children and aren't planning on having anymore. You can get IUCs that are with or without hormones and it's 99.4 percent effective at preventing pregnancy.	It has to be inserted by your gynecologist, which some women say can be very painful. After it's inserted, you may experience irregular bleeding and cramps.
Diaphragms	Once you get fitted, if you take care of it properly, your diaphragm should last one to two years. It doesn't change your menstrual cycle or affect your future fertility. It usually can't be felt during intercourse, and it can be kept inside you for up to 24 hours.	It's only 84 percent effective at preventing pregnancy and it doesn't protect you against STIs and using one may cause a urinary tract infection. You also have to use spermicide with it, which some women find irritating to their lady business. It may become dislodged while you're having sex, which would make it even less effective at preventing pregnancy. If your weight fluctuates by 10 pounds, you'll need to be refitted for a new size. Also, if you have a latex allergy, this method isn't for you.
Cervical Caps	Once your gynecologist fits you for one, you can keep it for a year or more. It's reusable, and it won't affect your menstrual cycle or your future fertility. If you're allergic to latex, there's a latex-free version called the FemCap.	It's only 86 percent effective at preventing pregnancy and won't protect you against STIs. Some women have a hard time inserting and removing it. Also, you have to use it with spermicide, which can be messy and irritating.

These are just some of the methods that are available to women. Stay tuned for part three.

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What's the Right Birth Control For You? Part One

DearSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:00:05 -0700

There's been a lot of news about STIs lately. We all know it's important to protect yourself against disease, but it's also important to protect yourself against pregnancy if having a baby isn't part of your immediate plan. Maybe you already have a method that works for you, but in case you're unhappy and want to explore other options, I've put together a three-part series on finding the right method.

Want to see part one? Then read more

Method	Pros	Cons
Birth control pills	You only have to think about them once a day, and they monitor your period so you either always know when you're getting it or you can choose not to get it at all. They're 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy.	Some people don't like the idea of taking hormones because of the possible side effects like blood clots and stroke. They may also decrease your sex drive, make you moody, or cause weight gain. Plus the pill does not protect you against STIs.
Male condoms	They're cheap ($5 for a 12 pack), you can buy them at most drugstores, they're easy to use, and they can protect you against STIs. They're also easily reversible, meaning that you can try getting pregnant as soon as you stop using them. All this and they're 98 percent effective at preventing pregnancy.	You have to stop what you're doing to put one on, which interrupts the flow of intimacy and can be a real turn off for some people.
Female condoms	They can protect against STIs better than male condoms since they cover your entire mucous membrane. They're made with polyurethane so they're great for people with latex allergies. You can also insert one up to eight hours before intercourse, so you don't have to interrupt intimacy by putting one on.	They're more expensive than male condoms ($10 for a 5 pack), and many women complain that they're harder to use and can be noisy.
The NuvaRing	You only have to think about it once a month. It's monophasic, meaning it delivers a steady amount of hormone consistently, which is great if other forms of hormonal birth control tend to make you moody. Plus it's 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy.	It doesn't protect against STIs, and some men complain that they can feel it when they have sex with a woman. It's also been known to fall out.

These are just some of the methods that are available to women. Tune in tomorrow for part two!

Yaz and Yasmine: Are These Birth Control Pills Safe?

TresSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Anne Marie Eakins, a 34-year-old history teacher in Grafton, OH, developed blood clots in both lungs in 2007 and even lost partial use of her right lung. The cause, as she sees it? The newish oral contraceptive Yaz, the top-selling birth control pill in the US, which she switched to after a decade of using different kinds of birth control pills without incurring health problems. She is now suing the makers, Bayer HealthCare pharmaceuticals.

Like 74 other plaintiffs against the makers of Yaz and its sister pill, Yasmine, which was introduced a few years before, Eakins decided to make the switch in part because of the added benefits touted in multimillion dollar ads that ran on television. Yaz, which contains even less estrogen than low-estrogen Yasmine, is advertised as a product that could reduce acne and severe PMS, in addition to preventing pregnancy. How do Yaz and Yasmine differ from other birth control pills? To find out, read more.

Although both Yaz and Yasmine come with the standard warning that the hormones in birth control pills (estrogen plus progestin) can increase the risk of stroke and blood clots in a woman's legs or lungs, lawyers representing the plaintiffs and regulatory agencies claim that Bayer's ads overstate the products' effectiveness and don't adequately warn of possibly higher risks of clots unique to Yaz and Yasmine.

They say Bayer doesn't take into account research that indicated that a hormone unique to the products (drospirenone) increases the likelihood of clots compared to birth control that has the standard levonorgestrel hormone. (Lawyers claim Bayer relied on its research findings in Germany that concluded there is the same risk, over Dutch and Danish research that had the opposite conclusion.) Other criticisms are equally troubling: that the manufacturing plants in Germany responsible for the hormones in Yaz and Yasmine differ in quality control from what is required for US products; that studies conducted were performed with an ethnically homogeneous group, not taking into account blood-clot risk factors in a more ethnically variable US market; and finally, that Yaz and Yasmine are marketed for conditions like PMS, for which the drug is not approved.

I considered switching to these kinds of birth control pills because of the claim that they prevented severe PMS. Do you believe the marketing for products like Yaz and Yasmine or do you do your research before you buy?

Hump Day: I Don't Like Hormonal Birth Control, So Now What?

TresSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Welcome to Hump Day,TrèsSugar's sex advice column. Are you confused about sex? Do you have trouble having an orgasm? Is there something you'd like to try but you're worried it's too weird? Send your questions to TrèsSugar, and our friend Dr. Charlie Glickman from Good Vibrations will offer his sound advice!

Today's Question:

“I went to my OBGYN to ask about non-hormonal birth control. (The Pill basically ruined my sex drive.) She pushed the Pill and the Nuva Ring, and said that condoms have a 15 percent failure rate. I don’t like that she was pushing hormonal birth control. Is it possible for hormonal birth control to lower your desire, and if I don’t want to use it, what’s my best, and safest, bet?”

To hear Dr. Glickman's advice, read more

Unfortunately, yes, birth control pills can lower libido. There are at least a couple of reasons for that. First, the Pill inhibits the production of androgens by your ovaries, including testosterone. While ovaries don’t produce as much testosterone as testicles do, it’s still an important part of women’s sexual arousal. The Pill also seems to increase the production of sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG). SHBG binds to testosterone, which further reduces the amount of it that you have available. On top of that, an article published in the 2006 Journal of Sexual Medicine found that some of these changes may last for quite a while after you stop taking the Pill. Some women report that the NuvaRing has similar effects, although others don’t have any change in their libidos and others actually have an increase in sex drive.

15 percent is a bit higher than many estimates for condom failure rates, but part of why it’s hard to pin down more precisely is that many of the reasons for condoms not working is user error. Here are some tips on reducing the odds of that happening. And since each brand of condom is a bit different, this page has lots of advice for finding the right one for you.

Even though condoms aren’t 100 percent effective at preventing pregnancy, they go a long way towards lowering your risk for sexually transmitted infections. But if your focus is on contraception rather than STI prevention, there are some other options. Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are a lot more effective and safer than is popularly believed. They are currently available with or without hormones, although it’s worth noting that the level of hormones that end up in your system is a lot lower than what you get from the Pill and the non-hormonal IUDs can cause heavier menstrual bleeding or cramps.

Unfortunately, most of the more effective forms of contraception either include some form of hormones or are irreversible. The only other way to avoid pregnancy is to keep sperm from coming into contact with the ovum. Obviously, condoms do that, but if you want other options, you might want to check out cervical caps which have about a 10 percent failure rate if you’ve never given birth vaginally and a 25 percent failure rate if you have. (You can reduce that with a spermicide.) You could also check out the vaginal contraceptive film, a strip of spermicide that you insert into the vagina where it melts and provides up to three hours of protection. It also turns out that withdrawal is more effective than was previously thought, with an 18 percent pregnancy rate. Since these other approaches are clearly less effective than implants, the Pill or other hormonal methods, a lot of people use more than one. Condoms plus cervical caps or condoms plus withdrawal improves your odds a lot.

I’d really like to see some other forms of birth control that don’t mess with women’s hormones; so many women report having all sorts of side effects. There are some gel products being developed that will (hopefully) be effective as both contraception and STI preventatives and at least some of them are working their way through clinical trials. So eventually, there will be something better for you but in the meantime, I hope this helps.

Hugh Hefner Documentary - Would You Watch It?

TresSugar — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 03:00:00 -0700

What's the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear the name Hugh Hefner? Sex, I'm sure. A new documentary wants to add "civil rights activist" to the list of things the Playboy icon is known for. Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel presents Hugh as a champion of gay rights, women's liberation, and racial integration.

Here's Hugh describing his legacy:

"One of the things I find really curious is when people say I've lived an amoral life. From my perspective, it's quite the contrary. I feel I've lived a very moral life. I've been on the side of angels from the beginning.”

One such angelic anecdote: when two of his Playboy nightclubs in the South were racially segregated, Hugh bought them back and integrated them. As for women, the man who tells his current twin girlfriends apart by a birthmark says: "I was a feminist before there was such a thing as feminism." Hugh's Playboy Foundation has funded legal battles for birth control and abortion access. Of course one could argue that Hugh has this influential role only because he made a fortune objectifying women for the entertainment of men.

Would you be interested in learning more about Hugh's life as a so-called activist?

Virginia Pharmacy Won't Carry Contraception

DearSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0700

I've heard of Roman Catholics not believing in birth control, but now a new Roman Catholic pharmacy in Virginia doesn't believe in selling it. Divine Mercy Care Pharmacy isn't the only one letting their faith lead their business. Seven other pharmacies across the nation are doing the same. They're refusing to sell any forms of contraception, including condoms, birth control pills, and the morning-after pill, even if the person has a prescription.

States are dealing with this issue by passing laws that require drugstores to go against their religious beliefs and fill the prescriptions. Right now though, in the state of Virginia, these laws don't exist and devout Catholic-based drugstores are allowed to deny birth control to anyone who walks in their store.

To find out what abortion-rights groups think, read more.

Abortion rights groups are concerned that these kinds of stores will affect low-income women and those in rural states. If women can't have access to birth control, many will be faced with decisions about how to deal with unwanted pregnancies.

This is a tough case. For those who share a store's religious beliefs, the customers may feel more comfortable shopping there. But a person should also be able to choose whether or not they want to use birth control, and they should be able to have access to it where they live. So what do you think? Should pharmacies be required by law to sell contraception, or should they have the right to decide what they sell?

Source

Sex Myth: Pull and Pray Works if the Guy Has Control

DearSugar — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:30:00 -0800

I'm with you; there really is no perfect form of birth control. Either you have to deal with taking hormones that affect your mood and decrease your sex drive, or you have to use condoms, which can make sex less enjoyable. You can also chart your cycle, but one little mistake and you can end up with an unplanned pregnancy.

Then there's the pull and pray method. While having unprotected sex, the guy pulls out and ejaculates outside the woman's body. No sperm inside means no baby, right? Perhaps, if not for one teeny detail. To find out what it is, read more.

Pre-cum, or pre-ejaculate as it's also called, is the one thing many couples forget about. This is the bit of fluid that releases from the man's penis before he ejaculates, and yes, it can contain sperm, and it only takes one little swimmer to reach a woman's egg in order to get her pregnant. The bottom line is this: if being a mom isn't on your current to-do list, do not rely on the pull and pray method, even if your guy can control his member's actions. Remember that he has no control over the release of pre-cum, so take the time to find a more reliable form of birth control that works for you.

Source

What's the Deal With the Patch?

DearSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 08:00:00 -0700

All the women I know who don't want to get pregnant are on some type of hormonal birth control, because it's an easy, reliable and an extremely effective form of birth control (besides abstaining from sex altogether of course).

The Pill is great and all, but you have to remember to take it every day. The NuvaRing is also a hormonal birth control, but I've heard a few women complain about it falling out, or that their partner could feel it which leaves us with Ortho-Evra (more commonly known as the Patch).

Just like the Pill and the NuvaRing, the hormones found in the patch prevent you from ovulation. You simply have to put on a new patch once a week, for 3 consecutive weeks each month and then go "patch-free" the fourth week when you get your fake period.

What's Great:

It's just as effective as the Pill (99%) if used correctly.
It's discreet. You can wear it on 1 of 4 areas - upper outer arm, upper torso (front and back, excluding the breasts), abdomen, or your booty.
You can bathe, shower, swim, sweat, or work out with it.

To hear some drawbacks, read more

Drawbacks:

As with all hormonal birth control, there are serious risks involved, including blood clots and stroke. Also, the risk of heart attacks is increased if you smoke cigarettes while using the Patch.
It can leave a sticky mark on your skin, like band-aids do.
You have to check it everyday to make sure it's adhered to your skin.
Sometimes it can peel or fall off. If it's been off for less than 24 hours, just reapply a new patch and you are still protected against pregnancy. If it has been more than 24 hours, you have to apply a new patch, and use a backup method of birth control (like condoms) for the next 7 days.
The Patch does NOT protect against HIV or other STIs.

Dear's Advice: The FDA has warned women that since Ortho-Evra contains more hormones than regular birth control pills, they are at a greater risk of developing blood clots and other serious side effects. For most doctors, the Patch isn't the first form of birth control they'd suggest so if you are interested, talk to your doctor about the potential risks and whether it is right for you.

Source

Birth Control Pills: How Do They Compare?

DearSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 09:00:00 -0700

I don't know about you, but just about every woman I know has been on or is taking birth control pills. There are so many different brands out there and they all offer different amounts of hormones, so I made this handy chart to help you figure out which one may be right for you. These pills are combination pills, which means they contain a type of estrogen (ethinyl estradiol), and a type of progestin (levonorgestrel, desogestrel, norethindrone). The pills with the least amount of ethinyl estradiol tend to offer the least amount of side effects, and the ones that offer the same hormonal dosages each day (monophasic pills) will help to ease PMS symptoms (mainly mood swings). With so many different options out there, it's important to know what's actually in these pills, since every woman's body reacts differently to hormonal birth control. Check out my chart below:

Birth Control	Hormone Dosage
Alesse	.10 mg levonorgestrel and 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Brevikon	.5 mg norethindrone acetate and 35 mcg estrogen per pill
Cyclessa	Phase 1: .1 mg desogestrel and 25 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 2: .125 mg desogestrel and 25 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 3: 15 mg desogestrel and 25 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Jolessa	.15 mg levonorgestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Junel 21 Day	1.5 mg norethindrone acetate and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Kelnor	1 mg ethynodiol diacetate and 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Loestrin 21	1 mg norethindrone acetate and 20 mcg estrogen per pill

Don't see yours on the list? To see the others, read more.

Birth Control	Hormone Dosage
Lybrel	.09 mg levonorgestrel and 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Nordette	.15 mg levonorgestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Orthro Tri-Cyclen	Phase 1: .18 mg norgestimate and 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 2: .215 mg norgestimate and 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 3: 25 mg norgestimate and 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Orthro Tri-Cyclen Lo	Phase 1: .18 mg norgestimate and 25 mcg ethinyl estradiol (type of estrogen) per pill Phase 2: .215 mg norgestimate and 25 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 3: 25 mg norgestimate and 25 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Reclipsen	.15 mg desogestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Seasonal	.15 mg levonorgestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Seasonique	.15 mg levonorgestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Solia	.15 mg desogestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Trivora-28	Phase 1: .5 mg levonorgestrel and 30 mcgethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 2: .075 mg levonorgestrel and 40 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 3: .125 mg levonorgestrel and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Velivet	Phase 1: .1 mg desogestrel and 25 mcgethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 2: .125 mg desogrestrel and 25 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill Phase 3: .15 mg desogestrel and 24 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Yasmin	3 mg drospirenone and 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill
Yaz	3 mg drospirenone and 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol per pill

Pretty interesting information, huh? So ladies, if you're on the pill, which one works best for you?

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