TresSugar

How Does Hormonal Birth Control Prevent Pregnancy?

DearSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 08:00:00 -0700

Many women use hormonal birth control to prevent pregnancy because it is considered to be the most effective method. The Pill is just one kind - the Patch and the NuvaRing contain hormones too.

The NuvaRing, the Patch, and some types of oral contraceptives contain a combination of 2 hormones - estrogen and progestin. Some pills can contain only progestin, but these tend to be less effective.

Estrogen and progestin are hormones that are already found in the female body but when a woman uses hormonal birth control, her body sees that there is already enough hormone in the bloodstream, so it decides that it doesn't need to produce anymore.

These kinds of birth control give your body a stable dose of hormones each day, so the levels in the body don't change. It's the fluctuation of hormones that make ovulation happen. The reason hormonal birth control works so well is because the stable levels of hormones prevent you from ovulating. If your ovaries don't release any eggs, then sperm can't fertilize them and you can't get pregnant.

Dear's Advice: If you're using hormonal birth control and you don't want to get pregnant, be responsible and remember to use it properly and consistently. Missing pills, or forgetting to change the NuvaRing or the Patch can cause you to ovulate resulting in an unplanned pregnancy.

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What's the Deal With Depo SubQ Provera 104?

DearSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:00:00 -0700

I'm sure many of you have a form of birth control that you love, and for those that swear by the Depo shot, you might be interested in learning that there's now a lower-hormone dose version called Depo SubQ Provera 104. It's still estrogen free, but instead of 400 mg of Medroxyprogesterone acetate (the hormone) per shot, it only contains 104mg (that's 31 percent less). You still need to go to your gynecologist every three months to get the shot, but it's just as effective as regular Depo-Provera. Even though it contains less hormones, it can still cause side effects such as weight gain, loss of calcium (which puts you at risk for osteoporosis), and irregular spotting. Also, a disadvantage with Depo SubQ Provera 104, just like with original Depo, is that it may take a while for you to become pregnant after discontinuing the shot (could take as much as one year or more).

This method would be great for someone looking for estrogen-free birth control, or for a woman who doesn't want to pop a pill every day. Unlike other methods of hormonal birth control, this isn't an option that's recommended for long-term use (more than two years), because of the loss of calcium it may cause. If this sounds like something you're interested in, I'd make an appointment to talk to your gyno.

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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?

Female Erotica Editor Says Men Write Better Sex

TresSugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:00:00 -0700

The debate over who can pen a better ménages à trois tale became an audible argument this week when British magazine Erotic Review named Kate Copstick its editor. It's an interesting choice, because she doesn't think women write erotica particularly well. Women, she told BBC's Radio 4, "have an agenda, they complicate sex, they make layers, it’s conditional."

Maybe she's just telling it like it is and that's why she's editing an erotic magazine, but if anything I'd say women are more likely to prefer erotica by women. Or maybe she's trying to compensate for the womanly touch she'll bring. (Porn will not go soft on her watch!) She ensured that by saying she'd seek male writers so the magazine won't be "drowned in estrogen."

Perhaps it's all just a publicity stunt. After all, isn't it about the finished product and not who wrote it? Who ever said women can't write about sex? Besides Kate Copstick (Copstick!).

Can Birth Control Pills Affect Your Cholesterol?

DearSugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:00:00 -0700

If you're like me, you don't give your cholesterol much thought. I always thought your cholesterol levels were based on whether or not you ate a lot of high-fat foods like cheese, meat, and ice cream, but you can also inherit high or low cholesterol from your parents. And I also just learned that taking birth control pills can affect your levels too.

To found out how, read more.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the estrogen found in birth control pills can cause an increase in HDL ("good" cholesterol), a decrease in LDL ("bad" cholesterol), and an increase in your total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The other hormone found in combination birth control pills, progestin, has the opposite effect. The changes aren't drastically significant, but if you do have high cholesterol, taking birth control pills that have a higher concentration of estrogen probably isn't the best form of contraception for you. And remember, a diet that's high in fiber and low in cholesterol and saturated fat, combined with regular exercise, is the best way to combat high cholesterol.

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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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Pros and Cons of the NuvaRing

DearSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:30:00 -0800

When it comes to preventing pregnancy, many women opt for hormonal birth control because it's easy to use and extremely effective. Aside from the pill, the NuvaRing is one of the more popular options. If you're considering switching to this form of birth control, you'll want to know the pros and cons, so read more.

Pros

Cons

When used correctly, it's 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. That means you can be spontaneous and have sex without worrying about getting pregnant.
It's simple to use because you only have to think about it twice a month.
Most women say they can't feel it once inserted.
Since it releases a steady amount of hormones, women will notice fewer mood swings than if they were on triphasic birth control pills (where the hormone levels change every week).
If you decide you want to have children, once you stop using the NuvaRing, ovulation should return within 13 to 28 days.

It doesn't protect against STIs.
If you are uncomfortable touching yourself, you may have an issue inserting and removing the NuvaRing.
Some guys complain that they can feel it during sex.
It can slip out while straining to go to the bathroom or during sex, so you have to check it frequently to make sure it's still inside you.
If you smoke while using the NuvaRing, the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects is increased.
The risk of blood clots may be greater with the type of progestin in NuvaRing.
Combination hormonal contraceptives, like the NuvaRing, that contain both estrogen and progestin, can worsen conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and problems with cholesterol.
Hormonal contraceptives may increase your risk of stroke.

Myths About the Pill: First Five

DearSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:00:00 -0700

Just about every woman I know is on, or has been on, the pill. And even if it's not your preferred method of birth control, we can all agree on two things: it prevents us from getting pregnant, and it can regulate our periods. I'm sure you've heard other "facts" about the pill too, but not all of them are true. So here's a list of the top five myths about birth control pills:

The pill makes you gain weight: Some women may put on a few when taking the pill, but research shows that the pill isn't directly the cause. The estrogen contained in the pill can cause a bloated feeling, but not an actual weight gain. The progestin in the pill may increase a woman's appetite, so she'll eat more and gain weight, but it's because she's increasing her calorie consumption. The pill may also cause water retention, but switching to a lower dose pill often helps.
You should take a break from the pill once in a while: While it seems like a good idea to give your body a rest from the pill, it isn't necessary. Birth control pills are considered safe and they even offer you health benefits, such as a decreased risk of ovarian cancer if you've been on them for a while. In fact, occasional breaks can actually cause problems. Remember all the side effects you had when you first started the pill? Well, they're likely to show up again as soon as you go back on the pill - hardly sounds worth it to me.

To see the other three, read more.

The pill is not safe and it causes birth defects: Birth control pills are one of the most researched prescription drugs on the market. While it's true that there are health risks involved (just as there are with all drugs), overall, the pill is safe. There's no need to worry about it causing birth defects, even if you accidentally take the pill while being pregnant.
Long term pill use can affect fertility: The pill will prevent pregnancy while you're on it, but there is no connection between the pill affecting your future fertility. Once you do decide to stop taking the pill to have a baby, it may take your body some time to get back on its normal cycle. If a woman experiences problems conceiving after going off the pill, she may have always had a fertility problem but was unaware of it because she wasn't trying to get pregnant.
All birth control pills are basically the same: While it's true that all birth control pills have the same goal - to prevent pregnancy - there are hundreds of different kinds. Not only do they contain different combinations of medications, but some are estrogen-free, and some contain lower doses. Some will even prevent you from getting your period all together, and some can decrease PMS symptoms. A woman may have to try out a few types of pills in order to find the one that works best for her body.

Tune in tomorrow to see five more myths about the pill.

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Need a Reason to Lose Weight?

DearSugar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0800

If you need another reason to keep your weight down, especially this holiday season, use better sex as your motivator! As stated in the December issue of Glamour magazine, research shows that sustaining a healthy weight can actually boost sex drive and fertility in both men and women. Mary Jane Minkin, MD, explains that extra body fat makes extra estrogen which has the ability to hinder ovulation in women, and new research reveals that those excess pounds on men could damage their precious sperm.

Since exercising gives you those "feel-good endorphins," hit the gym and keep your BMI between 20 and 24.9 - your body and boyfriend will thank you!

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Myths About the Pill: Last Five

DearSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:00:00 -0700

I hope I set your mind at ease by debunking the first five myths about the pill yesterday. If you've been waiting to hear more, check the last five:

Women who smoke cannot use the pill: It's a fact that if a woman smokes cigarettes and uses the pill, she has a higher risk of having a stroke or developing blood clots. If she's 35 or older, the risk is even greater. A doctor will not prescribe regular dose combination pills, but a woman who smokes can take lower dose hormones or estrogen-free pills instead.
The most risky time to miss a pill is in the middle of the pack: If you happen to miss a pill, the most risky time is actually at the beginning or the end of the pack. That's because a woman needs to take seven consecutive pills in order to prevent ovulation and it's actually possible to miss the next seven days without the risk of pregnancy. But if a woman misses pills toward the end of the pack, she may not have enough hormones inside her to prevent ovulation the next month. The bottom line here though is to try your hardest not to miss any pills.

To see the rest, read more.

The only use for the pill is as contraception: While the number one reason women use the pill is for pregnancy prevention, many women take it for other reasons. There are pills that clear up acne, decrease PMS symptoms, prevent cramps, and lighten menstrual flows, which helps to lower the risk of anemia. The pill can also protect against ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, osteoporosis, excess facial hair, and some types of migraines.
Women over 35 can't use the pill and teens need permission to get the pill: Age doesn't play into the equation, only health. If a woman has normal blood pressure and no increased risk of heart attack or stroke, then she can use the pill until she hits menopause. As for teens, they don't need permission from their parents to acquire the pill. If they choose to go on it, they only need to get a prescription from their doctor or a clinic.
The pill causes cancer: Actually, one-third of pill users are less likely to develop ovarian or uterine cancer as compared to non-pill users. The longer you use the pill, the more you are protected, and it's recommended to stay on the pill for at least five years to reap these benefits. Most experts agree that taking the pill does not cause any types of cancer, even breast cancer.

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