TresSugar

Quiz: What Do You Know About the Pill?

DearSugar — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:00:00 -0800

Just about all of the women I know have taken the pill or are using it right now. The thing that's sad is that we take it, but many of us don't know much about it. Since it affects our bodies so much, I think it's important for women to know what the pill is and to understand the possible risks involved.

Take this quiz to see how much you know about the pill.

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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?

The Connection Between IUDs and Cancer

DearSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 08:00:00 -0700

As far as long-term birth control goes, IUDs aren't too popular in the US - only 2 percent of women who use contraception have one. With that said, I guess many people don't know about all the benefits of an IUD! Once it's inserted into your uterus, it offers protection from unplanned pregnancies for up to five years. That means they're a great choice for women who know that it'll be a while until they're ready to start a family, or if they've already had children and aren't planning on having anymore. Plus IUDs are 99.9 percent effective.

Here's some more great news. Using an IUD may also help protect women from endometrial cancer, a type of cancer that affects the lining of the uterus. It can reduce a woman's risk by 40 percent, which is similar to the cancer-preventing qualities of oral contraceptives.

Dear's Advice: If you're interested in using an IUD, talk to your gynecologist. You should know that some women experience irregular bleeding or pain. Also, IUDs don't protect against STIs, so they're only a good option for women who are in a monogomous relationship with someone they know is disease free.

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News to Me: The Pill Causes Slight Risk of Cervical Cancer

DearSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 08:00:00 -0800

Knowing that so many of you take birth control pills, I thought you'd want to hear the latest news. A recent British study shows that when you take oral contraceptives, you are slightly increasing your risk for developing cervical cancer. The good news is that when you stop taking the pill, after ten years that small risk disappears.

This study showed that out of 1,000 women who didn't use the pill, 3.8 would develop cervical cancer by age 50. Out of 1,000 women who did use the pill, only 4.5 women would develop cervical cancer. This shows that taking birth control pills raises a woman's risk only barely, but doesn't pose a huge risk as previously thought.

This is great news for women who were concerned about oral contraceptives and the negative effects on their bodies. It's still very important to continue regular screenings for cervical cancer, especially since 70% of all cervical cancers are caused by HPV, which is a sexually transmitted virus.

Dear's Advice: Don't lose sleep worrying about your risk of cervical cancer while on the pill. If you have any questions about any other possible health risks, talk to your gynecologist.

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Law Spikes Price of Pill on College Campuses

LibertySugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:45:37 -0700

US university students are paying about five times more for the birth-control pill than they were a few months ago, due to a provision in the Deficit Reduction Act. Many lawmakers say the provision, which prevents drug companies from donating the pill to campuses as a way to attract brand loyalty, was an unintended consequence of the legislation.

Activists, including actress Amber Tamblyn, want to fix the mistake and are lobbying Congress to pass the Prevention Through Affordable Access Act. They say there is no good reason to prevent the donation of medicines, which reduce the price of the pill for struggling college students. With the pill spiking to more than $50 a month (from $12) some female students report taking up more part-time work, or cutting back on their grocery or social spending.

Still others, including proponents of abstinence, argue that it is irresponsible and detrimental to student health to distribute discounted oral contraception that does not prevent STDs.

Will the price of the pill make it unfordable to some, and therefore lead to more unintended pregnancies, or will students just have less beer money? Is it fair that the financial burden imposed by the law is disproportionately felt by female students?

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Prevent Pregnancy For Five Years With Mirena

DearSugar — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 08:00:00 -0700

The Mirena is a type of IUD (intrauterine device) that is placed inside your uterus (by a doctor or nurse practitioner) to prevent pregnancy for up to five years. It's a T-shaped piece of plastic that emits hormones into your uterus directly. The hormones stay in the uterus and are not systemic, meaning they do not go to other parts of your body. This is why it won't cause significant weight gain like oral contraceptives sometimes do or increase breast tenderness. Another bonus is that the Mirena might also shorten, lighten, or even eliminate periods altogether while you use it.

OK, but how does Mirena work? The small amounts of levonorgestrel released by Mirena make your cervical mucus thick and tacky so sperm can't swim through it. If the sperm gets in, then they can't make it to the egg to fertilize it.

Another way the Mirena, or IUDs in general, prevent pregnancy is it promotes the production of white blood cells and when a foreign object is placed inside the uterus, your body creates these white blood cells to defend itself. So when you have sex, if sperm does make it through your tacky mucus to your uterus, the white blood cells will attack them.

Interested in how effective it is? To see the stats, just read more
Mirena is 99.9 percent effective at preventing pregnancy and like metal IUDs, it needs to be fitted and removed by a medical professional, but once it's in place, that's it, you're done, no fuss, no muss!

Dear's Advice: Mirena is great if you are looking for hassle-free birth control for up to five years straight. Just a reminder, it does not prevent against STIs, so that's why it's great to use if you are in a long-term relationship with someone you know is disease-free.

It's also a great option if you've already had kids and aren't planning on having anymore, or if you know it's going to be many years before you want to start a family. If this interests you, ask your doctor about Mirena.

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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The How-To Lounge: Finding the Right Birth Control for you Part 3

DearSugar — Fri, 04 May 2007 09:30:00 -0700

I'm back with the last installment of the How to Lounge on birth control. If prescription birth control isn't right for you and you don't want to use condoms, there are other methods on the market that could be a better match for you.

Click here to read more

The IUD

The IUD, otherwise known as the Intrauterine Device, is a T-shaped, 1.5 inch plastic device which is inserted in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. The IUD must be inserted by a physician
There are now 2 types of IUDs, the ParaGard and the Mirena
Both kinds of IUDs protect against pregnancy by affecting the way the sperm moves in addition to altering the lining of the uterus
Both kinds of IUDs have strings attached to the device that hang through the cervix into the vagina providing a way to make sure it is properly in place
The ParaGard IUD contains copper which is known to have spermicidal effects and can be left in place for up to 12 years
The Mirena IUD releases small amounts of progestin, similar to the hormones from the pill, the patch, and the ring, preventing the uterus from releasing eggs. The hormones released through this kind of IUD stay in the uterus and are not systemic, therefore will not cause many of the side effects of oral contraception. The Mirena can be left in place for 5 years
The IUD does not stop you from ovulating so you will still get your period, although it could alter your flow and even stop it altogether over time
When an IUD is inserted, your body produces white blood cells to help fight off the foreign object that your body doesn't recognize, which in turn will attack the sperm
The IUD is 99% effective, the most hassle free and most recommended form of birth control for women

The Diaphragm

The diaphragm is a latex or silicon dome shaped cup if you will that is personally inserted in the vagina to cover the cervix before intercourse
Diaphragms are made in a variety of sizes and can be fitted by your physician. They are recommended to be used with spermicide for added protection
To insert a diaphragm, pinch the device so it bends in half, find a comfortable position and push it as far back and up the vagina as possible. Tuck it behind the pubic bone to make sure the cervix is covered. Do not leave the diaphragm in for more than 24 hours
The diaphragm must be inserted before intercourse and left in place for 6 hours after the last act of intercourse
Women who use a diaphragm run the risk of frequent bladder infections, so remember to urinate before inserting the diaphragm and after intercourse
The diaphragm has a failure rate of 18%-20%

While finding the right form of birth control takes trial and error, one thing to always remember is the only way to protect yourself against disease is to abstain from sex altogether or to use condoms. Since sometimes things do not go as planned, and not every form of birth control is 100% effective, you now have a second chance to prevent against pregnancy. While Plan B should not be used as a form of birth control, it is a safe way to prevent unintended pregnancy. Plan B contains a high dose of hormones, similar to those found in the pill, and must be taken within 120 hours after unprotected sex. For more information about Plan B click here. Good luck and be safe!

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Is There A Right Time To Get Pregnant?

DearSugar — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 12:16:22 -0800

Dear Sugar
I have been with my wonderful husband for eight years and married for three. Both of us are very dedicated to our careers but are very excited to start a family one day. We have decided to wait two to three years before getting pregnant in order to give us more time to climb the corporate ladder.

However, lately it seems as though everyone around us is getting pregnant and I am feeling the tick-tock of my biological clock. I feel like we've been saying two or three more years for the couple of years and I have been finding myself asking, why wait any longer?

My husband and I would ideally like to establish our careers and eventually move back to our hometown but that just seems like it will still take a few more years. I know that every couple is different, but do you have any idea when a good or ideal time is to start a family?

I am 27 and my husband is 30. I still feel like that is fairly young, however since we have been together for so long, we've travelled and done many of the things new couples wait on having children to do. How will we know when we are ready? Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated. No Family Plan Jan

To see DEARSUGAR's answer read more

Dear No Family Plan Jan
Unfortunately only you and your husband can really answer that question. All I can is that if the time is right for those around you, it doesn't necessarily mean that the time is right for you. If you and your husband want to dedicate more time to building your carers, than waiting is the best plan.

When you are ready to prepare for pregnancy, make sure to visit your doctor. If you are taking oral contraceptives, it is best to stop taking them two to three months before trying to conceive. Maintaining a healthy diet, a healthy weight, and keeping to a routine exercise schedule will help prepare your body for pregnancy and labor.

Enjoy learning about your friends and co-workers pregnancies and take in all the tips you can. Don't let the feeling of time or a lack strict plan pressure you. When the time is right, you will feel a longing and anticipation for a child. You don't want to have any regrets, so if your career is your top priority now, you certainly have the time to hold out on having children.