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 Do You Know About Your Eggs and Ovulation?

DearSugar — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 08:00:00 -0700

Every month, once we hit puberty, women produce eggs for the sole purpose of getting pregnant. Those eggs are just waiting for a strong sperm to swim by and fertilize it.

I'm wondering how much you know about your eggs and what happens when you ovulate, so take this quiz and find out.

Take the quiz

Do Irregular Periods Affect My Fertility?

DearSugar — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 06:05:24 -0700

Dear Sugar,

I have an irregular period and I frequently skip up to two months at a time. It's been three months now and I know that I'm not pregnant.

I was wondering if girls like me have sex regularly, how am I supposed to know when I am ovulating if I am not bleeding? Am I at a higher risk of getting pregnant because I am irregular? Uncertain Olga

Dear Uncertain Olga,

Starting when your last menstrual cycle ends (that's your last day of bleeding), count to day 14 and that's when ovulation begins. It lasts for 2-3 days.

The problem here is that If you are skipping periods, there is no way to determine when you are ovulating after one cycle. My advice to you is to see a doctor. You are taking a high risk of getting pregnant if you are not using any birth control.

I am not sure how old you are, but past the first few years of puberty, your periods should regulate naturally. Irregular or abnormal ovulation and menstruation is called anovulation.

Anovulation can be treated with fertility drugs called Clomid and Serophene to stimulate ovulation when you are trying to conceive.

These drugs block the effects of estrogen throughout the body which leads to an increase in the production of luteinizing hormones (LH) and follicle stimulating hormones (FSH) that bring about ovulation.

I've written a little bit about being "late" in a previous post titled, I'm 3 Weeks Late For My Period. Check it out and please call and make an appointment with your Gyno.

Your Menstrual Cycle: What the Heck is Going on?

DearSugar — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 08:00:00 -0700

Let's talk about your menstrual cycle. Fun topic, huh? Every woman should know what's going on inside her body every month, because it'll help you understand your physical and emotional self a little bit better.

If you are not on the Pill or any other contraception involving hormones, you get your period -- some women have shorter cycles (26 days or less) and some women have longer cycles (32 days or more). Every woman's cycle is different, some have regular periods, some have irregular, some have a heavy flow, some are blessed with a light flow. Regardless of your cycyle, this is a basic breakdown of what's happening inside your body:

DAY 1: You get your period (wa-hoo!)

DAY 2-7 (earlier or later): You have your period.

DAY 10-18 (earlier or later): This is halfway through your cycle and this is when you ovulate and should avoid unprotected sex at all costs if you don't want to get pregnant. On the other hand, if you are trying to get pregnant, have at it ladies!

Ovulation is not necessarily on DAY 14 like you may have learned in your Sex Ed class. If you have a shorter cycle, you may ovulate as soon as DAY 10. One way to tell if you're ovulating is because you'll have really wet cervical fluid (like egg whites). This is not discharge and it's not a bad thing -- think of it as the perfect environment for sperm to swim upstream, which is why you have cervical fluid in the first place - to help you get pregnant.

You may also notice a little pinching pain on the right or left of your abdomen, right inside your hip bones. That's where your ovaries are located, and what you are feeling is the egg releasing from your ovary. Some women also experience breast tenderness, bloating, light spotting, or an increased sex drive -- almost like PMS symptoms all over again.

Want to know what happens next? Then read more

DAY 21-32 (earlier or later): You are done ovulating. Most women will start feeling PMS symptoms during this time which include all the fun stuff: cramps, mood swings, uncontrollable crying, feelings of depression, bloating, sore breasts, food cravings (did someone say chocolate?), fatigue, and headaches.

And then, it all repeats itself. Pretty cool to know what's going on, huh? Knowing your specific cycle will help you out tremendously.

Dear's Advice: I definitely recommend charting your cycle on a calendar. Write down when you get your period, and your physical and emotional symptoms each month for about 6 months, and see if you notice a pattern.

If you want to learn more about what's going on with your cycle, check out this book called Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It changed my life.

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You Can Get Pregnant if...

DearSugar — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 08:00:00 -0700

Lately I have been getting inundated with questions from women ending with "Am I pregnant?" so I just want to clear up what needs to happen in order for you to even think there could be a remote possibility that you are preggers.

In order to get pregnant, you must have sex when you are ovulating, about 10-18 days after the first day of your period. During ovulation, your body releases an egg from one of its ovaries (you have two) each month and in order to get pregnant, a sperm has to unite with your egg. Since sperm can live up to 5 days inside a woman's body, technically a sperm could still be swimming inside you in which case it is possible it can fertilize your egg. Stress and taking certain meds can make you ovulate later in your cycle or not at all, which is why your period can be "late," so if you are worried you might be pregnant, take a pregnancy test.

What about if a guy ejaculates outside of your body? To find out, read more

If a guy ejaculates outside of your body, you can't get pregnant unless his semen comes in contact with your vagina. After he ejaculates, if you're still wanting to continue your intimacy, it's a good idea for both of you to wash your hands and any area where his sperm is present just in case.

Also, having sex while you have your period is usually a "safe" time, but if you don't want to end up a mom, use birth control! Find a method that's right for you. Condoms work well, but the guy MUST put one on before having sex, even if it's for a few minutes. Why? Pre-cum is a liquid that comes out of a man's penis before he ejaculates and it can contain sperm, so you don't want that inside you whatsoever since pre-cum can get you pregnant.

The Pill, the NuvaRing, and other hormonal birth control methods are great too. They prevent you from ovulating in the first place so they are very effective at protecting you against pregnancy, but only when used properly. They don't however protect you from STIs - only condoms can do that.

This can be a confusing subject, so feel free to keep the questions coming. It's better to know the facts than to end up pregnant.

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Stress and Your Period

DearSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 10:00:00 -0700

I'm sure every single one of you can relate to the stress of your period being late. If you are not wanting to be pregnant, it can be the worst feeling ever, and it brings up a lot of questions until you finally get your period or take a pregnancy test.

Did you know that stress could also be the cause of your late period? Stress can affect the functioning of the hypothalamus - the gland in the brain that regulates emotions, as well as the hormones required to release your eggs. If you're feeling stressed, worried, or nervous, you may ovulate later in your cycle or not at all. This in turn will make you get your period later than expected, or sometimes you'll skip your period altogether.

This info is only helpful if you are not on some kind of hormonal birth control (you don't ovulate, so you don't have to worry). If you use condoms, a diaphragm, or the FAM (Fertility Awareness Method - also known as the Rhythm Method), than knowing how your emotions affect your cycle is going to be key in preventing a major meltdown if your period is late.

If you want to know how you can prevent a possible late period, then read more

During the time you ovulate, which is usually about 10-18 days after the first day of your period (depending on your cycle), try to eliminate any work-related or relationship stress. Get a massage, take a walk, slip into a relaxing bath, or spend some downtime reading a book on the couch - do things that make you feel calm and happy.

Also, make sure to get regular exercise and eat a balanced diet. Remember that your period is there so you can have a baby (if you want to), so if you're not taking care of yourself, your body will delay or prevent ovulation until your body is fit to be pregnant. It is important to do all you can to keep your mind and body healthy.

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Emmenagogues: Do They Really Help With a Late Period?

DearSugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:00:00 -0700

If you're not trying to become pregnant, a late period can be no fun. It's so tough to just be patient and wait for Aunt Flo to show up, so that's where emmenagogues come in. It's a long name for a category of herbs and plants that are believed to induce menstruation. Supposedly they work by stimulating blood flow to a woman's pelvic area. Some of these plants include celery, parsley, yarrow, aloe vera, mugwort, swiss chard, and hemp.

I don't want to put down herbal remedies, but scientifically speaking, the time your period comes is all based on when you ovulate. So if something affected your body from ovulating such as stress or illness then you'll ovulate later, which means your period will also come later. If you do take one of these emmenagogues, and your period comes, it's likely that it's just one big coincidence and your period would have showed up whether you sipped parsley tea or not.

Of course, this is just my opinion so what do you think? Have you ever heard about herbs, essentials oils, foods, or techniques that can induce menstruation? I'd love to hear about them and whether or not they really worked!

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How Many Days Am I Fertile?

DearSugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 11:00:00 -0700

The female body can be a confusing thing, and understanding our cycle can help prevent us from freaking out when our period is "late." There is a certain window of time during our monthly cycle when having unprotected sex could result in a pregnancy.

So I want to know...

Hump Day: Why Do I Get Dry Sometimes?

TresSugar — Wed, 30 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 get really dry sometimes when my boyfriend and I are having sex. I know all about lubricants, but I'm having trouble guessing when I might need help." To read Dr. Glickman's response, read more

There are a lot of reasons why women experience fluctuations in how much they lubricate. For some, it’s just part of the menstrual cycle. Some women lubricate more at ovulation, while others say that’s when they’re driest. Lots of women also report that their vaginal lubrication changed when they got pregnant and again, some say that they became much wetter and others say that they got drier. So while we know that changes in hormones can influence it, there’s a lot of variation in how much and in what direction. It’s also worth mentioning that menopause generally reduces how much lubrication your body will produce.

Lots of medications and drugs also affect vaginal lubrication, even if it’s rarely listed on the bottle or box. For example, allergy medications are formulated to dry the mucous membranes in your sinuses, but they can do the same to the vagina. Anti-depressants, antihistamines, anxiety medications, smoking cigarettes or marijuana, and drinking alcohol can do the same. In general, if a medication or drug makes your mouth or sinuses dry, it could also reduce vaginal lubrication. Unfortunately, most doctors are unaware of these effects or they don’t feel comfortable talking to their patients about it.

I think it’s really unfortunate that we have this cultural myth that vaginal lubrication is proportional to arousal. Many women find that they can be totally turned on while being pretty dry and others might be quite wet while barely aroused. The best thing we can do is learn to separate the two things in our minds.

You say that you know about lubricants, but for the folks who don’t, here’s a little info.

There are pros and cons to the lubricants on the market, and it can take a little experimenting to find one that will work for you. You might also find that a lube that worked great for a long time isn’t working so well anymore. It’s kind of like shampoo or skin lotion - after a while, you might need to change brands as your individual chemistry changes.

Water-based lubricants can be thin and slippery, or they can be thicker gels. They rinse away really easily, making cleanup a snap, but they do dry out after a while. The glycerin-based lubes last a bit longer, but they tend to get sticky when they dry out. You can add a little water or saliva to freshen them up. While glycerin doesn’t cause yeast infections, it can make one worse if you get one for some other reason, so if you’re prone to yeast infections, avoid these lubes. The glycerin-free lubricants don’t get sticky, but they usually don’t quite last as long. They soak in like hand lotion, so adding water doesn’t work; you need to add some more.

Silicone lubricants don’t dry out (so if you spill some on the kitchen floor, be sure to wipe it up) and are hypoallergenic. They’re also waterproof, which is a plus if you want to have sex in the shower but it can make them a bit trickier to clean up and they sometimes stain sheets. They’re also hypoallergenic and have no taste or scent.

Some people like to use oils as sexual lubricants. If you want to give them a try, use something organic and vegetable-based, such as coconut or almond oils. Mineral oils like baby oil or Vaseline actually dry the skin since the body can’t absorb them or break them down. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, so it doesn’t go rancid. Keep almond oil in the fridge. And never use oils with latex condoms, diaphragms or cervical caps. Oils will make them dissolve: a condom will break in about 30 seconds if it comes into contact with oil.

A few tips for using lubricants. First, keep the bottle near the bed. You’ll want to be able to grab it when you need it. Second, pump bottles make it a lot easier to add more without fumbling to get the bottle open. Third, if you accidentally get too much lube out of the bottle, don’t put the extra back in. You don’t want to contaminate the bottle with anything that might be on your hand. And lastly, many lube makers offer single-use packets or small bottles. While they cost more per ounce than larger bottles, you can stick them in a pocket or purse pretty easily, not to mention your carry-on bag.

So I think that the best thing for you to do is to keep lube handy and use it when you need it. It takes about 5 seconds to apply and it’ll make sex a lot more fun. And don’t stress about whether it means anything that you sometimes need a little extra slipperiness.

Don't forget to send your questions to TrèsSugar, and our friend Dr. Charlie Glickman will offer his sound advice!

Sex Myth: Day 14

DearSugar — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:00:00 -0800

If you are not on hormonal birth control such as the NuvaRing or the Pill, it's generally believed that all women ovulate on day 14 of their menstrual cycle. So if you got your period on the first of the month, you would ovulate 14 days later, on day 15. This rule is not necessarily correct for all women, and is based on the assumption that a woman's body follows a perfect 28-day cycle. We know this is not true for all women, and since ovulation can be delayed due to many reasons, including stress, this myth of Day 14 can cause many unwanted pregnancies.

How do you know when you're ovulating? To find out read more.

When an egg is released from your ovary, you'll notice a change in your cervical mucus. It will be very wet and have a clear, egg-white look and consistency. Your body creates this so sperm can swim easier and reach your precious egg. You may also notice mild cramping, breast tenderness, bloating, and an increased sex drive. Here's another cool thing - if you take your temperature every morning as soon as you wake up, you'll see a slight increase in temperature when you ovulate. Your cervix also changes position. It rises and softens when you're ovulating, due to the increase of estrogen in your body.

Since your cycle can be shorter or longer than 28 days, you can ovulate anywhere from day 10 to 18 of your cycle. You should also know that the day you ovulate is not the only day you can get pregnant. Since sperm can live up to five days inside you, you're actually fertile for about 11 days of your cycle.

Dear's advice: If you're trying to avoid getting pregnant, use a consistent and effective form of birth control and don't follow the Day 14 rule.

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