TresSugar

Some Doctors Object to the Pill on Moral Grounds

TresSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0700

In the very first episode of Mad Men, Peggy Olson goes to the gynecologist seeking a prescription for the pill. Watching the scene, I cringed as the doctor grills Peggy about why she would want the contraceptive pills if she were not married. He says: "As a doctor we'd like to think that putting a woman in this situation isn't going to turn her into some sort of strumpet." Although he gave her the prescription, he tells Peggy he will take her off the medicine if she "abuses" it.

If you're thinking: thank goodness I don't live in the 1960s when doctors were allowed to pass judgment on our sex lives, think again! A recent USA Today story explains how doctors are using conscience clauses to object to the pill as well as to abortion. One doctor in San Antonio told the paper that the pill would not protect her patient from the "emotional trauma from multiple partners" or sexually transmitted diseases. She said: "I could not ethically give that type of medication to a single woman." Wow. This modern doctor goes even further than the one featured on Mad Men!

The Bush administration enacted an ambitious conscience clause that says that hospitals receiving federal money cannot refuse to hire nurses or doctors who morally object to abortion or even certain forms of birth control. These regulations, which could limit access to contraception for women who rely on public clinics or those who live in rural areas, have yet to be rolled back by President Obama as promised. What do you think about doctors who withhold contraception from women because of moral objections?

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.

You Asked: Should We Still Use Condoms?

DearSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar,

I've been married for about five years. I have been on various birth control pills the entire time, but I am terrified of having sex without using a condom too. My husband is irritated about this because he obviously prefers sex without a condom, but I'm petrified of getting pregnant. Am I being too uptight or is he being too pushy? - Paranoid Penny

To see DearSugar's answer read more

Dear Paranoid Penny,

The answer to your question is neither. Many women prefer to use backup contraception just for piece of mind while other women feel confident in the statistics of their chosen birth control method, so if you're that terrified of getting pregnant, I think you need to do whatever puts your mind at ease.

Since the pill is 99 percent effective, I'm left wondering if there's something else going on here so I suggest you have a heart to heart with your husband so you can talk through some of your fears. Since condoms aren't 100 percent effective at preventing pregnancy either, you might also want to talk about what would happen if you were to get pregnant, just so you're on the same page. Good luck!

Source

Where Do You Stand? Taking Hormonal Birth Control

DearSugar — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:00:00 -0800

Many women use hormonal birth control such as the pill, the NuvaRing, or the patch because it's effective, it's easy, it can control or eliminate your period, and it allows you to be more spontaneous when having sex. I know some women, though, who refuse to use it because they don't like how it decreases their sex drive, makes them moody, or makes their breasts grow. Still others just don't like the idea of putting chemicals into their bodies.

So where do you stand? Are you for or against using hormonal birth control?

Source, Source, and Source

Favorite Birth Control Method of 2008

DearSugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 07:30:00 -0800

You all voted on your favorite birth control method of '08 and I wasn't surprised to see that the the pill won with 43 percent of your votes. It seems as though most of us have a love/hate relationship with contraception, but I'm glad to see that those of you who are sexually active have found the right method for you!

What Was Your Favorite Birth Control Method of '08?

DearSugar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0800

Over the course of the year, I've given you a plethora of information about contraception; I've even given you brush up tests! Since women have a variety of needs, you know that it can take some trial and error until you find the perfect method to fit your lifestyle, so tell me ladies, what was your favorite form of birth control in 2008?

Sunday Confessional: I Didn't Tell Him the Condom Broke

DearSugar — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 09:00:00 -0800

I recently went off the pill because my husband and I want to start trying to get pregnant this Spring. I thought it would be a good idea to let my body adjust, so we've been using condoms ever since. Though I've been ready for a while now, my husband wants to wait until we're more financially stable, which I completely understand.

One night last month while we were having sex, I kept thinking to myself that it didn't feel like the condom was still on - it just felt too good. When he took it off, he didn't say anything so I just assumed it was still intact. I went to the bathroom to freshen up and checked the trash, just in case, and I was right - the condom had torn. Something inside of me got excited - there was now a possibility that I could become pregnant!

I didn't say anything to him about that night, and just this morning, I realized my period was late. I took a pregnancy test and it showed I am in fact pregnant! I'm thrilled, but at the same time, I'm guilt ridden for not being honest. The current state of the economy has made us even more financially unstable and I'm petrified to tell my husband this news. I would hate to think that he would have wanted me to take the morning after pill, so my train of thinking is what he won't know won't hurt him. Is it forgivable to keep my knowledge of the broken condom my little secret?

Source

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

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.

Source

Are Occasional Breaks From the Pill a Good Idea?

DearSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Since the pill has such a long list of benefits, it's no wonder so many of us have been on it for as long as we have. But with that said, I'm sure you've wondered if you should take a break to give your body a chance to be pill-free for a while. While it's popular to think that a break from the pill is beneficial for your body, it's actually not necessary. It's a myth that may have started a while back with older pills that contained high doses of hormones, but today's pills contain a much lower, safer amount. Some women also feel like they should stop the pill for a while to preserve their fertility, but there's no evidence that being on the pill has any effect on a woman's future ability to have a baby - it merely prevents pregnancy while a woman is on it.

There's more, so read more.

If you're contemplating taking a break only to go back on the pill shortly thereafter, you should know that professionals think it's healthier for your body to remain on the pill. The fluctuations in hormones can have a negative effect, both physically and emotionally. Plus, all the side effects you experienced when you first started the pill, which subsided after a few months, may show up again, so you'll have to deal with moodiness, depression, sore breasts, or yeast infections. The only reason a woman should take a break from her pill is if it's not agreeing with her body, or if she's trying to become pregnant.

Dear's Advice: Even though there are many health benefits associated with taking the pill, I completely understand that you may want to take a break because you don't like the idea of putting chemicals in your body. If that's the case, then you may want to consider going off the pill entirely, and ask your doctor about hormone-free choices like the diaphragm or the ParaGard.

Source