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?

Are Occasional Breaks From the Pill Necessary?

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:50:05 -0700

Almost every woman I know has been on the pill at some point in her life, and many of us started when we were under 20 years old. It has many health benefits, such as preventing unwanted pregnancies, decreasing the risk of ovarian cancer, and alleviating PMS symptoms. The one big negative about the pill is that statistics show being on it for longer than 10 years puts you at a higher risk for breast cancer. Women may also be worried that taking hormones for so long may affect their chances of having a baby in the future. So does it make sense to take regular vacations from the pill to give your body some hormone-free time?

To find out if this is a good idea, read more.

While it's common to think that taking occasional breaks from the pill is beneficial for your body, it's actually not necessary. It's a myth that may have started a while back, since the very first birth control pills contained high doses of hormones. Today's pills contain a much lower amount so they're completely safe to take for years at a time. Doctors actually think it's healthier for your body to remain on the pill. The fluctuations in hormones can have a negative effect on your body, both physically and emotionally. Plus, all the symptoms you experienced when you first started the pill such as moodiness, sore breasts, or yeast infections may show up again.

What about your fertility? You may be worried that staying on the pill continuously for many years will make it harder to get pregnant when you decide to start a family. There's no evidence that being on the pill has any effect on a woman's future ability to conceive - it merely prevents pregnancy while a woman is on it. In fact, regularly going on and off the pill may increase your chances of having an unplanned pregnancy since your protection isn't consistent.

Most importantly, if you've been on the pill forever, you'll be happy to know that as soon as you go off it your risk for developing breast cancer begins to go back to normal over time. If you're worried about your risk, or the whole idea of putting hormones in your body doesn't sit well with you, talk to your doctor about hormone-free alternatives such as the ParaGard IUC. A permanent vacation from the pill might be the better option, as opposed to a break.

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.

The Pill vs. Building Muscle

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:00:00 -0700

If you're looking to build lean muscle mass, taking oral contraceptives might be interfering with all your hard work. A recent study from Texas A&M University, involving 73 generally healthy women between 18 and 31, found that women not taking birth control pills gained 60 percent more muscle mass than women on the pill during a 10-week time period.

All the women in the study participated in the same whole-body resistance exercise training program and worked out three times a week under the supervision of exercise physiologists, but half were using oral contraceptives and the other half were not. All the women performed the same exercises, same number of reps, at the same intensity. The study participants were also encouraged to increase their intake of protein, by about a third more than nutritional guidelines, to ensure they wear eating enough protein to build muscle mass. After the 10-week workout period, the women who were not on the pill had significantly more lean muscle mass.

Information on both groups hormone levels, when you read more.

A comparison of blood samples between the two groups indicated the women using oral contraception had less testosterone in their system, a hormone necessary for making muscle. In addition, women on the pill had more cortisol in their systems, which is a hormone that helps break down muscle tissue.

Source

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