Does The Pill Protect Against Stds
Nope. The pill is really good at preventing pregnancy, but it wont protect you from sexually transmitted infections.
Luckily, using condoms every time you have sex really lowers your chances of getting or spreading STDs. Condoms also protect against pregnancy so using condoms + birth control pills together gives protection from STDs AND awesome pregnancy-preventing power.
Certain Drugs Could Interact With Hormonal Methods Or Reduce Their Effectiveness
“The most common question I get in this area is about antibiotics,” says Kelsie Cabrera, DO, Nebraska Medicine obstetrician and gynecologist. “Rifampin is the only antibiotic that has been shown to decrease hormone birth control effectiveness. Depending on the hormonal method, the most common drug interactions occur with birth control pills. These include antiseizure and some anti-HIV medications, Saint John’s wort and certain antifungal medications.”
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‘you Have A One In Four Chance Of Getting Pregnant This Year’
Family Planning Alliance Australia ranks fertility-awareness-based methods of contraception as among the least effective ways to prevent pregnancy.
They are said to be about 75 per cent effective with typical use, but can be as high as 99 per cent with perfect use. This means for every 100 women using a fertility app, anywhere between one and 25 could fall pregnant this year.
One key issue is these methods rely on women being hypervigilant about observing and recording their symptoms each day, and using condoms when in the fertile window.
Dr Catriona Melville, deputy medical director at Marie Stopes, doesnt believe everyone is capable of applying fertility-awareness-based methods correctly. If you use it perfectly, and you check your mucus, and take your temperature, and mark your calendar, and you use it all perfectly, it can have a very low failure rate. But you have to be absolutely motivated to use it exactly right, she says.
For example, your temperature must be taken before stepping out of bed every morning, and around the same time every day. If you get sick, have a hangover, work late, sleep in, get stressed or simply go to the toilet right after waking up, that day’s result will be flawed.
And then theres the fact menstrual cycles can fluctuate.
Most women are only entering their menstrual cycle on the calendar, despite being advised to track at least two fertility indicators to increase effectiveness.
Which, for some people, it isnt.
How Does The Minipill Work
In the United States, the progestin-only oral contraceptive is known as norethindrone. According to the Mayo Clinic, norethindrone works by:
- thickening the mucus in your cervix and thinning the lining of your uterus, making it harder for sperm and egg to meet
- preventing your ovaries from releasing eggs
Its important to understand that the progestin-only minipill may not consistently suppress your ovulation.
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Whats The Short Answer
Although birth control can be an effective way to prevent unintended pregnancy, no method is 100 percent successful. Each type has pros and cons, including how effective it is.
Hormonal intrauterine devices and hormonal implants are the most effective forms of reversible birth control. Once inserted, the hormonal implant and hormonal IUD are more than 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy.
Other forms of birth control can be equally effective if used perfectly which means correctly, consistently, and on time, every time.
Human nature, on the other hand, often means that this wont always happen. For instance, a condom may be forgotten, a birth control pack started late, and a birth control shot skipped. So-called typical use ultimately makes the actual success rate of each method much lower.
Read on to learn more about each type of birth control, including the effectiveness and what you can do to make it more efficient.
‘i Would Cry At The Drop Of A Hat’
The popularity of fertility apps really comes down to the most popular alternative: the peppercorn-sized pills women have been swallowing every day for the last six decades.
The pill can have crippling side-effects. Kayleigh was on the pill for 12 years but eventually began suffering acne breakouts, no libido, pain after sex and depressive episodes. I would cry at the drop of a hat and I knew I was being irrational but I couldnt stop,” she recalls.
Now, Kayleigh tracks her period, temperature and cervical mucus and no longer has any side-effects.
I feel more myself than I ever have. I actually have a sex drive now. I feel so much more in tune with my body. Im happy, I dont have down days anymore. I dont remember a time since coming off the pill where I have had an irrational emotional outburst.
Nina* has generalised anxiety disorder. She says going off the pill sparked a sudden drop in her symptoms. When I was on the pill I had less control of my emotions, was crying easily, had more frequent panic attacks. I also experienced fairly debilitating migraines, she says.
The 25-year-old Melbourne woman also uses the Clue app, and says she now feels empowered a sentiment echoed by most women interviewed for this story. I love understanding my cycle and … feeling in tune with my body, and I actually feel more in control now.
For others, the impetus for stopping the pill can be as simple as wanting to better understand how it may or may not be affecting them.
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A Complete Guide To Birth Control Pill Brands
Birth control pills are a commonly used form of contraception that employs hormones to stop ovulation in order to prevent pregnancy.
Before getting on the pill or switching your brand of birth control pill, its important to know the options available out there and what you can expect with each one.
Birth control pills, also called oral contraceptives or just the pill, are prescribed under many different brand names today. It can be confusing and overwhelming to choose the right one for youbut were here to help.
In this article, we will compare some common brands of birth control pills and find out what makes each one unique this will help you make a well-informed decision.
Option 3 For Women Preferring Monthly Bleeds
Women who prefer a monthly bleed may still benefit from improved contraceptive efficacy and margin for error with the COC of their choice if their CFI is no longer than 4days. Correct intervals between packets can now easily be achieved by using apps that permit the user to alter the number of days on which she is reminded either to take or not to take tablets. Not all apps incorporate appropriate safeguards to minimise the risks of missing a reminder. We recommend myPill Birth Control Reminder’, an app that is available free on both Android and iOS platforms.
Read Also: Can You Balance Hormones Naturally
Types Of External Condoms
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Latex: The most common. Only water or silicone-based lubricants can be used with latex condoms .
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Plastic : May be useful for those with allergies and can be used with oil-based lubes .
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Lambskin: May be useful for those with latex allergies. They do not protect against STIs because of tiny pores that could allow viruses to pass through . You can use any type of lubrication with these condoms .
Should I Take Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills were discovered in the 1960s as a means to contraception with profound implications for society, including separation for women between conception and sexuality. While this most likely had beneficial effects for our society, people have come to see birth control pills as something completely benign, almost like taking a vitamin. Birth control pills contain synthetic progesterone with some synthetic estrogen that inhibits the hypothalamic-pituitary- gonadal axis from functioning properly. This does work very well for contraception, but it also blocks a very important hormonal pathways and has profound implications for the woman who is on birth control. Therefore, the decision to start birth control should not be taken lightly and the patient should always assess if birth control pills are still needed.
Birth control pills have several effects on the endocrine system. First of all, they are high progesterone and low estrogen, progesterone can cause a woman to develop fatigue and gain weight and low estrogen, which can be associated with hot flashes and a general sense of not feeling well. Some but not all patients experience low estrogen symptoms from birth control pills. Birth control pills are marked for their low estrogen, which is good in terms of preventing blood clots and strokes that the estrogen in birth control pills can cause, but bad in terms of women who often need an adequate amount of estrogen to feel well.
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Birth Control Sponge Effectiveness
Of 100 women who have never had a baby and who use the sponge in a typical year, about 14 will get pregnant. This means it is 86% effective.
By comparison, male condoms are 87% effective, and birth control pills are 93% effective.
Does the sponge protect against sexually transmitted diseases?
No. The male condom is the best way to protect against STDs such as HIV.
How It Prevents Pregnancy
The pill prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg each month . It also:
- thickens the mucus in the neck of the womb, so it is harder for sperm to penetrate the womb and reach an egg
- thins the lining of the womb, so there is less chance of a fertilised egg implanting into the womb and being able to grow
The pill is over 99% effective if used correctly. Other methods of contraception are better at preventing pregnancy, such as the IUD, IUS, implant and injection.
There are many different brands of pill, made up of 3 main types:
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Why Is There Estrogen In Birth Control Pills
Why is there estrogen in birth control pills? The purpose of estrogen in combined hormonal birth control is to make bleeding predictable . Progestin-only methods can cause changes in menstrual bleeding . So essentially, synthetic estrogens are added to these types of contraceptives to make your withdrawal bleed look more like a normal period.
What does the estrogen in birth control do? The estrogen component of the combination birth control pill serves 3 important functions: it exerts negative feedback action on the secretion of gonadotropins it provides stability to the endometrium, preventing irregular shedding and unwanted breakthrough bleeding and it increases the potency of the progestational
Why is estrogen bad in birth control? Birth control pills work well. The catch is that the more estrogen you take, the more likely you are to have side effects such as headaches, nausea, breast tenderness, and rare but potentially fatal blood clots.
Is estrogen in birth control bad? And estrogen-containing birth control pills may decrease the risk of ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer. On the other hand, research suggests that long-term use of estrogen-containing birth control pills is associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer. This risk increases the longer you take the pills.
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My Top 10 Favorite Low Hormone Birth Control Options And Why
One of the most important things for paleo womento consider is what we are going to do about birth control.
Should you take hormonal birth control? Is it really all that good? Bad? What happens to you when youre on it? Of course, non-hormonal would be ideal for any woman who prioritizes having a natural menstrual cycle. Unfortunately, natural options are really not as abundant as they should be. Check out my top picks for low dose birth control options.
1) condoms and other prophylactics
2) pulling out
3) fertility awareness
4) the copper IUD
This last one is pretty powerfuland popularbut it carries a modest risk of copper toxicity with it and may exacerbate bleeding and cramps during your cycle. The copper IUD also costs a pretty penny somewhere in the neighborhood of $500-$1000.
So, hormonal alternatives seem like a reasonable choice to many women. And they are. Side effects are often minimal , and many women are completely happy on the birth control pill.
One way to give yourself the best chance of this happening is to go on a low dose birth control option.
There are more than 60 varieties of the birth control pill available today, and every one of them is different. The dosages for the least impactful birth control pills are classified as: ultra-low dose and low dose.
- May cause water retention
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More Serious Side Effects
Serious side effects are rare with the non-hormonal barrier method of birth control, like with the condom, diaphragm, or cervical cap although allergies can rarely occur, especially if latex is present. Toxic shock syndrome may rarely occur with the contraceptive sponge.
Serious side effects with the copper IUD may include: pelvic inflammatory disease , uterine perforation, embedment in wall of uterus, life-threatening infection, endometritis , ectopic pregnancy, and IUD expulsion.
Other warnings and side effects may occur with the use of non-hormonal birth control. It is important to review the specific consumer information for your birth control choice. Discuss these serious side effects with your healthcare provider. Tell your healthcare provider about all other medications you take, including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin and herbal supplements.
Should I Use A Fertility Awareness
Life stages or events that cause your periods to be unpredictable can make FABMs less effective in preventing pregnancy . You may want to consider other types of birth control, if any of the following applies to you :
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You recently started having periods
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You are close to menopause
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You have just ended hormonal birth control
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You have recently birthed
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Your periods are unpredictable
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Have a high risk of getting an STI
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You are not able to avoid sex or use a barrier method during days with high risk of becoming pregnant
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Your partner is not willing to participate in the FABM
If becoming pregnant would be dangerous to your health or be very damaging to your life, a more reliable form of birth control may be a better option.
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Birth Control Sponge Risks
Disadvantages of the birth control sponge include:
- It may be hard to remove.
- You can still get an STD.
- Some women have a burning feeling or an allergic reaction.
- Spermicide can irritate your genitals, raising your risk of HIV.
- Leaving a sponge in place for too long could lead to toxic shock syndrome .
Pick a different birth control method if youâre on your period or if you recently gave birth, had a miscarriage, or had an abortion. You also shouldnât use the sponge if you get a lot of urinary tract infections or have had TSS before.
Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes
Oral contraceptive pills provide patients with the option to prevent pregnancy. If the patient has medical conditions that put them at increased risk for taking combined OC or progestin OC, the prescriber should inform patients of many alternatives to prevent pregnancy. OC’s are a choice made by the patient and her clinician after adequate counseling of risks and benefits. There are significant non-contraceptive uses of hormonal contraceptives, and these should be considered when counseling the patient about her options. Many OC formulations can provide menstrual regularity, treating both menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea. They can even be utilized to induce amenorrhea for lifestyle considerations.
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What About Natural Contraception Methods And How Safe Are They
Quite a few natural fertility awareness methods exist, and their effectiveness depends largely on how diligent you are with tracking your cycle.
- Symptothermal method: Track cervical secretions and basal body temperature to determine on which days of the month intercourse should be avoided. First year pregnancy rate of 1.8% with proper use.
- Standard days method: Do not have sex from Day 8 to Day 19 of your cycle. This study of 500 women showed that the pregnancy rate was < 5 per 100 with correct use.
- Cervical mucus/ovulation method: Evaluate cervical mucus several times daily to figure out when youre fertile. With correct use, 3% of women typically become pregnant. Note that this method has a pretty high failure rate with typical use.
- TwoDay method: Avoid sex when any cervical mucus is present. When used correctly, this method has a 3.5% pregnancy rate.
Of course, the greatest risk with any of these methods is pregnancy. They all require different time commitments, but one thing FAMs have in common is that they require you to be in tune with your body, rather than taking a backseat to your fertility. With that being said, FAMs work wonderfully when used correctly. The low pregnancy rates associated with each one is testament to that.
If youre considering FAM, I encourage you to meet with a FAM educator.
How Do Birth Control Pills Prevent Pregnancy
The birth control pill works by stopping sperm from joining with an egg. When sperm joins with an egg its called fertilization.
The hormones in the pill safelystop ovulation. No ovulation means theres no egg for sperm to fertilize, so pregnancy cant happen.
The pills hormones also thicken the mucus on the cervix. This thicker cervical mucus blocks sperm so it cant swim to an egg kind of like a sticky security guard.
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