Contraceptives

Is it a pill, is it a plug, is it an injection?

Which new type of male contraceptive looks like becoming a ‘goer’ within a few years?   The latest trials being done in Sydney, of a testosterone and projestin injection for men, may result in more than a few female heroines expecting their male heroes to rescue them from hormonal hassle when it comes to taking responsibility for birth control.

The trials, conducted by the ANZAC Research Institute in Australia, hope to prove the twice monthly injection 95% effective as a method of male birth control- with full impregnating ability restored 3 months after stopping the injections. The funding for the trials has come from an American reproductive health and HIV prevention agency (CONRAD) that has been working on this for more than 15 years.  Once this second phase of testing is successfully completed it will further strengthen CONRAD’s ‘proof of principle study’, published in 2003, which revived interest from major multinational pharmaceutical companies in developing a reversible, effective, male hormonal contraceptive for the market.

How does it work?

I’m still trying to find out exactly what quantities of hormones make up each shot, hopefully the doses will be as low as they are in the low dose birth control pills for women. Basically though, the hormonal mix of testosterone and progestin tricks the male brain into believing that sufficient sperm has already been produced. Since sperm is the vital male ingredient needed to make babies- voila! Ovulate without fear girls or will it be asking TOO much of us to believe him when he says he’s infertile?

What about STIs?

Will it trick the STI villains from wreaking havoc on both of you? ‘Fraid not, you’ll both need to keep up the condom supply and get regular checks.

I can hear you chanting ’side effects, what about the side effects?’ - this new male method of birth control will banish yours, yeay but what about his?  It’s good news apparently. After some of us have coped with bloating, mood swings,  loss of sex drive and risk of blood clots throughout our birth control trials, it seems, according to lead researcher, Rob McLachlan, this shot of hormones into the male metabolism shouldn’t change his sex life at all because the “level of testosterone in the blood remains the same.” Not sure I fully understand that one if you ‘re adding more testosterone to what’s already there but as to other possible side effects well, we really will have to wait and see, I’ve heard that acne may be one of the nasties for some men.   True heroes won’t let a little moodiness, bloating or risk of blood clotting put them off though will they?

If you’re relishing the day when the only contraceptive side effect you’ll have to worry about is RSI from rolling on a condom, then maybe it’s not a bad thing to have a few ‘deep and meaningfuls’ about both your birth control ‘careers’? Be kind and understanding though, if the day comes when he mumbles, “Not tonight sweetie- I have a headache”.

Which NEW non hormonal contraceptive for men  might just beat the ’shot’ over the line? Find out in my next post.

Despite the ill winds blowing throughout the global economy at present, lots of fresh breezes have at last rustled things up for the better on the birth control front in America.

So what’s been happening on the birth control front in the last few months?

Major changes in the US -  thanks to the new president.

Read Obama’s top 10 women’s health achievements, a real tonic,  HERE .

also:

• affordable low dose birth control is now available to college students and women on low incomes
• the FDA has approved the over the counter sale of the emergency contraceptive,  Plan B, for 17 year olds - quite rightly, it won’t be as easy as picking up a packet of aspirin though, the pharmacist will verify age prior to dispensing and also monitor the number of prescriptions filled. The pharmacist should also check for any allergies to the non medicinal ingredients in the product
• in some US states, more women are seeking permanent methods of birth control
• the ongoing recession has cost millions of people their jobs. Planned Parenthood and other family planning clinics are seeing more and more people in their waiting rooms. Generally these clinics serve young women between 18 and 24 but now older clients and many without insurance are coming in(CCMC Push journal)
•  the FDA has approved the FC2- a cheaper and improved version of the female condom that is made from synthetic rubber instead of polyurethane
• a small study out of Pittsburgh (only 70 women) may encourage further research into the effects of low dose birth control pills on suppressing the release of anabolic hormones which help build lean muscle mass
• scientists revive dormant gene to prevent HIV transmission

SO….Plan B is now accessible to 17 year olds without a prescription. 17 year olds are, in my opinion, quite capable of taking responsibility for managing their own birth control AND emergency contraception - with support.
If you are 17 years old or younger and sexually active please read on:

• Plan B is for emergency contraception ONLY and should not be used by anybody, regardless of age, as a regular form of birth control

• decide on a long term birth control plan for your own ‘contraception career’, this may mean trialling a few low dose birth control pills until you find one that suits your metabolism or exploring the option of an implant, injection or IUD

•  be brave enough to have intelligent conversations with your parents about birth control if they give you the chance-  if not, take advantage of the ongoing advice, counselling and resources available to you through Family Planning clinics or a health expert you feel comfortable with

• ‘walk in’ and get tested for STDs so you and your friends can brag about being ‘clean’

• have fun with the new female condom if he won’t use his

Plan B does not prevent sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV/AIDS but it is effective in preventing pregnancy if taken within 72 (3 days) hours of unprotected intercourse and certainly within 120 hours (5 days).
Plan B does not contain estrogen and is not a low dose contraceptive - each pill contains 0.75mg of the progestin hormone, levonorgestrel. Two pills need to be taken, each can be taken 12 hours apart or at the same time. Plan B will not interfere with an established pregnancy- it works by preventing ovulation or fertilisation. In medical terms, pregnancy begins when a fertilised egg attaches itself to the wall of the uterus.

I don’t relish advocating medication, synthetic hormones, artificial colouring, preservatives and all the other stuff that is foreign to our bodies but when it comes to assisting young people  through their sexual journey in safety, ie. without catching an STD and without getting pregnant until they are ready,  I believe a ‘duty of care’ must balance the pros and cons. Young people need all the help they can get to access appropriate birth control and to learn to use this synthetic hormone (Plan B) responsibly.

For further information on Plan B visit this earlier post.

Sincere apologies for my absence since Christmas.  Family issues both here and overseas had to take priority but hopefully I shall be able to keep you up to date with low dose birth control information at least one or twice a month from now on and I hope you all enjoyed Valentine’s Day without any ‘unwanted’ follow ups.

 Next post-  update on male contraception methods

This will be my last post before I have a break over Christmas and New year so I thought I would make it a quick ‘reference’ one that could be used in an ‘emergency’ during the holiday.

You could find  yourself in this situation

Great Christmas Eve party and Laura’s bash last night was the best ever BUT….in the cold light of day you suddenly realise that you’ve missed taking 2 low dose birth control pills in a row and you had champagne ‘Christmas’ sex both nights WITHOUT a condom. Sperm can survive up to 5 days inside you so if you have no Plan B to take, what action can you take NOW to reduce your chance of getting pregnant?

Tony Thornton, CEO of Planned Parenthood says about four low dose birth control pills will achieve the same effect as an emergency contraceptive but you should contact a pharmacist before taking more than the recommended dose of your current low dose birth control pill.

Using your low dose birth control pill for emergency contraception is the next best thing if you are really in a desperate situation so below is a dosage guide for some of the popular brands.  If your brand is not listed, check the leaflet in the pack for instructions for ‘emergency use’.   PHONE a 24 hour clinic for advice as well!

Use a barrier method for 7 days as backup protection too (ie. a male or female condom plus spermicide)   Sex without condoms is UNCOOL -  know that you are exposing yourself and your future partners to sexually transmitted diseases.  The percentage of teenagers with Chlamydia is staggeringly high so get tested, stay clean and brag about it!

If Plan B is not available to you the Food and Drug Administration has declared the following brands of low dose birth control pills to be safe and effective for emergency contraception if used in the higher doses as recommended. See RHS of this post for further information on pills mentioned:

Ovral (1 dose is 2 white pills)

Alesse (1 dose is 5 pink pills)

Levlen or Nordette (1 dose is 2 light-orange pills)

Lo/Ovral (1 dose is 4 white pills)

Tri-Levlen or Triphasil (1 dose is 4 yellow pills)

A copper IUD  will also be effective if inserted within 5 days following intercourse but this method of long term birth control should not be rushed into for emergency measures without thorough discussion with a health professional.

Check with a health professional at once if you need emergency contraception and you are breastfeeding - even though there are no actual studies to prove that hormonal contraceptives damage a baby, please be cautious with ALL medications you take. Whatever you swallow is absorbed by your body and eventually passes through your milk and reaches your baby- do you really want your baby to have to cope with huge doses of hormones, alcohol or drugs? Your baby has no ’say’ in the matter so even though you find yourself stressed in this emergency situation, put the baby first and please don’t  panic if you have to include bottle feeds for a while.

Wishing you a very safe and loving Christmas and a New Year that brings you happiness and fulfillment in all you do,

See you in January then,

Kindest regards Carole

This post is more about your cervix, girls, than your low dose birth control regime. The photos I’m linking to in this post may be a bit ‘icky’ for some of you but please don’t let it put you off looking at them- they are fantastic and the woman who shares them with us is to be commended for giving us this ‘gift’ of herself.

Do you live period to period when it comes to managing your birth control or do you have a PLAN for the whole 30-35 years of your ‘contraception career’? If you’ve planned your method of birth control and are protecting yourself against STIs for even the next 3 years, well done - but that low dose birth control pill you may be using is only one of the partners on the team. The other important partner in your long term contraception career, apart from your sexual partner(s) that is, is YOUR BODY. The better you know it, the better partner it will be to you during your ‘contraception career’.

Like many young girls , you were  probably offered the low dose birth control pill when you embarked on your ‘contraception career’ and it’s possible that apart from the condom,  all the other birth control methods available (there are14) were not mentioned. Being able to mix n’ match birth control methods is a real advantage as your life changes over the next 30 odd years.  If you know what a cervix looks and feels like (some say it feels like the tip of your nose) you’ll understand better how these different methods work and you may feel less squeamish and more confident about using them.

Knowing what your cervix looks like will add to your knowledge of your body and management of your birth control methods:

• entrance or neck of your uterus/womb- it is through this little opening that the lining of your uterus is shed each month if you do not get pregnant
• ‘fits over the cervix’ - you’ll hear this when discussing how to use a diaphragm, cap, femidom
• cervical mucus- this is where it comes from, what it looks like and how its consistency changes during your menstrual cycle and as a result of using hormonal birth control methods
• cancer ‘of the cervix’ - is cancer of this part of your body
• a cervical smear test or Pap test - sample cells are taken from here to check for abnormalities
• ‘inserted THROUGH the the neck of the cervix’ - it is through this little opening that an IUD is inserted
• “her cervix is fully dilated” - a phrase you’ll hear during labour when a baby is ready to enter the birth canal, the opening is measured in cms and monitored throughout labour (10cms usually means ‘fully dilated’)

Before you click away ‘cos you think the next bit is going to be boring Biology, do you know how your cervix changes on each day of your menstrual cycle and how these changes relate to other monthly changes in your body, PMS included? By the time you’ve finished looking at these photos and reading the captions, I’ll lay a femidom to a condom that you’ll be passing this link onto several of your friends and going “Wow”.

When I took my 13 yr. old daughter with me to watch me have my annual Pap test and to find out what a cervix looked like, eyebrows were raised (this was over 15 years ago) Thank goodness I had a ‘with it’ doctor back then but even these days I do not hear of mum’s being encouraged to give this simple gift to their daughters. That little visit took away any mystery/fear around the test for my daughter when she came to have her own Pap test a few years later and it set the scene for us to talk about sex ’stuff’ when she started having boyfriends.

You’re probably saying, “Forget it- there’s no way I’d go with my mum to watch that!”  Obviously the ‘comfort’ factor for both you and your mum is a big issue here so let’s assume this communal visit ISN’T going to happen - the next best thing you can do to acquaint yourself with this important part of your body is to take a look at these fantastic photos of the changes that occur in your cervix during each day of your menstrual cycle.

The photos of cervical mucus are really helpful too, for those of you well past teenagehood, with regular menstrual cycles and an interest in practising natural birth control.

Yesterday you couldn’t tell your best friend what a cervix looks like could you - today you can - fantastic!

Yesterday I told you about the newest version of the female condom, the FC2, under review by the FDA advisory panel for marketing in the US.  The good news is confirmed that this potentially less costly method of birth control received unanimous backing-  the FC2 is still highly effective in preventing pregnancy AND STIs.

The lower price (30%?) should also make this new female condom more attractive to women which means that we females can have peace of mind and even more choice regarding how we manage our ‘contraception career’.
“I find it empowering to be able to take charge and put on the female condom myself,” says Linda Arnade, a health worker in Chicago who has used FC for three years. “I like being able to put it in several hours before sex, and the fact that the material feels stronger than latex. I once had a male condom break, but that’s never happened to me with the female condom.” Manufacturer studies show 50 to 70 percent of users find the device acceptable once they have experience using it.

The cost of producing this newer version can be reduced because the new material (synthetic rubber)  allows a method to be used that is similar to the one for producing male condoms. Cost estimates range from $1.40 to $2.10 for consumers and about half that for health care organizations that distribute it.

Safe if you have an allergy to latex- the synthetic rubber is ‘user friendly’.

Most other countries have already adopted FC2 - this recent FDA approval also enables the new female condom to be sold in more countries overseas, as the U.S. Agency for International Development needs FDA approval before it can buy the cheaper version
“Female condoms are the only woman-controlled method of safer sex, and we also know what the birth control pill did for women: it allowed them an unprecedented control over their reproductive status,” said American Social Health Association Vice President Deborah Arrindell.
Mary Ann Leeper, an adviser and former president of Female Health Co said ” Even with approval, it will take time for the company to relaunch it for U.S. consumers. The company is looking for a marketing partner to help distribute it more widely.“  Health advocates say that if the government moves quickly in recommending FC2 approval, the new condom could be on U.S. pharmacy shelves--and in the hands of aid organizations that distribute it worldwide–some time in 2009.  Let’s hope they DO pass on the production savings.

Sources: Women’s eNews-Author: Molly M. Ginty

OK, so you feel a bit squeamish about even trying a female condom, called a femidom but your low dose birth control pill is not ‘cool’ when it comes to protecting you from an STI.   Expect your partner to wear a condom?  Excellent-  but it could be fun finding out if you both enjoy a ‘change’ and he is sure to be impressed that you’ve even considered something a bit different.  All part of the sexual learning curve AND combined with your low dose birth control pill, it puts YOU in the total birth control seat.
If you are happy with your low dose birth control regime, having backup, barrier protection of some kind as well is the smart thing to do.  A downside to Femidoms is that they cost more (between $2.80 and $4) than  male condoms, which come in a variety of brands and cost between 50 cents and $2 a piece. If approval is given to market the new version , the FC2 should be potentially less expensive and more durable than the current female condoms on the shelves.
Current female condoms are made of polyurethane whereas this new kind, the FC2 Female Condom, made by Female Health Co, is made of NITRILE - a form of synthetic rubber similar to male condoms. FC2 is being reviewed by an FDA advisory panel this week for its cpacity to prevent pregnancy aswell as HIV and STIs.
The new female condom is exactly the same design and is used in the same way as the current female condom which is made of polyurethane. Both versions are comprised of a sheath with a closed ring on one end that is inserted near the cervix and an open ring on the outer end that stays outside the woman’s body. Male condoms are far more widely used than their female counterpart, although you could argue that the female condom has the advantage of providing greater protection by covering part of a woman’s outer genitals. Go HERE for dias. on how to fit a female condom.
I hesitate to mention another ‘off putting’ aspect of using a femidom that rumour has it some gals complain about and that’s the rustling sound during sex, bit like putting it in a plastic bag, eh?  Well, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it at least once, if only for a giggle- sex is fun remember?   Barbara Hastings -Asatourian of Contraception Eduction Ltd. in the UK  has been working in the sexual health arena for decades and demonstrates the femidom often- here’s what she told me in an email the other day about the noise issue: “My experience of the legendary “rustle” is that it doesn’t! Female condoms have so much lube on them there’s no noise at all. The dry ones I use in demonstrations make a very little noise, and that might be where this off putting piece of folk lore came from. If there is the slightest noise to hear from a female condom one would have to have ears very close one’s vagina, and be paying a dysproportionate level of attention to it! The other noises around sex tend to be louder and more interesting, and a lot more real! Remember there may be extra pleasure to be had from positioning the female condom’s outer ring on or near the clitoris. Now that has to be worth trying….”
Many other countries, especially Africa,  have already adopted the new female condom to prevent the spread of the HIV virus but the FDA needs to sanction the product before it can be sold in the US. Watch this space folks!  Best prices for female condoms can be found at this site - just type  “female condom” into the search box. I’ll let you know when I find a site that sells the new version too.
Tomorrow I’ll let you know the decision of the FDA advisory Panel.

This is a quick, lighthearted post about condom fashion- I’m pushing the ‘condom consciousness’ at this time of year for obvious ‘party’ reasons.  Take a look at these wonderful creations from the 4th China Reproductive Health New Technologies & Products Expo in Beijing last year.

CONDOMS RULE, OK?  Don’t leave home without them.

Do you have a friend who sends you a text message so that you won’t forget to shop for your low dose birth control pill?  “As if!”  you laugh, well in the UK  the government plans to do just that.  It is estimated that this will cut 73,000 pregnancies each year and save the National health Service (NHS) £100 million. NHS bosses reckon every £1 spent on contraception saves £11 on unwanted pregnancies.

If you live in Britain and you go to your GP for a prescription for your low dose birth control pill, you will be asked if you want to join the system that sends you a text message when your course of pills is about to run out and books you in for the next appointment.  You will also be able to phone in for advice on which birth control is best for you.  And women who leave clinics with only temporary protection - or none at all - will be sent texts urging them to return for follow-up checks.

This is great if you live month to month and don’t have 3 months of low dose birth control pills in stock but it doesn’t help with the chore of having to remember to take that pill at the same time DAILY.

You’ll be a rare bird if you haven’t forgotten to take your low dose birth control pill at least once during the month.  Hopefully you have a routine for pill taking that serves you well most of the time, (if you have a foolproof tip, let me know and I’ll share) however, with Christmas parties already in swing you’re in danger of crashing in the wee hours, sleeping in late and completely forgetting that little round pill-your faithful ‘child protector.’

To avoid that “Damn it!” moment and a dash for the emergency pack, see if one of these tips will work for you:

First of all, please read the package leaflet at least once when you open your pack of Ortho Tri Cyclen or other brand of contraceptive pill. If you have, you will know how important it is to take the pill at the same time each day. There is a reason for this- it helps to keep a steady and measured dose of hormones supplied  to your body throughout 24 hours AND throughout your whole cycle and it also helps to minimise any side effects you may experience, such as spotting and breakthrough bleeding.

1. ‘Out of sight out of mind’ is an old saying that doesn’t just apply to people!   It is true when it comes to taking medication- if the pills are not right there in front of you why would you think about them?  Putting your pack of contraceptive pills out of sight will not help you to establish a good ‘pill taking’ habit so make sure your contraceptive pill pack is next to your toothbrush or by that glass of water on the bedside table or in the drawer alongside your jar of night cream.
2. OK, so your job has ridiculous shifts or you travel a lot and routines keep changing- you must find a new routine to ‘attach’ your pill taking act to!  Carry your contraceptive pill pack in your handbag and take it with lunch/ morning/afternoon coffee BUT do follow the same routine daily so that you are still supplying your body with its steady, measured dose of hormones throughout that 24 period. If you have a long drive home, get into the habit of taking a pill with a juice in the car so that you don’t get caught up in the ‘dinner’ stuff when you get home and fall exhausted into bed and forget.

3. If you’re off on a Christmas holiday , keep your contraceptive pills within reach- preferably in your hand luggage, not in your suitcase in case it gets lost. Don’t leave them in the hotel bathroom either, keep them in your purse so you can enjoy the events of your trip without worrying about being hours late in taking your pill.

4. Get some help if you just can’t seem to manage the pill taking routine yourself- explain the problem and your daily schedule to your doctor or health care provider and they may be able to suggest something that hadn’t occurred to you.

5. Remember to keep a spare pack of low dose birth control pills (and emergency contraception) on hand so you don’t run out and miss the first few days of your next pill cycle. Use your mobile phone, pc at work or a calendar to ‘alarm’ you one week in advance of your start date for a new pack.
Just a thought: You may wish to consider swapping over to long-lasting injections, an IUD or an implant (suitable for women aged between 18 and 45) if you habitually forget to take your low dose birth control pill.  I’d suggest waiting till after the festive season to do this to avoid any unwanted possible side effects with the new birth control method.

You could try leaving this video on constant play for subliminal brainwashing in your bedroom  if all else fails!  It would drive me mad but hey, whatever works for you.

And for extra ‘peace of mind and goodwill toward men ‘ this Christmas - never leave the house without your condoms - take these festive ‘condoms on a stick’ to a party  and you’ll be the centre of attention!

Low Dose Birth Control is helping lots of women control their acne but in really severe cases of this condition, Accutane may be prescribed, which can cause birth defects if you become pregnant while on it- this means that you are taking a huge risk if you rely SOLELY  on your low dose birth control method to stop you from getting pregnant.

The excerpt below is from a recent article I found on treating acne and if you take Accutane for this condition, as well as some form of low dose birth control to prevent pregnancy, please read the warnings.  Hopefully your doctor will already have warned you that it is VITAL that you do get pregnant while taking Accutane.  It is your responsibility to make sure that you ‘double up’ by using an additional method of contraception along with your low dose birth control.

If you have questions after reading this excerpt, you know what to do- go back and discuss your birth control regime with your doctor.

TIP: Always have a pregnancy test kit on hand while you are taking Accutane.

Excerpt:

“What are the important warnings for females taking Accutane?

You must not become pregnant while taking Accutane, or for 1 month after you stop taking Accutane. Accutane can cause severe birth defects in babies of women who take it while they are pregnant, even if they take Accutane for only a short time. There is an extremely high risk that your baby will be deformed or will die if you are pregnant while taking Accutane. Taking Accutane also increases the chance of miscarriage and premature births.

Female patients will not get their first prescription for Accutane unless there is proof they have had 2 negative pregnancy tests. The first test must be done when your prescriber decides to prescribe Accutane. The second pregnancy test must be done during the first 5 days of the menstrual period right before starting Accutane therapy, or as instructed by your prescriber. Each month of treatment, you must have a negative result from a urine or serum pregnancy test. Female patients cannot get another prescription for Accutane unless there is proof that they have had a negative pregnancy test.

A yellow self-adhesive Accutane Qualification Sticker on your prescription indicates to the pharmacist that you are qualified by your prescriber to get Accutane.

While you are taking Accutane, you must use effective birth control. You must use 2 separate effective forms of birth control at the same time for at least 1 month before starting Accutane, while you take it, and for 1 month after you stop taking it. You can either discuss effective birth control methods with your prescriber or go for a free visit to discuss birth control with another physician or family planning expert. Your prescriber can arrange this free visit, which will be paid for by the manufacturer.

You must use 2 separate forms of effective birth control because any method, including birth control pills and sterilization, can fail. There are only 2 reasons you would not need to use 2 separate methods of effective birth control:

1. You have had your womb removed by surgery (a hysterectomy).
2. You are absolutely certain you will not have genital-to-genital sexual contact with a male before, during, and for 1 month after Accutane treatment.

If you have sex at any time without using 2 forms of effective birth control, get pregnant, or miss your period, stop using Accutane and call your prescriber right away.

I recommend that all patients should read the rest of this Medication Guide. Here’s the link to the FULL article

Let’s get a few facts clear about Plan B 
Plan B is specifically intended for use by a woman after she has had unprotected intercourse, to avoid a pregnancy –this emergency contraceptive is NOT in the same category as the low dose birth control pill when it comes to the amount of synthetic hormones it delivers into your body.  Plan B delivers much higher doses of hormone than your regular, low dose birth control pill.. Sales of Plan B have soared now that it is easily available over the counter if you are over 18. While it’s good to always have a pack of Plan B in the bathroom cabinet, it should NOT be used more than twice a month and should certainly not be relied upon as your only form of continuous birth control.

Why you may need Plan B

The condom breaks, it was a drunken sex error you regret, you’ve missed a pill, you’re 2 weeks late for your depo shot or heaven forbid, you’ve been raped.  There are many reasons for avoiding an unwanted pregnancy, even though you may well get an unwanted ’something else’ (STI) if you used no condom!

Today’s low dose birth control pills contain much LESS synthetic hormone (20-35mcg) than the first birth control pills of the 1960’s which contained 150mcg of progestin.  I mention progestin and the dosage to impress upon you the HIGH DOSE of hormone you consume when you take Plan B - because Plan B contains a whopping 750mcg progestin (levonorgestrel) and there are associated side effects.  Many types of  low dose birth control pills also contain estrogen, which causes serious side effects in some women so for this reason ‘combined’ birth control pills will never be sold over the counter.

When to Take Plan B

Preferably, within 12-24 hours of sexual intercourse but Plan B is still effective if you take the first dose within 72 hours. After this time you still have the option of having an IUD fitted which will prevent  implantation of a fertilized egg ( this is an issue for those who believe this a form of abortion so counselling may be needed)

Side Effects -  nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, changes in your period, dizziness and breast tenderness. You may not get all of these but be prepared for the nausea.

If Vomiting Occurs - within one hour of taking the first dose, you may need to repeat the dose so see a doctor. You may also need some anti nausea medication although nausea is less with Plan B than with combined emergency contraception pills that contain estrogen.  Often the nausea will be mild and will disappear after a day or so, do not take more pills than recommended if you have not vomited.

Breastfeeding women can take Plan B as it only contains progestin which will not interrupt milk production

There are ‘morning after’ pills that contain estrogen, called the Yuzpe method, but these are not commonly used any more because they have more side effects and are less effective  than Plan B - (57%) compared to the levonorgestrel method (85%)

If Plan B is not available
The FDA has approved some ‘regular’ low dose birth control pills for use in higher doses as emergency contraception.  A list of these low dose birth control pills and the number of pills you need to take can be found on this earlier post. Tony Thornton, CEO of Planned Parenthood in Lubbock said about four birth control pills will achieve the same effect as an emergency contraceptive but you should contact a pharmacist before taking more than the recommended dose of your current low dose birth control pill.

More facts about Plan B.

• plan B does not protect you against STIs or HIV
• if you are already pregnant, Plan B is not an abortifacient (will not abort the fetus)
•  if your period is more than a week late, get a pregnancy test as you should not take Plan B if you are pregnant. If you experience any severe abdominal pain, you could have an ectopic pregnancy which requires immediate medical attention
• there is no need for a medical history to be taken or a physical examination to be carried out before using Plan B

Costs for birth control have risen, sadly, so check to see if you qualify for free or subsided Plan B at your nearest health care clinic or Family Planning Centre. That link again for a good video and for:  Using regular low dose birth control pills for emergency contraception

With the party season fast approaching how about being well prepared to avoid using Plan B with a collection of fun condoms on a stick?  You could go halves in the cost with a friend and hand out these attractive ‘lollipops!