Contraceptives

It’s a while since I posted information about a couple of myths associated with low dose birth control  so I thought it would be useful to add a couple more posts on the more common ones :

MYTH 3.  The Pill works because it kills sperm

No, a low dose bith control pill causes several changes in the body but the main changes:

a) prevent an egg from being released from an ovary so that it cannot be fertilised

b) thicken the mucus at the neck of the uterus which ’slows down’ the sperm and makes it harder for him to reach the uterus

c) thin the tissue which lines the wall of the uterus to make implantation of a fertilised egg difficult

MYTH 4.  It doesn’t matter if I miss a pill at the end of my pack because I’m going to get my period anyway

Yes it does matter. To prevent ovulation from happening, a pack of low dose birth control pills releases a measured dosage of estrogen/progestin which your body absorbs each month. Pills you may have missed just before the ‘dummy pill’ days or at the beginning of the next pack, will extend the hormone free period so your body may not have absorbed a sufficient monthly dose of hormones to prevent ovulation in the NEXT month.

MYTH 5. The Pill makes you fat

Not necessarily. Some women lose weight. on the pill. 60% of women see little change (+/- 2 kgs.) While estrogen can cause fluid retention which accounts for some increase in weight, there are some women whose unique metabolism reacts to even low dose birth control pills, causing them to gain more than 2 kilos. *A change of pill type may be the answer. Most women increase their weight in the latter half of their cycle due anyway, due to a change in hormone levels.

Check before you blame your low dose birth control pill for your weight gain, unless you feel that your appetite has increased significantly, that other meds are not the culprit and that your anxiety over the issue is causing you to ’snack’ more! *Use the lowest possible estrogen containing birth control pill - this should minimize weight gain and swelling from water retention. Two of the current 20 mcgm pills which are the lowest estrogen doses available are: Alesse and Mircette.

Further information about this popular myth

Tomorrow - a few more myths about low dose birth control - come back and test your contraception knowledge.  Also, I have a new book to show you which may not be to everyone’s taste but is REMARKABLE!

Pill taking routines can accidentally veer off course at this time of year so these guidelines might come in handy if you need to change the scheduling of your low dose birth control regime :

If you take progestin only pills (the mini pill) and fail to take your pill by 3 hours later than normal, it’s effectiveness will be decreased so use backup (barrier method) for at least 48 hours while your new pill taking timetable is being established.

If you take combination birth control pills (estrogen and progestin) you have a little more leeway within which to change your timing schedule:

• if you want to take your pill earlier than normal, you can safely start at any time during the pack
• if you want to take your pill later than normal, make sure it’s not more than 12 hours later - leaving it longer than 12 hours reduces the effectiveness so to be safe use back up for at least 7 days while you establish your new routine

If you’ve missed pills over Christmas or gone for more than 36 hours between 2 of your low dose birth control pills it’s a good idea to use backup for 7 days until you’re back on track again.

Let your loved ones know how much they mean to you this holiday season, spread some kindness, stretch some tolerance and share your abundance.

Thank you for reading my posts, I hope you have found a few useful little ‘nuggets’ in them.

I wish you a memorable and safe Christmas and a fulfilling 2011,

Kindest regards Carole

Have you ever wondered if any chemical residues (synthetic estrogen and progestin) from the millions of low  dose birth control pills consumed, ever get into our drinking water or into the oceans and possibly harm the fish?

Where does almost 90% of the total estrogen in the environment come from? Can pesticides mimic estrogen and add to the pollution of water supplies?

More importantly- can most of the pollutants, including estrogen be removed? I recently found a synopsis from the mission of Environmental Health News on this issue which I felt was worth passing on.

The mission of Environmental Health News is to advance the public’s understanding of environmental health issues by publishing its own journalism and providing access to worldwide news about a variety of subjects related to the health of humans, wildlife and ecosystems.

Towards that end, journalists write and publish articles on the EHN site. These stories are provided to newspapers and other media through EHN’s news service. These articles meet high journalistic standards of non-advocacy, and the content is under the control of the Editor in Chief.  EHN also offers timely, daily access to the hundreds of other articles on environmental health topics that are published each day in the world press, and its searchable archives date back to 2002. EHN does not accept funding from interest groups.

Previously, there’s been a somewhat erroneous expectation of the post menopausal female of our species to be ‘past it’, sexually inactive or in a sexually safe monogamous relationship with low dose birth control off the monthly shopping list. With the emergence of the alleged Cougar, the popularity of on line dating services and the changing relationship norms of today’s society, over 40s and post menopausal females need to be really savvy about managing the skin to skin aspects of their new intimate relationships ESPECIALLY once they stop taking low dose birth control.

Great, we may not need pregnancy protection any more girls but as well as protecting ourselves from gold digging gigolos looking for ‘Mother with Benefits’ we do need to protect ourselves from other unwelcome catches. Our mellowing vaginas are past the spring chicken stage which means that we are more susceptible to picking up a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or to missing the signs that we may already have one.

Any sexually active person can be infected with Chlamydia. (Chlamydia trachomatis) I thought it best to mention this little Charlie (you’ll notice that I give the villains male names - don’t read anything into that) because he is a very common bacterial STI which you probably think only infects the young ones. Incidences of middle aged goddesses getting lumbered with STI’s are on the rise. . You’ll be safe from future fetuses once you exit menopause but if you embark on new sexual journeys with new partners, please be a savvy, condom loaded gal and protect yourself and your vagina from STIs.

Symptoms of Chlamydia - are like those of a UTI (abnormal vaginal discharge or a burning sensation when urinating and crampy pain in the lower abdomen). Chlamydia can also cause conjunctivitis. BUT the real bummer is that most women don’t have any symptoms so Charlie Chlamydia romps wherever he pleases inside your body, free to hop happily onto someone else’s if you give him half a chance.

Diagnosis - Chlamydia is diagnosed from a pap smear or from swabs you can take yourself. Chlamydia can’t be diagnosed from a blood test.

Treatment is simple and effective though it can cause a few uncomfortable side effects such as diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain however, just a single prescribed dose of antibiotics - Azithromycin (Zithromax) or the less costly Doxycycline (Vibramycin, Oracea, Adoxa, Atridox) usually sends Charlie packing. Don’t have sex until at least a week after treatment. If your partner is receiving treatment for Chlamydia, don’t have sex until at least a week after both of you have been treated.

Stop Charlie entering your door simply by using a condom (male or female variety) and don’t have unprotected sex with a new partner unless you’re sure that they have passed their STD exam!

I actually took this post from a page in a handy new guide I have just published ( my pen name is Claire Preston) called “Happy Vaginas for the Over 40’s - how to resuscitate your ageing vagina and protect her from memopausal meltdown!”  I wrote this little self help book after reading all the desperate comments in women’s forums about the problems mature women are having with painful sex, dry vaginas and persistent discharges of one type or another. Even though this site is mainly about contraception I thought it was worth mentioning in case you know someone who could benefit from a practical but lighthearted read. There is sexual life after low dose birth control has come to an end but if you’re back on the dating scene ladies-you still need to use condoms.　

World Aids Day is almost over in the US.  I am tapping this wondering just how many people around the globe actually DID anything related to this important awareness day.  Did you?  If not, well I urge you to have your own aids day tomorrow or the next day or the day after that …then …..why not EVERY DAY? 

YOU are the boss of you. You can wear a red ribbon whenever you like. You can make love whenever you like…You can wear a condom whenever you like..You can talk to your partner and friends about ’safe sex’ whenever you like…but once infected with HIV, it’s no longer ’whenever you like’.

Don’t know anyone with HIV or aids? Not sure what YOU can do to bring curb those rising statistics?

Simply remember that you can:

• give a real (or virtual) hug to someone when they tell you they are HIV positive
• stay in touch with and be a true friend to someone you know who’s suffering from Aids
• stuff a few Christmas stockings with some fun condoms (yes- even for Aunty Barbara who’s dating again!)
• avoid sharing injecting equipment with anyone (if you use needles, syringes etc.)
• always use condoms

People with HIV  can live healthy, active lives if they receive treatment.

Worried that you may have put yourself at risk of HIV?  Take this quiz to find out.

 You may be well prepared for the Christmas holiday season with your supply of low dose birth control pills but don’t get caught out dashing off to that party without re- stocking your purse/bag with a few ‘fresh’ condoms. By ‘fresh’ I mean check the expiry date on every single condom and toss any condoms that have expired. If you’re over 40 and enjoying new sexual partners, don’t be one of the growing numbers of mature women who are catching STi’s.   If you are too busy to go personal shopping then hop online, ordering is easy so long as you plan ahead and allow time for delivery at this busy season. If you are too busy to go personal shopping then ordering online is easy so long as you plan ahead and allow time for delivery at this busy season. 

December 1st is World AIDS Day - December is World AIDS Month. Undercover Condoms will be donating portions of their sales to AIDS organizations around the US which is why I am promoting them.  They have just introduced their own brand of specially lubed condoms, which are very inexpensive. The deals they offer are excellent , enabling you to save  a few dollars to put towards your other Christmas expenses. Undercover Condoms has a wide selection of lubricants and gift packs that are big for the holiday season including a great novelty gift that will make you smile; Santa Claus, Frosty the Snow Man and Elf condom pops. Good stocking stuffers as well.

December 13th is largest day of shopping season for Undercover Condoms and so that you don’t miss their deadlines for delivery here are there cut-off dates:.
December 17th - Cut-off for ground shipping arrival by Christmas.
December 21st - Cut-off for Three Day Guarantee Delivery. 
December 22nd - Cut-off for 2nd day shipping arrival by Christmas.
December 23rd - Cut-off for Overnight shipping arrival by Christmas.

From now until Christmas I shall be giving you links to online stores where you can easily find good prices for a wide range of birth control ‘cosmetics’ as I prefer to call them and also find decent, fun ’safe sex’ gifts for your friends. 

I know you’ve heard it all before BUT condoms are a vital ‘tool’ in helping you to be the boss of your ‘contraception career’ AND in making sure you stay CLEAN and FREE from a sexual disease.  

Are you relying on your low dose birth control pill alone to get you safely through Christmas fun? Please pop a few condoms into every purse/handbag you might use during the school or office party season and also read this:

“How many acts of sexual intercourse would you guess occur every 24 hours?”

This is question that scientist Carl Djerassi (who developed the first birth control pill in the 1960s) asks his students. When his students answer 1 billion, Carl, now 88, replies, ‘No, no, no, you’re dreaming. There are six billion people. Well, you need two for sexual intercourse, so there are only three billion. And some of them are five years old, so they’re out.’ So then they say a million. Well, now you’re underestimating, because you’re sitting here and you’re not having sex. It’s actually 100 million, every 24 hours. And they produce about a million conceptions, about half of which are unexpected. Of the 500 000, half are unwanted. As a result, every 24 hours, 150 000 abortions occur; of these, more than 50 000 are illegal.”

Give yourself a pat on the back if you can honestly say that you and your partner are doing everything you can with your birth control management to prevent yourselves from facing the ‘abortion decision.’  THEN tell your sexually active friends about these numbers and encourage them to do their birth control check up too.

While there is still a long way to go if we are to make a dent in that daily abortion figure, make sure you make the most of the ongoing advances being made in current methods of birth control . With the Christmas party season fast approaching, take time out this week to give your birth control management and sexual practises a good check up so you can enjoy a stress free and fun time.

Looking for some safe sex gift ideas?　

Obese women can now have the confidence to change to a brand of low dose birth control pill without worrying if the dose of estrogen it contains will be high enough to be give them effective contraception. There have always been greater health risks with birth control pills that contain higher doses of estrogen so this is good news for obese women who are already at a greater health risk with their weight and who may be putting up with unecessary side effects because they have been taking a higher dose contraceptive pill.

Obesity is a major health issue now and while the risk of developing blood clots is still associated with all types of birth control pills , it remains higher for overweight women. Pregnancy can also be riskier too if you are carrying too many extra kilos.

Carolyn Westhoff, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of the Division of Family Planning at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York investigated the effects on ovulation supression of varying strengths of oral contraceptive pills on a group of normal weight and overweight women aged 18-35 over a period of 3-4 months. Many ultrasounds and blood tests were carried out and the results showed that weight did not appear to have an effect on suppression of ovulation but that CONSISTENCY of pill taking did.  Regular pill taking is best practise for all women of child bearing age who select this method of birth control though isn’t it?

If you are overweight and want of peace of mind over your family planning - be especially vigilant about taking your low dose birth control pill every day… and maybe this is just the little nudge you need to help you think  about how you can improve the health of your body overall? Your future child will blossom for it.

If you are happy with your current low dose birth control pill, don’t think you are missing out because it doesn’t contain folic acid. You may already be taking folic acid alongside your low dose birth control pill anyway and not realise it (your daily multivitamin may include 400 mcg of folic acid in its ingredients). The Food and Drug Administration has recently approved a new birth control pill, Beyaz,  that contains this synthetic form of Vit B9 which helps to prevent spinal cord defects, like spina bifida in babies.  

Some women accidentally become pregnant while taking the pill or may choose to get pregnant soon after stopping the pill so maintaining a decent level of folic acid in a low dose birth control pill is a good idea. 

Since Beyaz is a new low dose birth control pill and also the only one currently on the market which contains folic acid, I have no  first hand information for you regarding any possible side effects so please let me know how you get on if you try it.  It is prescription only. Here is a link to some further information on Beyaz .

In clinical trials on users of Beyaz, the most common side effects were: headache/migraine, menstrual irregularities, nausea/vomiting, breast pain/tenderness, fatigue, irritability, decreased libido, weight gain and mood changes.

If you do become pregnant when taking Beyaz- stop taking it straight away but continue to take at least 400mcg of folic acid per day.

Beyaz contains the same progestin type as Yaz which is drospirenone (which can increase levels of potassium in some women)

This is the Bayer warning on the Beyaz.com home page:

Do not use Beyaz if you have kidney, liver, or adrenal disease, or if you have or have had blood clots, certain cancers, history of heart attack or stroke, or if you are or may be pregnant. Beyaz is associated with increased risks of several serious side effects, including blood clots, stroke, and heart attack. Risk of these conditions is highest during the first year of use.

Like all the other low dose birth control pills, Beyaz does NOT [protect you from STIs so make sure you are well stocked with your own supply of condoms ladies.   

2010 will be the 4th year for celebrating World Contraception Day.  September 26th is the day when I encourage you to overcome any embarrassment you may feel and find someone you trust to talk to about your birth control and sexual health.

Well done if you have so far eluded a dose of Chlamydia. On September 26th 2010, World Contraception Day,  make a resolution to ’stay clean’. It doesn’t matter who you are, you must protect yourself from STIs and if you are not ready to take responsibility for bringing up another human being, find someone you feel comfortable with and seriously focus on giving your ‘contraception career’ a thorough health check.

Ask yourself :

• do I have unprotected sex?
• do I talk to my sexual partner about birth control?
• do I know how reliable my method of birth control really is?
• do I believe that ‘withdrawal’ is an effective method of birth control?

It’s never too late to take control. You are being responsible, not promiscuous, in talking about sex. Don’t rely on guesswork or on the potentially inaccurate information from your mates. You will be amazed at the wealth of new facts you will uncover by taking time out to review all your birth control options.  Make World Contraception Day the date on your calendar when you take at least one step forward in managing your ‘contraception career’.

Make another resolution on September 26th 2010 that when you are ready to have a family of your own, YOUR baby will be  well planned and welcomed.

Have the courage to be a leader on World Contraception Day- September 26th 2010 -  talk to someone about low dose birth control, free condom suppliers, emergency contraception or whatever bothers you about sex -  then show your friends how they can do the same. Be be a heroine for a day..

Looking for some safe sex gift ideas?