The Teenage Birth Rate Has Dropped to a 65-Year Low
Is it due to contraceptives or abstinence?
"It should come as good news that in 2005 the teenage birth rate in the United States dropped to a 65-year low. Who's behind ameliorating the problem? Champions of comprehensive sex education and abstinence-only advocates both claim credit for the findings in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics report..."
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Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Stopping your birth control pill
If you're ready to have a baby but are currently using the pill you may be asking yourself, "After I stop taking the Pill when will my body be ready to conceive?".
Healthcare professionals usually recommend to stop taking the Pill two - three months before you want to try for a baby. In this time frame the synthetic hormones from the birth control pills will leave your system allowing your natural hormone cycle to resume. You may experience irregular periods. You may also want to use a condom or spermicide. Look into taking a folic acid supplement as it will prevent certain birth defects during the first few months of pregnancy.
So why wait? It's quite simply because the irregularity of your period after stopping the Pill may cause some confusion. Many women won't ovulate until a month or more after stopping the Pill and because they get used to the regularity of their periods while taking it, they might begin to question whether their period is late because they're pregnant or because their period hasn't gone back to normal yet. This confusion can lead to potential problems:
- You may become pregnant (if you ovulate quickly) and not be aware of it. Therefore you may still live your life like normal ie. drinking alcohol or caffeinated beverages, smoking, all of which can affect your unborn baby.
- It may not be clear when you conceived if you get pregnant in the first month or two making it difficult for your healthcare professional to correctly determine your due date.
- Having irregular periods after coming off your birth control may lead to constantly wondering if you're pregnant. This can make time seemingly drag by for you and your partner, making you think you've been trying to conceive for months, when you've only just had your first ovulation after coming off the Pill.
What if you didn't know you were pregnant and continued taking the Pill, will it hurt your baby? There is no conclusive evidence that exposure to the artificial hormones found in birth control pills will hurt an unborn child. However, it is generally advised that you stop use of the Pill and see your healthcare professional if you suspect that you may be pregnant.
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, birth control types (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase birth control on-line. For more information on types of birth control call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
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Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Pregnant in the summer? Tips on how to beat the heat.
Summer isn't the most fun time to be pregnant - heat adds to the ordinary discomfort of pregnancy, and hormonal changes can make women less able to regulate body temperature.
But it's still important for pregnant women to get healthful exercise, 30 minutes a day, 3 to 4 times a week, said Dr. Diane Hughes, an obstetrician/gynecologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
"By taking some simple precautions, and knowing the early signs of overheating, pregnant women can maintain their health even through hot weather," Dr. Hughes said.
Avoiding overheating is especially important in early pregnancy, when the fetus is going through critical developmental stages. For that reason, pregnant women should not use hot tubs or saunas.
More tips from Dr. Hughes:
- Drink plenty of water, about 8 to 10 glasses a day. Enjoy cold treats such as frozen fruit pops, but keep an eye out for junk ingredients such as added sugar.
- Consult with your doctor about an exercise plan. If you exercise outdoors, do it in the cool parts of the day.
- Get in the water. Swim, take frequent cool showers or baths, lounge in a kiddie pool, carry a spray bottle to spritz yourself with, or sit with your feet in a basin of cool water.
- Wear loose, light-colored clothing in natural fibers. When exercising, wear clothing that keeps moisture away from skin.
- If you begin to feel bad while exercising, stop. Seek medical help for racing pulse, nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, vaginal bleeding, a temperature higher than 100.4°F or mental confusion.
BirthControlBuzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, birth control types (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase birth control on-line. For more information on types of birth control call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
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Friday, June 15, 2007
Are men getting their own birth control pill?
Primarily men have two options when it comes to birth control: using a condom or getting a vasectomy. Some men complain about lack of sensation while using a condom during intercourse, and for others having the surgery isn't exactly on the top of their "to do" list (not to mention the second surgical procedure required if they decide they want to reverse it).
But not all is lost. According to the latest research a male birth control pill may be on the market soon, allowing men to take a more progressive role in contraception use.
So what took so long? One reason is the utter lack of interest (and funding) from the pharmaceutical companies. This lack of funding has made it hard to entice talent to the field: In total, there are only about 10 specialists in male contraception in this country. The other (more obvious) reason is that men and women's bodies are, well, different.
Birth control pills for women contain synthetic forms of estrogen and progesterone, which prevent the ovaries every month from releasing an egg for fertilization. But, and you knew there was going to be a "but", instead of releasing just one egg during monthly ovulation, men release about 120 million sperm with each ejaculation which in turn makes it more difficult to control.
So how will the male pill work you ask? Well it's all about that uber-macho hormone testosterone, which is responsible for sperm production in the testes, hair growth, muscle mass and sexual characteristics. If a man is given extra testosterone it could shut down sperm production. Normally, at the start of the sperm-production cycle, the hypothalamus in the brain releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which triggers the release of fertility hormones called gonadotropins (FSH and ICSH) from the pituitary gland. ICSH signals the testes to produce testosterone, and FSH and testosterone tell the testes to produce sperm. When sperm production is complete, the testes release testosterone and a hormone called inhibin into the body, which tells the brain that there's enough sperm. This stops the release of sperm-producing hormones.
Sounds great? Well just like female birth control pills there can be unwanted side effects. The problem is that by giving a man the amount of testosterone necessary to suppress sperm production, it can also cause acne, weight gain, prostate-gland growth and abnormal liver function.
That's why scientists are also looking at a combination pill of testosterone and another hormone, progesterone (also found in female birth control pills). In men, progesterone inhibits sperm production in the testes. The drawback is that it can also affect those two things so intrinsic to the male psyche: their sexuality and sexual characteristics. To counteract the effects of progesterone injections of testosterone must also be administered to maintain those vital characteristics.
There is only one burning question, will men take it? According to a survey of 2,000 men in Capetown, Edinburgh, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, 67% were interested in some form of hormonal birth control. It also showed that men were ready to take on more responsibility for contraception usage and took into account their partner's needs.
Researchers estimate that a male type of birth control should be available in about five years, but it will most likely be in the form of an injection or implant. As for a male birth control pill, the future is a little cloudy.
BirthControlBuzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, birth control types (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase birth control on-line. For more information on types of birth control call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
Labels: birth control, birth control pills, male birth control pill, progesterone, testosterone, the pill for men
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Friday, June 08, 2007
Taking Birth Control Pills? You May Need More Calcium
Are you taking Birth Control Pills? You may want to add another glass of milk. Research indicates that women taking oral contraceptives appear to have a decrease in bone density leading them at risk for osteoporosis later in life. The time to optimize bone mass is during adolescence and young adulthood. It is estimated that 8 out of 10 women use birth control pills during this crucial time in which peak bone mass is developing leaving them at a greater risk of future bone density problems.
The Recommended Daily Allowance for women age 9-18 is 1,300 milligrams a day and this number decreases to 1,000 milligrams a day for women age 19-50. Many young girls are starting on oral contraceptives by the time they are 14 for many reasons including regulating menstrual cycles. Little emphasis is given on consuming enough calcium during adolescence plus the fact that many girls are voicing their individuality with food preferences at this age. Drinking milk and other calcium-rich foods may not be high on the priority list. So what happens when young women and adolescent girls don't consume enough calcium coupled with birth control pills? They may pay later in life with a higher risk of osteoporosis. By consuming the recommended calcium level they can greatly reduce that risk.
A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism compared 135 oral contraceptive users to non-users between the age of 18 and 30. The participants were split into 3 groups: control (less than 800 mg of calcium per day), medium dairy (1,000 - 1,100 mg of calcium per day), and high dairy (1,200 - 1,300 mg of calcium per day). After a year on the different diets the women using oral contraceptives who were in the medium to high dairy group gained significantly more bone mineral density in their hips and spine than those women in the low dairy group.
These results suggest that women using oral contraceptives during their peak bone-building years can decrease their risk of osteoporosis by 3-10% in just one year by making sure they are consuming the right amount of calcium. To meet this recommendation, young women and adolescent girls should consume around 4 calcium rich foods each day or speak to your healthcare provider about supplementation. Here are some calcium-rich foods:
- Milk: 300 mg (1 cup)
- Yogurt: 150-200 mg (1 cup)
- Cottage cheese: 140 mg (1 cup)
- Pinto Beans: 103 mg (1 cup)
- Kale: 90 mg (1/2 cup)
- Almonds: 80 mg (1 ounce)
- Kidney Beans: 69 mg (1 cup)
- Black Beans: 46 mg (1 cup)
- Broccoli: 36 mg (1/2 cup)
There are also many foods fortified with calcium such as soy milk, soy yogurt, and orange juice. Look on the label for "fortified with calcium". Get creative! Enjoy some almonds as a snack, make a fruit smoothie with yogurt, or add some kidney beans to a salad. There are all kinds of ways to sneak in calcium rich foods to maximize bone density.
Article Source:© 2006, Meri RaffettoBirthControlBuzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, birth control types (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase birth control on-line. For more information on types of birth control call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
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Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Of Lumps, Bumps And Breast Cancer
You feel a mild soreness in the breast so you checked for lumps. You felt a little bump. The next best step is to consult a doctor, you might have breast cancer. Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts from the cells of the breast. Breast cancer occurs mainly in women but this does not mean that men are safe from this disease.
A woman's breast is made up of lobules, which are glands that make the milk; ducts, which connect lobules to the nipples; fat and connective tissues; blood vessels; and lymph vessels. Most breast cancers begin in the ducts. It may also begin in the lobules then spread to other tissues.
When one feels a lump in the breast, there is really no virtual worry because most lumps are benign which means that they are not cancerous. In fact, benign breast tumors are abnormal growths but do not really pose threats because they do not spread outside of the breast. However, some benign lumps increase the risk in having breast cancer.
Then there are lumps that are not really tumors at all which are often caused by fibrocystic changes -- cysts are fluid-filled sacs while fibrosis is the formation of scar-like tissue. These changes can cause swelling of the breasts resulting to being lumpy and sometimes a fluid discharge from the nipples.
There are different types of breast cancer and knowing them will greatly help in assessing the disease.
Carcinoma in situ is a term used for the early stage of breast cancer where the cancer cells are still confined to the place where it started. In particular, the cancer cells are confined in the lobules or the ducts, depending on where it started. The cancer cells have not gone into the fatty tissues in the breast nor spread to other organs of the body.
Ductal carcinoma in situ is the most common type of noninvasive breast cancer. Similar with Carcinoma in situ, the cancer cells have spread through the walls of the duct into the fatty tissue of the breasts. Almost all women with breast cancer at this stage can be cured and the best way to find is through the use of mammogram.
Lobular carcinoma in situ is the condition which begins in the milk-making glands but does not go through the walls of the lobules. This is not a true cancer but this can increase the risk of a woman to have breast cancer later. For this very reason, it is of utmost importance for women with this type of condition to follow the guidelines for breast cancer.
Infiltrating (or invasive) ductal carcinoma is a type of breast cancer that starts in the milk passage, breaks through the duct walls, invades the fatty tissue of the breast then spread to other parts of the body. This is the most common type of breast cancer.
Infiltrating lobular carcinoma starts in the milk glands then travel to the other parts of the body.
As of now, there is no exact cause for breast cancer but there are certain factors that are linked to the disease. Some factors that cannot be controlled are age, gender, family history, personal history of breast cancer, and race. Factors such as not having children, birth control pills, diet, exercise, and alcohol are some of the factors that can be controlled which may lessen or heighten the risk of a woman to have breast cancer.
There are several tests that may confirm and disconfirm if you suspect breast cancer such as imaging tests which includes mammography, breast ultrasound, and ductogram and biopsy which includes fine needle aspiration biopsy, stereotactic core needle biopsy, and surgical biopsy.
BirthControlBuzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, birth control types (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase birth control on-line. For more information on types of birth control call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
About the Author:Charlene J. Nuble 2005. For up to date links and information about cancer, please go to: http://cancer.besthealthlink.net/ or for updated links and information on all health related topics, go to: http://www.besthealthlink.net/ Article source:isnare.com Stumble It!
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