Birth Control Buzz Blog: July 2007

Femcon Fe side effects

Femcon Fe is the only chewable birth control pill on the market today. It is an estrogen and progestin combination pill used to prevent pregnancy. You can swallow it like a conventional pill, or just put the pill in your mouth and chew. After chewing be sure to wash it down with an 8-ounce glass of your favorite drink.

Side effects of Femcon Fe include:

breast tenderness
nausea
vomiting
spotting or bleeding between periods
weight gain or loss

These side effects usually go away within the first 3 months. If side effects persist or worsen speak with your doctor as soon as possible.

Less common but serious side effects include:

blood clots, blockage of blood vessels
gallbladder disease
liver tumors (extremely rare)
high blood pressure, which returns to normal after you stop taking the Pill
stroke

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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Thursday, July 19, 2007

What happens if I miss a pill?

We all get busy and sometimes remembering to take the pill is at the back of our minds - until it's 4am and that light goes off! "What do I do now?"

Panicking about missing a pill all depends on which one you forget to take. The "active" pills may not be as effective in preventing pregnancy if you miss the first few or last few pills in a pack. If you miss the "reminder" pills there's no need to worry because this is when you get your period - although, for peace of mind, don't be afraid to use a back-up method like a condom.

What to do if you miss your "active" birth control pills

Take the pill as soon as you remember then take the next pill at your usual time. Unfortunately this means you may have to take 2 pills in 1 day and you may experience nausea.
If you miss 2 active pills in a row in Week 1 or Week 2 take 2 pills on the day you remember and 2 pills the next day. Then follow through with 1 pill a day until the pack is finished. Pregnancy may not be prevented if you have sex during the 7 days after you restart your birth control pills. Use a condom or another method of non-hormonal birth control as a back-up for those 7 days.
If you miss 2 active pills (in a row) in Week 3 there's two things you can do and those depend on when you started your pack. If you started on Day 1 of your period throw out the rest of the pack and start a fresh one that same day. If you started your pill pack on a Sunday keep taking 1 pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack of pills that same day. You may not get your period this month. Here again the risk of pregnancy is high so use a condom or spermicide for the first 7 days after you start taking the new pill pack.
If you miss 3 or more active pills in a row (during the first 3 weeks) and you started taking the pill on Day 1 of your period throw out the rest of your pack and start with a fresh one that same day. If you started your pill pack on a Sunday keep taking 1 pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, throw out the rest of the pack and start a new pack of pills that same day. You may not get your period this month. Here again the risk of pregnancy is high so use a condom or spermicide for the first 7 days after you start taking the new pill pack.
If you forget to take any of the reminder pills in Week 4 just throw out the pills you missed. Keep taking 1 pill each day until the pack is finished.

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Tuesday, July 17, 2007

College students hit by higher birth control prices

Facing steep increases in the price of birth control, many local college students are weighing whether to shell out several hundred more dollars each year, switch medications, go without oral contraceptives, or abstain (yeah, right).

read more | digg story

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Tuesday, July 10, 2007

How The Foods You Eat Affect Your PMS

There are some in the medical community who believe that PMS is actually a social phenomenon caused by social constructs. But there are many naturopathy and nutrition changes which may be able to alleviate PMS.

Commonly, doctors suggest to their patients that ibuprofen and oral contraceptives can reduce pain associated with PMS. And it is true that women taking birth control pills have reported less menstrual pain. Typically ibuprofen needs to be taken three to four times a day. These medications are known to block the adverse effects of prostaglandin hormones.

Prozac, an anti-depressant also known as fluoxetine, is an SSRI (serotonin based) which can be prescribed by your physician. Prozac dosages usually are between 20 to 60 mg per day. Other drugs which are often used include paroxetine, clomipramine, fluvoxamine, and nedadozone.

Hormone treatments include oral contraceptives, progesterone, and gonadotropin-releasing hormones, although these should only be used to treat severe symptoms as they have side effects as well.

But not all women want to take birth control pills, prescription drugs or ibuprofen to reduce their PMS pain and symptoms, due to the many side effects of these drugs. So for those that are interested in alternative options, there are nutritional therapies, lifestyle changes and herbal treatments. Acupuncture is another alternative treatment that some swear by.

On the nutrition side, some nutrients often can reduce or eliminate the negative symptoms thought to be associated with PMS. Here are some nutritional suggestions for changing your diet during your peak PMS times to reduce the PMS symptoms: Avoid smoked cheese, meats (such as bacon), and fish. These can increase fluid retention; Avoid caffeine and carbonated beverages; Avoid alcohol; Avoid smoking; Reduce sugar intake; Reduce sodium in your diet; Increase fiber in your diet; and Eat fresh food.

A noted gynecologist who has suffered PMS herself suggests that taking nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and Vitamin E may have beneficial effects on PMS. In a 1998 study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Susan Thys-Jacobs found that calcium supplements of 1,200 milligrams per day (equivalent to four glasses of milk) reduced PMS symptoms dramatically. Results from using calcium supplements do not become apparent immediately. Calcium increases generally take about two months to take full effect.

Increasing Vitamin A intake has been shown to sometimes be effective. Other nutritional supplements available that may prove effective are Vitamin B6, manganese, and tryptophan. Tryptophan specifically is a good option when your PMS symptoms include crying, mood changes and depression. It works by increasing the serotonin levels in your brain to elevate your mood. Be cautious though, because taking too much may make you sleepy. It is commonly found in online supplement stores. Try some dietary changes and taking some vitamins and supplements before taking drugs, because these are usually safer alternatives.

© 2007, Kathy Burns-Millyard. Would you like to know more about natural and alternative remedies for Women's Health problems such as Endometriosis and Vaginal Yeast Infections? Visit www.AMOH.org for tons of free, in-depth information, help, and specific recommendations you can use right now!

Labels: birth control pills, menstrual periods, pms

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Thursday, July 05, 2007

What is PMS?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a collection of physical, psychological, and emotional symptoms related to a woman's menstrual cycle. Symptoms occur in the week or two before your period and usually disappear after your period begins.

For most women PMS can be nothing but a monthly annoyance, but there are some women (about 14% between the ages of 20-35) who experience severe PMS symptoms, to the point that they are considered disabling. This form of PMS has its own psychiatric designation: premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Unfortunately what causes PMS is not clear. However, it does appear to be linked to the changing hormones during the menstrual cycle and possibly to activity of serotonin (a neurotransmitter) in the brain.

Diagnosis of PMS can be difficult because there is no lab test or unique physical findings to verify it. When it is diagnosed it's usually based on your symptoms, when they occured, and how much they affect your life. To help establish a pattern your doctor may ask you to keep a journal of your symptoms for at least two menstrual cycles. This can help decipher if the symptoms are indeed premenstrual and predictably reccuring.

So what are the symptoms of PMS? Quite often PMS can include both physical and emotional symptoms which can vary from one woman to another. Some common symptoms are:

Weight gain from premenstrual water retention
Abdominal bloating
Breast tenderness
Stress or anxiety
Depression
Crying spells
Mood swings, irritability or anger
Appetite changes and food cravings
Trouble falling asleep
Joint or muscle pain
Headache
Fatigue
Acne
Trouble concentrating
Social withdrawal
Body temperature increase
Worsening of existing skin disorders, and respiratory (eg, allergies, infection) or eye (eg, visual disturbances, conjunctivitis) problems

Treatment for PMS can vary from woman to woman so you may need to try a few to find which one works best for you. If you don't suffer from PMDD (severe PMS) then your answer may be simply changing your lifestyle.

Try taking a multivitamin every day that has 400 micrograms of folic acid. Exercise regularly and consume a diet full of healthy foods, such as, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Avoid salt (major cause of extra bloat), sugary foods, caffeine, alcohol, and smoking. Getting 8 hours of sleep every night is also recommended along with finding great ways to cope with stress - exercise (I like yoga), visit with friends for a few laughs or write your feelings down in a journal. You know yourself best so choose something you like to do and go with the flow (no pun intended!)

What is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)?

PMDD occurs in about three to eight percent of women and is considered a more severe form of PMS. Diagnosis is based on whether you have five or more of the below symptoms:

Feelings of sadness or despair, or possibly suicidal thoughts
Feelings of tension or anxiety
Panic attacks
Mood swings, crying
Lasting irritability or anger that affects the people around you
Loss of interest in daily activities and relationships
Trouble concentrating
Fatigue (low energy)
Food cravings or binge eating
Trouble sleeping
Feeling out of control
Bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, and joint or muscle pain

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have become the most commonly prescribed medication for women who suffer from PMDD. The drug most widely studied is fluoxetine (Prozac) at doses of 20-60 mg/d. Other drugs include sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), clomipramine, fluvoxamine, and nefadozone.

If you think you have PMDD speak with your doctor about this kind of treatment to see if it's right for you.

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BirthControlBuzz Blog

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Femcon Fe side effects

Thursday, July 19, 2007

What happens if I miss a pill?

What to do if you miss your "active" birth control pills

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

College students hit by higher birth control prices

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

How The Foods You Eat Affect Your PMS

Thursday, July 05, 2007

What is PMS?

What is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)?