Archives for September 2010 | Your #1 Source for Birth Control Tips and Advice

September 29, 2010

Text Message Reminders May Not Help Women Remember to Take Pill Says Study

Filed under: Birth Control Pill — Tags: birth control, messaging, pill, text message, texting — John @ 3:18 pm

Many are finding the results of a recent study to be quite surprising. Researchers conducted a study on a group of women to see if text message reminders help women remember to take their birth control pills. Text messaging reminders have shown to be quite beneficial to many other people regarding health reminders, however in this study, there was no significant benefit shown.

The study involved 82 women who were randomly assigned to either receive daily reminders in the form of text messages or to receive no reminders (this group of women were encouraged to use their own personal ways to remember). After 3 months had passed, both groups averaged the same number of monthly pills missed. In fact, both groups missed double the amount of pills per month than the research team had originally anticipated. This may mean the adherence in the general population of those using the pill may be significantly overestimated.

While the research seems to suggest that these text message reminders aren’t helpful, researchers do think that there were additional factors that might explain the results. The control group, those who did not receive text message reminders, may have been more motivated to create personal reminders and to make sure they took a pill every day. However, as the study advanced, the level of motivation dropped and participants became less worried about always remembering to take their pill. This is evident in the research as there was an increase in missed doses especially with those who did not receive text messages, as the study progressed.

Perhaps a longer study may be necessary to solve the problems faced during this recent one. Those in the study that were receiving daily text messages did report that they found it very helpful to have these reminders.

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September 24, 2010

How the Pill Changed Lives in the Past 50 Years

Filed under: birth control,Birth Control Pill — Tags: birth control, Birth Control Pill, fifty years, prevent pregnancy, the pill, women — Nicole @ 3:12 pm

birth control, happy birthday The birth control pill opened up a world of possibilities for women after it was approved by the FDA for public use in the 1960’s. Today, the pill is regarded as one of the most popular forms of contraception and used by millions of women worldwide. From its initial development, as a pill with the same promiscuous reputation as pornography to now, the pill has largely shaped the world image of women today. Whether you’re currently on the pill or not, there are several ways that the pill has impacted your life, as well as the lives of many women around you.

In addition to expanding the sexual horizons for both men and women alike, having the ability to delay having children has given women the full advantage of being able to increase their financial security. Women who choose to delay pregnancy until their careers get going have been shown to be more financially secure in their fifties than those who had children earlier. The work experience and education that is attained by women who avoid pregnancy until later in life often allows for the opportunity to get and keep better-paying positions in the workplace when they do choose to have children.

The formulation of the birth control pill has developed significantly since its release in 1961, and now provides hormonal benefits that counter-act many woman-specific health issues. The Pill works by manipulating the hormones in the body, and in many women works to alleviate the common symptoms associated with menstrual cycles. The pill has been proven to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. Certain types of birth control pills, such as Yaz, utilize a hormone formulation that is advertised to clear up acne in addition to preventing pregnancy and reducing premenstrual symptoms.

In just fifty years, the pill has had what would be considered one of the greatest impacts on the image of women worldwide; in allowing women to decide when they want to have children, the pill has revolutionized the lives of millions of women. Let’s hope that its impact on the next fifty years proves to be just as positive for both men and women alike.

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September 20, 2010

Hashsoft Releases myPill for the iPhone

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: app, application, birth control, hashsoft, iPhone, myPill — John @ 3:07 pm

Hashsoft has released their myPill 1.0 application for the iPhone. The application not only helps women remember to take their daily pill, it can also be used to track the history of their birth control usage, such as noting which days you have missed your pill, and it can predict your future periods.

While myPill is not the first “reminder” apps, it definitely is one of the most versatile. The app shows you a simulated look at your pack of birth control or if you would prefer, can show you a calendar view. By simply dragging your finger, you can look to the next month to help you predict when your next period may be. You can use this feature to predict your period up to 6 months into the future.

Once the app has been configured, you will receive an alert every day at a chosen hour until you are finished your current pack. There is then a seven day break until a new pack begins automatically. You are able to customize the message you are to receive to remind you to take your pill or how many days are left until your period.

The myPill application is available for download and I’m sure it will help women remember and manage their birth control pills every month. The myPill is definitely an app worth looking into at the very least.

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September 9, 2010

The Pill to Increase Brain Capability

Filed under: Birth Control Pill — Tags: birth control benefits, Birth Control Pill, brain, pill — Tanveen @ 9:42 am

For so many years the pill has been used by millions of women to prevent pregnancy. It is known that the pill reduces the risk of certain diseases. However, in a recent study it was found that using birth control pills could actually have a beneficial effect on the brain as well. It was discovered that those that used it resulted in a three percent increase of brain size.

Dr. Jennifer Wu, an obstetrician at Lenox Hill Hospital (New York) states that MRIs of women using the pill display certain regions of the brain to be larger than in women who do not use the pill. The areas in the brain were found to be larger had to do with speech, memory, and communication.

Having a larger brain does not necessarily mean it is better. It is suggested though that the areas of the brain that grow in a women due to the pill will result in greater brain power. For example, a woman may find that her memory is improving.

There are many theories that explain how the pill could improve the capability of the brain, however, it is not known for sure and has not been proven. As a result of this study much more research is being done in regards to how hormones can affect the brain and how the pill could possibly increase brain size.

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