Eco-Friendly Options for Your Period
For those of us who hate contributing to our landfills and sewers each month, I thought it would be a great idea to hunt down some "greener" alternatives to manufactured tampons and pads.
Made from silicone or latex, the menstrual cup is a small cylinder that is folded and inserted in the vagina to collect menstrual fluids. Once placed in the vagina, near the cervix, it unfolds and collects nearly 100ml of fluid before it needs to be emptied, washed, and reused. The cup must be emptied every 8-12 hours. It is designed for use for up to 10 years and washing up requires soap and water.
Many Moon Alternatives is a huge site offering "ecofriendly products for you and your home". They sell handmade menstrual pads made with leopard print cotton! They also provide a pattern to make your own menstrual pads.
Organic disposable feminine products are made with oxygen bleached materials. If you can find them on the shelves, or online, the cost is usually higher but less cramping, shorter periods, and lighter bleeding appear to be just a few of the benefits of these natural products.
Sea sponges (found on the ocean floor) are a natural alternative to tampons. They contain no synthetic materials and last for about 6 months. To use a sea sponge: dampen it, squeeze it tightly in your hand, and insert it into your vagina. Once in place, it works like a tampon to absorb menstrual flow. A sea sponge needs to be rinsed out about every 3 hours and thoroughly cleaned and dried at the end of each period. In the 1980s, the FDA found that some sea sponges marketed as menstrual products contained potentially harmful bacteria. It is possible to get toxic shock syndrome from sea sponges.
Web sites with more information about eco-friendly options for your period are:
http://www.gladrags.com/
http://www.lunapads.com/
http://www.mooncupsandkeepers.com/
http://www.seapearls.co.uk/
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line.
For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
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posted by BirthControlBuzz @ 8:22 AM
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Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Do I need to take B12 if I'm using oral contraceptives?
According to information the doctor on staff passed my way, it may depend on what dosage your OC's are. While there have been reports of low vitamin B12 in women taking higher dose oral contraceptives, more recent studies have not found this with women taking the more commonly prescribed lower-dose OC's.
Two studies found that lower serum vitamin B12 levels were often caused by decreased transcobalamin 2 levels (transcobalamin is needed to transport vitamin B12 to various parts of the body.) However, B12 deficiency was not found to occur more often in women taking oral contraceptives.
This information is advisory only. It does not contain all information pertaining to this topic. If you have any questions about birth control affecting your B12 levels, you can always ask your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line.
For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
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posted by BirthControlBuzz @ 11:28 AM
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Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Medications that Decrease Birth Control Effectiveness.
Although the degrees to which these drugs affect hormonal birth control vary, there are certain ones which doctors say may increase the failure rate. If you are using one or more of the following medications, it is a good idea to speak with your doctor about the possibility of one of them affecting your birth control. Until you are able to speak with your doctor use a back-up method, like a condom.
Medications that are listed as interfering include:
- Antibiotics
- Rifampin
- Penicillin
- Amoxicillin
- Sulfonamide
- Ampicillin
- Cotrimoxazole
- Tetracycline
- Griseofulvin
- Minocycline
- Phenobarbitol
- Metronidazole
- Nitrofurantoin
- Anti-HIV Protease Inhibitors
- Ritonavir
- Anti-Seizure
- Phenobarbital
- Primidone
- Oxcarbazepine
- Carbamazepine
- Phenytoin
- Topiramate
- Antidepressants
- Nefazodone
- Anti-Fungal
- Diabetes Meds
- Troglitazone
- Pioglitazone
- Anxiety Meds
- Diazepam
- Temazepam
- Natural Supplements
- Soy Isoflavones
- St. John's Wort
Oral yeast infection meds may lower the effectiveness of the pill. Griseofulvin, used to treat fungus infections of the skin, hair, and nails may also interfere with OC's or other hormonal birth control.
This information is advisory only. It does not contain all information about these medications. If you have any questions about these meds affecting your birth control, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line.
For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
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posted by BirthControlBuzz @ 9:20 AM
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Friday, April 18, 2008
What is the risk of pregnancy while on the pill?
If the pill is taken correctly, at the same time everyday, the risk of pregnancy is about 0.1%. Risk is increased when the time between pill packs exceeds seven days (if you missed the first or last pill in a pack), or if you skip a pill during the first week with the Sunday Start method.
Does taking the pill affect the outcome of a pregnancy test?
No. Pregnancy tests are based on detecting the hormone B-HCG in your body, which is not present in the pill.
What should I do if the pregnancy test result is Positive?
If your test result is positive, immediately stop taking the pill and discuss your options with your healthcare provider. The risks of the child being harmed by the pill are very low (2-5% of pregnant women report having taken birth control pills at the start of their pregnancy before realizing they were pregnant.) A metanalysis conducted by the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children (on 65,567 women) showed no increase in the risk of fetal malformation when the woman was exposed to sex hormones after conception.
How long should I wait to conceive?
Some doctors recommend waiting a full cycle without the pill before trying to conceive. Others may recommend waiting 6 months to a year. This time frame is recommended to get a reliable date of your last period, which can help chart gestation (carrying of an embryo or fetus).
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line.
For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
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posted by BirthControlBuzz @ 11:52 AM
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Wednesday, April 09, 2008
5 benefits of menstrual suppression.
- Endometriosis
- About 10-45% of adolescent girls miss school because of menstrual pain and discomfort. Using extended regimen birth control pills may help stop progression and reduce side effects of, endometriosis, fibroids, and adenomyosis.
- Migraines
- 10% of women who are of reproductive age suffer from menstrual migraines. The cause is likely due to premenstrual estrogen withdrawal. By supressing their periods, many women are eliminating the sudden decline of estrogen responsible for these headaches.
- Behcet's disease
- Behcet's is a rare disorder that causes chronic inflammation in blood vessels throughout the body. Signs and symptoms include oral and vaginal ulcerations, skin rashes, and lesions. Women who suffer from Behcet's disease may find relief from symptoms by trying menstrual suppression.
- Anemia
- Women with heavy, prolonged menstrual flows will benefit from the less frequent cycles associated with menstrual suppression. It may also help with stabilizing iron levels.
- Inconvenient timing
- Sometimes our periods have horrible timing. You could benefit from menstrual suppression if you travel for a living, enjoy competing in sports, or just want to deal with your period 4 times a year.
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line.
For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
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posted by BirthControlBuzz @ 11:21 AM
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Friday, March 28, 2008
Low-dose OCs that may cause breakthrough bleeding.
Over the last 25 years a push towards reducing a woman's total estrogen exposure (during her menstrual cycle) has led to the formulation of low-dose oral contraceptives. Although low-dose OCs are just as effective in preventing pregnancy, an increase in breakthrough bleeding has been reported more frequently with their use.
However, this is not a reason to stop taking the pill. Although annoying, breakthrough bleeding is not uncommon during the first three months of use and repeated episodes are usually resolved by switching to another type of birth control pill with a higher estrogen content. Quite simply it's finding the appropriate dose for your body's specific needs.
** Women who smoke are more likely to have breakthrough bleeding. There is also a higher risk of serious cardiovascular side effects with higher doses of estrogen (especially in women over age 35).
Low-dose estrogen pills include:
- Alesse
- Minestrin
- Tri-CyclenLo
- Linessa
- Loestrin 24 Fe.
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides types of birth control (prescription required), health administrative services, and statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase birth control on-line.
For more information on birth control, call 1-866-732-0305 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
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posted by BirthControlBuzz @ 8:36 AM
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Saturday, March 22, 2008
Causes of abnormal vaginal discharge.
Lactobacilli are common in the human body. They aid digestion in the gastrointestinal tract and help prevent infection in the vagina. The lactobacilli found in the vagina produce lactic acid which maintains a level of acidity that provides a good defense against infection. But when this level is disrupted infection can set in.
The causes of abnormal vaginal discharge can be either infectious or non-infectious:
Infectious causes include:
- Bacterial vaginosis
- Vaginal candidiasis (yeast infection)
- Cervico-vaginitis resulting from a sexually transmitted infection (STI)
- Trichomonas
- Gonorrhea and chlamydia
Non-infectious causes:
- Use of perfumes, soaps, or latex on or around the vagina
- Contact dermatitis - a skin reaction resulting from exposure to allergens or irritants
- Atrophic vaginitis - inflammation of the vagina due to the thinning and shrinking of the tissues, as well as decreased lubrication.
- Excessive vaginal secretions
Prevention
- Always practice safe sex. Wear a condom to protect yourself from HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and other STIs.
- Form good hygeine habits. Wipe from front to back, avoid vaginal douching. Avoid certain sexual activities that may also contribute to vaginal infections.
- If you suffer from vaginal irritation easily, try to avoid scented sanitary napkins and toilet paper, soap, shampoo, bubble bath, tight undergarments made of synthetic fibres or latex, etc. This may reduce your chances of infection.
- Good health habits, such as exercise, weight loss, not eating refined sugar, and better stress management, are helpful.
Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides types of birth control (prescription required), health administrative services, and statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase birth control on-line.
For more information on birth control, call 1-866-732-0305 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.
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posted by BirthControlBuzz @ 9:25 AM
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