Birth Control | Your #1 Source for Birth Control Tips and Advice

July 25, 2011

False Accusations towards the birth control pill Yaz and Yasmin is leading towards a “pill scare”

Filed under: Yasmin,Yaz — Tags: birth control, birth control drugs, Birth Control Pill, Yasmin, Yaz — Kcondon @ 4:45 pm

Birth control has been a controversial issue in healthcare. “The pill” as it is commonly referred to as has been evolving over time causing extensive studies to be done. There has been birth control scares in the past causing fear and confusion which still continues to live on in the birth control world. False advertising and not fully disclosing the side effects of birth control pills has produced class action law suits in the past.

The most recent class action law suit dealing with birth control has been against Yaz and Yasmin which are considered to be”fourth-generation” oral contraceptives. Two studies done on Yaz and Yasmin suggested that it posed a higher risk of venous thromboembolism compared to other birth control pills in the market. Venous thromboembolism is rare condition on its own but is a life threatening condition defined as a blockage of an artery in the lungs by fat, air, blood clot, or tumor cells. Birth control pills increase the odds of getting a venous thromboembolism in women. The overall risk is one in every 2000 women who don’t take the pill, and nine to 10 per 10,000 for users. The Yaz birth control pill and Yasmin birth control pill has proven to be within the safe regulations.

However, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada has reported that the studies done are in fact false which means the pills carry the same risks as other birth control drugs on the market. The recent contradictory evidence and the subsequent media coverage has generated fear and confusion among its users. This has spawned a class action law suit which will further examine the drug. What doctors are worried about is the spread of confusion to all general oral contraceptives and drospirenone-containing oral contraceptives in particular. As principal author Dr. Robert Reid, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Queen’s University in Kingston says, “We were concerned that it was going to generate another pill scare like the ones we’ve seen in the past.”

A European surveillance study sponsored by Bayer Inc. supports what doctors have been saying along. The study showed, “Nearly 60,000 new users of various birth control pills found no difference in blood clot rates between Yasmin and Yaz and other birth control pills on the market”. Dr. Reid believes that the pill’s estrogen dose is the primary cause for blood clots. The first birth control pills contained 150 micrograms of estrogen while now most pills contain 35 micrograms or less. Reid mentions, “The trade-off is that, as you lower the dose of estrogen, you start to get more spotting. Women get fed up with it and they become non-compliant — they stop using the pill and then they run a risk of getting pregnant, which has a much higher risk of blood clot than any pill”. Gynecologists are now warning that the scare can result in unwanted pregnancies and cause a domino effect amongst all birth control pills.

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June 27, 2011

The Education of OTC Birth Control Pills Are Becoming Critically More Important

Filed under: birth control pills — Tags: birth control, birth control pills, birth control types, methods of birth control, prescription birth control pills — Kcondon @ 9:21 am

Medication has been evolving at an alarming pace due to the advancements of technology and our understanding of it. Prescription and over-the-counter medications are being more readily available than ever before. The availability and complexity of birth control pills in our time of age requires a certain understanding.

It has been brought to light that American women have been crossing the border into Mexico to buy birth control pills. Women are doing this because it is cheaper in Mexico but of course the risks in Mexico are greater. Also many women in the States are denied at the clinic because of a contraindication.

It’s not just Mexico. Many places all over the world have OTC birth control Much of South America also has OTC birth control available.

The results of the birth control studies have been somewhat contradictory. This confusion has lead to no affirmative stance and publication to be announced. Dr. Grossman’s team reported in the March issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology that woman from southern Texas were using combined oral contraceptives from a family planning clinics meaning prescription birth control pills had a lesser rate of absolute and relative contraindications (5.3% and 8.6%) than woman who were crossing into Mexico to buy them without a prescription (7.4% and 13.4%, respectively). However, another study done by Dr. Grossman and his colleagues show, “distributing more pill packs at once and removing the prescription requirement would lead to increased continuation”. A new study shows that “women who obtained their pills at the clinic were 60% more likely to stop taking them”. The reason is thought of as for the discontinuation of the pill is the issue of access. The danger is buying the pill OTC doesn’t inform women of the combined dangers. The conditions include “severe liver disease, breast cancer, ischemic heart disease, stroke or complex valvular heart disease, thrombogenic factors (e.g., major surgery with prolonged immobilization or history of thromboembolism), migraine with aura, smoking at age 35 or older, breastfeeding less than 6 weeks postpartum, and blood pressure of 160/100 or higher”.

The studies by Dr. Newcomer show that women can accurately use a checklist to spot the risks of birth control pills, and use an automatic blood pressure machine to check for hypertension. What OB-GYNs and general doctors need to do is ensure the safety of their patients by removing the barriers women face in getting birth control pills and educating them.

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February 10, 2011

Clear Concept: The Contraceptive Choices That Women Are Unaware Of

Filed under: birth control options — Tags: birth control, birth control benefits, birth control effects, birth control methods, birth control options, Birth Control Pill, birth control types, condoms, evra patch, hormonal contraceptive, IUD, NuvaRing — Janine @ 11:03 am

Birth Control has evolved over the past decade to rectify two significant problems: abnormal bleeding and missing pills. Instead of switching to the newly improved contraception available, women are nonetheless sticking to more common methods of birth control mainly including birth control pills, condoms and withdrawal. Women are uninformed of the many non-contraceptive benefits offered by the different types of birth control available today.

birth control options One example would be the advantages of the birth control pill, aside from contraception, the pill cuts the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers, relieves heavy bleeding and painful menstruation. Women are still wary to use hormonal methods of contraception due to exaggerated misinformation about the risks involved.

There are 4 different types of oral contraceptives:

Low dose – contraceptives that carry low levels of ethinyl estradiol and progestin.
Combined oral contraceptives – contraceptives that contain twenty to thirty micrograms of ethinyl estradiol with progestin.
Progestin drospirenone (DRSP) – used in Yaz and Yasmin, drospirenone has the same pharmacological effects of that of natural progesterone thus it also has slight diuretic properties. Yaz has 24/4 formulation meaning users take active pills for twenty four days and inactive pills for four days; during the four days menstruation occurs.
Extended cycle – contraceptives that allow women to opt out of menstruating, for either convenience or health reasons. With this option, women take active pills for over two cycles while omitting the hormone free interval which induces menstruation. The extended cycle has the same risks as that of the general 21/7 cycle.

The theoretical efficiency of oral contraception is not often lived up to in the real world due to regular missed pills. Studies show that up to forty percent of women often miss pills in any birth control regimen causing unwanted pregnancy and unscheduled bleeding. The transdermal patch and vaginal ring were created to minimize these problems. The patch (Evra, Ortho-Janssen) releases hormones into the skin every day for a week. The ring (Nuvaring, Merck) delivers hormones daily for one month. Both contraceptives are extremely effective and related to improved bleeding although there had been concerns about the dosage of estrogen continuously being delivered to the body. There are concerns regarding the Evra patch which dispatches more estrogen than the regular patch. There had also been warnings issued by the FDA and Health Protection Branch (HPB) about the increased risk of thrombosis associated with the patch. Hence the (vaginal ring is seen as the most competent in cycle control and consistent with the lowest rate of unscheduled bleeding. In spite of the favorable points, girls are not open to the way the ring is self administered (insertion into the vagina).

The intrauterine device continues to be overlooked by its poor image and is still unknown for its obliging efficacy and safety. Overshadowed by false ideas of increased pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility, patients and physicians are oblivious of the benefits of the intrauterine device.

Copper IUD – Can be used for thirty months and are believed to be 96% to 98% effective. Failure rates are about 1% and the rates of discontinuation are around 10% – 15% mostly due to increased bleeding and pain.
Mirena IUD – This IUD can be used up to five years with the highest efficacy rates of 99.8%.

The effectiveness of the use of the intrauterine device is comparable to that of surgical female sterilization. Aside from contraception, other advantages offered by the IUD include significant decrease in dysmenorrhea and bleeding. Insertion is a procedure done at a clinical office.

Evidently contraceptives are still being developed and new developments continue to be introduced to the general public. As the number of contraceptive options increase, the challenge lingers to increase awareness and reassure patients of the safety of these options.

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November 5, 2010

Birth Control Gel in testing stages

Filed under: birth control,birth control methods,birth control options,birth control types,contraception,contraceptive,contraceptives — Tags: birth control, birth control benefits, birth control effects, birth control methods, birth control options, birth control types, contraceptive, contraceptives, hormonal contraceptive, progesterone — Janine @ 12:07 pm

Birth Control comes in many forms including implant, injection, patch, ring, IUD, pills, and soon gel! The birth control gel is still in its early testing stages, but the results are looking optimal. The gel can be rubbed onto the arms, legs, shoulders or abdomen much like a moisturizer. Applying 3 milligrams of the gel daily will deliver the right dosage of progesterone and estrogen, much like the birth control patch, through the skin to stop the ovaries from releasing an egg every month.

The main ingredient to this gel is Nestorone, a newly developed type of synthetic progesterone very similar to the natural hormone that contains a chemically identical type of estrogen that is produced in a woman’s body. This birth control gel will not cause users to experience common side effects such as nausea and weight gain. Women who are breastfeeding are also able to use the birth control gel because the hormones in the gel will not interfere with the milk supply.

The New York Population Council research center’s director of clinical development of reproductive health, Dr. Ruth Merkatz is the researcher behind the latest study on this birth control gel. Over a seven month period, there were 18 women in the age range from 20 to 40 who had used the birth control gel. So far, none had become pregnant from using the gel. Dr. Ruth Merkatz finds that the birth control gel can improve the choice of methods and options of birth control for women.

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November 1, 2010

Contraceptive Alternatives-Hormonal Contraceptives–Implants

Filed under: contraceptives — Tags: birth control, birth control methods, birth control options, Birth Control Pill, contraceptives, hormonal contraceptive, implants — Candace @ 12:08 pm

Hormonal contraceptives are defined as the birth control methods that affect the endocrine system. This includes the pill, patch, vaginal ring, injection, implants, and plan B. Here we will be focusing on implants.

Implants have been approved by the FDA since 1990. The implant method consists of 6 silicone rubber rods which are put into the women’s upper arm. The implant works by releasing levonorgestrel each day. This method provides protection for 5 years. This method slowly loses its efficiency over time. When it first starts it is 99.8 percent effective and by the fifth year it is 98.9 percent effective. This method of contraceptive is beneficial to use because of the length of time it is effective. Once the device is removed you are immediately returned to a state of fertility. There is also no effect on breast milk production.

There are disadvantages of using this device as a contraceptive and it is always important to know all about the birth control before committing to one. Unfortunately to insert this device the patient must undergo minor surgery, and it is difficult to remove. You may experience menstrual irregularities from using this method of contraceptive. You may also suffer from headaches, mood changes, galactorrhea (excessive milk flow during lactation) and acne. If you experience any of these complications you should talk to your doctor: thrombophlebitis, genital bleeding, liver disease, liver tumors, suspected breast cancer, and hypertension. A few studies have shown that implants tend to have complications.

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October 4, 2010

Sex-Ed in Schools Fails to Address All Birth Control Options

Filed under: birth control pills,birth control statistics,birth control types,pregnancy in adolescents,pregnancy prevention,sex ed,sex education — Tags: birth control, sex ed, sexual education, stds, STI's, young adults — Amanda @ 12:02 pm

The lessons taught during sexual education in school are a very important part of a teen’s development as a young adult. However, a new government report has reported that only two thirds of all teens have been taught about birth control methods and options. Many students are not engaging enough in learning about pregnancy prevention and safe sex. Recent data shows that after many years of constant decline, the teen birth rate rose between 2005 and 2007, and decreased again in 2008 to 10 percent of all births.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention had female interviewers from the University of Michigan conducting interviews with nearly 2,800 teenagers between 2006 and 2008. It was found that 97% of teens had received formal sex education by the age of 18. This included instruction from school, church, community centers, or other settings. The content of the instruction included how to say no to sex, information on sexually transmitted infections, and information on birth control. Lessons concerning STIs were more common than lessons on how to use a condom or other types of birth control. In total, two thirds of teens had reported being taugh about birth control by the end of high school – about 62% of boys and 70% of girls. On the other hand, 92% of boys and girls had reported being taugh about STIs, and almost as many had learned about preventing being infected with AIDS. In addition, 87% of females and 81% of males were taught how to say no to sex.

Other researchers have found that there has been a decline in comprehensive sexual education from 1995 – 2002. This decline was largely due to government policies stressing an abstinence-only policy in educational systems. Most education programs talked about the threat of STIs, but not how to use various birth control methods. On the contrary, in the last two years, more funding has been put into sex education programs that discuss birth control options. An earlier CDC report released earlier this year found.

Another CDC study, released earlier this year, found that teenage use of birth control and teen attitudes toward pregnancy have remained about the same since 2002.

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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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August 17, 2010

FDA Approves of New Emergency Contraceptive Pill

Filed under: abortion,birth control,birth control methods,birth control options,birth control types,EC,emergency contraception,morning after pill — Tags: birth control, birth control types, contraceptive, EC, ella, EllaOne, emergency contraception, hormones, morning after pill, plan b — Amanda @ 10:04 am

The U.S Food and Drug Administration have approved of ella, a new one-dose emergency contraceptive that works longer than the current leading drug on the market. In June this year, the FDA unanimously voted that the use of ella provided convincing data and sufficient information on its safety. ella was approved last year in Europe under the name ellaOne and is currently used in 22 countries.

The FDA approved ella as a prescription-only birth control option. This ruling allows for U.S sales of the drug. Ella from HRA Pharma is to be marketed as an emergency contraceptive that can be taken within 5 days of unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. The current emergency contraceptive drug ‘Plan B’ is approved for use up to 3 days after unprotected intercourse.

In a trial between Plan B and ella, women randomly received one of the two pills within three to five days of having unprotected sex. Women who took ella had a 1.8 percent chance of becoming pregnant. Women who took plan B had a 2.6 percent chance.

Consequently, Plan B is currently available without a prescription for those 17 and older where as ella will require a doctor’s prescription. HRA Pharma did not request an over-the-counter position for ella.

There is some concern about women becoming confused by the use of ella. Although ella prevents ovulation for as long as 5 days after sex, some women may believe that once taking ella, it can protect them against pregnancy from any additional acts of unprotected sex for 5 days. This is not true as sperm from additional sex can outlive the initial sperm past the 5 day window. In addition, the FDA is concerned about the obesity rates in the US and ella’s effect on overweight and obese women. Ella seems to be less effective in obese women.

Ella works differently than Plan B. Though both emergency contraceptives contain hormones that prevent ovulation, ella also contains ulipristal, a non-hormonal drug that blocks the effects of hormones necessary for conception. Ella belongs to the same class as a drug called mifepristone – a drug that is used as a part of a treatment that induces abortion. This calls for criticism from pro-life groups who believe that ella is closer to an abortion pill than an emergency contraceptive pill. However, ella is used at lower doses that prevent conception and should not cause abortion. It is still unknown whether or not ella will affect an existing pregnancy, or if ella might increase the rate of spontaneous miscarriage in the few women who become pregnant despite using ella.

The FDA reviewers reported no life-threatening medical side effects with ella. The most common side effects were mild and included headache, nausea, and abdominal pain.

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August 9, 2010

Condoms Use Is Up, but Effectiveness Is Down

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: abortion, birth control, birth control methods, condoms, oral contraceptives, premarital sex, the pill — Candace @ 9:40 am

The myth that a girl won’t get pregnant the first time that she has sex has been broken. Virgins are very commonly using condoms the first time they have sex. The use of condoms has risen significantly, especially in premarital sex and first-time couples. This is significant because 94% of women ages 15 to 44 have had premarital sex. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the use of condoms has increased from 55 percent to 88 percent in less than 20 years.

This dramatic change is great news to hear, but there is a downside. Condoms still aren’t providing 100 percent protection. 50 percent of pregnancies in the USA are unintentional. It is encouraging to hear that other methods, such as the pill and other contraceptive methods are being used more often. The pill is used by 10.7 million people, and sterilization is used by 10.3 million.

Oral contraceptives fail most commonly because the contraceptive users use the pills inconstantly or otherwise incorrectly. Thankfully we have accomplished the current popularity of the birth control pill contraceptive, now all we have to do is ensure that the pills are taken properly, and consistently.

There are now IPhone and IPod applications available which provide a daily ‘pill reminder’ with a settable alarm.
As well you can set a daily alarm on your phone or make a note on your calendar.
There are some online calendars you can set to send an SMS text to your phone each day with a reminder.
Make sure to keep your medication in view.
Ask a close friend or relative to remind you

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July 29, 2010

Study Unveils Little Known Side Effect of Birth Control

Filed under: birth control,Birth Control Side Effects — Tags: birth control, birth control effects, Birth Control Pill — Nicole @ 3:43 pm

birth control side effects, birth control effects A recently conducted study has found that birth control can distort a woman’s ability to find the perfect mate. The attraction between a man and a woman is based on several factors other than physical appearance and personality, that are rooted in the biological processes of the human body. One of these basic biological processes is the human sense of smell’s perception of the other person’s body odor, specifically in the aromatic molecules of the body’s scent, which indicate genetic compatibility, through the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes.

Biologically, humans are programmed to select the best mates in order to provide a diverse set of genes for their offspring, to build a strong immune system, which allows them to be the fittest of their generation and promotes their prospects of survival. The greatest attraction that is indicated through body odor is in couples who have widely different MHC genes, which in turn contributes to more genetic compatibility, satisfaction and even faithfulness.

The findings of this study have proven that women taking birth control have a distorted sense of smell, causing attraction to men with similar aromatic molecules. This is because birth control pills create a hormonally pregnant state in a woman’s body, and in doing so shuts off their need for a man with opposite MHC genes, as biologically speaking, the woman is not in need of a mate. The misperception of a perfect mate for a woman could lead to a multitude of problems, as couples with similar MHC odors are often subjected to more fertility and fidelity problems throughout the course of a relationship, because once the woman stops taking the pill, both parties tend to perceive their partners in a different manner, and as a result, their relationship completely falls apart.

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June 21, 2010

Why Do More U.S Teens Support Rhythm Method Birth Control?

Filed under: rhythm method — Tags: birth control, conception, condoms, iPhone, rhythm birth control — Amanda @ 7:01 pm

The condom is still the most used form of contraceptive amongst teens – used by 66% of sexually active females and 71% of males – and the pill is the second most common, however the more risky method of rhythm birth control is becoming increasingly popular in sexually active teenagers between the ages of 15 – 19 (thanks to the iPhone app?). A recent government survey found that there is an increasing number of teenage girls in the U.S who say they rely on the rhythm method of birth control. The survey also reveals why teen pregnancy rates are no longer dropping. Young adult attitudes since 2002 have not changed much concerning pregnancy and birth control, but there are some notable differences in the survey released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Rhythm birth control is essentially a way of tracking the period and noting days of ovulation and high conception risk. The idea is not to engage in sexual activity on days of ovulation. However this method is only 25% reliable as ovulation does not always occur according to a set schedule. About 17 of sexually experienced girls say they have used the rhythm method compared to the 6% back in 2002. Although they may have also used another form of birth control, it is still a concern considering that a sexually active teen who does not use contraceptives has a 90% chance of becoming pregnant within 12 months.

The survey was based on interviews with 2,800 teens 15 – 19 years old. About 42% of unmarried teens had had sex at least once in their lifetime, and of those teens, 98% reported using a method of birth control. Although these findings were the same as a survey in 2002, they do not explain why teen birth rate rose in 2005 – 2007. The only possible reason must be because of the increase in the use of rhythm method birth control, and a change in teen’s attitudes towards teen pregnancy. About 64% of teenage boys believe its okay for an unmarried girl to have a baby. This shows an 50% increase from the statistic in 2002. 70% of girls agreed that it is okay for an unmarried girl to get pregnant compared to the 65% who agreed in 2002.

One possible reason for the more liberal approach to sex and pregnancy amongst teens is that the survey was conducted in the year of several publicized pro- pregnancy incidents including Jaimie Lynn spears’ pregnancy, Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol’s pregnancy, and the release of the movie “Juno”, where a teen accidentally becomes pregnant.

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June 2, 2010

Ultrasound is a Male Contraceptive

Filed under: birth control,birth control methods,contraceptive,male contraceptive,STI,the Gates family,ultrasound — Tags: birth control, contraceptive, male contraceptive, STI — Candace @ 12:37 am

Researchers in the University of North Carolina are pushing for further research into the new idea that an ultrasound can be used as a reversible contraceptive for men. The idea is that a blast of ultrasound to the testes may be able to stop sperm production for approximately six months. Once the sperm production has been stopped, all the sperm in the sperm reserves must be used up before this contraceptive method is effective.

This would offer another method of birth control for couples. It is thought that these sperm impeding ultrasounds would be affordable to most people. The plan in the long-term for the University team is to use an ultrasound from instruments found in sports medicine or physical therapy clinics. One of the best things about this contraceptive method is that it is thought that the sperm production will continue as normal after the approximate six months of infertility is up.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation sponsored this research with a $100,000 grant (one of seventy-eight grants by this foundation). This financial help will support the pursuing of clinical trials to prove this method. One warning issued about this contraceptive is that although it will prevent pregnancy (if it is proven), it will not protect against the transmissions of STI’s.

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May 28, 2010

5 STI Risk Factors

Filed under: alcohol,birth control,condoms,contraceptive,STD,STI,Uncategorized — Tags: birth control, condoms, contraceptive, STD, STI — Amanda @ 1:01 am

At least one in every four Americans will contract and STI at some point in their life. STI’s are a serious health problem to adults and if they go untreated, they can cause permanent damage. Certain factors in your life will determine your risk of contracting an STI, so here are the top 5 STI risk factors -

1. Unprotected Sex - This one is a given, but it is very important. You’re more likely to contract a sexually transmitted infection if you do not use barrier methods of birth control like condoms.

2. Being Young – People between 18 and 29 are more likely to be infected with an STI than an older person. Women and men in their 20′s have the highest rates of STI’s out of any age group. This could be because young women are more susceptible to them. Their cervix’s aren’t fully developed and they are more likely to experience tearing during intercourse. Young people in general are less likley to practice safe sex by using condoms, and are more likely to have multiple partners.

3.Alcohol and drug use - People who use alcohol and drugs on regular basis may have lowered inhibitions and may be less “picky” about who they choose for a partner. Those under the influence of alcohol and drugs may be more stubborn about condom use.

4. Having multiple partners - The more partners you have the more likely you are to be exposed to STI’s. Usually people with multiple partners choose partners who have also had multiple partners. This increases the risk of your partner having contracted an STI from a different partner. Your risk increases even higher if you hire a sexual professional because the truth is they aren’t being paid to enforce safe sex with partners.

5. Relying only on Birth Control Pills - for most sexually active people their main concern is pregnancy. Lots of couples choose birth control pills as their only contraceptive method. This is 99% effective against pregnancy, but this does not protect against STI’s. Once a couple is established in using the pill as their only form of protection, they will become reluctant to use condoms. This can be because they have gotten used to a sexual routine without condoms, or perhaps because they just don’t like using them. The safest option is to use birth control pills AND condoms.

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