October 5, 2010

Women More Likely to Use Birth Control if Partner Supports It

Filed under: birth control methods,birth control options,Birth Control Pill,birth control statistics,birth control types,condoms,contraception,contraceptive — Tags: birth control methods, birth control options, Birth Control Pill, contraceptives — Amanda @ 11:46 am

The “birth control” question can be confusing for partners, and birth control options are predominantly aimed towards women, putting the decision in their hands, however a new study suggests that women are twice as likely to use birth control if their partners are very much in favor of it.

The study was done in Los Angeles and Oklahoma City; lead by Marie Harvey – a professor of public health at Oregon state University. Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the study looked at 435 couples that were between the ages of 18 and 25. The women in the couples were not pregnant and were not trying to become pregnant.

The men and women in the study said they both participated in deciding whether or not to use birth control. However, agreement between partners on whether they had discussed birth control was low. Harvey claims that this contradiction is typical in male and female relationships. To a woman, a conversation about birth control might include weighing in all birth control options and having a long detailed conversation. To a man, it could be as easy as asking a woman if she is on birth control.

Both partners were interviewed on contraception use and pregnancy motivation. It was found that even among women not trying to get pregnant, less than 60% said avoiding pregnancy was extremely important. Regardless of what the women had said about avoiding pregnancy, a large number of surveyed women were engaging in unprotected sex. This reflects mainly on the education that health care providers are giving to young women. “Providers need to probe more to understand women’s’ motivations and help them clarify their desires about whether or not to use contraception” Harvey said.

“We are trying to better understand the influence of partners…Public health research in the past has largely focused on the woman alone, but we know that a woman’s partner can be very influential. Yet, research rarely addresses the influence of sexual partners on protective behaviors.”

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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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January 21, 2010

4 Reasons Why There Shouldn’t be a Male Birth Control Pill

Filed under: birth control patch,birth control pills,condoms,male birth control pill,male contraceptive,Uncategorized — Amanda @ 4:04 pm

There’s been ongoing interest over the possibility of a male contraceptive. Every few years a new discovery appears and it convinces us that we are closer to a birth control pill for men. For the first time, a safe, reversible, and effective male contraceptive has become a reality. Within the near future, several types of male birth control may become available to the average man. Soon men will be able to have the same options as women including a daily birth control pill, a patch or gel applied to the skin, and injection given every three months, or an implant under the skin every twelve months.

Seattle researchers claim that the availability of male contraceptives depends on how funding continues. The technology is available and it is understood how a hormonal male contraceptive will work.

Sure, this may be a great thing for women – we no longer have to remember the pill or suffer from awful side effects – but when you really think about it, a male contraceptive might not be such a good thing.

1. A new excuse to get you into bed – Some men might use male contraceptives as an excuse to get in your pants. The same men that lie about pulling out will lie about being on the pill.

2. Will they remember to take it – If you can’t trust your man to remember to pick up milk on the way home or buy condoms when you run out, how will you know if he remembered to take the pill?

3. An increase in STIs – Its been speculated that the approval of a male contraceptive might increase the spread of sexually transmitted infections. The pill won’t protect you from STIs – and if you’re both on the pill, why would you need a backup condom?

4. Decreased pregnancy rates – By putting men in control, couples may not be getting married having children as early in life. Women tend to want children more than men and they want to “move forward” in relationships. Men forget that the main reason for sex is procreation. Someone wrote in reply to the idea of a male birth control “[Male contraceptives] with the simultaneous invention of a time-travel machine, will result in 90% of us not being born”

There’s no telling whether or not men will even use a hormonal contraceptive, however its safe to say – don’t trust a man to do a woman’s job.

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July 2, 2009

Top 7 Failed Attempts at Birth Control

Filed under: birth control,birth control methods,birth control myths,Birth Control Pill,condoms,douching,Uncategorized — Amanda @ 11:13 am

The birth control we use today such as birth control pills and condoms did not just come to be as they are today. In fact, there were many ridiculous failed attempts at birth control before they came up with something decent. These contraceptive prototypes may seem moronic now, but at one point people actually believed they worked.

7. Hot Mercury

In ancient China, women drank hot mercury the day after sex in order to prevent pregnancy. Mercury – The poisonous element inside thermometers that is deadly and can cause immediate toxic effects and can destroy all of the human body systems if it gets into the blood stream. Bad idea. You’d be better off committing suicide.

6. Sea Sponge

In Ancient Persia, women used sea sponges soaked in vinegar or alcohol and inserted them into the vagina to inhibit sperm from entering the uterus. This is a horrible method because not only does it require the extraction of a helpful ecological sea-organism from its environment, but it can cause some serious damage to vaginal walls when soaked in a substance like alcohol or vinegar. In addition, a sea sponge will act as a filter, so it’s probably not a good idea to rely on it for contraception.

5. Rocks?

This method is just outrageous. In Egypt, they used to insert rocks into the uterus to irritate the uterine walls preventing a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus. (A prototype of todays intrauterine systems) Why is this so outrageous? Because not only does it cause severe irritation to the uterus, but bacteria on the rocks could spread throughout the inside of the uterus causing severe problems and possibly death. Don’t try this at home.

After they realized the serious side effects of the rock method, women tried using apricot seeds in the same way. Needless to say, it was also a failed method.

4. Plugs

No, not hair plugs – vaginal plugs… made of wood. Yes. It is true, there were many women in the 19th century who tried using a plug-shaped stopper made of wood to block sperm from reaching the uterus. It was a tragic fail. There is nothing else to say about this one but nice try – now what do we do about the splinters?

3. Herbs

Many civilizations believed that the right herbs could heal or prevent almost ANYTHING – including pregnancy. Herbs called “emmenagogue” were plants that could stimulate menstruation in females, so they would take these herbs as a form as contraceptive. What they didn’t know is that pregnancy is still possible during menstruation so many of them probably got themselves pregnant with this attempted method.

Although those methods are idiotic and irrational, and we all know that no one would ever try them in modern times, there are still some modern failed birth control attempts out there that couples are trying, only to find themselves with a baby 9 months later.

2. Flushing

There are couples out there who are using things like Lysol and carbonated drinks after sex to “flush out” and kill the sperm in the vagina. There are several reasons why this is a fail. Even if you flush out the sperm in the vagina, it does not affect the sperm that was ejaculated immediately into the uterus through the cervix. Those guys are long gone and out of reach. In addition, putting any acidic or sugary foreign substance in the vagina is a bad idea. The skin and flesh there is very sensitive and will most likely result in infection, irritation, or a yeast infection.

1. Homemade condom

Yes – it is exactly what it sounds like. This is by far the stupidest idea ever thought of. I can’t even process this idea without asking myself “why would anyone in their right mind do such a thing??”. There are many couples out there who are making their own condoms with plastic materials like plastic bags, saran wrap, or used chip bags. Not only are these materials prone to break with enough force, but using them as a condom is unsanitary and uncivilized. Bacteria can spread from these items to the vagina causing discomfort and irritation. They will not hold up during intercourse and probably rip – making them useless as contraception. The chip bag method is the worst idea because of its rough sharp texture that will cut the walls of the vagina causing bleeding. I beg you – please do not do this. The common sense of civilization will quickly diminish if you do.

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June 16, 2009

Totally Untrue Rumors about Birth Control

Filed under: birth control,Birth Control Pill,birth control pills,condom,condoms,Uncategorized — Amanda @ 3:21 pm

1. Birth control pills will make me fat!

Why it’s a lie – The pill has been given an unreasonable reputation. Despite what you may have heard from friends and colleagues, birth control does NOT contribute to weight gain.

Although some women seem to gain weight while taking the pill, researchers have shown that it isn’t actually due to pill use. The estrogen in the pill may cause some women to feel boated for the first few weeks, but this symptom usually goes away. The progestin in the pill may cause changes in appetite, but it’s nothing that you can’t resist. Finally, it has been studied that women tend to begin taking the pill during a point in time that just happens to overlap with lifestyle changes, including diet and weight changes.

2. The pill will increase my risk of cancer

Why it’s a lie – Okay – first of all, birth control pills have never been conclusively linked to cancer. Only the most recent research suggests that the pill has VERY little, if any, risk of development in breast cancer in women, and taking estrogen before menopause does not predispose women to breast cancer.

Actually, according to Planned Parenthood, if you use the pill you are 1/3 less likely to develop ovarian or uterine cancer than those who are not on the pill. Even better, your protection against these cancers will increase as you continue to use the pill, and can protect you for up to 30 years after you stop taking the pill. Some doctors even advise their patients (especially those with a family history of ovarian cancer) to take the pill for at least 5 years to prevent ovarian and uterine cancer!

3. I won’t get pregnant if I’m having my period

Why it’s a lie – Okay, so you may be LESS likely to get pregnant during your period, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant from the same sperm a few days later. Believe it or not, sperm can live in a woman’s uterus for up to three days. So, if you happen to be ovulating (like 70 % of women) either during, or after your period, you can become pregnant. If you are like the other 30% of women who ovulate between days 10 and 17 of their menstrual cycle, it is less likely… however ovulation in women can change, and it is not something you should bet on.

4. The pill is only good for contraception

Why it’s a lie – Although the pill is a great method of contraception with a 99% efficiency rate (upon perfect use), it also provides its users health benefits. Some examples of this are:

– More regular, lighter periods
– Reduced menstrual cramps
– Minimizing symptoms of PMS
– Protection against ovarian cysts and cancer
– Prevention of acne
– Pelvic inflammatory disease
– Excess body and facial hair
– Migraines
– Reduced risk of anemia

5. I can’t get pregnant or get STI’s if I use condoms

Why it’s not true – even though condoms are the best defense against STI’s (next to abstinence) they are not 100% foolproof. If they are applied properly, they are 99% efficient. If they are applied incorrectly they can be wayyy less efficient. When applied incorrectly, they can break and decrease in efficiency. In addition, if the condom does fit properly, it could slide off thus being much less effective.

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