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This item caught my eye because it is reminiscent of the Portland Middle School contraceptive controversy that hit the airwaves a few months ago.

Two people just resigned in the health department at Gloucester High School. Here is the whole AP story: “Two top officials at Gloucester High School’s health center have resigned in a fight over distribution of contraceptives. Medical Director Dr. Brian Orr and chief nurse practitioner Kim Daly support confidentially giving birth control to students, but they departed after encountering resistance to the practice from Addison Gilbert Hospital, which administers state public health grants that pay for the high school clinic. This year, 17 Gloucester High School students are pregnant. Normally, the school has about four pregnancies per school year, The Associated Press reported. The hospital’s executive director, Cindy Donaldson, expressed concern about community reaction to confidential contraceptive distribution, as well as liability issues.”

The issue is all over talk radio this afternoon. The discussion seems to center on a parent’s right to know whether or not their kids are taking contraceptives versus trying to do something about teen pregnancy. So, I’m asking those of you with older kids to weigh in? Should teens be able to get contraceptives at school - possibly without their parents’ knowledge? Where do parental rights fit into this? How do we tackle teen pregnancy if we can’t have open discussions about contraceptives?

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Contraception is a term used to prevent pregnancy. There are different types of them around. Some are used by men while others are for women.

There are two major methods of birth control namely barrier or hormonal. Aside from that, the other types include sterilization otherwise known as surgery, withdrawal, natural family planning and the simplest which is abstinence.

Let’s talk about each of them.

• The first is the barrier method wherein the male or the female uses a condom to prevent the sperm from ever entering the female’s uterus. The male condom comes in many brands, color and flavors and is usually made of latex rubber. This is placed over the penis when it is erect prior to intercourse.

The female condom on the other hand is made of polyurethane and is seven inches long. This allows it to protect the cervix, vaginal canal and the immediate areas surrounding the vagina. It is inserted into the woman’s vagina also prior to intercourse.

• Another barrier is known as spermicides. It is a chemical designed to kill sperm and this is available as foam, jelly, foaming tablet and as a vaginal suppository.

• You also have the diaphragm that is a soft rubber dome which stretches over a flexible ring that contains spermicides in the form or cream or jelly.

This is placed inside the woman’s vagina and placed over the cervix. Women should take note that this should not stay inside for more than 3 hours prior to intercourse.

• The cervical cap is a small cup made of the same material as a condom. It is also filled with spermicidal cream and inserted into the girl’s vagina and placed over the cervix.

• The last is the contraceptive sponge which is a soft saucer shaped device made from the same material as the female condom.

Now that we have discussed the different barriers, it is time to discuss about hormonal birth control methods.

Hormonal devices appear in the form or an implant, patch, pill or shot. They are designed to prevent the woman’s ovaries from releasing an egg monthly, cause the cervical mucus to thicken so the sperm will have a difficult time penetrating the egg or thin the lining of the uterus which reduces the chances of a fertilized egg from ever implanting on the uterus wall.

Some experts believe that they are very effective but they cannot protect you from sexually transmitted diseases or STD’s.

• Birth control pills can be acquired from your health provider. Depo-Provera is an injection that costs a little bit more than the pill and can prevent pregnancy for 3 months. Something similar to Depo-Provera is lunelle but this can only prevent pregnancy for up to one month.

• The Nuva Ring or vaginal ring is a flexible ring that is inserted into the vagina for three weeks before this is removed and replaced with a new one. The ring contains chemicals such as estrogen and progesterone that releases this into the body.

• The birth control patch works like the ring as it releases hormones into the body while the IUD is a small plastic device that contains hormones and copper and changes the cervical mucus to decrease the chances of an egg from fertilizing.

• Withdrawal is simply removing your penis out of the girl’s vagina before ejaculation. Sterilization closes the fallopian tubes permanently and this is better known as tubal ligation. Men can have the same thing and this is called a vasectomy.

• Natural family planning is simply controlling the number of kids that you want to have.

• Abstinence is not engaging in sexual intercourse at all that is perhaps the most effective type of birth control.

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If you don’t like wearing a contraceptive or taking it orally, you can slap it to your skin because there are birth control patches available in the market.

The birth control patch is a thin, beige colored, four and a half centimeter square patch that is applied to the skin. Each patch contains hormones that release chemicals into your bloodstream.

The chemicals found in the patch are progesterone and estrogen that are designed to prevent ovulation which is the release of an egg from the ovaries during a female’s monthly cycle. When this happens, a girl can have intercourse without the risk of getting pregnant.

The birth control patch also does something else and it thickens the mucus that is produced in the cervix making it difficult for the sperm to ever reach the eggs. Sometimes, the hormones themselves may affect the lining of the uterus so if ever the egg is fertilized, it will have a difficult time attaching itself to the walls of the uterus.

Proper usage of the birth control patch is done based on her monthly menstrual cycle. This will be applied to the skin for 3 weeks in a row and then on the fourth week, she remains patch free so she can have her monthly period.

The patch should be applied to one in four areas of the body namely the abdomen, buttocks, upper arm or torso. The trick is making sure that the patch is placed on the same day each week because this is the only way to make sure that it is effective.

So, if you decide to put on a patch on a Tuesday, this should be replaced on Tuesday the following week. Once you remove the old one, put the new one close to the previous area as this avoids skin irritation. Do not apply the new patch if the skin has a cut, is color red or irritated.

First time users of birth control patches are advised to use an additional form of contraception during the first 7 days of use. This is a failsafe in the event that the birth control patch falls off.

Birth control patches are waterproof and sweat proof so you can continue doing your daily routine. You must never apply soap and other skin products because this may affect its ability to stick on your skin.

Because the birth control patch releases chemicals into the bloodstream, you may experience some side effects. This includes abdominal pain, breast tenderness, fluid retention or raised blood pressure, irregular bleeding, headaches, menstrual cramps and nausea.

Not all women may also use birth control patches. If you are 35 years of age, suffer from blood clots, chest pain, diabetes, high blood pressure, headaches, known or suspected tumor, hepatitis, heart diseases and allergic to patches, it is advised that you find another birth control method.

Some drugs may also complicate the effectiveness of the birth control patch. These include certain antibiotics that are used to treat seizures, migraines and tuberculosis. When you speak to your doctor about birth control methods, it is best to undergo a physical examination and reveal to him or her any other relevant information about your medical condition.

Birth control patches are easy to use. You just have to put it in the same area each week and best of all, it doesn’t cause any interruptions when you are having sex.

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All combination birth control pills contain estrogen (typically ethinyl estradiol) and one of eight kinds of progestin. The term progestin is used for any natural or man-made substance that has properties similar to natural progesterone.

To best understand how a progestin may be classified, it is helpful to clarify the types of effects a progestin may have on the female body in terms of progestational, estrogenic, and androgenic activity. Also, progestins are categorized by generation.

Yaz

Drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary) and also cause changes in your cervical and uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.

The combination of drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol is used as contraception to prevent pregnancy. It is also used to treat moderate acne in women who are at least 14 years old and have started having menstrual periods, and who wish to use birth control pills to prevent pregnancy.

This medication is also used to treat the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), such as anxiety, depression, irritability, trouble concentrating, lack of energy, sleep or appetite changes, breast tenderness, joint or muscle pain, headache, and weight gain.

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Ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate contains a combination of female hormones that prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary). This medication also causes changes in your cervical mucus and uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.

Ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate is used as contraception to prevent pregnancy. It is also used to treat severe acne.

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Q: Okay. So I’ve read a lot of places that ortho tri cyclen lo causes a lot of women to lose their sex drive. I certainly don’t want that to happen. But I remember when I took it a few years ago, I didn’t experience a drop in my sex drive.

However, then I was ALSO taking wellbutrin, which often RAISES libido. Now I have started taking both again. Here is my question. If the pill lowers libido and wellbutrin raises it, then will my sex drive then be normal? Does this make sense?

A: That is a very interesting question! Birth control pills are known to decrease sex drive. wellbutrin is usually taken for depression (though there are other uses: ocd, smoking cessation, blood pressure). depression is also known to kill a sex drive.

While doctors tout that wellbutrin raises libido that isn’t always the case in everyone. since most antidepressant meds kill sex drive, that has always been one of wellbutrin’s selling points. i didn’t notice an increase in sex drive when i was on wellbutrin more so actually with zoloft! unfortunately, as your doctors probably say, “everyone is different” and everyone’s body chemistry is different. you may just experience the same thing as you did last time. you can always talk to your doc about switching up either medication to reach your desired effect.

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Birth control pills, which are also called oral contraceptives, regulate the body’s estrogen and progesterone levels. You take birth control pills every day.

Birth control pills:

* Prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg every month (ovulation). This prevents pregnancy.
* Minimize growth of the uterine lining, called the endometrium. This reduces or stops dysfunctional uterine bleeding. (Thick endometrial growth leads to heavy bleeding.)
* May cause you to have fewer menstrual periods if taken continuously for a long period of time.
* May improve perimenopausal symptoms that are caused by fluctuating hormone levels.

Why It Is Used?

Birth control pills are commonly used to:

* Stop a teen’s irregular menstrual bleeding (dysfunctional uterine bleeding) and regulate her cycle.
* Regulate a perimenopausal woman’s irregular periods (dysfunctional uterine bleeding).
* Regulate perimenopausal hormone levels, with the intention of reducing hormone-related symptoms while providing effective birth control.
* Regulate a woman’s menstrual cycles that have been chronically irregular.

How Well It Works?

The endocrine system, which produces hormones, is complex and not fully understood. Therefore, as with any hormone treatment, birth control pills do not reduce symptoms in all women. They cause troublesome side effects in some women, but not others. If you have problems with ineffectiveness or side effects, ask your health professional whether a different hormone formulation may work better.

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding

Birth control pills reduce the amount of heavy menstrual bleeding by about half.

Perimenopausal symptoms

Birth control pills reduce or eliminate hot flashes and improve sleep problems and depression in most perimenopausal women, while effectively preventing pregnancy.2, 4 Studies report a range of 65% to 100% of women gaining partial to full relief from hot flashes when using birth control pills.2

Disease prevention

The estrogen in birth control pills maintains or improves bone density (osteoporosis prevention) during perimenopause, when bone loss begins to increase.2 Long-term use (4 or more years) of birth control pills helps preventendometrial cancer and ovarian cancer. Experts suspect that progestin is the protective factor.

Recurrence

When you stop taking birth control pills, dysfunctional uterine bleeding or perimenopausal symptoms may return.

Side Effects

Side effects of birth control pills are generally the most severe during the first few months of use and then gradually subside. The most common side effects are:

* Breast tenderness.
* Nausea.

Although some women report weight gain with birth control pill use, studies suggest that generally, long-term weight gain is not a common side effect.2

The risk of serious side effects increases in women who smoke.

Rare, but more serious, side effects include:

* High blood pressure.
* Blood clots in a vein (deep vein thrombosis) or lung (pulmonary embolism).
* Heart problems.
* A possible role in causing cervical cancer. Women who use birth control pills for more than 5 years and have HPV infection may have an increased risk.6

If you have serious side effects, call your doctor for immediate follow-up.

If you have bothersome side effects, report them to your doctor at your next regularly scheduled visit.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About

Do not use birth control pills if you:

* Are older than 35 and smoke, have complications from diabetes, or have an increased risk of heart disease.
* Have a personal history of breast cancer. Estrogen stimulates certain types of breast cancer.
* Have uncontrolled high blood pressure.
* Have liver disease.
* Have a history of blood clots in a vein (deep vein thrombosis) or lung (pulmonary embolism).
* Have a history of stroke.

For women older than 35, low-dose birth control pills are recommended. If you have no risk factors, such as a history of heart problems or stroke, you may use birth control pills until menopause is completed. Birth control pills are not recommended for use after menopause.

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Ortho Tri-Cyclen for Acne Vulgaris

Androgens stimulate acne vulgaris through excess production or enhanced sebaceous gland activation. Estrogen-containing oral contraceptives (OCs) improve acne in women because they suppress pituitary gonadotropin secretion and, therefore, decrease the production of ovarian androgens. Estrogens also increase circulating sex hormone - binding globulin, which binds testosterone and reduces levels of free testosterone. The newer progestins, such as norgestimate, are minimally androgenic and show negligible binding to androgen receptors. OCs containing a combination of estrogen plus a minimally androgenic progestin have been found effective in the treatment of acne in women.

In the first randomized, placebo-controlled trial of an OC for treating acne, investigators from 12 centers evaluated 250 women (ages 15 to 49 years) with moderate acne. Patients in the active treatment group received Ortho Tri-Cyclen, a triphasic combination of norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol. The six-month study was completed by 164 patients. The OC group fared significantly better than the placebo group in all outcome measures, including mean reduction in inflammatory lesions (51% vs. 35%), mean reduction in total lesions (46% vs. 34%), and percentage of patients judged to have improved (83% vs. 63%). In the OC group only, levels of free testosterone decreased and levels of sex hormone - binding globulin increased significantly. The clinical benefits were apparent at three months.

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Being a parent of any teenager can be a tough job. Being a parent of a teenage girl in today’s society can be completely nerve-racking. Even when you teach your children strong values and morals, you still can’t be 100% sure of what they do when they walk out your door. It can be hard to decide if you should allow your teenage daughter to begin using birth control, even if you know that there is a medical reason for that birth control. So, how do you decide what to do?

Here are some tips:

1. Be honest with your daughter. Talk to her about the benefits that some hormonal methods of birth control might offer her during her menstrual cycle. Also talk to her about any side effects that might occur from that birth control. Take some time to research the information on the internet together. Make an appointment to visit with the doctor so he or she can answer any additional questions (or correct misconceptions) you might have.

2. Look for honesty from your daughter. Although hormonal birth control can prevent pregnancy, if your daughter is sexually active (or considering the option) then it is not the only answer. Find out what your daughter is doing so that you can help her understand the consequences of her decisions and also so you can help her best protect herself if she decides to continue down that path.

3. Play the “what if” game. This is going to be much easier if you have already established a relationship with your daughter prior to this point. Ask her things like, “What if you did get pregnant?” or “what if he was infected?” or “what if others find out?” The answers to these questions may help her make her decisions and they may also help to guide the choice of birth control.

4. Be honest with yourself. Unless you keep your daughter locked up for the rest of her life, she is going to make her own decisions. All you can do is support and inform her about where those decisions are likely to take her in life. If you believe that she is sexually active then do whatever is necessary to protect her from possible life-altering (and even deadly) mistakes.

5. Share the statistics. Help your daughter to understand the dangers that sexual activity can bring in the form of STDs. Show her the statistics for birth control options (particularly any you can find based on incorrect usage). Help her to see that the only safe and 100% effective form of birth control is abstinence.

There are valid reasons to have your teenage daughter begin taking birth control. Even if the reasons are medical, be sure to discuss all the complications and difficulties that may lie ahead in your child’s sexual life.

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Although there are many different forms of birth control, some women are afraid to take any of each because they are scared of the side effects. The most common that these pills have as an effect relates with the issue of gaining weight.

Ask a woman who is not afraid of getting fat. You will not find so many. But if indeed there is a case wherein a woman chooses to gain more weight for health related issues, they will resort to other means. This is especially true if the person involved is not sexually active and don’t have a dependence on birth control pills.

But if the person who wants to gain weight and has also used the pills, she may just continue doing so for the purpose of adding up more pounds. There is nothing wrong with that especially if she is only doing what she thinks is right.

A woman knows her body better than anybody else. But to get a scientific truth to the claims, she may also opt to see a doctor to ask for advice on what pills to take for the purpose of adding more weight. If that is not what she wants to happen, she may also ask for a suitable birth control that will match her body type.

Other Forms of Birth Control If you don’t want to depend on the pills to avoid getting pregnant, there are other types of contraception that you can choose from. For whatever reasons, may it be because you don’t want to add on to your weight or whatever else, here are some of the other types that you can choose to avail.

Implant Contraception Through this method, a rod will be inserted under a woman’s skin. This rod will release small amounts of progestin, a type of hormone, into the bloodstream. This is not so popular because it causes heavy bleeding.

Injected Ones You can also opt to inject that contraception. This method can be done just once in every three months. Most of this type contains only progestin. This will stop a woman from ovulating and will halt the eggs that have been fertilized to be implanted on the uterine lining.

Condom for Women This can also be called Fermidom or female condom. This can be likened to a loose pouch that is used to line the vagina. This has flexible rings at its two ends. This can be bought without prescription, but isn’t really that popular that is why it is hard to find it in stores.

Condom for Men This is being used by men during the sexual act itself to avoid his discharges from being transferred into his partner that may later cause pregnancy. This will also help prevent transmission of the diseases caused by sex.

The Natural Family Method This can be done by religiously looking at your calendars. Women must take note when they last had their menstrual period so that they could avoid making love with their partners on those days when they are fertile.

The abovementioned are some of the different forms of birth control. Choose the one that fit you best if you don’t want to opt for the pills. That way, you will avoid getting pregnant and you will also not be subjected to the pills’ main side effect, that is gaining weight.

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A migraine is a severe headache usually accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. This can disable you for a few hours or even days. The level at which this happens or even its frequency varies.

A recent study shows that women suffer from migraines more than men. Although its exact cause is unknown, birth control devices happen to be one of the culprits.

An example of such a birth control device is the oral contraceptives. This is because its ingredients alter the woman’s hormonal level and causes the migraine. The cause of course is too much estrogen which is added to what is already naturally produced by the body.

Aside from migraine, oral contraceptives may cause medical abnormalities from uterine fibroids to breast cancer.

Sometimes, the migraine attack may occur before or after taking the oral contraceptive. If this happens regularly, you are advised to try another method of birth control. This can be avoided though if you take it with food or milk. You must take this at the same time daily and stick with the prescribed dosage that was given to you.

Women over the age of 35 and experience migraines as a result of using birth control pills and other devices are at risk of getting a stroke. This is another reason why some institutions strongly advice females to use something else if they don’t want to get pregnant.

Those who are diabetic, have high cholesterol levels and blood pressure are advised not to take oral contraceptives.

But there is hope. One of the newest oral contraceptives to date is Seasonal. This pill was introduced into the market in 2003 and since it makes females only experience a period four times in one year, this means fewer headaches for migraine sufferers.

But this oral contraceptive may not work for everyone. If you suffer migraines due to neurological problems, this won’t do any good and you will have to find another birth control device.

Women may still choose to use oral contraceptives. This is only after they are examined by the doctor and if everything looks good, he or she will prescribe a lower dose of oral contraceptives. Talking to your physician may even prevent a full blown migraine from happening since there is really no permanent solution to stop this from happening.

But there are some women who experience migraines even before they start using oral contraceptives. In fact, the frequency did not increase or decrease once they were on the pill but complained that the severity of the migraine got worse.

The severity of the migraine will also not go away overnight after you quit using oral contraceptives. Studies show that it will take a few months for your hormonal levels to normalize and only then will you be able to see an improvement.

Despite that, migraines will still happen and you will not blame it only on the pill but due to other factors such as the food you eat, stress at home or in the office, other medications that you may be taking, physical factors and changes in the environment.

So although there is a direct link between oral contraceptives and migraine, you cannot say that it is the only reason why women suffer from it more than men.

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