Choosing the right form of birth control involves weighing the advantages of IUDs against the pill, while managing side effects like nausea and spotting.
Hormonal birth control suppress other hormones that are needed for female fertility. Both oral contraceptives and other forms of hormonal birth control use either a combination of synthetic estrogen and progesterone or progesterone alone.
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Women have three main sex hormones--progesterone, estrogen and testosterone. Each of these hormones plays numerous roles in the body, and a healthy balance of the three is important for the body systems to function properly.
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The Guttmacher Institute estimates that 5.5 percent of American women choose the IUD as their method of birth control. When choosing an IUD, you have the choice between the Mirena, a hormonal IUD, and the Paragard, a copper, non-hormonal IUD.
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Many couples choose to delay or forgo having children. Some couples choose to use natural methods of family planning, such as the fertility awareness method or abstinence. Many others choose to use artificial methods of family planning.
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While weight gain is listed as one of the common side effects on most types of birth control, this may be misleading. Birth control itself doesn't cause weight gain. It can, however, cause you to retain water, which can create the appearance of weight gain. The hormonal changes may also increase your appetite.
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The Nortrel birth control pill is a combination of ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone, two hormones that prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs and changes the environment of the uterus to make it more difficult for sperm to reach the uterus.
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Taking fish oil supplements may prove beneficial for many people. It effectively lowers high triglyceride levels and seems to help people maintain good heart health.
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The rhythm method, also called the fertility awareness method, is a form of pregnancy prevention where couples calculate a woman's fertile time using a calendar and fertility signals, like cervical mucus and date of her last menstrual period.
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Discover how long it takes to become pregnant after discontinuing birth control pills, and learn the best way to conceive naturally. Get tips on timing intercourse and identifying your fertile window.
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Birth control is available in a variety of methods, from natural family planning to an intrauterine device, condoms, pills, rings and patches. Each method has advantages and disadvantages in terms of convenience, potential side effects and pregnancy prevention.
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All sexually active adults must consider family planning issues. According to the World Health Organization, family planning is not just about preventing pregnancy, but also about timing conception so that every baby is wanted and planned.
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Green tea contains many compounds which are beneficial for your health, including antioxidants. In addition, green tea has been used as a natural treatment for a number of health conditions, including sunburns, overweight and cholesterol level control.
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Low birth weight and preterm infants are extremely vulnerable to a variety of problems, including difficulty thriving and maintaining their blood sugar levels. Some babies have a low birth weight because they are premature, while others have a low birth weight even though they are born close to term.
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Post-pill amenorrhea is a condition where a woman does not get a menstrual period after going off birth control pills. This typically isn't a cause for alarm, and usually occurs because the body needs time to adjust back to its natural hormonal levels.
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Plan B is one of the brand names of emergency contraception pills, or ECPs, available in the U.S. market as of 2011. Although it originally required several doses, the manufacturer is phasing that option out to focus on "Plan B One Step," a single-dose regimen.
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Women who have had unprotected sex can limit their risk of becoming pregnant by taking an emergency contraceptive called Plan B. This over-the-counter medication contains the synthetic hormone levonorgestrel, which prevents pregnancy by disrupting egg release and fertilization in women.
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As a parent, it's tough to decide whether to give birth control to your sexually active teenager. Even though birth control is a proven method for preventing sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy, some parents struggle with moral and ethical implications surrounding the issue.
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Talking about sex with your parents isn't easy. But when you decide you are interested in learning more about birth control, your mother can be a valuable source of information and support. Starting the discussion is difficult, but being able to discuss difficult topics with your mom is important.
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Birth control pills are contraceptives that use female hormones to alter a woman's normal menstrual cycle. The pill prevents pregnancy by blocking ovulation, so your ovaries do not release an ovum that can be fertilized and lead to pregnancy.
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Birth control methods include hormonal contraceptives, such as pills, shots and patches. Each method and brand has a unique mixture of estrogen and progestin and delivery molecules that can potentially affect a fetus.
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