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.

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.

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.

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.

When eaten in normal, moderate amounts, foods are unlikely to interact with prescription birth control pills.

Most birth control pills contain estrogen, which disrupts the female body's hormonal cycle. When present in low levels, estrogen prevents the body from making two different hormones, called follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone.

Water pills or diuretics are used to treat a number of conditions that affect your body’s ability to properly regulate fluid intake. This includes congestive heart failure, high blood pressure and body swelling known as edema.

Birth control is anything but one size fits all. “Every women is unique and her birth controls needs are different,” says OB/GYN Michael Krychman, M.D., executive director of the Southern California Sexual Health Center.