How Can Birth Control Pills Prevent Pregnancy?

Birth control pills are one of the most effective forms of reversible birth control ever invented.

About 18 million American women relay on birth control pills. Birth control pills can also be called as oral contraceptives. Nowadays, there are about 40 various contraceptives that a woman can use.

Instead of the fact that birth control pills are safe for most of the women, however they also carry some health risks.

For instance, people above the age of 35 years who smoke or have certain medical conditions like history of blood clots, or endometrial or breast cancer, then the healthcare provider won’t recommend birth control pills.

Also, oral contraceptives won’t protect you against sexually transmitted diseases. In recent years, researchers invented low dose oral contraceptives that cause fewer side effects.

In reality, healthy women who don’t smoke can safely use the birth control pills despite of their age. Don’t simply buy the birth control pills that are available at over-the-counter. It is better to take your doctor’s prescription.

How do birth control pills work?

Each when your menstrual cycle starts, your estrogen levels rise very much. Estrogen plays a great role in thickening your uterine lining in order to prepare for a fertilized egg. Once your estrogen levels reach its peak level, one of your ovaries releases an egg. This process is called ovulation.

Once ovulation is over, a hormone called progesterone starts to rise. For the next seven days, the hormone progesterone prepares endometrium further for a fertilized egg. Conception takes place when the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterine lining.

If conception won’t occur, both the hormone levels drop and signals the thickened uterine lining to shed or slough off. Eventually, your menstrual cycle begins.

Usually, birth control pills are the synthetic form of both these hormones. They help prevent the ovulation by maintaining a consistent hormone level. If estrogen doesn’t rise, then it won’t signal your ovaries to release the egg. It means that there is no chance for fertilization because there is no egg.

Also, birth control pills can thicken the cervical mucus so that the sperm can not reach the egg. Oral contraceptives make the lining of your uterus unreceptive for implantation of the fertilized egg.

You will find 28 day pack or 21 day pack, which are progestin-only or combined pills. You will find progestin-only pills in 28 day pack only.

Are There Different Types Of Menstrual Cramps?

Do you experience pelvic pain or cramps right before and/or during your menstrual period? This is the most common and normal symptom associated with menstruation.

Medical term for pelvic pain is called as dysmenorrhea. But physicians use it as menstrual cramps that greatly interfere with your everyday activities.

Usually cramps are a kind of pelvic pain, which is described as sharp cramping or dull painful sensation in your lower abdomen.

Do you know how menstrual cramping begins?

In order to nourish the fertilized egg, the sex hormone called estrogen thickens your uterus lining each month. After that, a follicle, which is a small sac in the ovaries that holds a single egg or ovum, breaks and releases the egg in a process called as ovulation.

When your egg fertilizes with a sperm while entering into your uterus, implantation of egg in the lining of the uterus takes place. If fertilization doesn’t happen, the egg comes out of your body through your uterus. Soon after that, your uterus breaks the lining and the menstrual cycle begins.

In order to expel this lining, your uterus need to contract. These contractions or cramps of menstrual cycle can be very painful. For some women, this pain or discomfort can be minimal. For some others, this pain can be very rigorous and obstructs with everyday activities for a few days every month.

Generally, there are two types of menstrual cramps. One is primary dysmenorrhea and the other is secondary dysmenorrhea.

Primary dysmenorrhea: It is a lower abdominal pain, which usually occurs during your menstrual cycle and it is not linked to any physical irregularity or disease. Usually, it starts within three years of after beginning your menstruation.

In this kind of menstrual cramping, pain usually stats at the beginning of menstruation and slowly diminishes within two to three days. You will experience greater pain in your abdomen. But, some women also experience this pain in their thighs or back.

Secondary dysmenorrhea: These types of menstrual cramps are associated with menstruation i.e. accompanied by a health condition such as uterine fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis.

Secondary dysmenorrhea can cause the symptoms, which can alert your doctor to suspect the existence of an underlying pelvic disease.

Menstrual cramps caused by endometriosis can make you to experience the pain that begins in mid-cycle and gradually becomes more severe the week before menstrual period. Sometimes, it is also accompanied by constipation.

Menstrual cramps are often very common and are not a cause of concern. If you experience severe menstrual cramps that often interfere with your daily activities for several days a month, it is essential to contact your physician for an examination.

If severe menstrual cramps are left untreated, the conditions such as PID or endometriosis that causes it can greatly interfere with your everyday activities and makes your reproductive system to compromise thus resulting in infertility.

Herbs To Ease Menopause Symptoms!

Some women feel that menopause can bring them relief from monthly menstrual periods, freedom from worrying about unplanned pregnancy, and a great excitement about entering into a new phase of life.

While, some other women feel that menopause can cause various emotional and physical disturbances.

So, for which category you belongs to or you are in somewhere between them?

Whatever it is, all of us need to suffer from certain menopause symptoms, such as depression, insomnia, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, sore breasts, stiff joints, and bloating.

In order to ease these symptoms, traditional Chinese medicine offered a variety of treatments such as herbs. Some herbs are also scientifically proved, such as black cohosh, vitex, etc.

Here are the herbs for menopause symptoms:

1. Black cohosh

Studies showed that black cohosh is effective in reducing the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH), which is a great cause of hot flashes. There are two anti-rheumatic agents in this herb. This herb works effectively in relieving muscular pain and cramping.

2. Vitex

Vitext herb has hormone regulating properties. This herb can not only relieve hot flashes but also helps in treating vaginal dryness and depression. This herb acts on pituitary and hypothalamus glands and regulates the levels of progesterone hormone. This herb won’t cause any side effects and also it won’t react with other medications.

3. Dong quai

This is a well-known herb in Chinese medicine for its blood purifying properties. This herb has tonic and regulatory effects on female reproductive system.

Studies showed that dong quai works effectively as anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and pain reliever. It lowers your blood pressure and soothes menopausal discomforts.

This herb can also be called as “female ginseng” because of its ability to re-nourish and revitalize your body by correcting hormonal imbalance. Dong quai when used in conjunction with other herbs that tonify your spleen can work greatly in relieving dizziness, hot flashes, stomachaches, blurred vision, and constipation.

4. Dandelion

It works great for liver. Hormonal imbalances during menopause can put stress on your liver. Dandelion root can greatly helps to prevent it.

5. Chamaelirium luteum

This acts as estrogen regulator. It directly works on your uterus and ovaries. It works greatly for the specific treatment of ovarian cysts.

6. Gingko biloba

It improves circulation, brain function and oxygen supply to all the cells in your body. It works greatly for treating depression, fatigue and memory problems.

7. Licorice

It works as powerful adrenal stimulant and is a wonderful estrogenic herb. But, care must be taken while using the herb. This herb can not be used too often as it can increase blood pressure and deplete potassium.

8. Liferoot

It acts a uterine tonic and contains great amounts of estrogens. This herb helps in establishing vascular and emotional stability and avoids hot flashes. Also it can help in treating painful, irregular and excessive menstrual bleeding.

9. Red clover

It contains a plant estrogen named as coumestrol that can regulate your ovaries. It has good alkaline properties and restores your body functions. It works greatly in treating ovarian cysts.

10. Raspberry

It acts as an astringent. This nutritive estrogenic herb helps in strengthening your uterine muscles and relieves intestinal and uterine spasms. Also, it helps in treating uterine and vaginal prolapse.

11. Saw palmetto

It has astringent and diuretic properties that help in treating urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and fluid retention.

12. Shepherd's purse

This herb has good androgenic properties. It helps in normalizing the progesterone levels. If you are entering into menopause and having excessive and irregular bleeding or spotting, this herb can help in regulating and increasing the length of the menstrual cycle.

13. True unicorn root

This herb can strengthen your genital organs and it relieves indigestion and acts as sedative.

14. Wild yam

This is a powerful estrogenic herb being in use by various women around the world. It has good anti-inflammatory properties and relieves menopausal arthritis.

15. St. Johns Wort

It acts as sedative and works for anxiety states and also helpful in combating menopausal depression.

Is Hepatitis C Contagious?

Hepatitis C is a virus that silently attacks your liver.

Most of the people who are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) don’t experience any symptoms.

In fact, most of you don’t know that you have the liver disease.

Hepatitis C is the most serious of all the hepatitis viruses. Today, HCV is the most common reason for liver transplantation in adults.

About 300 million people around the world are suffering from hepatitis C virus.

Most common cause of hepatitis C transmission is through contact with blood infected with HCV. This is due to:

• Sharing the drug needles


• Working in a laboratory or a dialysis unit


• Using infected needles for tattoos or body piercing


• Having sex with an infected person


• Being born to a mother with hepatitis C
  

You can not get hepatitis C by shaking hands, kissing, hugging, or sitting next to an infected person.

Though HCV damages your liver, you won’t experience any symptoms. Even you develop any symptoms, they are mild and they come and go for some period of time.

The symptoms of HCV are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, jaundice, pain over liver, grayish or clay colored stools, and dark colored urine.

Researchers found that one third of patients with chronic hepatitis C can have symptoms that threaten their lives. Chronic hepatitis C can cause cirrhosis of the liver.

In this condition, your healthy liver tissues are replaced by fibrous tissues leaving a scar like hardening. Also, it is found that, cirrhosis occurs in one among three women and more than half can develop liver cancer also.

About 50% of the cirrhosis cases can cause loss of life and about 70% can develop chronic hepatitis. Studies showed that AIDS and hepatitis C are in 1:5 ratios, in which for every one AIDS case there are five hepatitis C cases.

To check for hepatitis C, your doctor will do a blood test or a liver biopsy, in which, your doctor removes tiny piece of liver for checking hepatitis C signs and liver damage.

For treating hepatitis C, a drug named as peginterferon is used in combination with ribavirin. You may also need surgery if you have hepatitis C for several years. After a while, your liver may stop working. If this is the case, you need a new liver.

This surgery is called as liver transplantation. Surgery involves, removing the old and damaged liver and putting a new and healthy liver from a donor.

Here are some suggestions to protect yourself from hepatitis C virus:

• Avoid sharing the needles with anyone


• Wear gloves if you need to touch anyone’s blood


• Don’t have unprotected sex


• Get body piercing or tattooing with clean tools


• Don’t use razor, toothbrush or anything that contain blood of an infected person
  

How To Prevent Osteoporosis?

Are you entered into menopause stage? Then you are at a greater risk of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a condition in which inside of your bones become permeable due to loss of calcium and is usually called as losing bone mass. Eventually, this condition weakens your bones and makes them much more prone to break.

Osteoporosis is most common condition in women when compared to men because women usually contain less bone mass than men.

Also, women are more likely to live longer and take less calcium and they require estrogen hormone to keep the bones stronger. Men who live longer can also at a risk of getting osteoporosis in their later life.

After entering into the menopause stage, your estrogen levels fall and loss of bone mass speeds up gradually. Removal of ovaries can also lead to faster bone loss because ovaries are responsible for estrogen production.

You don’t know that you have osteoporosis until you experience any serious signs and symptoms. Some of the signs include: low back pain, hunched back or broken bones.

Osteoporosis can cause your vertebrae to collapse. This type of problems can occur if you lost greater amounts of bone calcium.

There are various risk factors that cause osteoporosis. They include: menopause before the age of 48 years, not getting enough physical activity, not getting enough amounts of calcium, surgery for removal of ovaries before menopause, alcohol consumption, smoking, family history of osteoporosis, hyperthyroidism, having fair skin, long-term use of oral steroids, thin body and small bone frame.

Some of the drugs that can prevent bone loss include:

Calcitonin helps to prevent additional bone loss and also reduces the pain that you experience with osteoporosis. You can take this drug as a shot or nasal spray.

Ibandronate sodium is a new medicine that needs to be taken once in a month. It decreases bone loss by increasing bone density. It results in some side effects like nausea, heartburn, diarrhea and upset stomach.

Alendronate and risedronate, they are not hormones, but they can help to prevent and treat osteoporosis. These dugs decrease the bone loss thus reducing the risk of fractures. Usually, these drugs can result in upset stomach.

Raloxifene helps to prevent and treat osteoporosis. It acts same like estrogen. This drug causes hot flashes and risk of blood clots.

Teriparatide is an injectable synthetic hormone. This can be used daily for treating osteoporosis. This drug can causes new bone growth. It commonly results in dizziness, nausea and leg cramps.

For preventing the risk of osteoporosis, you need to take about 1,000 mg of calcium a day. After entering into menopause stage, you need 1,000 mg of calcium if you take estrogen and 1,500 mg of calcium if you do not take estrogen. Lactose and vitamin D can help your body to absorb the calcium.

Here are some tips to keep your bone stronger:

• Quit smoking


• Do regular exercise


• Consume a well-balanced diet


• Contact your practitioner to know about HRT and other medicines to treat osteoporosis

Which Type Of Gonorrhea You Have?

Gonorrhea, also known as “the clap” is a fairly common sexually transmitted disease.

Anyone can get gonorrhea, but 75% of the cases infected with gonorrhea are in between the age of 15-29 years.

Women between 15-19 years of age are at high risk of becoming infected with gonorrhea. It is the second most commonly reported STD in United States.

Gonorrhea is a bacterial infection caused by Neisseria gonorrheae bacteria. This infection is mainly transmitted through vaginal, anal or oral sex.

Bacteria can be transmitted through vaginal fluid or seminal fluid. Infection can be developed in the genital tract, uterus, fallopian tubes, rectum and also mouth, eyes or throat.

Here are the five different types of gonorrhea:

1. Gonorrhea of the mouth:

Most of you don’t know that you are carrying this infection in the mouth because most of the patients with gonorrhea are asymptomatic or not have any kind of signs and symptoms.

Symptoms of mouth gonorrhea rarely occur even if you have this bacterial infection inside your body. If you observe any signs and symptoms of mouth gonorrhea, you can immediately receive good medical care.

Identifying mouth gonorrhea in early stages can give greater chances of getting cured.

Similar to other gonorrhea types, this type can also has an incubation period of 7-30 days for men, but it is even longer for women.

One major symptom of mouth gonorrhea is inflammation of the throat. Most of the times, this infection is mistakenly considered as throat infection. Antibiotics that are used to control mouth gonorrhea include:

• Doxycycline


• Azithromycin


• Ofloxacin


• Cefixime
  

Gonorrhea of vagina:

A healthy woman has clear and milky discharge that doesn’t smell bad. Color and thickness of this discharge alters with your monthly cycle. The discharge becomes thicker when you ovulate, when you breastfeed or when you excited sexually. During your monthly cycle, the discharge combines with menstrual blood.

If there is something wrong, you will have an increased amount of vaginal discharge, change in smell or color of discharge, itchiness, irritation or burning in or around the vagina.

Gonorrhea of cervix: Also called as cervical gonorrhea. If you are already infected with vaginal gonorrhea, then you are at greater risk for cervical gonorrhea because cervix is the first part immediately after the vagina.

Sometimes, this disease can also affect your uterus and fallopian tubes leading pelvic inflammatory disease. Women with PID can experience tubal pregnancy and infertility in as many as 10% of the infected women.

Gonorrhea of throat: Also called as throat gonorrhea or pharyngeal gonorrhea is transmitted through oral sex. Sometimes, people with throat gonorrhea don’t experience any symptoms. Usually the condition disappears on its own without any treatment.

Sometimes, mouth gonorrhea becomes very painful and cause most serious infections like tonsils. If you experience sore throat continuously one week after having oral sex, then it can be due to gonorrhea bacteria. Usually, throat gonorrhea takes one week to appear the symptoms.

It can be treated with antibiotics. Sometimes, you need an injection to replace oral medication.

Gonorrhea of eyes: Also called as ocular gonorrhea and is a rare type of gonorrhea. It usually occurs because of direct contamination.

Direct hand to eye contact can cause ocular gonorrhea. Ocular gonorrhea can cause conjunctivitis. It leads to brown, crusty, pus-like discharge and pink eye caused by blood vessel inflammation in the eyes.

Mammogram To Detect The Breast Changes!

Mammogram, an X-ray exam of the breast used to detect and evaluate the breast changes in women who suspect any abnormality of the breast.

Usually, mammogram is used to detect cancer in women who have no symptoms. It is called as screening mammogram.

There are two types of mammography exam. One is screening mammography and the other is diagnostic mammography.

Screening mammography: It is an X-ray examination of breasts in women who are asymptomatic. The main aim of screening mammography is detecting cancer when it is too small to be felt by you or the physician.

Detecting the breast cancer during its early stages can greatly improve the chance of successful treatment. Women above the age of 40 years should be recommended to consider screening mammography for every one to two years and women above the age of 50 years should consider it for every year.

Diagnostic mammography: It is an X-ray examination of breasts in women who either have breast complaints such as breast lump or nipple discharge, have had any abnormality found in screening mammography.

Diagnostic mammography takes more time when compared to screening mammography. The main aim of this mammography is to find out the exact size and location of breast abnormalities and to image the surrounding tissue and lymph nodes.

During diagnostic mammography, several views of your breast are imaged and interpreted. So, this procedure is little bit expensive when compared to screening mammography. Women with history of breast cancer or with breast implants will need several views taken in diagnostic mammography.

How is a mammogram performed?

During the mammogram, your breast is compressed between an X-ray plate and a plastic plate. Breast compression is essential for spreading the tissue part. It ensures little movement so that the image is taken in precise shape and also your screening needs lower X-ray dose.

While compressing the breast, you may feel little discomfort and it is also painful. But this discomfort lasts only for few seconds and finally it produces a good mammogram image. The whole mammogram procedure takes about 20 minutes.

Mammogram produces black and white x-ray image of your breast tissue. Depending on the mammography device, you will get the image on a large sheet of X-ray film or an electronic image that can be looked on a computer screen.

Mammogram image reading is challenging for most of the radiologists. The way the breast appears on a mammogram varies greatly from one woman to another. Certain breast cancers produce changes in the mammogram, which can be difficult to examine.

Know The Type Of Genital warts You Have!

Do you have pain or itchiness around the genital area? Then suspect this with genital wart symptom.

Genital warts can also be called as venereal warts or condylomata acuminate and they affect the moist tissue around the genital area.

Warts appear like small, flesh-colored bumps or have a cauliflower like appearance.

They can grow as small bumps or into large clusters. Usually, they transmit by direct skin-to-skin contact during oral, genital or anal sex with an infected person.

More than 30 HPV strains are responsible for the formation of genital warts. Half of sexually active women are infected with HPV at some point in their life.

Usually, genital warts won’t cause any symptoms to appear. In some cases, you will develop small, hard bumps within 3-12 weeks after exposure. Symptoms are different from one person to another and sometimes they can be mistaken for other medical conditions.

Most common genital wart symptoms that you notice will be soft, moist pink, flesh colored warts or gray swelling around the genital area. The bumps can be flat or raise, single or group, small or large warts. In some rare cases, you can experience pain in the genital area and some bleeding during or after having sex.

Generally, warts are painless. You will only experience pain when they are bumped or irritated. Sometimes, there is bleeding from warts. In contrast, plantar warts are very painful when you put pressure on them while walking.

Warts can also develop on your vagina, vulva, cervix, urethra, and around the anus where you will notice increased vaginal discharge, abnormal vaginal bleeding, itching around your vagina, urethra, cervix, vulva, and anus.

Most of the genital warts won’t pose any significant health risks. If the warts left untreated, you will notice some serious health conditions. For example, untreated genital warts can lead to anal and cervical cancer.

Genital warts spread easily and are very contagious. If you have an active outbreak of genital warts, it is best to refrain from all types of sexual contact until the warts completely disappear.

To prevent genital warts from occurring:

• Avoid unprotected sex with multiple partners.


• Avoid having sex with a partner whose sexual history is unknown to you.
  

For treating genital warts, your doctor can suggest any of the following procedures:

Cryotherapy – Destroying warts by using liquid nitrogen.

LEEP – Loop electrosurgical excision procedure, in which a sharp instrument shaped device like a loop is passed underneath the wart to cut it out from the skin.

Laser treatment – Physically destroy the lesions.

Electric current – Current is passed to physically destroy the lesions.

Know Endometriosis Symptoms To Confirm It!

Endometriosis, a common reproductive problem, is affecting most of the women worldwide.

In this condition, uterus lining tissues grow on the ovaries or in the pelvic or abdominal cavity of a woman’s body.

Endometriosis has no definitive cause, but is considered as an inherited condition.

Recent research confirmed that irregular menstruation, estrogen, genes, immune system and environmental chemicals are the most possible causes of endometriosis. About one out of ten American women are at a risk of endometriosis.

During the menstrual period, hormonal fluctuations can lead to the growth of uterine lining in order to create a favorable environment for the possible pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, then this lining sheds and expels from your body along with the period.

But, in endometriosis, uterine tissue develops in more areas like abdomen, ovaries and pelvic cavity. When it is the time for tissue to destroy, tissue that has transferred has no means to leave the body. Finally, blood that is trapped in these areas leaves adhesions and scarring.

Here is the list of endometriosis symptoms:

Endometriosis doesn’t follow any distinct patterns so that it is difficult for the practitioner to determine that a woman has endometriosis. Some of the endometriosis symptoms are similar to other conditions, these conditions include:

• Appendicitis


• Colon cancer


• Ectopic pregnancy


• Fibroid tumors


• Irritable bowel syndrome


• Ovarian cancer


• Ovarian cysts


• Pelvic inflammatory disease
  

The most common endometriosis symptoms include:

• Constipation or diarrhea


• Chronic pain throughout the month


• Fatigue


• Infertility


• Low back pain


• Pain during intercourse


• Pain before and during the intercourse


• Irregular or heavy menstrual periods


• Painful urination during menstruation


• Painful bowel movements during menstruation
  

Some other symptoms which are common with endometriosis include:

• Allergies or vulnerability to infections


• Anxiety


• Depression


• Headaches


• Low grade fever


• Low blood sugar or hypoglycemia
  

During the later stages of endometriosis, adhesions develop in the pelvic cavity. These are due to the untreated cysts that can bond pelvic organs collectively.

These adhesions can seriously interfere with the normal functioning of organs in the pelvic region, which cause digestive problems, bowel obstructions, urinary problems, infertility, and also mobility problems.

Endometriosis can impair your immune system to a great extent, which can cause various health problems. Women with endometriosis are more susceptible to various health problems like:

• Chronic fatigue syndrome, it is 100 times more common in women with endometriosis


• Fibromyalgia


• ME hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid gland, it is 7 times most common in people with endometriosis


• Rheumatoid arthritis
  

The most common endometriosis symptom experienced by the women is chronic pain. Some times, this can prohibit women to partake in everyday activities and also the ability to keep going a career.

What Causes Early Menopause?

Early menopause is also known as premature menopause or perimenopause.

Normally, menopause starts between the ages of 45-55 years. But, early menopause can start in the 30s or in early 40s and it happens in women who have at least one ovary.

Usually, early menopause is due to premature ovarian failure, in which ovaries do not function in a normal way. Ovaries stop their functioning years before that they are supposed to.

If you have early menopause, you don’t get periods successively for twelve months before reaching 45 years of age.

Various factors can trigger early menopause. One reason for early menopause is your ovaries no longer have eggs to release. The second reason is your ovaries do not react to your body’s hormonal communication. Sometimes, early menopause may be due to lifestyle choices, such as:

• Poor nutrition


• Heavy smoking


• Heavy drinking


• Chronic stress to your body due to excessive athletic training


• Birth control pills


• Sometimes genetics


• High stress levels


• Obesity


• Cultural attitudes


• Poor quality sleep


• Synthetic hormone replacement therapy


• Exposure to environmental toxins
  

Also, there are some factors that are outside of a woman’s control, which can trigger early menopause. For instance, autoimmune diseases can affect menopause to occur early. Serious viral infections like mumps can greatly damage the eggs.

Sometimes, menopause can be associated with less primary follicles that are able to grow and ovulate. So, women with less primary follicles and damaged eggs are unable to develop an ovulatory egg thus they are prone to early menopause.

Women who had radiation therapy or chemotherapy have lost large number of their eggs. So, with fewer eggs, menopause can strike the woman’s life at an early age.

Women who born with fewer eggs can also experience early menopause.

Damage to ovaries or removal of ovaries can make women to experience early menopause. This is a most rapid form of menopause. For these women, hormone replacement therapy is suggested because their bodies have not had a chance to get used to hormonal changes.

Prior to the stoppage of menstrual cycle, you enter into perimenopause, which is called as transitional cycle. This phase can exist for two to six years.

Some studies showed that never having had a child may make you to experience early menopause.

Most of the times women tend to get menopause around the same age as their mothers and sisters, although the link between family history and age at menopause is still inconclusive.

Birth Control Methods To Prevent Pregnancy!

Don’t want to become pregnant right now?

Birth control is any method used to prevent your pregnancy. Contraception is another word used for birth control.

Having sex without considering any birth control option can give a chance to get pregnant. Every year, 85 out of 100 women who don’t use birth control have an unplanned pregnancy.

The only definite way to not become pregnant is to avoid sex. But, finding a good birth control choice can every time help you to avoid the unplanned pregnancy.

Here are various birth control choices:

You will find various birth control choices with each have its own pros and cons. So, learning about these methods can help you to find the right choice.

1. Hormonal methods

You can find hormonal methods in various forms such as pills, shots, rings, or implants. Hormonal medications contain hormones such as estrogen and/or progesterone.

Hormonal methods work in one of these three ways, one is they prevents your ovaries from releasing the egg, second is they thicken your cervical mucus making it harder for the sperm to reach the egg and third is they make your uterus lining to become thin and create an environment in which the fertilized egg can not nourish.

But hormonal contraception won’t protect you against sexually transmitted diseases.

Birth control pills: The pills can be taken on a daily basis as suggested by your care provider.

Lunelle: It is an injection given by your care provider that prevents pregnancy for one month.

Depo-provera: This is an injection given by your healthcare provider that prevents pregnancy for three months.

Vaginal ring: It is a plastic ring that can be inserted into your vagina for three weeks, removed for a week and then replaced with a new one.

Birth control patch: It is directly placed on your skin. For first three weeks, you can place the patch on your hip, upper arm or buttocks. For the last week, you can remove the patch to allow menstrual period.

2. Intrauterine devices (IUDs)

These devices are inserted in your uterus. IUDs are safe and they work well for 5-10 years at a time. For example, Mirena IUD contains a hormone that can help with heavy periods and cramping.

IUDs won’t prevent the sperm from entering into your uterus; rather it thickens the cervical mucus making it difficult for fertilization and also prevents implantation.

3. Barrier birth control methods

These methods can be physical or chemical contraception that are designed to prevent the sperm from entering into your uterus.

Female condom: It is a seven-inch long pouch of polyurethane that has two flexible rings. You need to insert it into your vagina before the intercourse. It covers your cervix, vaginal canal and the area around the vagina.

Diaphragm: It is soft and looks like a rubber dome that can be stretched over a flexible ring. The dome consists of a spermicidal jelly or cream and is inserted in your vagina before intercourse. But diaphragm can not be placed for more than 3 hours.

Contraceptive sponge: It is soft and appears in a saucer shape and is made with polyurethane foam.

Spermicides: These are the chemicals that help to kill the sperm. You can find spermicides in various forms such as foam, jelly, vaginal suppositories and foaming tablets.

Cervical cap: It looks like a small cup and is made with latex rubber or plastic. It can be inserted into your vagina and over your cervix.
4. Emergency contraception

This is a backup method that helps to prevent the pregnancy if you forget to take birth control pill or if the condom breaks.

5. Sterilization

This is a permanent birth control that gives lasting protection against the pregnancy. Tubal ligation is a method in which the fallopian tubes are tied and prevent the egg from reaching sperm.

6. Natural family planning

This method works well if you and your partner are very careful. Keep a record to know what are the fertile days and during this period, you can avoid the sex or use one of the barrier methods.

Know Your Diabetes Type?

Diabetes is a disease, which affects your body’s ability to produce or respond to insulin.Insulin is a hormone, which allows blood glucose to enter into the cells of your body and also be used for energy.

Basically, diabetes is of two types. One is type-1 diabetes, which affects during childhood or adolescence and the other is type-2 diabetes, which occurs usually after the age of 45 years.

About 9.1 million American women have diabetes and about one third of them don’t know even they have it.

Occurrence of diabetes is two to four times greater among African American, Asian/Pacific islander women, and American Indian women when compared to white women.

Women who have diabetes are at an increased risk of vaginal infections and various complications during pregnancy.

Pregnancy can also bring the threat of diabetes for the women who don’t have diabetes and is called as gestational diabetes. 2-5% of all pregnancies can get gestational diabetes and it disappears after your delivery. Gestational diabetes can increase the occurrence of type-2 diabetes in later life.

Complications of diabetes in women:

Women with diabetes are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease than men. Death rates from heart disease in women with diabetes are high when compared to women without diabetes.

Threat for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is 50% higher in women than men. Diabetic ketoacidosis is also called as diabetic coma. This condition occurs when diabetes is poorly controlled and noticeable high blood sugar and ketones are present. DKA is not due to high blood sugar, but it is due to lack of insulin.

Diabetes can keep women 7.6 times higher at risk of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) when compared to women without diabetes. PVD causes less oxygen and blood supply to the tissues in your legs and feet.

Also in pregnant women, diabetes poses special challenges when compared to women who do not have diabetes. Diabetic women are up to five times at greater risk of developing toxemia.

Toxemia is mainly due to high blood pressure, protein in the urine, headache, swelling, and various visual disturbances.

Gestational diabetes can lead babies to born with high birth weight, birth defects and various other complications for the mother.

Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes are more likely to be overweight or obese in their adolescence and consequently are at greater risk for diabetes in later life. Women with gestational diabetes are at higher risk for getting type-2 diabetes in the future.

How To Determine Your Fibroid Type?

Are you worried about fibroids? Fibroids, also called as leiomyomomas are the most common problem of woman’s reproductive health.

50-80% of women have uterine fibroids experiencing complications like bleeding, pelvic pressure and pain.

Usually, most of the fibroids are harmless, but some large fibroids can cause severe complications and also interferes with conception or pregnancy.

Fibroid tumors can range in sizes from few centimeters to more than 8 inches in length. Fibroids can tend to develop in clusters and they can form inside your uterus, in the uterine tissue or outside your uterus.

Majority of fibroids are benign tumors and don’t keep you at risk of cancer. Research found that one out of every four women has fibroids during their childbearing stage. They gradually tend to disappear after menopause.

The main cause of fibroids is still unknown, but they can be influenced by estrogen. High estrogen levels can keep you at greater risk of developing fibroids and when the estrogen levels stops, they also stop growing.

Recent studies conducted in US said that the growth of fibroids is nine times greater in dark complexion women when compared to fair complexion women. But, the exact reason behind this is unclear.

Obese women more than 70 kg are at high risk of developing fibroids because of high estrogen levels. Women who didn’t give birth to a child due to some genetic factors and women who smoke are at higher risk of uterine fibroids.

Usage of contraceptive pills, which contain higher estrogen levels, can keep you at high risk of fibroids.

Fibroids are of different sizes and categorized by where they develop inside the uterus.

Different fibroid types:

Intramural fibroids: This fibroid type grows in the walls of the uterus. These tumors are the most common types of fibroids.

Subserous fibroids: These fibroid types grow beyond the outer layer of the uterine wall. Sometimes, they can also grow on stalks, these fibroids are also called as pedunculated fibroids. These fibroid types can grow in larger sizes.

Submucous fibroids: These fibroids grow in the muscle below the inner lining of the uterus. They can grow in the uterus and can also on the stalks. If they are long enough, then they can hang through your cervix.

Cervical fibroids: These fibroids grow on the walls of the cervix and they are difficult to remove without damaging the surrounding area.

Fibroids in the uterus can grow as single or in groups. It can be a single type or a group of different types. Accurately the cause of fibroids is unknown, so there are no particular treatments for preventing it.

Risk Factors Of Cervical Cancer!

Abnormal growth of cells on cervix can cause cervical cancer.

Human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease can cause genital warts, which is a precursor to cervical cancer.

Regular Pap test is essential to check for this condition as it can be fatal. You will find various treatment options for cervical cancer, but they can affect the ability to have children in the future.

The most significant risk factors that cause cervical cancer include:

· Human papillomavirus (HPV)
· Sexual history

1. HPV

HPV is a virus that can infect your:

· Genital tract
· External genitals
· Area around the anus

There are 46 genetic types of HPV, but all these are not the causes of cervical cancer. Certain HPV types that can transmit during intercourse can increase the threat of cervical dysplasia, which can lead to cervical cancer.

HPV types that cause genital warts are completely different from the ones that cause cervical cancer. Having genital warts can increase the risk of abnormal Pap smear.

2. Sexual history:

The risk of cervical cancer is higher in women who:

· Have had multiple sexual partners
· Have begun having sexual relation early i.e. before 18 years of age
· Have a partner having sexual contact with a woman with cervical cancer

Some other risk factors of cervical cancer include:

3. Not getting regular Pap smears can increase the possibility of unrecognized cervical cancer. 60-80% of the women who are diagnosed with cervical cancer have not had their regular Pap screening for more than five years.

4. Usage of tobacco can also be a risk factor for cervical cancer. Smoking women are at twice the threat of this cancer.

5. Genetic material! Genetic substances, which come from some HPV forms found in cervical tissues, can keep you at the risk of cervical cancer.

6. Diet! Eating a diet that doesn’t contain sufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables can increase the threat for cervical cancer.

7. Weak immune system! Women who have weak immune system are higher than average risk to develop cervical lesions that become cancerous. For example, women with HIV positive and women who have had organ transplants.

8. Douching! Douching can wipe out the natural antiviral components that present in the vagina. Women who douche regularly are at greater risk of developing cervical cancer than others.

9. Diethylstilberstrol (DES), a medicine used to prevent miscarriage during the childbearing stage. Mothers who took this medicine can keep their children at a risk of developing cervical cancer.

10. Chemical exposure! Women working on pharmaceuticals or in an industry where chemical exposure is greater can be at high risk of cancer.

11. Hormonal medications! Hormones found in oral contraceptives make you more susceptible to HPV. Also, birth control pills can increase the risk of developing genital warts. Research showed that usage of contraceptive pills for more than five years can increase the risk of developing cervical cancer.

12. Multiple Pregnancies. Women who have had multiple full-term pregnancies are at a risk of developing cervical cancer. Studies showed that hormonal changes during pregnancy can make you more susceptible to get HPV infection and finally cancer.

13. Immunosuppression. HIV virus that causes AIDS greatly damages your immune system and keeps you at risk of HIV infection. Finally, this increases the risk of cervical cancer.

14. Race and ethnicity. The death rate from cervical cancer is twice in African-American women. Hispanics and American Indians also have death rate above the average.

15. Family history! If your mother or sister has cervical cancer, then your risk of developing the disease is higher.

HIV Symptoms That You Must Be Aware Of!

Being aware of HIV symptoms is very important for everyone's life for preventing the condition in early stages.

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), a sexually transmitted disease that attacks the human’s immune system. This virus mainly attacks your CD4 or T4 cells that are essential to fight against the infections.

Ultimately, this virus overwhelms T4 cells and makes your body unable to fight against the diseases and infections.

Whenever your body’s T4 cell count drops below 200 per cubic millimeter of blood, a virus takes hold of your weakened immune system; ultimately you will be diagnosed with AIDS. HIV symptoms vary based on the extent of infection that spread in your body.

HIV symptoms during early stages of infection:

HIV in early stages is also called as acute HIV. During the initial stages, you won’t experience any symptoms at all.

Fever is the most common sign that you experience two to four weeks after becoming infected. This illness is called acute HIV syndrome. Most common signs during the initial stages include:

• Fever


• Headache


• Rash


• Inflammation of lymph glands


• Sore throat

Usually, these symptoms disappear within a week to a month. So, it can be mistaken as a viral infection.

Even you don’t experience any symptoms you can transmit the virus to others. Once the virus enters into your body, your immune system becomes affected.

The virus doubles its count in the lymph nodes and gradually destroys the T4 cells, which are the white blood cells that manage your whole immune system.

During the early stages, the virus is in high amounts in your body and it gradually spreads to various parts of the body, mainly the lymph nodes. The symptoms may be persistent or severe and not appear for several years.

This period of asymptomatic infection varies from individual to individual. During this period, virus actively multiplies, infects and kills immune system cells.

After affecting the T4 cells, the virus releases its RNA into the cells. Then RNA attaches itself to the DNA of the host cell and thus becoming a part of the cells’ genetic material.

Gradually the virus doubles its count and enters into the bloodstream. This results in increased count of virus in the blood and decreased count of T4 cells.

The battle between virus and T4 cells continues even you are symptom free. When the virus reaches its high level in your body, immune system is unable to fight against the infection. Your body becomes completely in favor of the virus.

These type of infections are more opportunistic infections because they horde your body with the advantage of its low immunity. They come along with AIDS.

The most common opportunistic infections that affect HIV positive persons include:

• Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)


• Bacillary Angiomatosis (all caused by bacteria)


• Tuberculosis (TB)


• Salmonellosis


• Cytomegalovirus (CMV)


• Herpes


• Human papillomavirus (HPV)


• Viral hepatitis


• Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) (caused by virus)


• Pneumocystis Carinii pneumonia (PCP)


• Cryptococcal meningitis (caused by fungus)


• Candidiasis

When HIV adds with AIDS, symptoms of AIDS start to appear.

HIV symptoms during the later stages of infection:

• Weight loss


• Lack of energy


• Sweats and frequent fevers


• Severe or recurrent vaginal yeast infection


• Bruising easily more than usual


• Ongoing bouts of diarrhea


• Unusual or recurrent skin rashes


• Increased shortness of breath


• Change in personality, mental deterioration or an altered state of consciousness


• Numbness or pain in the hands or feet


• Unexplained bleeding from growths on the skin, from mucus membranes or from any opening in the body.


• Thick and whitish coating on your tongue or mouth i.e. due to the yeast infection and sometimes come with sore throat


• Emerging purplish or discolored growths on your skin or inside your mouth


• Severe and unexplained fatigue along with dizziness, lightheadedness, and headaches


• Severe pelvic inflammatory diseases


• Frequent occurrence of infectious diseases like herpes


• Rapid weight loss i.e. more than 10 pounds


• Swelling of the glands in armpit, throat, or groin


• Periods of deep, continued and dry coughing

Abortion Types That You Should Know About!

Abortion is the most common medical procedure performed in the United States every year.About 40% of the women will end their pregnancy by abortion at some time in their reproductive lives.

First confirm your pregnancy with the help of any home pregnancy tests available at drug stores.Then you can consider abortion of any type.

Here are the different types of abortion methods:

First trimester abortions:

During the first trimester, you can consider two types of abortion methods. One is suction aspiration and the other is dilation and curettage. Both these methods are performed around eight weeks of pregnancy.

1. Suction aspiration: This is one of the most common surgical procedures, usually performed in the first trimester. During this procedure, abortionist numbs your cervix and stretches it open.

Then, he introduces a hallow plastic tube with the help of sharp knife edge into your uterus and suctions your baby’s body into the bottle. In this procedure, baby’s body is ragged apart. As the suction procedure is much more powerful, placenta connected to your uterus lining can also be ragged away.

2. Dilation and curettage (D&C): This procedure is similar to suction aspiration method. In this method, abortionist introduces a curette, a loop shaped steel knife into the uterus and scratches the wall.
Scratching is concentrated where abortionist puts pressure.

He scratches the placenta and also the baby into small pieces and suctions out them into a basin. During the procedure, some bleeding takes place that is little bit more than suction aspiration method. Sometimes, this method needs anesthesia, either general or spinal.

3. Chemical abortion: It is the modern trend of abortions. Immediately after implantation, abortion can be considered by using abortifacient drugs such as RU-486, also known as mifepristone and methotrexate. Usually, these drugs are used with prostaglandin, which is the labor-inducing drug.

Second trimester abortions:

Your baby can acquire some definite shape and size during this trimester. In order to compensate this, different abortion types are used. Among those, the most common one used during 2nd trimester include dilation and evacuation (D&E).

4. Dilation and evacuation: This method is similar to dilation and curettage. But, in D&E, cervix needs to be dilated more broadly because abortionist inserts large instruments to remove the large pieces of your unborn baby.

After performing the dilation, abortionist introduces forceps delivery. Then he cuts your baby carefully into pieces. During this abortion type, you need to receive an analgesic and intravenous fluid.

If your pregnancy crosses 14 weeks period, then you are administered with oxytocin in order to make the uterus contract and shrink.
Third trimester abortions:

During third trimester, instillation methods are used to abort the baby. In these methods, abortionist injects lethal chemicals. These methods result in birth of a severely damaged, but living baby.

5. Saline amniocentesis: Also called as salt poisoning and is used after 16 weeks. In this technique, a large needle is inserted into your abdominal wall and into your baby’s amniotic sac. Most concentrated salt solution is introduced into your baby’s amniotic fluid. When your baby breathes and swallows the fluid, it move violently and sometimes convulses.

The solution makes your baby’s organs and tissues to hemorrhage. Large bruises appear on your baby’s body as veins and arteries rupture. This powerful solution burns your baby’s outer skin to a large extent. The baby endures for about an hour. After a day, you will deliver the dead baby.

6. Urea abortion: It is an alternative to saline abortion. In this procedure, urea is introduced into the amniotic sac. It is a nitrogen based solution, which kills your unborn baby. This solution can be used with prostaglandins and makes you to deliver the baby.

7. Intracardiac injections: This method includes poison injection such as digoxin into the heart of your baby. During this method, cervix is opened for one-four days. Whenever the cervix opens, labor is induced. Finally, you will deliver a dead baby. D&C is also performed at the end.

Facts About Chlamydia!

Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in both men and women.

Every year, about 3 million cases of Chlamydia are diagnosed and it is most prevalent among US teenagers.

It is a bacterial infection of your genital tract and spread easily through sexual contact.

You can not recognize that you have Chlamydia since the signs and symptoms of pain and fluid discharge don’t appear immediately.

It is not difficult to treat the condition once you know you have it. If the condition is left untreated, it can lead to more serious health risks.

Here are some essential facts about chlamydia:

What type of infection is it?

It is a type of bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, which is found in women’s vaginal fluid.

How does Chlamydia transmit?

Mainly through sexual contact, i.e. vaginal and anal sex; also it can be transmitted via oral sex, but it is very rare.

What are the symptoms of Chlamydia?

Chlamydia is a silent disease because more than 75% women infected with this condition can experience no symptoms. The most common signs of Chlamydia that you experience are vaginal discharge and painful urination along with abdominal pain, pain during intercourse, low-grade fever, and frequent urination.

You will notice yellowish vaginal discharge; smelly vaginal discharge; painful or frequent urination; a burning sensation during urination.

But when the infection passes from the cervix to the fallopian tubes, you can experience lower back and lower abdominal pain, pain during intercourse, fever, nausea or bleeding between the menstrual periods.

Also, this bacterial infection can spread from the cervix to rectum and keeps you at an increased risk of cervical cancer.

Chlamydia during pregnancy can cause the baby to get eye infection or pneumonia.

In some rare cases, Chlamydia can cause Reiter’s syndrome, which affects your eyes and joints.

How to treat Chlamydia?

Your doctor prescribes antibiotics, such as azithromycin and doxycycline. Treatment usually lasts for one to seven days based on the type you are prescribed. Ensure that you finish the complete dose of medications and avoid sexual contact until you have finished the treatment. Get the treatment as soon as possible.

What are the complications associated with Chlamydia?

If Chlamydia left untreated, it can lead to various complications such as cervical damage, infection to the uterine canal and also fallopian tubes. Finally all these conditions can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). PID can increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain and finally infertility.

The bacterium can also lead to irritation and bleeding in the rectum. If the disease is transmitted through oral sex, then it can lead to eye infection and also infection of the throat.

What are the risk factors for Chlamydia?

Having multiple sex partners, not using the condoms during anal, vaginal or oral sex can keep you at high risk of sexually transmitted diseases. People under the age of 25 years are even at greater risk. Some studies showed that women who use contraceptives for longer periods are at high risk of Chlamydia.

How to prevent Chlamydia?

Take precautions every time you have sex. Avoid sex with multiple partners. Women under the age of 25 years and also pregnant women should undergo a test for Chlamydia.

More On Breast Cancer Causes!

The precise causes of breast cancer are still unclear, but there are certain risk factors that you should know about.

Among those, the most significant causes are family history and advancing age.

Risk increases for women who have had benign breast lumps and increases for women who have previously had cancer of breast or ovaries.

Hormones play a great role in breast cancer development. There are risk factors that you can not change along with some health issues and also some lifestyle adjustments.

Lifestyle factors that cause breast cancer:

1. Usage of birth control pills: Usage of birth control pills increases the chance of getting breast cancer when compared to women who don’t use them. So, it is recommended to talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of birth control pills.

2. Not having children or having children much later in life: Not having the children or having the first baby after the age of 30 years puts you at high risk for breast cancer. Having more than one child and at an early age reduces the risk of breast cancer.

3. Not breastfeeding: Some studies showed that breastfeeding for 1 ½ to 2 yeas can lower breast cancer risk because breastfeeding decreases a woman’s total number of menstrual cycles.

4. Postmenopausal hormone therapy (PHT): Also known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), using this therapy for long-term to relieve menopause symptoms keeps you at greater risk of breast cancer. HRT is of two types, in which estrogen alone therapy increases breast cancer risk. To lessen this risk, your doctor prescribes progesterone also.

5. Obesity: It is linked with high risk of breast cancer. Risk is higher if fat storages are mainly in the waist area.

6. Alcohol: Consuming alcohol increases breast cancer risk. Having 2-5 drinks of alcohol a day keeps you at 1 ½ times higher risk when compared to women who don’t drink.

7. Lack of physical activity: Studies showed that exercise can greatly reduce the risk of breast cancer. Brisk walking for at least 2 ½ hours a week reduces your risk by 18%.

Risk factors that you can not change:

8. Gender: Being a woman is the main risk factor for breast cancer. Men can also have the chance to develop, but it is 100 times most common in women when compared to men.

9. Genetic factors: 5-10% of breast cancers are due to genetic changes in genes. BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene changes are most commonly observed in breast cancer patients.

10. Age: As you age, the chance of getting breast cancer increases. About 2 out of 3 women with breast cancer are above 55 years of age.

11. Race: Women with white complexion are at higher risk of breast cancer when compared to African-American women. But, death rate from breast cancer is high in African-American women. In their bodies, tumor growth is faster when compared to other women.

12. Family history: Women with a family history of breast cancer are at higher risk.

13. Your own history of breast cancer: Women who have cancer in one breast have greater chances of getting new cancer in another breast or in other tissues of same breast.

14 Thick breast tissues: Women with thick breast tissues i.e. more glandular tissues and less fatty tissues are at high risk of breast cancer. Also, doctors can not recognize the problem with mammograms in women with this kind of breast tissues.

15. Undergoing breast radiation previously: Women who have undergone radiation treatment to the chest region are at greater risk of breast cancer.

16. Menstrual problems: Having first menstrual periods early before the age of 12 years or entering into the menopause stage late after the age of 55 years can keep you at high risk for breast cancer. Women with these conditions can have more menstrual periods thus resulting in high levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones.

17. Usage of DES drugs: Women during their pregnancy use DES drugs to lower the chances of miscarriage. Studies showed that these women are at high risk for breast cancer than normal women.