http://twitchy.com/2013/11/28/check-out-25-people-who-are-thankful-for-birth-control-bonus-norman-rockwell-update/
Think you know the facts about contraception? Let's us DEBUNK your misconceptions about birth control. Learn the truth about common misconceptions.
Do you have any burning questions about staying safe in the sack? Send us things you've heard about birth control from your friends or family, and we will set you straight. The TRUTH will set you free!
http://www.perpetualkid.com/birth-control-gum.aspx
Can I get pregnant if Im still breastfeeding?
ReplyDeleteGreat question, KJ! Women who breastfeed can make use of the natural contraceptive effect of lactation. The lactational amenorrhea method is most appropriate for women who plan to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months. If the baby is fed only breast milk or is given supplemental non-breast milk feedings only to a minor extent and the woman has not experienced her first postpartum menses, breastfeeding provides greater than 98% from pregnancy in in the first 6 months after delivery. To suspend fertility, women should be advised that intervals between feedings should not exceed 4 hours during the day or 6 hours at night. Supplemental feedings should not exceed 5-10% of the total. If there is uncertainty regarding the extent to which a woman is breastfeeding, she should consider additional methods of family planning.
DeleteOne more question... Does birth control make you gain weight? I heard from my cousin that she gained 20 pounds using birth control pills. Is this true?
ReplyDeleteGreat question, KJ! Weight gain is thought to be a side effect of birth control methods. Many women and healthcare providers believe that pills and patches cause weight gain. Concern about weight gain can limit the use of these effective birth control methods. Fear of weight gain may keep some women from starting the pill or patch. Evidence in the literature has shown no large weight difference looking at trials of birth control pills or patches where the woman's weight was measured. Also, women did not stop using the patch or pill because of the weight change. The evidence was not strong enough to be sure that these methods did not cause some weight change. Therefore more studies are necessary to look at the link between birth control methods and weight change. Hope this helps!
DeleteI have many questions, and I am not sure if my friends know what they're really talking about. For example, can you get pregnant if you have sex during your period? Can you get pregnant the first time you have sex? I've heard birth control pills cause cancer. If I use the pill, I don't want to get cancer. If we can't find a condom, can we use saran wrap or a balloon? Some people say that toothpaste can act as spermicide? I think I saw this on TV, but can douching with vinegar or coke prevent pregnancy. Also, my friend told me if we have sex standing up, then there is no way the sperm can travel and get me pregnant. Please help. So confused!
ReplyDeleteHi AP! These are great questions! I am happy to help you with all your questions and please be sure to educate your friends.
Delete1. Can you get pregnant if you have sex during your period?
This method that you're referring to is natural family planning. This is a form of birth control that is based on the timing of sex during a woman's menstrual cycle. This method is not as effective as most other methods of bith control. 1 in 4 women who use this method become pregnant. This is not suited for all women especially women with irregular menstrual periods who may not be able to tell when they're fertile or women with abnormal bleeding. So the first question to ask yourself is when does ovulation occur? For most women, an egg is released almost 2 weeks before her next expected menstrual period. The egg remains able to be fertilized for about 24 hours after it is released. Sperm can live in a woman's body for 3 days or more. When using the calendar method also called the rhythm method, a woman records every day of her menstrual cycle for 6 months. She then can calculate her fertile period by looking at the calendar. A menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of menstrual bleeding (day 1 of the menstrual cycle) to the first day of her next menstrual period. A normal menstrual cycle is about 28 days, but can range from 23 days to 35 days. The first day of the fertile phase is found by subtracting 18 days from the length of the shortest cycle. To find the last day of the fertile phase, substract 11 days from the longest cycle. To avoid pregnancy, a couple should not have sex from the first day of the fertile phase until the last day of the fertile phase. For example, a woman with menstrual cycles of 26 to 32 days was fertile from days 8 through 21. Cycle day 1 is the first day of the menstrual period so days 1 through 7 are considered "safe days." This method is less effective in women with frequent cycles outside the 26 -32 day range.
2. Can you get pregnant the first time you have sex? of course! You should use protection every time you have sex.
Delete3. I've heard birth control pills cause cancer. If I use the pill, I don't want to get cancer
Birth controls have not been proven to cause cancer.
4. If we can't find a condom, can we use saran wrap or a balloon?
Absolutely not! Saran wrap or a balloon have not been proven to act as effective barrier methods.
5. Some people say that toothpaste can act as spermicide?
Toothpaste has not been proven to act as effective spermicide.
6. Can douching with vinegar or coke prevent pregnancy?
Douching has not been proven to prevent pregnancy.
7. If we have sex standing up, then there is no way the sperm can travel and get me pregnant.
Sex in any position can lead to pregnancy. Sperm are strong swimmers and can defy gravity.
Great post! I am glad you guys brought this up. Is it true that a guy can't get a girl pregnant if she doesn't have an orgasm during sex? Do I really need to take the pill at the same time everyday? What if I miss a day? And if my boyfriend and I have sex during my "safe days," then I can't get pregnant? Thanks for your help!
ReplyDeleteSS, thank you for your questions.
Delete1. Is it true that a guy can't get a girl pregnant if she doesn't have an orgasm during sex?
As long as intercourse occurs even without orgasm, a pregnancy can still occur.
2. Do I really need to take the pill at the same time everyday? What if I miss a day?
When taken properly, oral contraceptives (OCs) are a very effective form of contraception. Although the perfect-use failure rate is 0.1%, the typical-use failure race is 8%, due primarily to missed pills or failure to resume therapy after the 7-day pill-free interval.
The accuracy with which you take the pill depends on what kind of pill you are taking. In general, you should take the pill at the same time each day. Taking the pill a few hours late may not make a difference in some pills, but could leave you unprotected, depending on the type of pill you take and which week of your cycle you are in.
For example, if you're taking progestin-only pills, then you must take the pill at the same time every day. Taking the pill 3 hours later than usual may make it ineffective and you will need to use a back up method for at least 48 hours.
For combination pills, if you miss one pill during week one, you should use backup for least 7 days (assuming you take the "missed" pill as soon as you remember, even if it means taking 2 pills at once). During weeks 2, 3, and 4, you may not need backup if you take the pill once you remember, however, this can vary. At any point in your cycle, you miss 2 or more pills and you'll probably need backup.
3. And if my boyfriend and I have sex during my "safe days," then I can't get pregnant?
This is the calendar method also known as the standard days method (SDM) deterines fertile days using two sets of probabilities. The probability of pregnancy with respect to ovulation and the probability of correctly timing ovulation with respect to the mid-point of the cycle. This method is appropriate for women whose menstrual cycles are usually between 26 and 32 days. The only instruction is to avoid unprotected intercourse from day 8 through day 19 of the cycle, the user may have unprotected intercourse on all other days. The typical user pregnancy rate of this method was 12 per 100 women per year. A clinical trial in which nearly 500 women were taught this method and followed prospectively for up to 13 cycles reported a pregnancy rate of <5 per 100 women per year with correct use.
How likely is it to get prego while on the Nexplanon and not know it until showing bc the Nexplanon makes many users anovulatory?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Hi MG! Great question. So for those of you who are unaware of the Nexplanon, this birth control implant, which is a thin, flexible plastic rod about the size of a cardboard matchstick. It is inserted under the skin of the upper arm. It protects against pregnancy for up to three years. The implant is available under the brand names Implanon and Nexplanon. The contraceptive implant is the most effective method of reversible contraception, with a typical-use pregnancy rate of 0.05%. Less than 1 out of 100 women a year will become pregnant using the implant. And FYI, fertility returns rapidly after the discontinuation of the implant. Good luck!
ReplyDelete