Cervical Cap Birth Control Information
January 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The Cervical Cap is a barrier form of birth control that is placed on the cervix and forms a tight seal, preventing sperm from penetrating. It is a small (larger than a thimble but smaller than a diaphragm) rubber or silicone barrier device that is inserted prior to and for up to 3 days after intercourse.
It is reported to be 84-91% effective for women who have never given birth and 68-74% effective for women who have given birth.
Two brands of cervical caps available are Femcap & Lea’s Shield.
Here’s an opinion from one of our readers about the cervical cap:
“I used the cervical cap and it proved effective for me for nearly two years of my marriage. In fact, the only reason I became pregnant was because hubby and I went out of town without it.
Not being a fan of hormonal birth control methods, I liked the fact that the cap worked as a barrier method, but without taking away from the feel of sex as condoms do. Also, the diaphragm gave me urinary tract infections and I could feel it during intercourse. I never could feel the Cap at all during sex.
I like how the cap worked without spermicide which was messy and required interruption from foreplay. The downside is, it can be a challenge to find a practitioner who knows how to fit one or teach you how to use it (inside the US, that is. I hear it’s more commonly used in the UK and other places).
The diaphragm is easier to insert, and there is a bit of learning curve with the cap. Some women don’t like how they have to manipulate themselves to insert it, but I found that after a couple of tries it was easy for me.
I would put it in before my husband came home from work so it didn’t interrupt the mood, and I didn’t have to rush away from the act like you do with a condom or some other barrier methods. If things got frisky the next morning that was ok too, I didn’t have to add anything or change anything. The cap stays in place for at least 8 hours after the last act of intercourse but can stay in for up to 3 days.”
Depo Provera Side Effects
January 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Pfizer-reported side effects of Depo Provera include:
- Spotting, irregular menstruation and most commonly, no periods at all.
- Loss of calcium stored in bones.
- Weight gain.
Here are some side effects reported by our readers:
“I had two Depo Provera shots and didn’t like it at all, and never used it again. It caused me to gain weight- about 8 pounds. Because it prevents ovulation, women often will experience a sharp decline in their libido. To me that was a big minus too.
Another side effect I experienced was painful knots in the injection site, and this pain seemed to spread down my entire hip area.”
________________________
I enjoyed the lack of periods and since, coincidentally, I wasn’t sexually active while taking Depo Provera, so it didn’t cause me any concern. However, I had a strange skin problem with a couple of large (and ugly) pimples that would not go away on my skin. When I stopped the Depo Provera (after my doctor told me about the potential bone calcium loss), my skin cleared up.”
Depo Provera Birth Control Information
January 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Depo Provera is a hormonal form of birth control that is administered via injection about every 3 months and keeps women from ovulating, thus preventing pregnancy. It consists of progestin without estrogen.
The advantage of Depo Provera is that it is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when given on time. Some women also like the fact that they don’t have to think about birth control every day. On the other hand, it does require an office visit to get the shot.
Usually after the second shot, women will not have a menstrual period. Some women report spotting or irregular menstrual cycles.
Depo Provera is known to cause some users to calcium stored in their bones. Pfizer, the creators of the product, only encourage long-term use (2 years or more) of the method “only if other methods of birth control are not right for you.”
In addition, 2 out 3 women in clinical trials reported a weight gain of 5 pounds during the first year of use.
Yasmin Birth Control
January 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Yasmin is another in the wide range of choices that a woman has in using birth control pills. The difference with this one, is the use of Drospirenone, a synthetic form of progesterone, which counteracts water retention, and thus is helpful with the symptoms of PMS. In addition, it helps to reduce weight gain from the water and the bloating that can come with it.
With these added benefits, Yasmin can also reduce the discomforts suffered by some women on birth control pills, including tender breasts or swollen feet/fingers. As a combined pill, that is, one using both estrogen and the synthetic progestin, it has been found to be useful in relation to hormone-induced problems like greasy hair and some forms of acne.
According to company literature, out of 1,000 women using the pill properly, only one or two will become pregnant each year. But using it properly can mean educating yourself with your doctor’s help, on the correct way to take it, contraindications with other drugs, and what substances or circumstances may interfere with the pill’s effectiveness.
The fact that Yasmin includes Drospirenone, does not in any way change the risks associated with birth control pills. Women taking Yasmin may experience the same side effects as with other types of pills, including headache, nausea, dizziness or spotting in the initial months. They are also at risk for heart attacks and strokes, which are associated with the estrogen content. That risk increases if the woman is a smoker, and over the age of 35. Click here to learn more about Yasmin.
Seasonale Birth Control
January 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Seasonale is a “mid-way” product between the bother of taking pills every day (which you still do), and the bother of a period every 21 days. What it relieves you of, is most of those periods, since you will only have four in a year.
Generically, Seasonale is the same drugs as regular birth control pills, levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol; in the same amounts, and with the same risks. There is no increased risk for taking more “active” pills over the course of the year, than there is on the 21 or 28 day program.
With Seasonale, you take 84 pink active pills, and then take 7 white pills, during which your period occurs. It will not be any heavier or longer than your period was on other programs.
The one noticeable detraction, is that you will likely have breakthrough “periods” with about the same flow as a normal period, or spotting in varying degrees. This should be reduced significantly if not totally eliminated after your first year on Seasonale. During that time, do not stop taking your pills or alter the regimen in any way. About one-third of women report more than 20 breakthrough days (in addition to scheduled periods) in their first year of use.
Side effects for Seasonale are exactly the same as other more traditional birth control pills and include headaches, nausea, dizziness, and the inability to use contact lenses. Women using Seasonale should not smoke, as it increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, which are the most common health dangers for women using birth control pills.