FitSugar

I Forgot to Take my Birth Control Pill, What Should I Do?

DearSugar — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 08:00:00 PDT

One of the complaints I hear from women about the Pill is that they have a hard time remembering to take it everyday. So what happens if you forget?

Being even 12 hours late taking your birth control pill could increase your chances of getting pregnant. If you miss any of the first 21 pills in your pack, you need to use a backup method of birth control (condoms) until you have taken 7 consecutive days of pills.

If you miss 1 pill, take it as soon as you remember. Take your next pill at the regular time.
If you realize when taking your pill that you skipped 1, take the pill you skipped AND the new 1 together. It's okay to take 2 pills at once.
If you miss 2 pills, take 2 pills each day for the next two days, and then go back to 1 pill each day at your usual time. You could get pregnant if you have unprotected sex for the next 7 days, so make sure to use a backup method.
If you forgot to take 1 pill during the 3rd week of your pill pack, finish the pills for that week, skip the last week (inactive pills) and begin a new pack. Understand that you probably won't have another period until the 4th week of this new pill pack. Use a backup method of birth control until you have taken 7 consecutive days of pills.

What if you forgot 3 or more pills in a row? To find out

If you forget 3 or more pills, call your doctor for advice. They may suggest to take one pill daily until Sunday and then start a new pack, or to discard the rest of the pill pack and start over with a new pack that same day. Be sure to use a back up method of birth control method each time you have sex because you are no longer protected against pregnancy. After you've had 7 days of pills, then you are protected against pregnancy.

Dear's Advice: It's always a good idea to talk to your doctor if you have any questions. If you think there could be a chance that you are pregnant (and you don't want to be), Emergency Contraception (Plan B) is always an option. It is available in many pharmacies over the counter without a prescription if you're over 18. Something that I have always found to be effective is to set the alarm on your cell phone or outlook calendar to remind you! Source

4 Periods a Year: Is That Safe?

DearSugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 11:00:00 PDT

The commercial for Seasonale, a birth control pill, raves about getting only 4 periods a year. So what's the deal? Is that safe?

Birth control pills can either be monophasic, where you get the same amount of hormones each day, or triphasic, where you get a different amount of hormones over 3 weeks.

When you take a monophasic birth control pill, each 4 week supply contains 3 weeks of hormones and one week of sugar pills. So if you want, you can get your period every month by using as directed, or you can skip the week of sugar pills and start on the second pack of hormone pills. Seasonale makes things eaiser by skipping the sugar pills all together thus keeping Aunt Flo at bay for 3 months at a time.

When you're on any birth control pill, when you get your period, it isn't a real period because you're not actually releasing an egg (the pill stops you from ovulating). It's called a "pill period," and is a result of your body's reaction to withdrawing from the hormones. Having this kind of period once a month is just as safe as only having it 4 times a year, hence taking a pill like Seasonale.

Dear's Tip: Monophasic birth control might be right for you if you suffer from painful periods, excessive bleeding, bad PMS symptoms, or unbearable mood swings, but definitely consult your doctor before altering your prescriptions.

Source

Get in Gear: Pill Fob

FitSugar — Wed, 23 May 2007 02:00:00 PDT

If you take daily vitamins or pills such as allergy medicine, or like to carry around Tylenol or ibuprofen, you'll definitely find this useful.

The Pill Fob is a mini holder for your pills. It's great if your are traveling, camping, on a day trip, or just need to carry around a few pills in your purse, but don't want to carry around a huge container.

The Pill Fob comes in a few different sizes, depending on what size pills you are carrying around. The Pill Fob Original ($17.95) hold 7 aspirin-sized pills. The Pill Fob Magnum ($19.95) holds larger size pills like vitamins or capsule-type pills. The Pill Fob Mini ($16.95) is a shortened version of the Original, and is great for carrying around smaller pills.

These keychains are airtight, watertight, and made in the USA out of Medical Grade Stainless Steel. Plus you know how I love things that multi-task!!!

Fit's Tips: Use your imagination and think about what else could go inside these holders - mints, emergency cash or traveler's checks. What a great little invention that could help you out in a pinch!

Want to see all the sizes? Then

View 4 Photos ›

Reduce Your Flow

FitSugar — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 11:57:08 PST

The commercial for Seasonale, a birth control pill, raves about getting only 4 periods a year. So what's the deal? Is that safe?

Birth control pills can either be monophasic, where you get the same amount of hormones each day, or triphasic, where you get a different amount of hormones over 3 weeks.

Seasonale and other monophasic pills allow you to take them in any sequence you want. Each pill pack contains a 3 month supply, and each 4 week supply contains 3 weeks of hormones and one week of sugar pills. So if you want, you can get your period every month by taking the sugar pills after taking 3 weeks of hormones. Or you can get it every 3 months by taking all the hormone pills for 9 weeks and then one week of sugar pills, thus keeping Aunt Flo at bay for over 2 months.

When you're on any birth control pill, when you get your period, it isn't a real period, because you're not actually releasing an egg (the pill stops you from ovulating). It's called a "pill period," and it results as your body's reaction to withdrawing from the hormones. Having this kind of period once a month is just as safe as only having it 4 times a year.

Fit's Tips: Monophasic birth control might be right for you if you suffer from painful periods, excessive bleeding, or unbearable mood swings. Definitely ask your trusted DR about this if you have questions.

Obama Compromises on Contraception

Annie Scudder — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:20:55 PST

Despite the fact that 99 percent of women who have ever had sex - religious or not - have used contraception, the Obama administration's decision to make birth control free under all employer health insurance packages has caused a controversy. Today, the White House announced that it will make a change to its new policy to accommodate religious institutions, such as Catholic hospitals and universities, who do not want to cover prescriptions like the pill. Under the compromise, religious employers would not have to offer free birth control. Rather, insurance companies themselves would have to provide free contraception to workers at religiously sponsored institutions if the worker requests it.

The original policy, similar to laws that already exist in states like California and Oregon, would have required groups affiliated with religious institutions, like hospitals, charities, and universities, to provide insurance plans that cover birth control for free. Churches themselves would be exempt. But some religions, like the Catholic Church, oppose all forms of birth control, and leaders, especially the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, put pressure on the White House to change course, threatening to make this a major campaign issue.

So far, it looks like the compromise has pleased both sides. Planned Parenthood's President Cecile Richards said it "does not compromise a woman's ability to access this critical birth control benefits," and Sister Carol Keehan, the president of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, says she is "pleased and grateful that the religious liberty and conscience protection needs of so many ministries that serve our country were appreciated."

A Doctor Dishes: Which "Superfoods" Are Worth the Cost?

LearnVest — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:15:00 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Most people you speak to these days are trying to stretch every dollar as far as possible - even the ones they spend buying apples and oranges.

Food prices are expected to increase yet again this year, and food manufacturers are making portions smaller without reducing prices. Not surprisingly, a recent Rasmussen poll found that 93 percent of adults report paying more for groceries now than they did a year ago.

So how can we supercharge our grocery dollars and get them to do overtime for us?

Yes, some foods are obviously a better nutritional deal than others (think apples vs. potato chips), but there’s another class of foods that blows the rest of the field away in terms of nutrients and health-protecting qualities: superfoods.

Superfoods can help prevent diabetes and heart disease, repair damage to your body’s cells, and more. But before you go piling them into your cart, know that some superfoods are better nutritional bargains than others. As a doctor and a mom, I’ve sleuthed out which ones are worth the extra cost in terms of their long-term health benefits. Below is the scoop on which ones may help you age better, ward off cancer, and more.

What to Know Before Buying Superfoods

Before we dive into what to buy, there are a few important things to remember about consuming these foods:

Eating foods fresh and in their natural state, especially fruits and vegetables (rather than in pill or powder supplement form), usually allows us to absorb the greatest amount of their nutrients. The way a superfood is processed or cooked can significantly lower its antioxidant content.
If the superfood can’t be eaten fresh, look for easy and appetizing recipes containing it. No matter how “super” a superfood may be, if you don’t know how to cook it, you’ll probably let it go to waste.

Are Superfoods "Good Buys" If I’m Shopping on a Budget?

Read on to find out.

Today Gap Launches a Covetable New Basics Line Called Gap Pure

Chi Diem Chau — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:04:38 PST

If your basics are starting to look a little worse for wear, check out Gap's new collection, Gap Pure, which just launched today in stores (and online last night). Not only is the line affordable - prices range from $24 for a tee to $68 for a sweater - but the quality is also spot-on, highlighting jersey, pima cotton, and cashmere. In fact, we spoke to the designer and was told that each piece goes through a rigorous pilling test. We love the slouchy-cum-cool fit, perfect for lounging around, or if you want to up your style profile, layering with leather skirts and skinny trousers. See and shop our top picks in the slideshow now.

Are Your Birth Control Pills Safe?

Shape — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:06:17 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Last year during my annual exam, when I complained to my doctor about my terrible PMS, she was quick to pull out her pad and give me a prescription for the birth control pill Yaz. "You're going to love this," she said. "All of my patients that are on it think it's the best. It's even helped some of them lose weight!"

Less PMS and not having to worry about my weight? I was sold, even though I'd only intended to talk to her about lifestyle and/or diet modifications since my birth control needs were already taken care of. Before I stopped into the pharmacy, however, I looked up the pill online (Paging Dr. Google!). The results were anything but the lovefest I'd been promised. In fact, the information I found scared me so badly that I never filled that prescription.

Am I Normal? Your Top Six Sex Questions Answered

It quickly became evident that I wasn't the only woman concerned when Yaz and it's sister pill Yazmin, two of the most popular pills on the market, came up for review by the FDA after reports that the manufacturer may have hid and minimized critical health risks. But is the hysteria warranted?

Find out how safe birth control pills are after the break!

Lil Community: My Daughter Needs Birth Control!

Lil Community — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:17:27 PST

Motherhood can be a mind-boggler! Betty Wayne posted this funny conversation with her daughter in the Mommy Club group in the LilSugar Community.

When my daughter was about 4 she saw me taking my birth control pill and asked what it was. "Oh it makes me not have babies," I said, naively thinking it was a throw-away comment that she would never remember.

She's 6 1/2 now and a few days ago came to me in all seriousness, out of nowhere, and asked, "Mommy where do you get that medicine that makes you not have babies?"

"At the same place I get all my medicine." Face meets palm... now.

"Yes but where?" She asked again, urgently.

"At the pharmacy sweetie, why?"

Then she looked at me with a look of deep distress and said, "Mommy I need to get that medicine because I don't want to have a baby." I tried not to laugh as I explained that girls can't have babies until they're teenagers and promised to get her that medicine when she's big. Still worried she asked, "But mommy what if I forget?"

So I promised I would remember. Here's to hoping she's still open and eager to talk birth control when she needs it!

Start asking questions and sharing your advice and tips in The Mommy Club!

7 Reasons You're Not Sleeping

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:15:42 PST

Difficulty sleeping can make the night long and the following day feel even longer. Ads for prescription sleeping pills run frequently on late-night TV, bu adopting healthy sleep habits can be as effective as medication, with no side effects. Here are reasons you may be suffering from insomnia.