FitSugar

Are Occasional Breaks From the Pill Necessary?

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:50:05 -0700

Almost every woman I know has been on the pill at some point in her life, and many of us started when we were under 20 years old. It has many health benefits, such as preventing unwanted pregnancies, decreasing the risk of ovarian cancer, and alleviating PMS symptoms. The one big negative about the pill is that statistics show being on it for longer than 10 years puts you at a higher risk for breast cancer. Women may also be worried that taking hormones for so long may affect their chances of having a baby in the future. So does it make sense to take regular vacations from the pill to give your body some hormone-free time?

To find out if this is a good idea, read more.

While it's common to think that taking occasional breaks from the pill is beneficial for your body, it's actually not necessary. It's a myth that may have started a while back, since the very first birth control pills contained high doses of hormones. Today's pills contain a much lower amount so they're completely safe to take for years at a time. Doctors actually think it's healthier for your body to remain on the pill. The fluctuations in hormones can have a negative effect on your body, both physically and emotionally. Plus, all the symptoms you experienced when you first started the pill such as moodiness, sore breasts, or yeast infections may show up again.

What about your fertility? You may be worried that staying on the pill continuously for many years will make it harder to get pregnant when you decide to start a family. There's no evidence that being on the pill has any effect on a woman's future ability to conceive - it merely prevents pregnancy while a woman is on it. In fact, regularly going on and off the pill may increase your chances of having an unplanned pregnancy since your protection isn't consistent.

Most importantly, if you've been on the pill forever, you'll be happy to know that as soon as you go off it your risk for developing breast cancer begins to go back to normal over time. If you're worried about your risk, or the whole idea of putting hormones in your body doesn't sit well with you, talk to your doctor about hormone-free alternatives such as the ParaGard IUC. A permanent vacation from the pill might be the better option, as opposed to a break.

The Pill vs. Building Muscle

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:00:00 -0700

If you're looking to build lean muscle mass, taking oral contraceptives might be interfering with all your hard work. A recent study from Texas A&M University, involving 73 generally healthy women between 18 and 31, found that women not taking birth control pills gained 60 percent more muscle mass than women on the pill during a 10-week time period.

All the women in the study participated in the same whole-body resistance exercise training program and worked out three times a week under the supervision of exercise physiologists, but half were using oral contraceptives and the other half were not. All the women performed the same exercises, same number of reps, at the same intensity. The study participants were also encouraged to increase their intake of protein, by about a third more than nutritional guidelines, to ensure they wear eating enough protein to build muscle mass. After the 10-week workout period, the women who were not on the pill had significantly more lean muscle mass.

Information on both groups hormone levels, when you read more.

A comparison of blood samples between the two groups indicated the women using oral contraception had less testosterone in their system, a hormone necessary for making muscle. In addition, women on the pill had more cortisol in their systems, which is a hormone that helps break down muscle tissue.

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Brides: Finding the Right Birth Control

FitSugar — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:45:00 -0700

Now that you are getting married, you might find that your birth control needs are changing. Since you are in a monogamous relationship, you don't have to worry about contracting an STI, so birth control methods that weren't an option before may suddenly be perfect for you. Plus, you may want to think about more suitable options depending on whether or not you are planning on having kids.

If you are thinking about starting a family soon, you can continue using condoms - because they are easy. If you don't want to be bothered IN the moment the Pill or other hormonal methods are great options. The monophasic birth control pills, the Patch, an IUD like Mirena, or the Nuvaring are effective at preventing pregnancy, and you'll begin ovulating soon after you stop using them.

If kids are in your near future, and you are using a long-term method of birth control such as the Depo-Provera shot, or the Implanon insert, you may want to consider going off of these soon after you get married. It can take up to a year for your body to get back to its normal cycle. You can use one of the above forms of birth control such as the Pill or condoms, until you know you're ready to start your family. You have talked about whether the two of you want kids, right?

Of course after you say "I Do," if you and your husband are planning on getting pregnant right away, you'll want to get off any form of birth control and possibly work on charting your cycle using the Fertility Awareness Method. That way you'll know which days are the best for getting preggers.

Fit's Tips: Now that you are entering this new stage in your life, if you aren't seeing one already, than switch to a gynecologist who's also an obstetrician. It's good to build a relationship with a doctor who could deliver your future children. They'll also be able to give you advice about birth control methods that will fit with your married lifestyle.

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Mirena: Birth Control For Up to 5 Years

FitSugar — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 17:15:00 -0700

The Mirena is a type of IUD, that is placed inside your uterus (by a doctor or nurse practitioner) to prevent pregnancy for up to 5 years. It's a T-shaped piece of plastic that emits hormones into your uterus directly, so it is considered an IUC (intrauterine contraceptive) or an IUS (intrauterine system). The hormones stay in the uterus and are not systemic, meaning they do not go to other parts of your body. This is why it won't cause significant weight gain like oral contraceptives sometimes do or increase breast tenderness. Another bonus is that the Mirena might also shorten, lighten, or even eliminate periods while you use it.

OK, but how does Mirena work? The small amounts of levonorgestrel (hormones) released by Mirena make your cervical mucus thick and tacky so sperm can't swim through it so it is difficult for them to make it to your uterus. If the sperm get in, then they can't make it to the egg to fertilize it.

Another way the Mirena, or IUDs in general, prevent pregnancy is it promote the production of white blood cells. When a foreign object is placed inside the uterus, the body creates white blood cells to defend itself. So when you have sex, if sperm do make it through your tacky mucus to your uterus, the white blood cells will attack them. Even if a sperm does fertilize the egg, the white blood cells will destroy that too.

Interested in how effective it is? To see the stats, just read more
Mirena is 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy and like metal IUDs, it needs to be fitted and removed by a medical professional. Though once it's in place, that's it. You won't need to use any other form of birth control or even think about it.

Fit's Tips: Mirena is great if you are looking for hassle-free birth control for up to 5 years straight. Just a reminder, it DOES NOT prevent against STDs, so that's why it's great to use if you are in a long-term relationship with someone you know is disease-free.

It's also a great option if you've already had kids and aren't planning on having anymore, or if you know it's going to be many years before you want to start a family. If this interests you, ask you doctor about Mirena. Some doctors recommend against the using the IUD if you have not had children for they are more difficult to insert if you haven't had children.

Myths on the Pill Debunked

FitSugar — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 07:30:00 -0700

Do you take "the pill?" If so, you're not alone. However, despite the overwhelming number of women on the pill right now, there are still some serious myths floating around out there, giving the pill a very bad rep.

Health.com has taken note and talked to the professionals to finally debunk the most common myths on the pill:

It’s risky to stop your period: Studies show it’s safe to suppress your period using various methods: Seasonale, a pill that limits you to four periods a year; Seasonique, a similar pill that may help fight PMS; or others like Depo-Provera injections that may eliminate your period. “The hormones keep the lining of your uterus thin, so nothing builds up,” says Rebecca Gould, MD, an OB-GYN at Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. Side effects that usually go away include breakthrough bleeding. Menstrual suppression is great for women with particularly heavy flows, painful cramps, and menstrual migraines.

Does the pill make you fat or give you cancer? To find out, read more

The Pill ups your cancer risks: Actually, the risk of endometrial and ovarian can-cers goes down the longer you’re on the Pill. After one year, endometrial-cancer risk decreases by 50 per-cent, and after just three to six months, ovarian-cancer risk decreases by 40 percent. After 10 years, the risks are 80 percent lower than normal. “The longer you keep the endometrium thin and the ovaries inactive, you are reducing the chance of the inappropriate cell divi-sion that characterizes cancer,” explains Katharine O’Connell, MD, assistant clinical professor of OB-GYN at Columbia University.
The Pill may also lower the risk of colon cancer: What about breast cancer? The research is inconclusive. A recent review of previous studies, published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, suggests a tiny elevation in risk among current users, which disappears when you quit. (There’s no debate for women who have-or have had-breast cancer: They should steer clear because the hormones can stimulate some cancerous cells.)
The Pill makes you fat (and frigid): Wrong. Most women link the Pill to weight gain, but only breakthrough bleeding is a proven side effect. (Women often put on pounds after getting the Depo-Provera injection.) As for libido, while some studies show a decreased sex drive, others show an increase-a lower chance of pregnancy can be quite an aphrodisiac.
An IUD ruins your fertility: The Dalkon Shield, pulled from the market in the 1970s, may have contributed to infections that led to infertility. It was also linked to 17 deaths. But not the new and safe IUDs, such as ParaGard and Mirena. Plus, they’re more effective and cheaper than the Pill.

Cons? Pain during insertion (for about 3 minutes you’ll feel a sensation akin to intense menstrual cramps), and cramps and bleeding that can occur for a week afterward. Also, there’s an increased chance of infection during the first 3 weeks, usually because bacteria have been introduced during insertion; this can be easily treated with an anti-biotic, though.

The Sponge is as good as the Pill: Nope. The Sponge, which blocks the cervix and contains a spermicide, leaves much to chance. Its failure rate is 32 percent for women who have delivered a child vaginally (because the cervix is larger after childbirth); for those who haven’t, the failure rate is 16 percent. For better protection, pair it with condoms.
Long-term use of the Pill is a no-no: You may risk getting pregnant if you take a break. “This is how my brother was conceived,” Gould says. There’s no medical reason to stop. It’s possible to get pregnant right away after quitting. Half of women get pregnant within three months-a good reason not to take that break!
Pill side effects last forever: Not at all. The first three months of any new hormonal birth control method brings side effects that eventually go away, Gould says. It’s past month three, and your doctor’s telling you to “gut it out”? Time for a second opinion.
Taking the Pill past age 40 is risky: Not if you’re healthy. You can take it till menopause. But if you’re over 35 and you smoke, or have uncontrolled high blood pressure or long-term or uncontrolled diabetes, your heart disease and stroke risks are elevated, and the Pill raises them. Anyone who fits this profile is fine on a progestin-only “mini-pill” (or Depo-Provera).
It’s OK to take any medicine with the Pill: Wrong. St. John’s Wort, a popular sup-plement used for depression, cuts the Pill’s effectiveness. Researchers think the herb makes your body speed up the metabolization of the Pill, preventing the hormones from doing their job. On the flip side, the Pill may exaggerate antidepressant effects.
The Pill makes migraines worse: The Pill doesn’t aid or aggravate migraine symptoms. But birth control pills may increase stroke risk in women who suffer from migraines with aura (added symptoms like numbness, weakness, hallucinations, or blurred vision). For them, the mini-pill and other estrogen-free hormonal methods are OK.

To read the full article and other fabulous information, visit Health.com.

World's Oldest Mom

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 02:00:00 -0800

A 67-year-old woman who is believed to be the world’s oldest new mother told a British Sunday newspaper she lied to a U.S. fertility clinic to get treatment.

Carmela Bousada said she was 55, which is the clinic’s cut off age for treating single women. The clinic did not ask her for identification. Damn - I hope I look like I'm in my 50s when I'm really pushing 70.

At 67, it's amazing she could even get pregnant. As we get older, it's true that you may have trouble getting pregnant, but there's more to it than that. Here are some things you should know about your fertility:

Taking birth control pills do not make it harder to get pregnant down the road. As soon as you go off the pill, you'll start ovulating within 3 months.
The quality of a woman's eggs declines as she gets older, regardless of how healthy she is. After age 35, your ovaries produce fewer viable eggs. So, if you want a baby, you might want to think about trying sooner rather than later.
If you've had an abortion (and there were no complications), it will not affect your chances of having a baby in the future.
Just because you've had a baby, doesn't mean getting pregnant again will be a cinch. Don't assume you're "Fertile Myrtle" the second time around - since you and your man are both a little older the second time around.
Eating trans fat can cause infertility.
Women who are extremely over or underweight have a decreased chance of conceiving and are more likely to have a miscarriage.

Good to know.

Get in Gear: Pill Fob

FitSugar — Wed, 23 May 2007 02:00:00 -0700

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 read more

View 4 Photos ›

Wynonna Judd Uses Alli Diet Pills - Should You?

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 03:30:00 -0800

Wynonna Judd has been struggling with her weight both in and out of the public eye. In 2003, she opened up to Oprah about how her cholesterol levels were putting her at risk for a heart attack, and three years later, she checked into a treatment center for food addiction. Wynonna will be turning 45 in May, and she recently opened up to People magazine about the changes she's making to become more healthy.

Wynonna is planning ahead for meals, cooking more at home, and taking walks with her children. She is also taking Alli over-the-counter diet pills to lose weight, and is even a spokesperson for the diet aid. These pills act as a fat blocker, preventing your body from absorbing a quarter of the fat you consume. To find out more about Alli and see if it's effective at losing weight, read more.

Let me begin with the cautions found directly on the Alli website. It says that Alli can cause:

gas with oily spotting
loose stools
more frequent stools that may be hard to control

It also says that "You may feel an urgent need to go to the bathroom. Until you have a sense of any treatment effects, it's probably a smart idea to wear dark pants, and bring a change of clothes with you to work." Yikes! The website also says that if by dieting alone, you lose 10 pounds, you could lose up to 15 pounds if you diet and take Alli. Is five more pounds really worth it if it puts you at risk for repeatedly soiling your pants? I'd say no on that one. Not only that, but what happens when people use Alli, lose weight, and then go off those pills? They probably gain all the weight back.

If you're trying to lose weight for good, I'd avoid the diet pills. Eat a healthy diet with appropriate portion sizes, and exercise regularly. Not only will you melt away pounds and strengthen your body, but you'll become healthier, reduce your risk for heart problems and cancer, and will no doubt improve your quality and length of life.

In case you were curious, here's a commercial for Alli featuring Wynonna.

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Have You Ever Tried Diet Pills?

FitSugar — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:30:00 -0700

As of last Friday, Hydroxycut diet aids have been voluntarily recalled after a warning from the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA had received 23 reports of "serious health problems ranging from jaundice and elevated liver enzymes, an indicator of potential liver injury, to liver damage requiring liver transplants" after using the supplement.

Hydroxycut pills, drinks, and powders are promoted as weight loss supplements that increase energy while boosting the metabolism. If you are using any Hydroxycut products, the FDA urges you to stop using them.

I am not a fan of diet aids as they represent a "magic pill" approach to weight loss, when I believe that losing weight requires sustainable lifestyle changes. However, we are a society hoping to have our cake and eat it too, and diet pills represent a quick fix. I am wondering . . .

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New Birth Control Pill Means NO PERIOD!!!

FitSugar — Mon, 21 May 2007 17:15:00 -0700

See ya Aunt Flo. Adios cramps! Sayonara uncontrollable mood swings and chocolate cravings! Hello Lybrel! This new birth control pill, expected to be announced on Tuesday by the FDA, will help women avoid their periods altogether!

Allow me to throw a little background history your way. Before the wonderful invention of birth control, women spent most of their time pregnant or breast feeding, and endured only about 50 periods their entire lives. Now that we have a plethora of birth control options, women get as many as 450 periods! Dealing with your period is just as much fun as going to the gyno, so who wouldn't be excited about a safe and effective way to ditch your monthly period?

Lybrel is kind of like the pill Seasonale, where you take pills for 3 months straight, and then take 7 days of sugar pills (so you get your period). The difference is that Lybrel is taken continuously, with no sugar pill breaks - and that means no period.

Lybrel could change women's lives everywhere, but unfortunately testing has shown that it doesn't work as perfectly as planned. Although 59% of women who tried this new pill ended up with no periods after 6 months (wa-hoo!), 18% dropped out of the study because of annoying spotting and breakthrough bleeding. At this point if you switch to Lybrel, you may be trading in "scheduled bleeding" for "unscheduled bleeding," which many women won't be too psyched about.

For many women, getting no period at all is a brilliant concept. Even though Lybrel may not be the best option just yet, it's still a great first step towards making this happen.

Want to know if not getting your period is safe? Then read more

When a woman is not on the Pill, every month she gets her period to shed the unfertilized egg and the built up lining in her uterus that her body has made to prepare for getting pregnant.

When a woman is on the Pill, since she is not ovulating (producing an egg), the "period" she has is not actually a real period at all. It is a hormone withdrawal bleed, brought on simply from taking a break from the hormones. So whether you are having this fake period once a month, 4 times a year (with Seasonale), or not at all, it doesn't really make a difference since it's not a real menstrual period.

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