FitSugar

Do You Take Birth Control Pills?

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:25:04 -0800

Some good news just came in for women on the pill. In a new study, British researchers discovered that those who took birth control pills lived longer than those who didn't. The study followed 46,000 women for nearly 40 years, most of whom were on the pill for about four years. Experts found that the pill reduced women's risk for bowel cancer by 38 percent and other diseases by 12 percent. Being on the pill may also cut a woman's risk for ovarian and endometrial cancers.

Researchers aren't sure why the pill would increase longevity in women. It may have to do with suppressing ovulation or the fact that women on the pill generally live healthier lifestyles. What they do know is that the benefits of taking the pill definitely outweigh the risks. So tell me . . .

What Do You Use For Birth Control?

FitSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:30:19 -0700

It might seem like I have ~~sex~~ birth control on the brain. Last week I asked you about your experience or lack thereof with the female condom. Although it's most often talked about in intimate settings, birth control is in the news.

Concerns are being raised about the safety of the Yaz birth control pill, the top selling pill in the US, according to the New York Times. Women taking Yaz might have a higher chance of developing blood clots compared to other birth control pills, a claim that drug maker Bayer disputes. Investigation is ongoing, as are 74 lawsuits charging that Yaz and Yasmin, a similar product by Bayer, created health problems in women taking these pills. The lawsuits are tricky business though, since warnings about clots are presented in the pharmaceuticals' literature. Bayer strongly stands behind its product.

These new fears about the most commonly used contraceptive pill in America emphasize that avoiding pregnancy can be a difficult task, sometimes with medical consequences. I am curious about you . . .

Some Reasons the Pill Could Lose Its Effectiveness

DearSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 07:30:00 -0800

Of all the birth control options, aside from abstinence, the pill is the best choice if you want to prevent pregnancy. It claims to be about 97 to 99 percent effective, which is just about perfect. Still, some women say they have accidentally gotten pregnant while using the pill, even though they used it correctly (with no missed pills). So how can that be? What many women don't know is that there are certain reasons the pill can lose effectiveness, so it's possible to become pregnant while on the pill if . . .

You take the pill at different times of the day. In order to be most effective, you should take each pill at the same time every day, whether it be in the morning, lunch time, before bed, or whenever. To help you remember, write yourself notes or set your alarm.
You're sick. Illness can affect the way your body works and the way medications work. Also, if you vomit or have diarrhea, the hormones in the pill may leave your body.

To see more reasons why the pill could lose its effectiveness, just read more.

You're taking other medications. Certain sedatives, antifungal meds such as griseofulvin, and antibiotics such as penicillin or tetracycline can reduce the pill's effectiveness.
You're taking an herbal supplement such as St. John's Wort. Herbal and over-the-counter drugs can affect your pill, so if you have any concerns, tell your gyno what you're taking so they can let you know if you need to use a backup form of birth control.

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Group Therapy: My Boyfriend Wants Me Off the Pill

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:00:00 -0700

My boyfriend claims that our sex life was better before I got on the pill, and I do agree. However, he has been increasingly persistent with me, telling me that I should stop taking the pill so that I can increase my sex drive. I am hesitating for two reasons. I am still in college and I only get to see him once a month on a weekend. And I feel like there are more health benefits that come from staying on the pill. My periods are terrible and only having to deal with them every four months is amazing for me.

I can understand why he wants me off it (although I don't think that my sex drive is really that bad) but at the same time, it just doesn't make sense to me because I hardly see him. He really doesn't understand, though, and says that it would be nice if I came off of it to make him happy. He sulks when I tell him that I haven't stopped yet and usually won't talk to me for awhile. I am getting really sick of this, and I'm wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: To be involved in more GROUP THERAPY, click here]

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Myths About the Pill: Last Five

DearSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:00:00 -0700

I hope I set your mind at ease by debunking the first five myths about the pill yesterday. If you've been waiting to hear more, check the last five:

Women who smoke cannot use the pill: It's a fact that if a woman smokes cigarettes and uses the pill, she has a higher risk of having a stroke or developing blood clots. If she's 35 or older, the risk is even greater. A doctor will not prescribe regular dose combination pills, but a woman who smokes can take lower dose hormones or estrogen-free pills instead.
The most risky time to miss a pill is in the middle of the pack: If you happen to miss a pill, the most risky time is actually at the beginning or the end of the pack. That's because a woman needs to take seven consecutive pills in order to prevent ovulation and it's actually possible to miss the next seven days without the risk of pregnancy. But if a woman misses pills toward the end of the pack, she may not have enough hormones inside her to prevent ovulation the next month. The bottom line here though is to try your hardest not to miss any pills.

To see the rest, read more.

The only use for the pill is as contraception: While the number one reason women use the pill is for pregnancy prevention, many women take it for other reasons. There are pills that clear up acne, decrease PMS symptoms, prevent cramps, and lighten menstrual flows, which helps to lower the risk of anemia. The pill can also protect against ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, osteoporosis, excess facial hair, and some types of migraines.
Women over 35 can't use the pill and teens need permission to get the pill: Age doesn't play into the equation, only health. If a woman has normal blood pressure and no increased risk of heart attack or stroke, then she can use the pill until she hits menopause. As for teens, they don't need permission from their parents to acquire the pill. If they choose to go on it, they only need to get a prescription from their doctor or a clinic.
The pill causes cancer: Actually, one-third of pill users are less likely to develop ovarian or uterine cancer as compared to non-pill users. The longer you use the pill, the more you are protected, and it's recommended to stay on the pill for at least five years to reap these benefits. Most experts agree that taking the pill does not cause any types of cancer, even breast cancer.

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Myths About the Pill: First Five

DearSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:00:00 -0700

Just about every woman I know is on, or has been on, the pill. And even if it's not your preferred method of birth control, we can all agree on two things: it prevents us from getting pregnant, and it can regulate our periods. I'm sure you've heard other "facts" about the pill too, but not all of them are true. So here's a list of the top five myths about birth control pills:

The pill makes you gain weight: Some women may put on a few when taking the pill, but research shows that the pill isn't directly the cause. The estrogen contained in the pill can cause a bloated feeling, but not an actual weight gain. The progestin in the pill may increase a woman's appetite, so she'll eat more and gain weight, but it's because she's increasing her calorie consumption. The pill may also cause water retention, but switching to a lower dose pill often helps.
You should take a break from the pill once in a while: While it seems like a good idea to give your body a rest from the pill, it isn't necessary. Birth control pills are considered safe and they even offer you health benefits, such as a decreased risk of ovarian cancer if you've been on them for a while. In fact, occasional breaks can actually cause problems. Remember all the side effects you had when you first started the pill? Well, they're likely to show up again as soon as you go back on the pill - hardly sounds worth it to me.

To see the other three, read more.

The pill is not safe and it causes birth defects: Birth control pills are one of the most researched prescription drugs on the market. While it's true that there are health risks involved (just as there are with all drugs), overall, the pill is safe. There's no need to worry about it causing birth defects, even if you accidentally take the pill while being pregnant.
Long term pill use can affect fertility: The pill will prevent pregnancy while you're on it, but there is no connection between the pill affecting your future fertility. Once you do decide to stop taking the pill to have a baby, it may take your body some time to get back on its normal cycle. If a woman experiences problems conceiving after going off the pill, she may have always had a fertility problem but was unaware of it because she wasn't trying to get pregnant.
All birth control pills are basically the same: While it's true that all birth control pills have the same goal - to prevent pregnancy - there are hundreds of different kinds. Not only do they contain different combinations of medications, but some are estrogen-free, and some contain lower doses. Some will even prevent you from getting your period all together, and some can decrease PMS symptoms. A woman may have to try out a few types of pills in order to find the one that works best for her body.

Tune in tomorrow to see five more myths about the pill.

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Dear Poll: Do You Feel Relieved When Your Period Comes?

DearSugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:00:00 -0700

Assuming you aren't ready to have kids, you're most likely using some sort of birth control. But since condoms are only 85 percent effective, and IUCs and the pill are 99 percent effective, there is that small chance you could still get pregnant. So with that said, waiting for your period to come can be a nerve-wracking event. And even though getting your period and suffering through everything that comes with it isn't fun, when I'm sexually active, I'm almost elated when it comes! Are you ladies with me in this one? Do you get that relieved, excited feeling when your monthly friend comes even though you're using protection?

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Lybrel Birth Control Pills: No Period?

DearSugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:00:37 -0700

A while back, I discussed whether or not it was safe to get only four periods a year by using Seasonale birth control pills. It is safe, and here's why: When you take the week of sugar pills while on birth control, the period you get isn't a real period, since the hormones prevent you from ovulating and you're not releasing an egg. It's actually a pill period, and it is your body's reaction to the withdrawal of hormones. Having a pill period every month is just as safe as having one every three months.

OK, but what about having no periods at all? The birth control pill Lybrel is all over this idea. For the details, read more.

This low-dose combination birth control pill allows you to take it 365 days a year with no sugar pills, so you don't get any pill periods. Some women do experience unscheduled bleeding or spotting in the first six months (or longer) but for many, they'll take that over a monthly period any day. So is it safe to take hormones 365 days a year and never get your period?

Since the period you get while on the pill isn't a real period and is unnecessary, doctors feel that it's OK to get it once a month, every three months, or never at all. The FDA approved this pill in May 2007, but since this is a fairly new drug on the market, the long-term effects are unknown. In addition, cancer experts are concerned about the possible health risks of taking hormones continuously, since there are no long-term studies yet about whether it could cause breast cancer or other hormone-fueled tumors.

As with all methods of birth control, you have to choose the one that fits in with your needs and lifestyle. If not getting your period sounds like the best news ever, talk to your doctor about your questions and concerns. If unscheduled spotting and unknown long-term side effects don't bother you, then Lybrel could be your new best friend.

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Dear Quiz: What Should I Do if I Miss a Pill?

DearSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0700

Last week you learned all about the pros and cons of popular birth control methods, so now let's test your knowledge on one of the most widely used - the pill.

For it to be 99.9 percent effective, we all know that it must be taken at the same time every day, but since we are all human, it's easy to forget. So what should you do when that happens? Take this quiz to find out if you're doing the right thing when you miss a pill.

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Take the quiz

What's the Right Birth Control For You? Part One

DearSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:00:05 -0700

There's been a lot of news about STIs lately. We all know it's important to protect yourself against disease, but it's also important to protect yourself against pregnancy if having a baby isn't part of your immediate plan. Maybe you already have a method that works for you, but in case you're unhappy and want to explore other options, I've put together a three-part series on finding the right method.

Want to see part one? Then read more

These are just some of the methods that are available to women. Tune in tomorrow for part two!