Cervical barriers (such as diaphragms) are inserted into the vagina to block sperm from getting into the uterus. They are only effective when used with spermicide and need to be left in for 6-8 hours after use. They are not as effective as condoms (90% instead of 99.9%) and as with every other method, their effectiveness will decrease if not used correctly. It will not protect against STDs.
Sponges are quite literally round sponges soaked in different spermicides. They are 75%-90% effective if used correctly and provide minimal protection against STDs.
Sponges cannot be reused, though most cervical barriers can be. Some cervical barriers will have to be custom fitted.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Birth Control - Withdrawal
First of all, let me clearly state that this does not, in my opinion, count as a birth control method. I am including it in my series of birth control articles only because a lot of other people do consider it to be birth control.
Withdrawal simply means that the male removes himself from the female before he ejaculates. This is ineffective as a method of birth control because as soon as the guy's penis is in the girl's vagina, there is a chance for her to get pregnant. Many guys will release a small amount of sperm before actually climaxing, and many guys (especially young ones) are incapable of realising when they are going to ejaculate and therefore do not withdraw in time. Besides that... who wants to stop in the middle of sex?
This method is horrible at protecting from pregnancy and will not protect from STDs.
Withdrawal simply means that the male removes himself from the female before he ejaculates. This is ineffective as a method of birth control because as soon as the guy's penis is in the girl's vagina, there is a chance for her to get pregnant. Many guys will release a small amount of sperm before actually climaxing, and many guys (especially young ones) are incapable of realising when they are going to ejaculate and therefore do not withdraw in time. Besides that... who wants to stop in the middle of sex?
This method is horrible at protecting from pregnancy and will not protect from STDs.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Birth Control - Condoms
This is the first in a series of posts that will give an overview of the different (reversible) forms of birth control. I will eventually make another post about the permanent forms, I just haven't done much research on them yet, so if you want to nag me about it feel free and I might get it posted faster.
First of all, it is important to mention that none of these methods are 100% effective (and their effectiveness decreases if you don't use them right, so read the instructions!). The only way to be absolutely sure you will not get an STD or get pregnant is to not have sex. Therefore, if you are sexually active, it is in your best interests to have only one sexual partner (and to be sure that you are their only sexual partner) in order to decrease your chances of getting STDs. It is also a good idea to think about what you would do if you (or your partner) got pregnant. The chances may be low, but it's always better to have a plan.
These days, with so many options available to pregnant women, the possibility of getting an STD is far scarier than getting pregnant, and condoms are the only method of birth control that prevent STDs, though all of them will prevent pregnancy.
Condoms are probably the most widely known method there is, though I am always surprised at how little education people seem to get on even this method (or maybe everyone besides me slept through health class?). These are usually easily obtainable for free from high school nurses or medical clinics, and they are a barrier method, so they do protect from STDs as well as pregnancy (and will be even more effective at preventing pregnancy if you get ones with spermicide).
First of all, be sure to check the expiry date on the package (they lose elasticity over time), secondly read the instructions and keep them in a safe place. The biggest mistake I see people making all the time is keeping condoms in their back pocket or their wallet - girls, I would suggest you keep a couple in your purse in case your guy pulls one out from one of these places. The heat and friction could cause them to wear out and therefore be useless.
I can't stress this last point enough - read and follow the instructions on the package (they are usually on each individual condom wrapper). If you do not put it on correctly (especially if you do not pinch the tip to get the air out and leave room for the sperm) it will likely break, thus rendering it useless.
You can also get female condoms. These have a ring at each end, one is inserted into the vagina and the other serves to keep the condom open for easy access. Besides that, they are much the same. Do not, however, use the male and female condom together (or use two male condoms at once, for that matter) because the friction could cause one or both of them to break.
And finally... never use the same condom twice. You're just increasing the chances of it breaking.
First of all, it is important to mention that none of these methods are 100% effective (and their effectiveness decreases if you don't use them right, so read the instructions!). The only way to be absolutely sure you will not get an STD or get pregnant is to not have sex. Therefore, if you are sexually active, it is in your best interests to have only one sexual partner (and to be sure that you are their only sexual partner) in order to decrease your chances of getting STDs. It is also a good idea to think about what you would do if you (or your partner) got pregnant. The chances may be low, but it's always better to have a plan.
These days, with so many options available to pregnant women, the possibility of getting an STD is far scarier than getting pregnant, and condoms are the only method of birth control that prevent STDs, though all of them will prevent pregnancy.
Condoms are probably the most widely known method there is, though I am always surprised at how little education people seem to get on even this method (or maybe everyone besides me slept through health class?). These are usually easily obtainable for free from high school nurses or medical clinics, and they are a barrier method, so they do protect from STDs as well as pregnancy (and will be even more effective at preventing pregnancy if you get ones with spermicide).
First of all, be sure to check the expiry date on the package (they lose elasticity over time), secondly read the instructions and keep them in a safe place. The biggest mistake I see people making all the time is keeping condoms in their back pocket or their wallet - girls, I would suggest you keep a couple in your purse in case your guy pulls one out from one of these places. The heat and friction could cause them to wear out and therefore be useless.
I can't stress this last point enough - read and follow the instructions on the package (they are usually on each individual condom wrapper). If you do not put it on correctly (especially if you do not pinch the tip to get the air out and leave room for the sperm) it will likely break, thus rendering it useless.
You can also get female condoms. These have a ring at each end, one is inserted into the vagina and the other serves to keep the condom open for easy access. Besides that, they are much the same. Do not, however, use the male and female condom together (or use two male condoms at once, for that matter) because the friction could cause one or both of them to break.
And finally... never use the same condom twice. You're just increasing the chances of it breaking.
Should I go to the hospital?
Just some friendly advice, since I just came across this question once more while browsing help forums. The number of times a day I find a question somewhere along the lines of "Am I going to get this random disease that might make me die? Should I go to the hospital?"
To be fair, usually these questions are actually minor issues that people are being overly paranoid about. But my advice still stands:
If you think you have a deadly disease, or have some sort of injury you are worried about... please don't sit around on social websites asking if you should go to the hospital. If you aren't sure, go anyways. Yes, it's a pain to have to sit around in waiting rooms, but it's better to be safe than sorry. If something is actually seriously wrong it might have to be dealt with quickly, and spending hours online before going to the hospital won't do you any good.
Believe me, I'm no stranger to emergency rooms. I've had 7 hour waits result in me being advised to take Advil - but I've also had shorter waits result in overnight stays for various reasons. Your health is a serious matter. Unless you are 100% sure that you shouldn't be going to the hospital, you should go get it checked out.
To be fair, usually these questions are actually minor issues that people are being overly paranoid about. But my advice still stands:
If you think you have a deadly disease, or have some sort of injury you are worried about... please don't sit around on social websites asking if you should go to the hospital. If you aren't sure, go anyways. Yes, it's a pain to have to sit around in waiting rooms, but it's better to be safe than sorry. If something is actually seriously wrong it might have to be dealt with quickly, and spending hours online before going to the hospital won't do you any good.
Believe me, I'm no stranger to emergency rooms. I've had 7 hour waits result in me being advised to take Advil - but I've also had shorter waits result in overnight stays for various reasons. Your health is a serious matter. Unless you are 100% sure that you shouldn't be going to the hospital, you should go get it checked out.
Is it possible to drink too much water? - Hyponatremia
I guess it depends where you are, but in North America we're told constantly to make sure we drink lots of water to stay hydrated. But as with everything else, it is possible to have too much of it.
Hyponatremia (or water poisoning) happens when you have had so much water to drink that it has disrupted the normal balance of electrolytes (salts) in your bloodstream. Severe cases (when electrolyte levels drop too low in less than 48 hours) can result in brain swelling, which can lead to all sorts of fun medical issues including comas. If it happens over a longer period of time, the symptoms will be significantly less noticeable (and may be completely ignored). These include dizziness, loss of appetite and muscle cramps.
Most people do not have to worry about getting water poisoning. Almost all deaths caused by drinking too much water were the result of exercising for extended periods (while drinking water and not replenishing electrolytes in any way) or drinking contests. The more common causes of hyponatremia are related to other medical issues that have symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea (i.e. losing fluids rich in salts instead of consuming too much of fluids with no salts).
If you are worried about getting water poisoning because of the amount of fluids you tend to consume, try drinking sports drinks instead of water. I used to work as a lifeguard on a beach all summer and gave myself mild cases of hyponatremia all the time and fixed it by buying a big tin of Gatorade powder.
Hyponatremia (or water poisoning) happens when you have had so much water to drink that it has disrupted the normal balance of electrolytes (salts) in your bloodstream. Severe cases (when electrolyte levels drop too low in less than 48 hours) can result in brain swelling, which can lead to all sorts of fun medical issues including comas. If it happens over a longer period of time, the symptoms will be significantly less noticeable (and may be completely ignored). These include dizziness, loss of appetite and muscle cramps.
Most people do not have to worry about getting water poisoning. Almost all deaths caused by drinking too much water were the result of exercising for extended periods (while drinking water and not replenishing electrolytes in any way) or drinking contests. The more common causes of hyponatremia are related to other medical issues that have symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea (i.e. losing fluids rich in salts instead of consuming too much of fluids with no salts).
If you are worried about getting water poisoning because of the amount of fluids you tend to consume, try drinking sports drinks instead of water. I used to work as a lifeguard on a beach all summer and gave myself mild cases of hyponatremia all the time and fixed it by buying a big tin of Gatorade powder.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Abortion
I figured I may aswell get this one out of the way now. It's something I feel rather strongly about. I was adopted, my birth mother was 15 when she concieved and 16 when she gave birth - I could have easily been aborted. That said, as much as I am against abortion, it is the mother's choice in the end and I generally aim to make sure people can make informed decisions.
First of all, I am a firm believer in realising the possible consequences of your actions. If you are having sex, protected or not, no matter how old you are, you should already have an idea of what you would do if you got pregnant because it's always possible unless you abstain completely. That said, if you are having unprotected sex (or using a method such as the pill instead of a barrier method like a condom) you also need to realise that you are not protected from STDs (someome remind me and I'll rant about STDs in a later post).
There are a few options open to young mothers: keeping the baby, putting it up for adoption, or abortion.
If you want to keep it, you need to make sure you will actually be able to care for it. Will the father stay around to help support it? Will your parents be willing to help? Also look into government programs available to you. You also need to take a step back and consider where you are in life. If you're still in school, you'll need to figure out how this will affect your life and have some sort of long term plan. Dropping out and permanently doing minimum wage jobs isn't likely to be good for you or your baby.
If it is not plausible for you to keep it, then look into adoption. I don't know much about how adoption works in other countries, but I know that in Canada when you put a child up for adoption you have all sorts of options now. When I was adopted it was agreed that I would not be able to contact my birth mother until I turned 18 (though the government is a little slow and I still haven't tracked her down...). My birth mother and my parents could send letters to each other through CAS (Children's Aid Society) but their information was kept private from each other (limited to first names). Now, however, you can choose to be more involved in the child's life. I know people who see their kids every weekend, as a family friend or an aunt or something of the sort. It's all a legal agreement, you need to sort out a contract between yourself and the people you have chosen to care for your child (yes, you can decide to hand pick your child's parents).
Of course, the last option is abortion. If you are considering this option, I have to ask that you have also considered the others, and that your reasoning is secure. In my opinion, reasons such as "I don't want to tell my mom" do not count in this situation. If you are old enough to be having sex, you should be old enough to recognise the possible consequencces of your actions and accept them.
Also make sure you research abortion procedures before actually getting an abortion. I come across people all the time who have had an abortion, then start second guessing themselves and want to know exactly what happened to their child (in short, it is surgically removed and then thrown in with the other hospital waste and likely incinerated).
As I said, whether or not you get an abortion is up to you, but make sure you have considered all the options and you are ok with your decision. This is not a decision you should make based on your friends', boyfriend's or even parents' ideas. You need to do what you think is right and make a decision you know you will be able to live with.
If you keep the child, will you be able to support it and will you and your child be happy?
If you put it up for adoption, will you be able to get on with your life knowing that you made the right decision and chose a good set of parents to raise him or her?
If you get an abortion, will you be able to live with it or will you spend the rest of your life regretting the decision?
I know it's not an easy decision to make, but it is an important one, and too many people jump to abortion without thinking.
First of all, I am a firm believer in realising the possible consequences of your actions. If you are having sex, protected or not, no matter how old you are, you should already have an idea of what you would do if you got pregnant because it's always possible unless you abstain completely. That said, if you are having unprotected sex (or using a method such as the pill instead of a barrier method like a condom) you also need to realise that you are not protected from STDs (someome remind me and I'll rant about STDs in a later post).
There are a few options open to young mothers: keeping the baby, putting it up for adoption, or abortion.
If you want to keep it, you need to make sure you will actually be able to care for it. Will the father stay around to help support it? Will your parents be willing to help? Also look into government programs available to you. You also need to take a step back and consider where you are in life. If you're still in school, you'll need to figure out how this will affect your life and have some sort of long term plan. Dropping out and permanently doing minimum wage jobs isn't likely to be good for you or your baby.
If it is not plausible for you to keep it, then look into adoption. I don't know much about how adoption works in other countries, but I know that in Canada when you put a child up for adoption you have all sorts of options now. When I was adopted it was agreed that I would not be able to contact my birth mother until I turned 18 (though the government is a little slow and I still haven't tracked her down...). My birth mother and my parents could send letters to each other through CAS (Children's Aid Society) but their information was kept private from each other (limited to first names). Now, however, you can choose to be more involved in the child's life. I know people who see their kids every weekend, as a family friend or an aunt or something of the sort. It's all a legal agreement, you need to sort out a contract between yourself and the people you have chosen to care for your child (yes, you can decide to hand pick your child's parents).
Of course, the last option is abortion. If you are considering this option, I have to ask that you have also considered the others, and that your reasoning is secure. In my opinion, reasons such as "I don't want to tell my mom" do not count in this situation. If you are old enough to be having sex, you should be old enough to recognise the possible consequencces of your actions and accept them.
Also make sure you research abortion procedures before actually getting an abortion. I come across people all the time who have had an abortion, then start second guessing themselves and want to know exactly what happened to their child (in short, it is surgically removed and then thrown in with the other hospital waste and likely incinerated).
As I said, whether or not you get an abortion is up to you, but make sure you have considered all the options and you are ok with your decision. This is not a decision you should make based on your friends', boyfriend's or even parents' ideas. You need to do what you think is right and make a decision you know you will be able to live with.
If you keep the child, will you be able to support it and will you and your child be happy?
If you put it up for adoption, will you be able to get on with your life knowing that you made the right decision and chose a good set of parents to raise him or her?
If you get an abortion, will you be able to live with it or will you spend the rest of your life regretting the decision?
I know it's not an easy decision to make, but it is an important one, and too many people jump to abortion without thinking.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
A missed period doesn't always mean pregnancy
This is another question I come across all the time. Girls who haven't had sex wondering if they're pregnant because they missed their periods - or girls who have missed a period but had a negative pregnancy test wondering what is wrong.
First of all, pregnancy tests cannot have a false positive. You can have a false negative if the hormones haven't had time to build up, but if it's positive then the hormones are definitely there and you are definitely pregnant. Make sure you're taking the test within the time frame noted in the instructions (usually 4 days before your expected period, at most) and if it's negative, wait a week and try again. Also make sure you read the instructions before using it and make sure you fully understand what means positive and what means negative. The ones I used said two lines were positive, but that the lines might not necessarily be dark - and in my experience people tend to wonder if that light second line still means it's positive (it does).
Now that I've gotten that part out of the way...
If you've missed your period you should go to the doctor. If you're pregnant, you'll want to let your doctor know anyways - if you're not, you have to figure out why you're missing your period.
There are many common things other than pregnancy that can make you miss your period:
And lastly if you are an older woman, you could just be starting menopause - in which case your periods are going to come and go and be as heavy or as light as they please. So you might want to keep some emergency supploes in your purse.
First of all, pregnancy tests cannot have a false positive. You can have a false negative if the hormones haven't had time to build up, but if it's positive then the hormones are definitely there and you are definitely pregnant. Make sure you're taking the test within the time frame noted in the instructions (usually 4 days before your expected period, at most) and if it's negative, wait a week and try again. Also make sure you read the instructions before using it and make sure you fully understand what means positive and what means negative. The ones I used said two lines were positive, but that the lines might not necessarily be dark - and in my experience people tend to wonder if that light second line still means it's positive (it does).
Now that I've gotten that part out of the way...
If you've missed your period you should go to the doctor. If you're pregnant, you'll want to let your doctor know anyways - if you're not, you have to figure out why you're missing your period.
There are many common things other than pregnancy that can make you miss your period:
- Suddenly losing or gaining weight
- Stress
- Certain medications (mainly tranquilizers)
- Baing a heavy smoker
- Hormonal birth control methods
And lastly if you are an older woman, you could just be starting menopause - in which case your periods are going to come and go and be as heavy or as light as they please. So you might want to keep some emergency supploes in your purse.
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