Category: Health

The Birth Control Patch Pros and Cons

Birth control is used by women of various childbearing ages. As soon as you get your first period, your body says that it is ready to make a baby. In the great unlikelihood that you are also ready at that point, a method of birth control that can help you is the birth control patch.

 

The birth control patch was introduced in the early 2000s as the Ortho Evra patch.  If you’ve ever seen the commercials, it is marketed to the younger generation. Young adults have a lot going on and it is easy to forget to take a birth control pill every day. As a solution, young women can use a birth control patch to keep from getting pregnant.

 

The patch is a small square that contains two hormones: estrogen and progestin. The hormones are released through the skin when the patch is applied. Each patch is good for one week. After that week is up you apply a new patch for the next week. The fourth week there is no patch because you will experience your period at that time.

 

Wearing the patch means no missed pills and no awkward forms of contraception like the sponge or the ring. You apply it in a certain place and don’t think about it again until it is time to change it. The birth control patch can be applied to the buttocks, the arm, the lower abdomen or the upper body, excluding the breast area.

 

The patch has the same side effects as the contraceptive pill. You may experience heavy bleeding, headaches, bloating, cramping and nausea. The patch isn’t for everyone. For instance, there has been some talk that the patch is not as effective in women who weigh over 200 pounds.

 

Pros of Using the Birth Control Patch:

 

  • The birth control patch will stay on through normal activities including bathing, swimming and sweating.
  • There is nothing to take. Just adhere the patch and let the hormones do the rest.

 

Cons of the Birth Control Patch:

 

  • The levels of estrogen in the patch put women at increased risk for side effects.
  • The patch can come off if you use oils or lotion on or near it. At that point you are unprotected and need a new patch right away.
  • The patch doesn’t protect against sexually-transmitted diseases.
  • The cost can be expensive for a month’s supply (three patches).

 

For the woman constantly on the go with work or a busy social calendar, the patch means less worry about pregnancy. You can put it on and leave it be to do the job.

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Abstinence: Does it Work in Today’s Society? Part 2

Practicing abstinence doesn’t necessarily mean that the person is a virgin, although many parents would be happy with that scenario until their son or daughter turns fifty! Abstinence can come after a scary time when you thought you were pregnant or you contracted an STD. From that point on you or your child might decide to leave sex alone until they can handle the consequences, whatever they may be.

 

That is, after all, what effective birth control is really all about. It is about having choices and making smart ones. It is about avoiding bringing any child into the world that is not completely wanted. It is also about avoiding pregnancy until you are old enough to handle it physically and emotionally. Most teens are not able to do that.

 

If you are a young person or a parent, know the true meaning of this birth control option before jumping on any moral high horse, and also keep in mind that condoms do protect against many STDs.

 

Sex encompasses any form of penetration. That includes oral and anal sex. You might think that since you can’t get pregnant from these alternatives to vaginal intercourse that you are in the clear.

 

That is not true and doesn’t constitute abstinence. Contracting a sexually transmitted disease is a real possibility with both of these methods. Think about this too – certain STDs can prevent you from ever having a baby in the future as well, once you eventually did decide you wanted one.

 

For abstinence to work, it has to be understood by both people in the relationship. This avoids those sexually tense situations where it is harder to back off once things get started down the road of intimacy.

 

Abstinence is still practiced by many people. It is not necessarily staying away from sex until you are married, but until you are ready to handle the responsibility of pregnancy or other negative costs.

 

When you are truly ready, you will know. Until then, enjoy life and other parts of a relationship that so easily can become clouded by the activity of intercourse.

 

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Abstinence: Does it Work in Today’s Society? Part 1

As a parent, you are naturally concerned about your daughter getting pregnant. A daughter is concerned about that and also the risk of acquiring a sexually-transmitted disease. For some, the answer lies not in conventional birth control but abstaining from sexual activity altogether.

 

Abstinence is saying no to sex until you are ready. Over the years, there has been a debate amongst parents, their children and medical professionals as to how effective the abstinence message can be.

 

With the high incidence of teen pregnancy, condoms were available in health clinics. Some parents thought their teens were being encouraged to have sex as a result of this availability.

 

Medical professionals wanted to keep them safe from pregnancy and things that were much worse, and could not understand what all the fuss was about.

 

As a man or a woman, teen or adult, sexual activity carries with it some risks. A person with multiple partners increases their risk of pregnancy and sexually-transmitted diseases with each new contact, even with protection. There is also the reality that even if you are being faithful, your partner may not be.

 

The only foolproof method of birth control and avoiding STDs is abstinence. But, is it a choice that is still possible?

 

The answer is yes, of course. Abstinence will be a part of various stages of a person’s life and is a conscious choice.

(Continued in Part 2)

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Calculating Your Body Mass Index

Do you know your number? Most people don’t. And that’s a shame, since your number can offer a peek at your health.

By your number, we mean your body mass index (BMI), which indicates whether your weight falls within a desirable range for your height.

Depending on your classification, you may or may not wish to think about losing weight.

It is a useful tool to determine whether or not you need to lose weight because it takes into account all body types.

Here is a really handy Body Mass Index Calculator

http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

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Weight loss hint-add on, don’t take away

One of the reasons why it is so hard to stick to our diet is that we feel so deprived. Like we have a looong list of things we can’t eat, and a short and shorter one of things that we can.

 

So instead of deprivation, why not cultivation? Add a new food every day that you might not otherwise try, like a star fruit or a parsnip or a cloudberry.  They are yummy, sweet, and healthy for you, and you will feel like you are having a real treat even though all fruits and veg are light in calories if eaten in moderation, and have lots of healthful fiber.

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