Birth Control

The new hormonal contraceptive Nexplanon that provides three years of protection from unwanted pregnancy is available for women in the US. The new contraceptive is progestin-only single-rod implant that is inserted under woman's skin during a simple procedure. It looks like a flexible matchstick, made of polymer.

Scientists claim that having sex without condom can actually be good for man's and woman's mental health.

A study conducted by Professor Stuart Brody, of the West of Scotland University, Paisley and his team revealed that sexual relationships without condom use were linked to better mental health for both partners.

It is still quite disputable if men would take birth control pills to share responsibility with women while latest researches suggest several options for men. The second conference called "Future of male Contraception" in Seattle that was supported by National Institutes Of Health and WHO presented the newest developments in the field of male contraception.

If you decided to switch your current birth control option because of side effects, like cramping or headaches, it is important to note that not all birth control pills are the same. Different birth control pill brands contain different amounts of hormones.
It is best to start taking new birth control pills after you have finished taking the old pack. This will reduce the risk of developing various side affects associated with mixing different birth control pills. It is recommended to use condoms or spermicide for the first week when you start a new method.
Ask your doctor for advice to help you choose the best birth control option based on your history and health condition.

If you have recently started using birth control pills, spotting or light bleeding may occur between periods. Usually, it takes time for your body to adjust to hormones in contraceptive pills. This usually happens during the first six months.

The other reason for spotting on the pill is the irregular use of the birth control pills, when you miss or take the pills incorrectly. In this case, it is recommended to take the pills every day at the same time.

There also can be the case that your birth control pills are not effective or you may have other underlying condition. Consult your health care provider to get tested.

Many women choose the birth control pills to prevent unwanted pregnancy. The pill is considered to be safe and reversible birth control method with 99 percent effectiveness. However, the failure rate of the pill can be from 12 to 20 percent if it is used incorrectly. This might be due to the fact that women forget to take the pill or are confused about its proper use.

While in the past IUDs were often blamed for various health problems, the new research shows that it might actually give women some protection against cervical cancer.

The study conducted by researchers at the Catalan Institute of Oncology, Spain, on 20,000 women, revealed that women using IUD were not more likely to have HPV (human papillomavirus) that is linked to cervical cancer and that their risk of developing cervical cancer was cut by half.

There is a lot of debate about the side effects of birth control pill. Millions of women use the Pill, but still many of us wish they had a better alternative to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

For years researchers tried to find a male birth control pill, to give men an opportunity to share the responsibility for family planning. The development of male birth control has become even closer with the recent studies conducted at the University of Washington in Seattle. The researchers introduced male hormonal contraceptive that could be soon available in the form of injectible, implant or pill.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and WHO, the IUD can be used for women, who haven't given birth. In the past, many specialists discouraged the use of IUD in women, who have never been pregnant before, because it was falsely linked to health problems, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and others. Recent researchers indicate that IUD does not lead to such complications.
However, many doctors do not recommend using IUD for women, who haven't given birth, because it is more likely to lead to painful sensations during insertion , more cramping and expulsion of IUD.

Women may soon use contraceptive pills without side effects linked to hormonal contraception, a new study says.

Scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Huddinge, Sweden discovered that protein found in the coating of the mammalian eggs can become an obstacle to conception, the NewScientist reports. The protein called ZP3, takes part in conception and is essential in sperm binding. In other words, sperm needs to bind to ZP3 protein to get through the coating of the egg.

There is a common belief that a woman loses her sex drive once she starts taking the birth control pill. It is estimated that the combination pill, that contains synthetic form of estrogen and progestin can reduce the level of testosterone, which is responsible for our sex drive.

Many women are concerned about future pregnancy long before they choose birth control pills. Can birth control pills affect woman's fertility? And how long should you wait after you stop taking the pill?

For many years specialists were dubious about withdrawal method, considering it far less effective than such birth control methods as condoms. However, the recent study published in the June issue of the journal Contraception says that many experts might underestimate withdrawal method for preventing unwanted pregnancy.

Women, who take birth control pills have lower mortality rate from any cause, including heart disease and different types of cancer, a new study suggests.

The completely new technique that is called RNA interference (RNAi) affecting the gene that is active in eggs before they can be fertilized by sperm. When the ZP3 gene is switched off by RNAi method, the egg develops without outer membrane where sperm connects to the egg for conception.

Do birth control methods affect woman's libido? Many women who experience decreased sex drive may not readily associate their sexual problems with birth control method they choose. However, several studies indicate that there might be a connection between contraceptive method and fluctuations of sex drive in women.

Female condom is a barrier method of contraception, which can be used for protection against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The condom represents a polyurethane sheath that covers vagina and cervix, preventing sperm from entering the vagina.

Condoms are one of the most common birth control options that offer protection against STD's and unplanned pregnancy. However, many men and women are reluctant to use condom because they think that interferes with the moment during sex, especially when the condom is difficult to put on.

Women, who report about decreased sex drive, may need to reconsider taking antidepressants and the birth control pills, a new research suggests.