Karen’s Free Health and Fitness Tips

Are you taking Birth Control Pills? You may want to add another glass of milk. Research indicates that women taking oral contraceptives appear to have a decrease in bone density leading them at risk for osteoporosis later in life. The time to optimize bone mass is during adolescence and young adulthood. It is estimated that 8 out of 10 women use birth control pills during this crucial time in which peak bone mass is developing leaving them at a greater risk of future bone density problems.

The Recommended Daily Allowance for women age 9-18 is 1,300 milligrams a day and this number decreases to 1,000 milligrams a day for women age 19-50. Many young girls are starting on oral contraceptives by the time they are 14 for many reasons including regulating menstrual cycles. Little emphasis is given on consuming enough calcium during adolescence plus the fact that many girls are voicing their individuality with food preferences at this age. Drinking milk and other calcium-rich foods may not be high on the priority list. So what happens when young women and adolescent girls don’t consume enough calcium coupled with birth control pills? They may pay later in life with a higher risk of osteoporosis. By consuming the recommended calcium level they can greatly reduce that risk.

Most people are surprised when they find out that there is a connection between birth control and hair loss. If you are using birth control or if you are suffering from a form of hair loss then you should definitely read on to determine whether or not the connection between birth control and hair loss applies to you.

More On Birth Control Pill And Hair Loss

The biggest topic that comes up with the issue birth control and hair loss is that of hormones. When a woman is taking birth control pills and hair loss occurs, numerous different hormones are flying around in her body which in some cases cause hair loss.

Research has been done to show the connection between birth control and hair loss Estrogen has been used by these researchers, which is one main ingredients in the oral contraceptives used today, and they have found that extension of hair growth is a prominent side effect of this ingredient.

Although this may sound like a good thing it actually is not. It causes the hair to reach it’s resting phase and fall out more quickly, this is at least for a period of time, of which is approximately three to four months after the woman begins taking the pills.

We all know that acne starts to develop when there is an increase in sebum production due to the effect of androgens stimulating the sebaceous glands. Oral contraceptives work by reducing the effect of androgens on the sebaceous glands, and therefore interrupt the phases of acne formation.

Oral contraceptives contain a combination of ethinylestradiol and cyproterone acetate, which are beneficial for the treatment of inflammatory acne. Besides that, they are effective contraceptives as well. Talking about killing two birds with one stone! The same drug that helps you in family planning can also treat your acne as well.

Hormonal therapy is suitable for adult women or teenage girls who have gone through antibiotics or topical medications but have not seen much result. Doctors will also determine whether the cause of your acne is primarily due to hormonal reasons. As a guide, if you have irregular menstrual cycles, acne flare-ups just before your menstrual cycle, hirsuitism (excessive hair growth), it is most likely you are a suitable candidate for hormonal therapies.

Currently in the market, the more common oral contraceptives used for acne treatment includes Diane-35, Yasmin, Tri-Cyclen, Estelle-35 and Alesse. Their proven effectiveness and long-term safety profile is suitable for various grades of acne in women.

What are generic medicines?

Generic medicines are made available once the patent runs out on a brand name medicine. These medicines act on the body in the same way as the brand named ones and usually contain the identical active ingredients. Governments set strict quality standards before all ‘generics’ are approved for sale. Generic medicines are often cheaper than the brand named ones even though they are often made by the same company.

What is in Generic Ortho Tricyclen?

This medication is a combination of synthetic female hormones that is taken orally to prevent ovulation and therefore prevent pregnancy- the two generic drugs used are ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate.

How does it work? A basic explanation

Ortho Tricyclen alters the state of the lining of your womb (uterus) and the consistency of your cervical mucus to make it difficult for those eager little sperms to get to your egg. If an egg does happen to become fertilised, the changes that this pill have caused to the uterus lining then make it extremely difficult for the zygote (fertilised egg) to embed itself in your womb and begin its development into a foetus.

Without a doubt, even as we speak, there are many different types of birth control devices and methods being developed today. Birth control is a very important part of family planning and with the rate of unwanted pregnancies and occurrence of teenage sex, the many different types of birth control devices and methods should be introduced as early on to teens as possible.

For example, there’s the barrier method of birth control which includes devices like diaphragms, cervical caps and shields that ultimately works by covering up the cervix so that sperm cannot enter the uterus during sexual intercourse. When the sperm cannot enter the uterus, the egg cannot be fertilized by the sperm. The barrier method is not 100% foolproof, although none of the birth control methods and devices are ever 100% secure so, in order to achieve its full potential, usage of the barrier type of birth control should be used together with an effective form of spermicidal application which kills off sperm that enters the body. Spermicidal applications are available in varying types, i.e., cream, foam or gel form.

Birth control contraceptives as the name suggests are popularly used to prevent pregnancy and that is the common purpose associated with them. But apart from this, they have many benefits that many people may not be aware of.

Apart from preventing pregnancy, these contraceptives help in reducing the risk of ovarian as well as endometrial cancer. They are known to be helpful in improving conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), premenstrual syndrome, and acne among others. They are also helpful in preventing the onset of osteoporosis. The contraceptives are reportedly helpful in decreasing menstrual cramps, ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, and rheumatoid arthritis.

In addition, they are also known to help women who have irregular periods, by getting their menstrual cycle to a regular routine. Besides this, the contraceptives lead to less bleeding during periods. Some of the birth control contraceptives are said to have beneficial effects on cholesterol. They are also helpful in reducing breast diseases and breast cysts. A woman using these birth control measures may not have to worry about excessive hair, as some contraceptives help to get rid of excess body hair.

Over the last three decades, contraception has become commonplace. Ease of access to many forms of birth control has allowed women to have their reproductive destinies in their own hands, to pursue higher education and professional careers, and to be able to reliably delay pregnancy until the time is right.

All oral contraceptives act on the hormonal system. Many different forms of the “pill” exist, but they all work on the same principle. The pills are made up of synthetic hormones - estrogen and progestin. These synthetic hormones work together to prevent ovulation, resulting in no egg being released by the ovaries. With no egg released, pregnancy cannot occur. Pills containing estrogen and progestin also have a side-effect: a thickening of the mucous on the cervix, which hampers the attempts of sperm to enter the uterus.

Deciding when to stop taking oral contraceptives when planning for pregnancy is straightforward for most women. There are certain factors, however, that should be taken into consideration in some situations. A history of irregular menstrual cycles, duration of use of the pill, and dramatic changes in weight since first taking the pill can affect your decision.

Decreased Fertility

About a year ago, the Alan Guttmacher Institute in New York published data that indicate legal abortions in the United States dropped to 1.2 million in 2005, the lowest level since 1974. This came as good news to mainstream Americans, most of whom believe that abortions should be safe and legal, but rare.

The Institute cited a number of reasons for the decline, including more effective use of contraceptives, increased use of Plan B and an overall lower rate of unintended pregnancies. Some observers added that improved sex education classes at the high school level and federally funded abstinence programs may also have contributed to the decline.

The story about the Guttmacher report was issued by the Associated Press, which focused on the rate of decline in abortions. In doing so, however, the reporters missed other useful and important data, including:

• Of 6.4 million pregnancies in the United States each year, 51 per cent are intended and 49 per cent are unintended.

• Approximately 52 per cent of unintended pregnancies result in childbirth. The remaining 48 per cent result in abortions.

• Abortion is one of the most common surgical procedures in the United States, and also one of the safest.

Some women complain that after using condoms during a sexual encounter, they develop yeast infections. It turns out they’re right. Latex condoms can cause yeast infections in people who have latex allergies.

Up to 4% of the general population have allergies to latex. Natural rubber latex comes from a substance that is released by a tree found in Southeast Asia called H. braziliensis. A condom is considered a “dipped rubber” product because it is dipped into a vat of rubber.

Latex has natural rubber proteins which sometimes induce formation of antibodies called IgE antibodies. Once antibodies are formed, the next time a latex-sensitive person is exposed to the latex, mast cells release chemicals which cause an allergic reaction. The more someone is exposed to allergens, the more IgE antibodies are produced next time the person is exposed to the allergen.

When someone who is allergic to latex uses latex condoms, they can develop normal allergic reactions such as swelling. The result can be a yeast infection.

Is there any way for a latex-sensitive woman to use latex condoms with her partner? No one wants to use condoms that cause yeast infections right? The best thing to do is to avoid the latex condoms. What about safe sex? Latex condoms are one of the safest protections against STDs. Lambskin condoms protect against pregnancy, but not STDs.

Herbs have been used to control fertility for as long as there have been women who desired to do so. Our desire is as great as ever, but our knowledge base is far from large or strong. This article is both a sharing of what I know, and an open ear to hear what you know. May we reweave the healing cloak of the Ancients. Further discussions on herbal birth control can be found in my book Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year (Ash Tree Publishing, 1986) and in Contraception and Abortion from the Ancient World to the Renaissance, John M. Riddle (Harvard University Press, 1992)

FOR HIM:

Hot balls make no babies. If he sits in hot water for 20-30 minutes every night for at least a month, he will shoot duds for the next 8-10 weeks. Don’t laugh. This is effective and inexpensive.

FOR HER:

Ovulation Prevention

Reduce fat intake
Increase exercise
Bring down body weight
Caution: A fertile woman who is too thin to ovulate can lose as much bone mass in one month as she would in one year post menopause.
Consider: The many health benefits of birth control pills