Tag Archives: birth control

An Abacus For Your Menstrual Cycle

Catherine StrawnMarch 28, 2008 //

A natural birth control method that involves keeping track of your cycle with a set of beads and abstaining from sex from day 8 to 19 was shown to be nearly as effective (when used properly) as the Pill and more effective than the diaphragm or condoms, according to a study of 1,646 women in six different countries. We’re kind of skeptical though, because there were 14.1 pregnancies for every 100 women per year in the study. The main reason the women got pregnant, the researchers found, was that couples knowingly took a risk and had sex on fertile days. Ya think? Being forbidden from having sex 11 days out of every month is probably one of the best aphrodisiacs out there. [Reuters] Keep reading »

Made For A Woman, But Gentle And Anti-Aunty Flo Enough For A Man

SimchaFebruary 22, 2008 //

Seasonique, the birth control pill that makes women menstruate only four times a year, is being marketed to men. Ads have appeared in laddie magazine Maxim, which is known for its frat-bro attitude and bikini clad spreads, and Spike TV, the channel dedicated to a Late Night Strip Poll. Apparently, the execs marketing Seasonique think guys who like those brands are getting laid, but they’re trying to stop them from spawning. Those men — who are seemingly fascinated by a poop that can kill — are surprisingly grossed out by Aunt Flo coming to stay five days out of the month. Maybe that’s why Seasonique is hoping to get these men to talk to the women in their lives about using their form of birth control. Although the dudes may think they’re in some great hush-hush scheme to banish Aunt Flo, the joke is on them since the same ads are also running on Lifetime. Ha! Ain’t nothing gonna cramp a ladies’ ability to choose her own birth control. Period! [Marie Claire] Keep reading »

Hey, What’s It Like Being A Gynecologist?

Lucile ScottFebruary 14, 2008 //

After nine years at Brooklyn’s New York Methodist Hospital, OBGYN Josine Veca has seen it all. Here she gives The Frisky her diagnosis of what women want when they stop by.

What are common concerns for women when they come to see you?
It varies by age group. Younger patients, 30 and below, are usually concerned with STDs, birth control, or, if not, trying to prevent pregnancy. As the women get older and are approaching menopause, they’re worried about hot flashes, irregular periods, and symptoms that may be unusual. I’d estimate that 30 to 40 percent are concerned with a mixture of those issues.

How much prying do you have to do or do most women come in with their own specific questions?
A lot of women who come in with their own questions are very comfortable talking about sex. But if they don’t, the subject usually comes up when I’m interviewing them. At first they may be tentative, but the idea is to open communication
Keep reading »

The Bush Administration Spanks Washington State For Teaching Sex Education

Amelia McDonell-ParryDecember 26, 2007 //

So, the whole issue of government funded abstinence-only education is a confusing one, but we’re here to give you the low-down. Basically, the Bush Administration, in an attempt to offset state-funded sex education programs, has given many states millions of dollars in funding for abstinence-only education — public service announcements and school curriculum promoting abstinence. And for the record, in case it’s been awhile since you were in junior high, sex education always stresses that the only truly “safe” sex is no sex at all, but abstinence-only education stresses that and that alone. Well Washington State just had their abstinence-only grant revoked because the state requires schools to provide additional, medically accurate information about preventing unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. It seems the grant was only good for funding sex education that covered only one aspect — not having any. Better your kids associate sex with sin, fire, and brimstone than the very real threat of STDs and pregnancy if they don’t use condoms, the pill, and other forms of birth control. [SeattlePI.com]

Keep reading »

Jamie-Lynn Spears Must Have Missed The Memo On Birth Control

Amelia McDonell-ParryDecember 20, 2007 //

Remember how I said, like, two seconds ago that 2008 was going to be the year of the unplanned pregnancy? Well I was wrong — by a couple weeks. After Jessica Alba’s surprise announcement that she was knocked up earlier this week, I was literally stupified when OK magazine’s cover story was leaked today, revealing that Britney Spears’ 16-year-old sister Jamie Lynn is pregnant too! With her 19-year-old boyfriend’s baby! Do the Spears girls have super ovaries or what? And of course, since no one ever seems to consider schmaschmortion anymore, she’s keeping the baby. In slightly less judgment-inspiring news, Brit singer Lily Allen, 22, is also apparently carrying a bun in the oven with her newish boyfriend (some dude from the Chemical Brothers) and she’s said to be “delighted.” Isn’t anyone upset over unplanned pregnancies anymore? And isn’t anyone else concerned that the whole of Young Hollywood is apparently freaking allergic to condoms and birth control? [Perez Hilton] Keep reading »

Poll: It’s Raining Babies! Surprise!

Amelia McDonell-ParryDecember 19, 2007 //

Maybe We Were A Tad Judgey About Male Responsibility

Amelia McDonell-ParryDecember 4, 2007 //

…or not! Thanks Business Guy for the reinforcement.
image Keep reading »

Period Free: Fab or Deadly?

Amelia McDonell-ParryDecember 4, 2007 //

This morning we got a famous hoax-ish email forwarded from a friend with the following headline: “MENSTRUAL CYCLE: PLEASE READ!” Tantalizing! The author’s email concerns her sister, named Nicole, who was taking Seasonale, the birth control pill that leaves you period-less for four months. Somehow, supposedly, the pill caused a blood clot to develop in her neck that then spread to her brain and caused a stroke that killed her.

The tale is basically bs, however it does bring up a question we had about Seasonale to begin with. Like, isn’t it kind of gross to not get your period for four months? Doesn’t the uterine lining build up, but instead of shedding every month during your period, it just chills inside like, you know, old takeout in the back of your fridge? Apparently, we are so wrong! While the long-term affects of Seasonale are not known, doctors do know that when you’re taking any form of birth control hormones, the uterine lining doesn’t build up to the degree that it would when you’re not on the pill — that’s why women on the pill typically have lighter periods. Anyway, we’re sorry Nicole died, but it’s good to know that should we decide we don’t want an excuse to take a week off humping our boyfriend, we have the option. [Urban Legends] Keep reading »

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