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| Birth Control Pills Come of Age, Do More Than Contraception |
By:
Antonio LeMaire |
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Women of a "certain" age will remember when it was not easy to obtain birth
control pills. Doctors were reluctant to prescribe them, especially to young
women. Society was reluctant to even talk about them for fear that access to
birth control would encourage promiscuity.
When you did finally get your first birth control pills, there were only one or
two kinds to choose from. And the hormone dosage was much higher than it needed
to be.
Thank heavens birth control pills and products are changing. We now have greater
choice, convenience and safety.
Birth control pills remain one of the most effective ways to prevent pregnancy,
with less than 1% failure rate when used correctly (compared to condoms at 3%,
diaphragms at 6%, spermicide 6% and sponges 9%). Only hormone implants show a
lower failure rate than the pill.
So let's look at some of the innovations to birth control pills that women can
now choose from.
Birth Control Innovation: Ortho Evra Patch
The Ortho Evra patch has changed birth control for millions of women by offering
greater convenience than pills and many other forms of contraception.
With Ortho Evra, you only have to apply a patch once a week for pregnancy
prevention. The Ortho Evra patch boasts a high rate of effectiveness, similar to
birth control pills, but easier for many women to manage with less chance of
missing a dose.
Birth Control Innovation: Seasonale
One of the latest innovations has been the arrival of Seasonale, an
extended-cycle birth control pill with similar ingredients to other pills but
taken for 12 weeks straight, dramatically lengthening the menstrual cycle.
This reduces the number of periods a woman has from 13 a year to just four – a
wonder drug for many women who suffer from painful, difficult periods.
Birth Control Innovation: Plan B
Then there's the so-called "morning after" pill, or Plan B. When taken within 72
hours after unprotected sex, Plan B can prevent pregnancy with a high level of
reliability. By taking just two tablets as directed and within the time frame
prescribed, a woman can prevent pregnancy after the fact.
Plan B has prevented many unwanted pregnancies due to unprotected sex or failure
of birth control methods, for example condom breakage.
Birth Control Standby: Ortho Tricyclen
And then there's Ortho Tricyclen, the #1 prescribed birth control pill for years
and the only oral contraceptive to attain FDA approval as an acne treatment.
With its combination of two low-dose hormones, Ortho Tricyclen not only prevents
conception but also helps clear up problem skin.
Ortho Tricyclen works on a 28-day cycle, with 21 hormone pills and 7 inert
pills.
Birth Control Pill Side Effects
Although great strides have been made in producing safe, effective birth control
pills, there are still side effects and warnings. Birth control pills should NOT
be taken by women who smoke, especially women over age 35, because it increases
their risk of stroke and heart attack.
Nor should any birth control pill be taken by women with blood clots, certain
cancers, a history of stroke or heart attack, and women who are pregnant.
There are also some drug interactions that affect how well birth control pills
work, which your prescribing doctor will take into account.
Serious side effects from taking birth control pills are uncommon. The more
usual ones result from the progestin component and include symptoms like fluid
retention, breast swelling and tenderness, break-through bleeding and spotting,
and acne. These symptoms often go away as your body adjusts to the pills.
(Research shows that norgestimate, a newer progestin found in Ortho Tricyclen,
may be less likely to cause unpleasant side effects than other formulations.)
Birth Control Pill Benefits
The birth control pill offers advantages to women beyond safe and reliable
contraception. In many women, the pill also:
reduces cramps and menstrual flow,
regulates the menstrual cycle,
provides some protection against breast and ovarian cysts,
is associated with decreased rates of ovarian and endometrial cancer,
reduces risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, benign breast disease and iron
deficiency anemia.
Talking to your doctor about birth control is the first step towards deciding
whether the benefits outweigh the potential side effects and which birth control
pill is the right choice for you.
Once you've made your choice, come to eDrugstore.md to get guaranteed lowest
prices on brand name prescription birth control pills and other medications. The
medical consultation is free. And refills always get $20 off. Only here at
eDrugstore.md.
Useful Links:
http://www.edrugstore.md/Plan-B-(Levonorgestrel).jsp
http://online.edrugstore.md/Articles/Womens_Health/Articles_Womens_Health.jsp
Antonio LeMaire - Search Engine Optimization expert, boasting over 7 years of algorithmic search and paid search advertising. Helping a number of
Online Pharmacies like: edrugstore.md. For even more information about how to select a professional and reliable online pharmacy and key points to consider when ordering your online
prescription, visit the online pharmacy knowledge base at eDrugstore.md. |
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