Birth Control Pills

Birth control pills are oral contraceptives. These are a female hormonal birth control method, meaning that it controls the female hormones, thus preventing pregnancy. It is considered to be among the most highly effective birth control methods. There are two types of birth control pills, the Pill and the mini-Pill.

The Pill
The Pill is a combination pill. It contains the combination of two female hormones, estrogen and progesterone. The Pill’s combined hormones prevent ovulation. Without ovulation, there is no egg to be fertilized. The Pill also thickens the mucus around the cervix, making it difficult for the sperm to enter the uterus and fertilize the egg that was released. The lining of the uterus is also affected, making it difficult for the egg to attach to the wall of the uterus.

Combination pills come in either a 21-day pack or a 28-day pack. One pill is taken at around the same time each day for 21 days. For a 21-day pack, you will stop taking pills for 7 days. For a 28-day pack, you have to take the placebo pills (pills without hormones) for 7 days. And after a woman stops taking the hormone pills, her menstrual period starts. There is also another type of combination pills wherein you take hormone pills for 12 weeks and placebo pills for 7 days. So instead of having menstrual periods every month, it only happens once every 3 months.

The Mini-Pill
The mini-Pill, also known as progestin-only, only contains a small dose of progesterone, thus the name. This pill works by thickening the cervical mucus, changing the lining of the uterus, and sometimes affecting the ovulation. The mini-Pill is slightly less effective compared to combination pills.

The mini-Pill is taken every day at roughly the same time of the day without any breaks. A woman who takes the mini-Pill may have no period at all or have irregular periods. Missing a dose may lead to it becoming inefficient.

After the Pills

Birth control pills affect the woman’s menstrual cycle. Using the pills regulates the menstrual cycle, making one have a period regularly, every 28 days or once every 3 months depending on the type of pill you use. But what happens when you stop taking the pills altogether? Because the menstrual cycle is controlled by the hormones provided in the pills, it may take some time before one starts ovulating properly again.

Missed Period

When one misses her period, the thought of pregnancy comes into mind. But missing your period, or amenorrhea, may either be due to pregnancy or no ovulation occurred. The best way to really know, whether one is pregnant or not is through a pregnancy test.

If amenorrhea happens after one stops to take birth control pills, there is no need for much worry. Because the pills are the ones that are providing you the hormones and controlling your menstrual cycle, it will definitely be affected by the sudden stop of using pills. Your body needs to adjust to the absence of the pills and start producing the hormones, estrogen and progesterone, on its own.

And this can cause some sort of delay in your menstrual cycle. This happens quite common to women who choose birth control pills and decide to stop.

The estrogen and progesterone in the pills suppresses the natural hormones of the body that promotes the ripening and releasing of the egg. Once you stop taking the pills and take instead the placebo pills, then your period comes. By using this contraceptive again and again over time, your body gets used to regular menstruation every 28 days. When you stop entirely from taking the pills, your body needs to start its own production of hormones. And this needs getting used to.

It usually takes 2 to 3 months before one gets a regular period. If you still don’t have your period after three months without birth control, you might need to do a pregnancy test or visit your doctor and have yourself checked.

Precum/Pre-ejaculate

Precum or pre-ejaculate is the fluid that is secreted by the male genital during sexual intercourse or when the man is sexually aroused. This fluid is also called pre-seminal fluid and is produced by the bulbourethral gland. This fluid does not contain any sperms.

The main function of this fluid is to clear up the path traveled by the sperms. It neutralizes the acidic nature in the woman’s vagina to make it more suitable for the sperms cells. The precum also lubricates the urethra to make the passing of the sperm smoother.

What are the chances of conceiving from precum?

The precum does not contain any sperm cells. But it can pick up sperm cells along the way. And the sperm cells can be carried all the way into the female genital and reach the egg. Based on this, there is a chance of getting pregnant from precum.

However, the chances of conceiving from precum are very slim. A regular ejaculation could release millions of sperm cells. A precum could carry along with it only a few thousand or even less. Most sperms cells are not able to survive the acidic nature in the female reproductive system. And with less sperms, there is less chance that a sperm would be able to reach the egg and fertilize it.

If the man ejaculated prior to the sexual intercourse, there is a good chance that there are quite a number of sperms stuck on along the urethra. This would increase the chances of getting pregnant. Sperm cells can live for 3 to 4 days in the man’s urethra. And so any sexual intercourse within this time may have precum that carries sperms. And this is why people advise that the guy urinates after ejaculation and before entering the vagina. The urine will be able to carry out the sperms that may be left in the urethra by the previous orgasm. If this is done, then the chances of the precum carrying sperms into the vagina are less. Thus, there is less chance of getting pregnant.

There are also other factors to consider. One is the time that the sexual intercourse took place. The woman must be ovulating for the egg to get fertilized. But determining when the woman is most fertile is difficult for those with irregular cycles.

Nonetheless, there is still a chance of getting pregnant from precum. A chance is still a chance. Sometimes all you need is one chance to make something happen. And there are women who have been impregnated from precum.

breaks?”

Everyone has their own opinions regarding the pain of having your first sexual intercourse. And rating how painful it is when your hymen breaks can be confusing and even useless. Everyone has different pain tolerance levels. Some things that may be extremely painful for one person may only be as painful as an insect bite to another. And sometimes, one may only feel a slight sting or nothing at all. Pain is dependent on the person.

Does it Hurt or Not?

However, most women say that it does hurt when your hymen breaks. Your hymen, after all, is a part of your body and as it is stretched our place under pressure it will hurt, just like the other body parts. To better understand how or why it hurts when your hymen breaks, one should understand first the anatomy of the female genitalia.

What is the Hymen?

The hymen is not exactly a piece of flesh that gets broken or torn. It is a membrane that partially covers the opening of the vagina. The hymen does not cover the entire vaginal opening for the menstrual fluid or period to pass through. And as you have your first sexual intercourse, it can get stretched, leaving a wider opening, or even torn.

The hymen may also be stretched even before you start having sexual intercourse. Sports and other physical activities can lead to getting your hymen stretched. Masturbation and the use of tampons are other things that could, in a way, break your hymen. And this could make it less painful when you get intimate with someone. The bleeding may also be lessened compared to someone who has an intact hymen.

Other Reasons why your “first time” might be Painful

The pain you feel when your hymen breaks may also be amplified by other factors. Being nervous is one. When you feel that you are not yet ready to have sex, your body tends to tighten. Your muscles contract and you have spasms. This can make the penetration more difficult and the whole experience more painful. And this is why many people suggest that you should have sex with someone you really love and care about and feels the same way toward you. Because if your partner really loves you, he would be gentle and none of the rough sex that could make you hurt more. With this in mind, the pain becomes more bearable and even pleasurable.

You should also take note that getting your hymen broken does not entirely mean that you lose your virginity. As stated earlier, it could simply be because of your other activities, like sports. Also, the pain and bleeding when your hymen breaks may still come back even after your second or a few more times during sexual intercourse.

Each woman’s body is different. Every woman has her own individual menstrual cycle that usually falls within the range of 21 and 40 days. The start of this cycle will be marked by your period. Normally, or in average, this period lasts for 2 to 7 days and with menstrual blood slightly changing its color throughout the duration of the period. The periods usually start off with a light flow and then get heavier until tapering off. A girl having a period that lasts a little longer, say for as long as 10 days, rarely happens. When this happens, the bleeding or flow should not be that heavy for the case to

be considered normal. During the menarche, you shouldn’t worry too much if your period is “regular” or not. Periods becoming regular most likely happen 2 or 3 years after a woman’s menarche.

Having light or short periods should not pose much of a problem for most girls. What you should be more concerned about is the flow being too heavy. Usually, the bleeding becomes heaviest during the second and/or third day of the period. If and when your flow becomes heavy enough to soak a super-absorbent pad even after just a couple of hours, then seeing your pediatrician is definitely a good idea.

During menarche, feeling bloated or uncomfortable is not unusual. This feeling is caused by the water that your body is retaining during menstruation. You might also feel a slight headache, backache or leg ache during the 2 to 7 days of your first period. These too are normal. Cramping, the most common symptom of menarche, is probably more painful than these body pains. These cramps are usually caused by hormones that contract the muscles of the uterus. When there is a large amount of these hormones, the contractions become painful. The good thing is you may have these cramps during menarche or other menstrual periods, but not with all the periods in your life.

These symptoms of menarche may be a little too uncomfortable or painful but they happen during the 2 to 7 days of your life that signify the many changes that occur during your passage to womanhood.

or anywhere else outside home. There are other women who are comfortable enough to wear one all throughout the day even during bedtime. Some women want the support that these bras give and the sagging and drooping that they supposedly prevent when worn to bed. However wearing bras even to bed has now been linked with breast cancer. So is it good to wear a bra to bed?

Up until this day, there has been no study that provides any scientific evidence that wearing bras at night will lead to breast cancer or will make breasts perkier and prevent them from sagging. Wearing bras is all about being comfortable. Some women prefer to wear them at night because they find comfort in wearing one. Others do not because they find bras rather irritating. It is basically a matter of personal preference if you choose to wear one at night.

However, there have been a few questions raised that point to the relationship of breast cancer and the number of hours a bra is worn. A theory explains that certain types of bras such as the underwire bras may cause breast cancer if worn for many hours per day. This is based on the hypothesis that wearing such constricting bras for long hours will constrict the lymphatic system that is meant to filter toxins from the body. When these toxins are not filtered, they build up and may lead to breast cancer. But still, this study does not conclude any links of breast cancer with nighttime bra wearing.

Wearing bras at night should still be based on comfort. Since bras were created mainly to support breasts and to keep them lifted and firm, finding the right bra that will fit comfortably is very important. A woman should make sure that the fit of the bra is just right for her and this will give her enough comfort in return. Women should avoid wearing bras with underwire for they tend to leave the skin red with irritation marks. So on the subject of being comfortable, never wear bras that are too tight or with parts that poke your skin. This is usually the case for underwire bras and these bras may prevent a woman from getting a good night’s sleep. And though bras are a necessity, make sure you find the right fit and what’s comfortable so that you shouldn’t worry about wearing one even at night.

ant women, a long list of foods to eat is needed. And so, many pregnant women must have asked this question already. During pregnancy, the unborn child depends solely on its mother for nutrients needed for development. Whatever the mother takes in, so does the child. Because of the high mercury levels in certain kinds of seafood, something such as the seafood controversy has sprung up. So is it still okay for pregnant women to eat seafood such as shrimp?

Seafood is a great source of iron, protein and the omega-3 fatty acid that’s good for the heart and the baby’s brain development. There are even studies that suggest taking seafood off the diet during pregnancy will lead to poor verbal skills and other developmental problems of the child. However, there are certain kinds of fish and shellfish that cause harm and danger instead. Some of these seafood have high levels of mercury that are already potentially dangerous for the child. Too much mercury becomes a potential contributor to the underdevelopment of the baby’s nervous system.

The good thing is, shrimp contains little mercury and is considered safe to eat by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The FDA and EPA have declared shrimp as safe seafood for pregnant women as long as they consume within 12 ounces or 340 grams of it per week. As long as the shrimp is cooked well and the amount taken in is moderated, then there shouldn’t be any problem.

Cooking the shrimp well enough solves another probable problem for pregnant women. Undercooked shrimp may cause listeria. Listeria is a kind of bacterial infection that people may acquire from eating undercooked meat or seafood. This bacterial infection, like many other infections, can be more dangerous for pregnant women. So, to minimize a pregnant woman’s risk of listeria, the shrimp must be cooked until its meat becomes milky white.

All in all, as long as necessary precautions are considered, pregnant women can still enjoy eating shrimp. As long as the recommended amount or limit is followed, and as long as the shrimp is cooked well enough, then there shouldn’t be any problem. Starting with the basics in pregnancy nutrition, shrimp should not be taken off the diet list of pregnant women. After all, it is rather an essentially healthy part of it.

Salmon is safe for pregnant women to eat. In fact, salmon is recommended for women to eat during their pregnancy. It is rich in DHA, an omega 3 fatty acid that is essential building your baby’s brain and nervous system. There are studies conducted that show that eating fish while you are pregnant boosts you baby’s brainpower.

Another good thing with salmon is that it is low on mercury. This is the main issue most people have with eating fish. Fishes tend to contain mercury.

And mercury is hazardous to anyone’s health, especially to an unborn bay. But salmon contains only a very small amount of mercury, so mercury poisoning is not a big deal when it comes to salmons. However, you should be careful not to eat too much salmon. Even though it only has small amounts of mercury, eating a lot of it would build up to a lot of mercury.

The problem with salmon that you should really be concerned about is the PCBs, dioxins, and other contaminants. And this is mainly an issue on farmed salmons. Farmed salmons have a high amount of these toxins. Most salmon farmers use chemicals to make their fishes bigger and these are not healthful. You should be watchful of where the fish you eat is from. Be sure that the salmon you buy are wild salmons. So check the label of the fish you’re buying or ask about it.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency, salmon is safe for consumption. Pregnant women, nursing mothers, those who are trying to conceive, and young children may all eat salmon at most twice a week. Just be sure to cook it properly because you don’t want to have any listeria problems. So, as long as you cook your salmon properly, it is safe for you to eat while pregnant.

One of the major problems that pregnant women wonder about when eating cheesecake is listeria. Listeria is a type of bacteria that can cause miscarriage, infections to the newborn baby, premature delivery, and even giving birth to a dead child. It is a scary thing to think of. You don’t want to harm your baby’s health in any way.

However, when you consider other factors and look at the bigger picture, listeria is not as scary you would think it is. The chances of you getting listeria are quite small. Even when you take into consideration the fact that you are pregnant, the risks are still not as big of a deal. There are only about 2,500 people in the United States that get infected by listeria. And only 27% of these people are pregnant women.

Another thing is that, not all types of cheesecakes are at high risks of containing listeria. As long as the cheesecake is pasteurized, it is perfectly safe for pregnant women to consume. Baked cheesecakes are also safe for anyone to eat. Pasteurization and heating kills bacteria like listeria. So, as long as the cheesecake is made with pasteurized cheese and/or cooked, you can enjoy this dessert any time of the day.

And that is considering that the cheesecake isn’t spoiled.

If you intend to bake your own cheesecake, do check the ingredients that you are buying. Check the packaging to see that the cheese is pasteurized. You won’t have much difficulty with this as all you really have to do is to read the label. Check the same thing with the other ingredients that you need. Be sure that all of these have been processed properly. It would also be better if you bake your cheesecake, just so you can be sure that there are no bacteria left in any of the ingredients. And if you’re buying the cheesecake, ask about it, the ingredients and how it was prepared.

Can you eat cheesecake when pregnant? I say yes. It’s perfectly safe as long as it falls within the guidelines. And you’re going to be a mother, so indulge yourself a little.

Sometimes all of these changes and the things you expect to change can be very confusing. When you experience something that most women do not, or when you don’t experience something that other women usually do, you tend to question if there is anything wrong. One question that runs the mind of many soon-to-be mothers is “Do pregnant women have discharge?” Are women supposed to have discharge when they’re pregnant? Is this completely normal?

The answer is yes. Having vaginal discharge during your pregnancy is completely normal. Women usual discharge more when they are pregnant than when they’re not. This is called leukorrhea. The increased amount of discharge should not bother you as this is the result of an increase in the production of estrogen. Greater blood flow in the vaginal area is also a factor that contributes to the discharge.

However, you should be watchful of the color and the consistency of the discharge. The appearance of the normal discharge should be whitish in color. Normal vaginal discharge is thin, milky, and mild smelling or even odorless. The discharge may also appear mucus-like, similar to when you are having a runny nose. The discharge may also be thick as you may expel it in one gelatinous blob very early into your pregnancy. This may also be tinged with a little bit of blood.

If the color of the discharge is yellowish or a bit green, then you may be having some sort of infection. Especially if it is foul-smelling and is accompanied by itching or redness, then you most likely have a vaginal infection. It may be a yeast infection or, worse, an STD. So it is very important that you visit your doctor and tell them about the discharge regardless of whether it qualifies into the normal discharge. It is better safe than sorry.

When you do have discharge, don’t use tampons as these can only introduce new germs into your vagina, so use panty liners instead. Don’t douche as this interrupts the normal balance of your vagina and make matters worse.

And never assume what vaginal infection it is and self-medicate. Visit your doctor regularly and update him or her of whatever changes in your discharge.