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How can birth control help an ovarian cyst?
One of the main ways hormonal birth control prevents pregnancy is by stopping ovulation—so the egg never leaves the carton, so to speak. The pill, the patch, the ring, and the shot are most reliable at blocking ovulation, so people using these methods may have fewer ovarian cysts . If you tend to get ovarian […]
I heard that hormone-filled pee is killing our fish and harming the environment. Is taking hormonal birth control bad for our water?
Any form of birth control is better than no birth control when it comes to the environment . But let’s look a little closer at the claim that hormones in birth control are getting into the environment through pee. The simple answer is: yes, it is. But—and this is a big but—it is small compared […]
If I’m using another method of birth control, do I still have to use condoms?
Unless you’re in a totally exclusive relationship and you and your partner have both been tested recently for every single STI, you should definitely use condoms with whatever other birth control method you choose. Using a condom with another form of birth control is called dual protection. It means you’re being super-safe and protecting yourself […]
What’s an ovarian cyst?
A cyst is basically a bubble—a collection of fluid with a thin wall around it. Functional cysts are formed when a follicle (the fluid-filled sac that develops around an egg during ovulation) grows larger than expected . Sometimes they can cause un-fun symptoms like abdominal discomfort, pelvic pain, pain during bowel movements, or pain during […]
New birth control patch Twirla offers a lower dose option
TW: discussion of BMI.* The FDA has approved Twirla , a new version of the birth control patch with a lower dose of estrogen than the other patches on the market, Xulane and Zafemy. Twirla is super thin (1mm thick), beige, and circular. Twirla works exactly the same way as other birth control patches. Each […]
Fact check: 10 things that aren’t birth control and 17 things that are
Good news and bad news, folks. The bad news is that the following 10 groceries are NOT birth control: Papaya Neem Asafoetida Figs Ginger Smartweed Wild yam Pennyroyal Black cohosh Angelica The good news is that these 17 things ARE proven methods of preventing pregnancy! And if what you’re after is something that doesn’t have […]
Can pharmacists really prescribe birth control?
If it seems to you that taking time off work, finding transportation to a clinic and paying for a doctor’s visit is a lot of work to get birth control, you’re not alone. In fact, ACOG, a professional association of ob-gyns, has suggested that birth control should be available over the counter to improve access […]
5 signs it’s time to switch birth control methods
Ever feel stuck in a job or a relationship that just isn’t working for you, but you’re not sure how to get out of it? The right partner might be hard to find (and the right job might be even harder) but the right birth control method for you doesn’t have to be. Look, we’re […]
Dara, 18, the patch
Dara started taking the pill when she was in middle school to help with painful periods . When she became sexually active, she decided to get on a birth control method she wouldn’t need to remember every day. Dara chose the Xulane patch because it helps with her periods and she only needs to think […]
Can birth control make my acne better?
From the pill to the patch , the ring to the IUD , there are a few options to choose from to keep your birth control covered and your skin clear. Here’s what two of our medical advisors suggest. Option 1: A combined hormonal method If you have acne, any combined hormonal birth control method […]
