Blame it on the pill (again)
Another day, another study attempting to link the world’s ills to the birth control pill. Headlines are blaring news of a study, published in BMJ Open , that alleges that the pill may cause prostate cancer. In fact, as others have noted , what the study really shows is that rates of prostate cancer are […]
Birth control with benefits
When we hear “side effect” we tend to think of doom and gloom, but many birth control methods have positive side effects , too. Exhibit A: a new study of reproductive-age women in the U.S. shows that side benefits are part of the reason a lot of women use the pill. And by a lot […]
Weight a minute
Going on the pill doesn’t mean you’ll be putting on the pounds. (That’s what bacon wrapped tatertots and fried banana splits are for.) original post
The pill messes with memory? Forget about it!
Sure, we know remembering to take your birth control every day can be hard. But some recent headlines are saying that birth control pills actually alter women’s memory… Really? The short answer is that—in spite of the headlines—we still don’t know. Memory and hormones: Is there a connection? The real story on hormones and memory […]
Pill good news and bad news
There was good news and not-so-good news for the pill this week. First, the good news: a new study confirms that women who have ever taken the pill—even for just a few years—have long-lasting protection from ovarian cancer. Previous research has shown that the pill also protects against uterine cancer and that, contrary to popular […]
Attitude Adjustment
A recent study found that three-quarters of doctors (74%) are likely to prescribe extended-use oral contraceptives—the ones that let you go longer between periods. More than any other factor, the doctors who prescribed the extended-use contraceptives shared “a positive attitude toward skipping periods.” Doctors aren’t supposed to let their personal feelings influence how they treat […]
Elliot, 24, the pill
Once Elliot and his girlfriend got more serious—and exclusive—they moved from condoms to the birth control pill. Sure, she has to set reminders to remember exactly when to take the pill everyday, but they’ve totally regulated her menstrual cycle. And Elliot appreciates that the pill is less expensive than condoms and allows them to be […]
Side effect spotlight: What’s up with spotting?
For many of us, periods can be an annoyance. But when they’re unpredictable and unruly, they can become a huge burden. Some birth control methods help deal with irregular periods, making cycles more regular or making periods lighter or non-existent . But some birth control can cause unpredictable spotting or bleeding, particularly when you first […]
More promising, far-from-available male birth control
As if we needed another reason to save the rainforest: A leafy plant found deep in the jungles of Indonesia may hold the key to the elusive male birth control pill. The gandarusa plant has been used as a stress-reliever for centuries, and locals knew it had a reputation for reducing fertility. Now, researchers are […]
Baby in one hand… birth control in the other
As if they didn’t have their hands full already, women who have just given birth have to be especially careful when choosing a contraceptive. The CDC has just updated it’s guidelines on which methods are safe for new moms to use, and when. While hormonal methods that don’t contain estrogen—the shot, the Mirena IUD, the […]
