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Thanks, birth control! Accidental pregnancies are dropping
Researchers have been tracking the number of accidental pregnancies in the United States since the 1980s. For all that time, the proportion of accidental pregnancies has stayed right around 50%. Until now. New research shows that after decades of little change, rates of accidental pregnancy in the U.S. have gone down. A few noteworthy stats: […]
One step closer to answers about Essure
UPDATE: Essure will no longer be sold after the end of 2018. Find out more here . The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced their plans to respond to concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the permanent birth control method Essure. Until May 3, 2016, anyone can read and comment on these […]
Combined hormonal versus progestin-only birth control
Three of the most common forms of birth control—the pill, the ring, and the patch—all work the same way. They’re all considered “combined” hormonal methods, meaning they contain two kinds of hormones: estrogen and progestin. Other hormonal methods—the shot, the implant, hormonal IUDs, and the progestin-only pill (a.k.a. minipill)—contain only one kind of hormone—a progestin. […]
No pain, no gain: The IUD insertion process
By Lena Chen. A version of this article was originally published on November 11, 2009, on SexReally.com. I wish I could say that getting the IUD was easy once I made my decision that the love affair with the pill was over. In reality, it took me three visits before I finally baby-proofed my uterus. […]
It’s official! Oregon pharmacists can prescribe birth control
Update: California has joined Oregon in making birth control available directly through a pharmacy visit! Here are the details. — Oregon made our hearts go boom again this week. They’re the first state to make the pill and the patch available directly from a pharmacist —no doctor’s visit needed. One stop shop On January 1, […]
Hello, Bedsider mobile: Birth control info on your phone
By Connor Davies. I have a secret. Even though I use the implant as my birth control method , I still get Bedsider’s birth control reminders for the pill. And why not? They’re fun, cheeky facts delivered to my phone every day. I personally use them to remind me to catch my train home. But […]
How to be fabulously and unapologetically abstinent
By Alanna Bares. I’m currently a senior at Carleton College. For now I’ve decided to opt out of the hookup culture, as well as the relationship culture… Any kind of intimate culture really. I’ve had friends tell me how bad my timing is, like, “Girl, it’s senior year! You’re supposed to be living it up!” […]
It took two doctors five tries to place my IUD — And I’d do it all again
When my boyfriend and I realized we were in it for the long haul, we got tested for STIs and switched from using condoms to the combination pill . But that was never a long-term solution for me. Besides my erratic schedule and goldfish memory almost guaranteeing I would miss a pill sometimes, I suffer […]
Depo SubQ: The do-it-yourself birth control shot
Co-written by Laurel Slough, MPH. So maybe you’ve heard of the birth control shot , a.k.a. Depo, Depo-Provera, or DMPA. Most people who use it go to a health care provider every 3 months to get it. But what if you were able to give the shot to yourself at home? No more making appointments, […]
Can you feel the IUD during sex?
It’s a question that has come up many times in my conversations, from chats with friends thinking about getting an IUD to fellow IUD users who’ve been able to feel it while getting it on. Ever since I got my Paragard three years ago, I’ve been curious, too. The best part about having an IUD […]
