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Minding the unplanned pregnancy gap
There are some things—acne, awkwardness, a curfew—it’s generally safe to look forward to outgrowing once your teenage years are behind you. One hazard that’s not so easily shed? Unplanned pregnancy. According to a report from the Guttmacher Institute , the proportion of US pregnancies that are unintended—already higher than other developed countries—rose slightly from 2001 […]
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 […]
Long-acting just got longer
The Mirena IUD is one of the longest lasting reversible methods we have available, and it could have an even longer lifespan than we thought. Recent research out of Europe suggests that Mirena—approved for five years of use in the U.S.—may actually work to prevent pregnancy for up to eight years. But whether its maker […]
Avoiding Evital
Morning after pills sold under the name Evital—a brand mainly sold in the Dominican Republic and not approved by the FDA for sale in the U.S.—may be counterfeit and not effective for preventing pregnancy. [ FDA ] original post
Keeping the faith
Religious OB-GYNs, especially those who are Hindu, Catholic, or Protestant, are more likely to believe that abstinence counseling works than doctors with no religious affiliation, according to a recent study. This isn’t too surprising considering that doctors are people too and carry their beliefs with them to their jobs. The study didn’t look at whether […]
Emergency Contraception 101 (because mishaps happen)
UPDATE: Plan B One-Step emergency contraception is now available over the counter without a prescription or age restrictions. Here’s what we know about it so far ! You could be drunk and forgetful. You could be crazy in love, horny as hell, and out of birth control. You could be perfectly responsible, but the condom […]
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 […]
Full birth control coverage? Thanks, President Obama!
If you happened to catch the folks at Planned Parenthood doing a little dance earlier this month, it was for a good reason. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) just announced that by this time next year, new health insurance plans will have to cover any FDA-approved birth control method your doctor prescribes […]
IUDs are A-OK: Doctors say the best new birth control has been here all along
UPDATE: Since this article went live, several more IUDs have hit the market. Learn all about the IUDs available in the U.S. as of 2017 . — If you’ve been skipping right over the IUD when exploring your birth control options , you aren’t alone. The mere sight of that homely acronym (an umbrella term […]
