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Are Depo shot users more likely to break a bone?
For women who use the shot (a.k.a. Depo-Provera) , there’s good news and there’s weird news. For years women have been warned that the shot can cause loss of minerals in their bones—which could mean they’re more prone to bone fractures. A new study from England found that women using the shot did have a […]
The pill, only when you get lucky
What if there was a birth control pill you didn’t need to take every. single. day ? If you like the sound of a pill that works to prevent pregnancy when taken within a few hours of sex, you’re not alone. Researchers call this a “pericoital pill”—with “peri” meaning around and “coital” meaning sex. In […]
Research finds sex is still good with condoms
We’ve heard some pretty colorful excuses for not using condoms (a.k.a. the only birth control method that protects against STIs ). Reducing sensitivity is definitely a big one. Fortunately, science is here to help put the rumors to rest and assure us that condoms may be a barrier to STI transmission, but they’re no barrier […]
Hello, Skyla! Getting to know the newest IUD
Update: Skyla is no longer the new kid on the block. Two more hormonal IUDs, LILETTA and Kyleena , are now available as well. Let’s hear it for choices! — Birth control has many wonderful qualities—but being one-size-fits-all isn’t one of them. So when a new birth control option becomes available—especially one that’s long-acting and […]
Got health insurance? Hello, birth control options!
By Gretchen Borchelt of the National Women’s Law Center . Has birth control ever given you sticker shock? Thanks to the new health care law , the Affordable Care Act (or ACA), if you have health insurance, your preferred birth control method should now be a covered benefit without any out-of-pocket expenses. You read that […]
Fertility unawareness
The good news? Young folks who have used fertility awareness or withdrawal (a.k.a. pulling out) for birth control have a better idea of when in a person’s cycle they’re most fertile compared to folks who have never used those methods. The bad news? That’s not sayin’ much. A Research Brief from Child Trends used data […]
Stress, depression, and birth control…
Feeling stressed or depressed can make it harder to do all kinds of basic things —like get to work or school, sleep well, and make decisions. Turns out it can also make it harder to stay on top of your birth control. The study Almost 700 women in Michigan, ages 18-19, took part in a […]
The power of free birth control
UPDATE: President Biden has opened the enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act health insurance plans for 2022. You can now enroll in one of these plans until January 15, 2022, at healthcare.gov . Some states have their own open enrollment periods and websites for signing up. Check to see if your state does . […]
The magical powers of semen…
Just when we thought we had the biology of human reproduction figured out, new research shows there’s still plenty we don’t understand. Today’s example? A team of biologists have shown that a protein commonly found in the semen of many animals—including humans—can help kick-start the release of an egg (a.k.a. ovulation). The protein, which has […]
Something for the (IUD insertion) pain…
As the comments on some of our articles will testify, IUD insertion is more painful for some women than for others. As more and more U.S. women are deciding that the gain is worth the pain , researchers and health care providers are looking for ways to make the insertion process more comfortable for all. […]
