I have epilepsy. Am I loveable? Can I have sex? Be a good parent?
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By: health
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September 14, 2016
I started asking myself a lot of questions when I was first diagnosed with epilepsy . How am I supposed to get over the embarrassment of having seizures in class, in the lunch line, at the bus stop, at work, at friend’s houses…etc? How do I tell people I have epilepsy? What birth control can […]
Yay! Pharmacists in California can prescribe birth control too now
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By: health
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April 12, 2016
Back in January 2016 we wrote that Oregon had made some hormonal birth control methods available directly from pharmacists and that a similar law was about to go into effect in California. Well, Californians, the wait is over —pharmacists in your state will now be able to prescribe birth control! The laws in the two […]
Combined hormonal versus progestin-only birth control
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By: health
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February 2, 2016
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. […]
Depo SubQ: The do-it-yourself birth control shot
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By: health
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November 16, 2015
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, […]
Stephanie, 23, the shot
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By: health
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October 21, 2015
Stephanie is busy. She’s in the process of becoming a personal trainer and would sometimes forget to take the pill. Feeling frustrated by her daily birth control method, she decided to try the shot (which you only need to get four times a year). It definitely simplified things for her. Now she only needs to […]
Which birth control method will help reduce my cramps?
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By: health
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September 15, 2015
Most women who use hormonal birth control–the pill, the ring, the shot, the patch, the implant, or a hormonal IUD–will have less painful periods than those who don’t. This is because these methods of birth control make the lining of the uterus thinner. There’s less tissue in the uterus to shed, so periods are lighter. […]
Is it safe to lose blood by spotting a lot?
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By: health
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September 15, 2015
Spotting, which can happen with a bunch of different methods, doesn’t make you lose that much blood, even though it might seem like it. We have a Provider Perspective article about it if you want to learn more. Still not working? You may have more luck on a pill with a slightly higher dose of […]
What are the best methods to use if I don’t want to have my period?
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By: health
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September 15, 2015
The Mirena IUD, the shot, and the implant have all been shown to reduce menstrual bleeding for most women. You can also use the pill or the ring continuously to intentionally skip your period. original post
A prick, a squeeze, and 3 months of birth control
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By: health
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November 25, 2014
There’s big news for birth control around the world. Women in 69 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Central Europe may soon have access to an affordable new form of birth control that’s similar to the shot (Depo Provera). It’s called Sayana Press and it’s designed so that with basic training, health care workers […]
Gaining weight: Is it the birth control?
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By: health
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March 12, 2014
It’s a very common story. A woman starts using hormonal birth control, finds herself gaining weight, and assumes the birth control is to blame. The tricky thing is that lots of research about hormonal birth control shows that, with one important exception, it’s probably not the birth control. A note on personal experiences vs. the […]