Tag Archives: Birth Control Pills

dating, sex and relationship, Sex Health

A few Hidden Causes of Fungal Infections

Fungal infections are not something rare and they are especially present in female population. It is considered that almost every woman has experienced at least one case of fungal infection at some point of her life. These infections can happen to anyone regardless of their age. What is even worse is the fact that it is sometimes possible to have an infection without seeing any clear signs of inflammation. Yeast appears naturally on our body and it is fond of dark, moisturized and hidden corners of our body and this is something that can best describe the intimate area, armpits and few other areas. According to many gynecologists, in places where we can find high amounts of carbohydrates and sugars in the body we can expect the presence of fungal disorders. They also claim that it is not possible to completely get rid of these infections once and for all. So, the best idea is to treat them and keep them under control. The most common cause of all fungal infections is the fungi called Candida which naturally exists in every human body and starts to affect our health when the natural balance between acids and alkaline in the vagina is disrupted. This is the moment when many women notice feeling of itching in this area. In case you want to be prepared for fungal infections you need to know all the causes that lead to this condition and learn how to recognize and treat them in the right way.

Diet

The way we eat is very important and according to most gynecologists this practice is especially important during the menstrual period. This is the period when women should significantly increase the intake of all probiotic supplements. They should also include foods such as yoghurt and kefir, garlic which has amazing anti-fungal properties, coconut oil and meat soups. On the other hand, women should avoid carbs and sugar during this period.

Tight clothes

As we have mentioned before fungi simply love moisture and warmth. This suggests that tight clothes are especially suitable for the development and spreading of fungal infections and inflammation. It is always a good idea to choose clothing made of completely natural materials and some people suggest ironing the underwear after washing in order to be sure that the high temperature will eliminate all the bacteria that dwell in the clothes.

Hormonal changes

Weakened immune system, using antibiotics and birth control pills are all factors that contribute to intestine flora declination. This ultimately means that you can expect infections because the system cannot protect itself. Discomfort and itching can be eased with a tampon soaked in yoghurt and placed inside the vagina.

Hygiene

Fungal infections usually come with strong feeling of itching and a discharge with unpleasant smell. It is good to avoid soaps and hot water when taking care of the hygiene in the intimate area. Furthermore, try to avoid using scented tampons and scented shower gels when you are washing the vaginal area.

Sex Life Story

Safe Contraception Options: Who Should Use Protection

Who should use protection, men or women? It is an interesting question. Sex, contraception options and protection are mutual responsibility. Both men and women should know how to choose the right method. Both of them should think about their own and their partner’s health and well-being. It is not enough if one partner is responsible: both parties should know how to prevent pregnancy. Safe sex is not a matter that you can shrug away, saying that your partner is on the pill and it is not your problem. Contraception pill may not solve sexual problem and not forget about the side effect.

Honesty, Trust, Contraception Options and Your Health

Is your partner honest with you? Does your female partner tell you that she takes birth control pills – and is it true? Probably she has side-thoughts and she thinks it is time to settle down and have a baby, so she has just “forgotten” about her birth control pills. Maybe she is the happy-go-lucky one and she has skipped one or two days, so now both of you are at risk of an unwanted pregnancy. Has your male partner told you that he has undergone vasectomy, so he is perfectly safe for you; but what about sexually transmitted diseases? Would your partner tell you if they had some minor infection? Do you know your partner well? Are you in a serious relationship, based on trust? Are you into one-night stands or short-lived relationships? These questions are not moral issues. They have a lot to do with your health. Never leave protection to your partner! Whatever he or she says, make sure that you do your best to avoid an unwanted pregnancy or an infection. Has he had a vasectomy? Is she on the pill? Great. You should still use protection. Combined contraception options are safe. If he did have a vasectomy, you still can take your birth control pills and ask him to use a condom.

Prevent Pregnancy: Choose the Right Method

While hormonal contraception is unbeatable when it comes to avoiding unwanted pregnancy, do not completely dismiss barrier methods. Condoms protect you from sexually transmitted diseases, and even some kind of cancers like cervical cancer.

Prefer male condoms over female condoms. Male condoms have a lowest failure rate of the barrier methods. Use a condom with spermicide. Never restrict your protection methods to female condoms alone! They have the highest failure rate of all birth control methods (with the exception of coitus interruptus, the withdrawal method). For instance, diaphragms are not reliable when you want to avoid pregnancy. Neither do they protect you from the diseases of the upper genital tract.

The safest way of having sex is when both partners use some kind of protection. For women, combined oral contraceptive pills, implants, combined injections, intrauterine devices are the safest methods, and, of course, the irreversible methods: hysterectomy, tubal ligation, and essure. They should also insist on using a condom. For men, vasectomy and lubricated latex condoms will be the safest way (make sure that you use water-based lubes and avoid oil-based lubes that may damage the condom). They can use plastic wrap when giving oral sex to their partner. Oral sex may seem safe, but it can lead to ugly surprises – for instance, human papilloma virus that can cause serious sexual health issues.

dating, Male Enhancement, sex and relationship, Sex Health

The role of Nipples in Sex Excitement

Nipples are present in both men and women. But yet showing women’s nipples in public is considered something morally wrong. Isn’t it a little bit funny when we see a video or image in which the nipples are crossed with black tape? We were all raised by our mothers and most of us were breastfeed so this is a little bit awkward. We all know what’s behind the censored area and we have all had them in our mouth and sucking on them when we were babies.

It is an interesting fact that most women dislike or simply they are not satisfied with the look of their nipples. Some of them think they are too small or too big while some of them think that they are too light or too dark. When they link the appearance of their nipples with the beauty of their breasts in general some women become worried and in extreme cases they feel like they need to go on a surgery and solve the problem.

The truth is that nipples come in different forms – big, small, fat, pointy etc. There are women that have nipples turned inward but that should not be a reason for panic. This occurrence should be gone before the woman gets pregnant and it is almost always gone when she gives birth. The occurrence of milk discharge on the other hand is a clear sign that a woman needs to take care of her hygiene. This discharge is also a common occurrence in women that use birth control pills. If the discharge occurs irregularly you don’t have to go to the doctor because it is usually gone in one week. According to some legends Casanova was such a good lover that he caused women’s breast to produce milk but he was obviously dealing with this type of discharge.

When it comes to nipples and sex excitement it is good to know that the nipples together with the dark ring around them (areola) are the most sensitive part of the breast. But, not all women experience the same intensity of pleasure when they are touched or stimulated in some other way. Nipples tend to swell when the woman is sexually aroused. In some cases, this is not a sign of sexual desire but rather a reaction to the cold weather or excitement in general. That’s why you should not always think about sex when you see that your partner partner’s nipples have a reaction. Some women during puberty or when they take birth control pills notice that long hair grow around the areola. This is not a reason for panicking. This hair has a function but it can be easily removed. This hair is there for the infants that need guidance to reach the breasts. Remember that this is something completely natural and there is nothing to be ashamed of.

All the things we’ve mentioned apply for men too (except for mammary glands). Nipples in men don’t have absolutely any function but they act as an erogenous zones in men too.

sex and relationship, Sex Health

Practising Safe Sex Using Some of the Popular Ways

A wise guy once said ‘Prevention is better than cure’. In certain matters related to sex, there is little or no scope of cure. Complications such as unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases are irreversible; the only way of avoiding them is to take preventive measures. Following are some of the ways in which you can minimize the risks involved, if not cure them.

General precautions would make you self aware

First, it is important to consider and accept the fact that risks are involved wherever sex is. That being said, carrying out precautionary steps to avoid unnecessary complications is no rocket science. Begin with constantly educating yourself with regards to your body, its responses towards sexuality and sexual practices among other things. This should make you more aware of yourself and the possible responses that could trigger during the act.

Knowing your menstrual cycle could help you avoid pregnancy

First timers, especially females should keep a track of their menstrual cycle. Knowing the dates of their period should help them trace the days when they are ovulating. This is significant as those two days bear the highest chances of pregnancy. The chances of getting pregnant a week prior to and after the cycle are less; however, this does not mean that the possibility is down to zero.

More logical and specific measures to avoid complications

Using condoms may be a good thing; but it is equally crucial to consider how your body reacts to it. As much as latex condoms show an increased possibility of preventing sexually transmitted infections, they may be unsuitable for those allergic to it. Protection is available in alternative materials such as polyurethane and lambskin; these, however, are relatively less reliable for the purpose.

It is advisable to use female condoms for penetrative vaginal sex as they are aptly effective to prevent pregnancy and STIs.

Unprotected oral sex can have grave consequences. For this purpose, there are dental dams or square condom sheets to prevent the inflow of unwanted fluids such as infected blood from the genitals to the mouth. A dental dam should be used only once for either anal or vaginal sex and never back to back for both.

Treatment of Erectile dysfunction

Hormonal birth control pills are 99% effective, and even better when incorporated into your daily routine. A proper prescription of the same from a trusted gynaecologist would be most advisable. Alternatives to pills are hormonal patches and implants, injections of estrogen or progestin and vaginal hormones. These also show efficacy up to 99% when used properly. 

Sex toys: getting kinky with a hint of hygiene

Sex toys may be the core spice of the entire act. However, repeatedly using them can possibly put you through risk. In other words, any infection, trivial or major, could catch up on you unawares. To avoid this, you will need to consider sterilising them with disinfectants prior to their use. Sex toys need to be clean and dry at all times so you need to ensure a suitable environment for not just their sustenance, but also your well being!

sex and relationship, Sex Health

Recognizing the First Signs of Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be recognized even in the earliest stage if you know some of the signs. It is very important to find out if you are pregnant because this state requires special regime (diet, physical activity etc.)

Those who practice unprotected sex should be aware that there is a relatively high possibility that they can conceive a baby even if the male partner pulls out (pull out method) the penis before he reaches an orgasm (ejaculation). Of course, the most obvious sign that a woman is pregnant is the absence of the menstrual period or some irregularity during the menstrual period – short and weak bleeding. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the woman who is experiencing these things is necessarily pregnant thus there is no room for panic. Absence or weak menstrual period can be caused by many things such as stress, unhealthy diet, excessive physical activity, certain types of birth control pills etc.

Besides absence of menstrual bleeding there are few other signs that you need to e aware of if you think that you may be pregnant. For example, unexplained fatigue is a common condition in the early stage of pregnancy. This fatigue can also lead to fainting and feeling of dizziness. Some of the physical changes can cause pain in the back and headaches. Pain in the back is something that can occur during the whole pregnancy while headaches are result of the hormonal changes. Another physical change happens in the breasts. The breasts during early pregnancy are usually very sensitive and they can even change their physical appearance (the nipples can appear darker). Some women describe this condition as a feeling that their breasts are heavier. Another common sign of early pregnancy is the well known morning sickness. Despite the words used to describe this phenomenon these sicknesses can happen throughout the whole day. Women during this period are more sensitive to smell and flavor and any specific aroma can cause sickness. Frequent urination is another common sign as well as cramps in the abdominal area. Finally, during this period women experience not only physical changes but psychological changes too. Something that happens often is mood swings. Although they are a sign of premenstrual syndrome, similar behavior can be noticed in early pregnancy too.

All these signs can point to pregnancy. If you have only one of these signs or even more of these signs that suggest that you might be pregnant, it is time to take a pregnancy test. These tests are usually reliable. If you want to get the best results wait for one week so that the level of hormones is increased and the test will be more precise. Even if the test indicates a negative result that doesn’t mean that you are not pregnant. These tests are correct in most cases but exceptions are possible. That’s why it’s best to take another test few days later if the period is still absent. If the test shows a positive result visit your gynecologist.

sex and relationship, Sex Health

Can Sex Cause A Headache?

Although this is not a common situation, sex and orgasms can cause strong headaches and this is something that a lot of people can confirm.

There are some cases when sexual activity and/or orgasms can cause headache. This pain can be felt as a tension in the head and in the neck area and what is interesting is that this pain increases with the raise of sexual arousal and it turns into a sudden strong pain right before or after the orgasm. One in one hundred persons have experienced such pain at least once in their lifetime. According to some experts men are three times more likely to experience sexual headache compared to women which is surprising because speaking in general women are those who usually suffer from headaches. In most cases sexual headache doesn’t last long, although in rare cases it lasts more than several hours. This headache can occur during masturbation too. Sexual headaches are not harmful, but they are very often sign of some other bigger health problem, especially in people who feel headache after any physical activity.

Experts have determined two types of sexual headaches. The first one appears suddenly during orgasm or moments after an orgasm has been achieved. The pain is really strong and those who have experienced it compare this pain to stabbing in the head. This is the most common type of sexual headache. The second type is very rare and it starts as a mild pain that affects both sides of the head and this pain increases together with the raising of the sexual arousal. Most sexual headaches last very short, but there are some sexual headaches that last for several hours.

Sexual headaches can be caused by any sexual activity that leads to an orgasm. This means that besides regular vaginal sex, they can be cause by masturbation and even by oral sex too. Generally speaking, sexual activity increases blood pressure which leads to increased pressure in the head. In addition, sex causes muscle spasms and tension. In some cases this results in headaches caused by dilation of blood vessels in the head. Very often sexual headaches indicate bigger health problems like meningitis, tumor, aneurysm, risk of heart attack and other difficulties. Although these headaches don’t necessarily mean that you have some serious problem, it is always a good idea to visit your doctor. Sometimes the reasons for sexual headaches are certain birth control pills, anemia, inflammation of the sinuses, glaucoma or lack of sugar in the blood.

Sexual headaches are usually not a serious condition but visiting and consulting a doctor is highly recommended, this is especially useful in cases where these headaches appear constantly. If they are reappearing it’s better to lower your sexual activity until you get the results from your medical examination. If there is no serious reason behind these headaches your doctor will most probably recommend you similar therapies and remedies used for regular headaches – pills, low physical activity and resting.

Contraception, sex and relationship, Sex Health

Few Things That You Should Know About Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the most common hormonal disorders among women in reproductive age. We are talking about multitude of small cysts that can usually be found on the edges of the ovary. It is still unknown how and why polycystic ovaries appear but it is considered that the hormonal changes are one of the main reasons for that.

One of the causes of development of polycystic ovary syndrome is the excessive amount of androgen hormones produced by adrenal glands and ovaries. These androgen hormones are closely related with estrogen. Many women during their adolescence period are suffering from polycystic ovaries which is manifested with prolonged and irregular menstrual cycles, overweight, acnes, unusual bodily hair growth etc. However it is good to know that there are many women who never or rarely experience periods of troubles with polycystic ovaries. There are also women who never had problems with such ovaries when they were young, but started to develop this syndrome later.

There are two most noticeable symptoms of this syndrome. The first symptom is a disrupted menstrual cycle. Polycystic ovaries can cause menstrual cycle to last longer than 30 days but it can also make it disappear. Another symptom is hair growth on unusual places for women – their chin for example and overall excessive body hair growth. The reason for this is the higher amount of androgen hormones like testosterone.

No matter what symptoms you might notice you should definitely perform a gynecological examination. Early diagnosis of this syndrome means that you will be able to deal with it more easily. If you start treating this syndrome later you might suffer from some permanent damages.

So what exactly causes these polycystic ovaries? There are many causes and some of them include: taking excessive amounts of insulin (it can increase the level of androgen hormones), abnormal fetal development, hereditary characteristics (there is a high possibility to develop polycystic ovary syndrome if your mother or grandmother had it too), smoldering inflammation (bad diet and bad lifestyle can trigger inflammations and protection from white cells which deplete the body) and more.

Besides these causes, polycystic ovary syndrome is linked with few medical issues such as: diabetes, high level of cholesterol and lipids, high blood pressure, insomnia, excessive amount of C-reactive protein, excessive bleeding during the menstrual period, endometrial cancer caused by exposure to large amounts of estrogen, gestational diabetes etc.

All these medical problems should be taken seriously no matter if they are directly or indirectly linked with polycystic ovary syndrome. Make sure you consult your doctor and certain specialists. Gynecologist will certainly know how to advise you about polycystic ovary syndrome. They can give you several treatment options like – regulation of menstrual cycle with birth control pills, help with ovulation with anti-estrogen medications or hormonal injections, help with hair growth problem with certain contraceptive pills etc. In most serious cases, a surgery is the most helpful solution. The procedure is called laparoscopic surgery of ovaries that will help women to ovulate and conceive.

Sex Health

Tips For Practising Good Sex Health

You will be surprised at how few people out there practice good sex health. In fact, you may be surprised at just how preventable many of the sexual conditions that people suffer from actually are. On this page I want to give you a brief overview of the various things that you will need to do in order to ensure that you are practising good sexual health.

Firstly, a condom is a must. Unless you know your partner well, and you know that they are suffering from no problems, then you need a condom. A condom is the only contraceptive out there which is able to protect you from both sexual diseases and reduce the risk of pregnancy. If your partner refuses the use of a condom then do NOT have sex. The risks of something happening are far too high. It is worth noting at this point that there is no contraceptive out there which will eradicate sexual health problems completely. There is always a slim chance that something can go wrong. However, you need to remember that there is more of a chance of something going wrong if you do not actually use the contraceptive to begin with!

I do not want to talk about the risk of pregnancy that much more. We all know that this is a massive risk when you are having sex. If you really do not want to have children then I suggest that you look into a few other methods that you can utilize. For example, a woman may want to use birth control pills in addition to a man using condoms. Two contraceptive methods are better than one after all!

The thing that I do want to talk about here when it comes to sex health is the chance of suffering from a sexually transmitted diseases. What many people do not realize is that there are some sexual diseases e.g. Chlamydia which have absolutely no symptoms. However, they can cause some serious problems in your life. For example, they may end up making you infertile. This is why it is always important to practice good sex health.

Now, I am the type of person that would advocate that you ask people about their sexual history. Particularly if you have just met them and you are planning to have sex. Let’s be honest though, most people do not get themselves checked regularly (you really should, trust me, you are going to feel better in the long run!). People are also prone to lying. You should never rely on what somebody tells you. The only way in which you are going to stand a good chance of avoiding sexually transmitted diseases is by using a condom. There is no other contraceptive method out there which will actually work for you. You should always use condoms with somebody (even if they insist you don’t) until you feel comfortable with them and their sexual health. If you are entering a relationship then both of you may want to get checked out to give you confidence.

Sex Health

How to Use Birth Control Pills

If you are not familiar with oral hormonal contraceptives, the best thing to do before using them is to consult with your doctor.

There are many types and brands of oral contraceptives but what is common for all of them is that they usually include 21 pills in one package and they also have the number of days and weeks starting from 1 to 21 marked next to the pills. The birth control pills should be taken on the first day of menstruation in case the menstruation before where regular and proper. In this way the women will be protected from unwanted pregnancy starting from day one. In cases of heavy menstrual bleeding, the best thing is to start using these pills starting from the fifth day of menstruation. The fact is that birth control pills can increase the level of bleeding and intensify the menstruation and that is why it is better to be cautious in these cases. If the pills are taken from day 5 for the first time, full contraceptive protection will be present starting from the second cycle of taking of these oral contraceptives.

If the birth control pills are marked with days of the week, then try to balance the intake from the day you’ve got your period. Let’s explain this with an example. If the first day of your menstruation started on Thursday, start the process by taking the pill that is labeled as Thursday (usually it is shorten to Thu). In case the pills are marked with numbers take the pill marked with number one. Keep taking pills daily and remember to respect the instructions until you reach number 21. When you are out of pills, it is necessary to take a break that lasts for one week. In this period you will notice bleeding that usually appears a couple of days after you have stopped taking the pills. After these break, start using the pills once again starting from the same day as previously. In our example this means Thursday. Disregard the bleeding and remember that if you want this to work you have to start again after one week exactly. It is highly recommended to take the pills in the same period of the day, so you can take them after 24 hours exactly. If you stick to the instructions, the protection from unwanted pregnancy applies even for the period when you are making a break.

However there are two factors that can make these sex pills less effective no matter how regular you take these pills.

Diarrhea and strong vomiting in the first hours after taking a pill can certainly lower the effectiveness.

Mixing these pills with antibiotics can also make them less effective. So try to avoid antibiotics whenever it is possible.

If you have forgotten to take a pill and there are less than 12 hours from the time when you had to take it, the pill should be taken as soon as possible. The next pill should be taken as scheduled before.

If you have missed to take a pill for more than 12 hours, the effects of the pills will be reduced, but you should however take the pill as soon as possible and continue with the schedule.

Contraception, sex and relationship, Sex Health, Sex Life Story

How Do Birth Control Pills Affect The Body?

The first birth control pills were produced around 50 years ago and they were received very well by the public, especially among couples that were afraid of unwanted pregnancy. However these pills can affect on almost everything on your body, from the muscles and the brain to the sex drive.

These birth control pills work in a way that deceives the body with the help of artificial female hormones like estrogen and progesterone. They prevent the appearance of ovulation or in other words they stop the release of eggs. The process sounds very simple but the truth is that all those hormones are making a lot more than prevention of pregnancy.

Recent studies have shown that birth control pills can affect appearance, but not that much as previously because the new types of pills are having low levels of hormones and they are significantly improved. This is a short list of things that are usually affected by birth control pills.

Bones

Some studies suggest that taking birth control pills can lower the density of the spine, especially if those pills have low levels of estrogen in them. Natural estrogen stimulates the growth of bone tissue and pills maintain the normal level of estrogen. What is still uncertain is what happens when someone decides to stop taking those pills. However there is no proof that birth control pills cause any diseases related to the bones such as osteoporosis.

Cancer 

The link between breast cancer and birth control pills is still unclear. Few studies have shown different results and some suggest that there is a link while others suggest that there is absolutely no link between breast cancer and these pills. When it comes to cancer you should always be aware of family history of the disease, to consult a gynecologist or other doctors that can help you prevent it. What is interesting is that some scientist claim that women who take birth control pills lower their chances of getting uterine and ovarian cancer.

Sex Drive

It is well known that birth control pills reduce the level of testosterone in the body. Luckily, some women have high level of testosterone and taking pills does not affect their sexual desire. If you think that your sex drive is lowered because of the pills, consult a gynecologist who will look for another way to protect you against pregnancy.

Increased Weight

In the past there were cases where birth control pills made women gain weight while taking them. The main cause for this was the high level of estrogen which prevented the kidneys to excrete water from the body and what is interesting is that they have also stimulated a growth of the breasts. Modern birth control pills have low level of hormones (including estrogen) and don’t cause weight gain. Besides that they are even more effective when it comes to prevention of pregnancy compared to the pills from the past.

Skin

These pills can help you with acne and pimples because of the artificial estrogen that they contain. The estrogen reduces the level of testosterone which is responsible for the production of sebum that clogs pores and causes the formation of pimples.