The “morning-after pill” is a type of emergency contraception used to prevent pregnancy following unprotected intercourse. There are several brands of emergency contraceptive pills containing levonorgestrel, a type of hormone, available and packaged for purchase. Some of these include Plan B One-Step, Next Choice, Take Action, My Way and AfterPill. If these are taken within three days of unprotected intercourse, success rates of preventing pregnancy can go up to 89 percent. They can be taken up to five days following intercourse, but they’re most effective when taken as soon as possible.
How does it work?
The emergency contraceptive pill...
What exactly is postpartum anxiety?
If you recently gave birth, postpartum anxiety can occur alongside depression or distinctly from it. For many women, the abrupt decrease in estrogen and progesterone at the time of delivery can lead to a greater sensitivity to stress, causing some to feel overwhelmed, fearful or panicky. Sleep deprivation from newborn care can also contribute to these feelings. In addition, especially for first-time mothers, the responsibility of caring for a newborn and the feelings of wanting to protect and keep the baby...
Image courtesy of Mary Lopera
Growing up, I always dreamt of the perfect fairytale story where I would meet my prince charming, live in a big castle and raise a house full of children. The first part of my fairytale came true in 1998 when I met my then boyfriend, Alex, and married him seven years later. Alex and I met in our early 20s, so having children wasn’t initially a priority for us. We enjoyed traveling and living our lives, but my heart and mind started longing for children as we hit our 30s.
I started taking birth control at the age of 19, and stopped at 32 when we decided to start trying to conceive. We let things happen...
What is PCOS?
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a spectrum of clinical disorders that currently affects up to 8% of reproductive-age females. The condition is associated with increased androgen production from the ovaries and insulin resistance. PCOS can present with a variety of symptoms, but is primarily characterized by ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism.
What are the signs and symptoms?
When a patient presents with irregular menstrual periods with (or without) signs of acne, obesity and/or hirsutism, clinicians will consider a workup to evaluate for PCOS. Hirsutism is a condition of unwanted, male-...
Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) are methods of birth control that prevent pregnancy in users for an extended amount of time without requiring any action following their placement. For LARC methods, there are two classes to consider: hormonal and copper intrauterine devices (IUDs) and subdermal contraceptive implants, sold under the brand name Nexplanon, among others.
Currently, several hormonal IUDs are available in the United States, including brand names like Mirena, Kyleena, Liletta and Skyla. These IUDs are placed in the uterus and can last for up to five years. The non-hormonal IUDs with copper, commonly sold under the brand name ParaGard, are also...
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