If you forgot to take a birth control pill, you might be worried you are pregnant. But could your birth control pills interfere with your pregnancy test? Birth control pills work by suppressing ovulation with synthetic estrogen and progesterone;...
Ovulation is usually at the midpoint of a woman's menstrual cycle. It takes place when the right mixture of hormones reach a certain point. Pregnancy occurs when a woman ovulates and releases an egg from the ovaries. The egg than travels down...
Ovulation is the part of the monthly menstrual cycle in which a woman releases an egg, waiting to be fertilized by sperm to create an embryo. Birth control pills, or oral contraceptives, contain hormones that keep ovulation from happening. Birth...
It is possible to get pregnant shortly after giving birth. Your menstrual cycle may not resume immediately after giving birth, but it will not be long before you start ovulating. Breastfeeding can have an impact on putting off your menstrual...
While the likelihood of getting pregnant while taking birth control as directed isn't high, it is still possible. As such, all women should be aware of the signs and symptoms of pregnancy. Getting proper prenatal care early in the pregnancy is...
Most birth control pills work by utilizing synthetic hormones to prevent ovulation or to prevent implantation of a fertilized egg. According to the American Pregnancy Association, birth control pills are 99 percent effective when started on time...
Estrogen and progesterone combined prevent ovulation, thicken your cervical mucus and thin the lining of the uterus. This type of pill is called the combination pill. The levels of estrogen in the combination pill are much lower than when the pill...
When taking a home pregnancy test, questions often arise about the results of the test, regardless of whether they are positive or negative. One common question many women have is about the impact of birth control pills on the results of a...
In 2001, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that as many as half of all U.S. pregnancies occurred accidentally---many to women using some form of contraceptive. To maximize the chances of a healthy pregnancy, the American...
No barrier or hormonal contraceptive method is 100 percent effective at protecting against pregnancy, even when used accurately all of the time. Understanding the first signs of pregnancy is critical to making informed decisions about how and...
Birth control comes in many forms. The most commonly used forms are the condom, pills, patch, ring or implants inserted into the vagina. The primary goal of birth control is to prevent the conception of a baby -- however, birth control may be...
Birth control methods include hormonal contraceptives, such as pills, shots and patches. Each method and brand has a unique mixture of estrogen and progestin and delivery molecules that can potentially affect a fetus. Before taking birth control,...
Most women know that no form of birth control, even the pill, is 100 percent effective. And a woman taking the pill might have reason to wonder at some point if she might be pregnant. She might also wonder if the results of a pregnancy test can be...
Getting pregnant while on birth control isn't likely. However, there is a risk of birth control failure. Knowing the signs of pregnancy that may occur while you are on birth control is necessary to ensure that you and your baby get proper medical...
The birth control pill is one of the most popular methods of contraception used today and it is highly effective at preventing unwanted pregnancy. When a woman on the pill decides to become pregnant, however, she may be unsure of how to proceed....
Many women choose to use birth control to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Some forms, like the birth control pill and injection, contain synthetic forms of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Other types of birth control, like the copper...
There are negative effects possible with all methods of birth control. Failure to prevent pregnancy is one possible negative effect of all birth control methods, including natural methods; however, artificial birth control methods have other...
Family planning methods range from the withdrawal method, in which sexual intercourse is interrupted before completion, to surgical sterilization procedures. Each method has its benefits and drawbacks, and couples should choose a method based on...
When practiced correctly, natural family planning is 99 percent effective—just as effective as artificial contraceptives. Natural family planning allows a woman to read her body's natural signals to determine when she is fertile and...
Vitamins are needed to keep your reproductive organs functioning at an optimal level. They can improve your fertility and aid in conception. Jorge Chavarro, Walter Willett and Patrick Skerrett, authors of the book "Fertility Diet," recommend that...
Phoenix is home to several medical groups and clinics staffed with board-certified doctors. These locales address a range of family planning needs, from education to unwanted pregnancies, well women care and fertility treatment and referrals, in a...
Women take birth control for a variety of reasons. The primary reason is to prevent pregnancy, but there are also many health conditions that are treated with oral and other types of contraceptives. Most women get their birth control from their...
Dark spots on the skin have several other names used interchangeably, including age spots, sun spots and liver spots. These spots occur when the melanin pigment in your skin accumulates in high concentrations in the skin. In most cases, dark spots...
Each woman choosing a method of birth control has different needs and requirements. Planned Parenthood suggests women learn about each method of birth control to make an informed decision. Factors to consider include lifestyle, personal preference...
The contraceptive sponge is a hormone-free barrier form of birth control that prevents sperm from entering the uterus by physically blocking the cervix as well as using spermicide to avoid conception. Made of polyurethane and shaped like a dome,...
Bleeding that occurs between periods, is extremely heavy or lasts for more than a week at a time is abnormal, explains the Mayo Clinic. Although not all abnormal bleeding is dangerous, it sometimes indicates serious medical and gynecological...
Since the birth control pill was legalized in 1960, it and other methods of contraception have given more women the ability to control the size of their families and timing of their pregnancies. Family planning clinics provide birth control,...
Vaginal yeast infections are common complaints among women, especially women who are menstruating. Symptoms include a thick, white, curdy vaginal discharge; intense itching of the vulva; burning with urination; swelling and pain in the vulvar...
Swelling in the hands and feet during pregnancy is very common and often caused by water retention. Learn how to control pregnancy swelling in this pregnancy video.