Male Condoms
Overview
Condoms are excellent for preventing the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, including
What Are the Safest Contraceptives?
It may be difficult trying to decide which method of contraception is the right choice for you and your partner. Learning about the different types of contraception, associated risks and side effects, and efficacy is important. No method of...
Medical Risks of Birth Control
Choosing which method of contraception is right for you is a very difficult decision. Usually you will make a choice based on the possible medical risks and side effects of each method. Three of the most commonly used methods of birth control are...
Contraceptive Types
Contraceptives, also known as "birth control," are used to prevent a woman from getting pregnant. Being that it takes sperm from the male to become pregnant, contraceptives are made for both sexes. Most types are temporary, but there are some that...
Family Planning for Men
Family planning, also known as "birth control," is an umbrella term describing the use of methods intended to regulate the number and timing of pregnancies and births within a family. A variety of family planning methods are possible; the common...
The Difference Between Ingrown Hairs & Genital Herpes
Genital herpes lesions that result from a non-primary outbreak can often be confused with more innocuous conditions, such as irritation and ingrown hairs associated with shaving around the area of the genitals or bikini line. However, ingrown...
Condoms, HIV and Nonoxynol-9
Years ago it was thought that the spermicide Nonoxynol-9 that was added to condoms and sexual lubricants would help prevent both unwanted pregnancies and the transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. After a decade of research, it...
Spermicide
Spermicide is considered to be a safe method of birth control, with few side effects. However, this method alone is not as effective as other methods as preventing pregnancy. It is much more effective when combined with other methods, such as...
Female Condoms
As an alternative for women who can't take birth control pills, some women turn to female condoms for their desired mode of contraception. Female condoms are sheer, large balloon-like condoms (larger than a male condom). Female condoms are...
Side Effects of Spermicide
Spermicide comes in a variety of forms including gels, vaginal suppositories and contraceptive film. The spermicide disables sperm from entering the uterus and causing fertilization of an egg, or pregnancy, to occur. The contraceptive has a...
What Are the Causes of Feminine Itch?
Feminine itching is a common compliant that causes women to see their gynecologist. A pelvic examination is necessary to properly diagnose the cause of such symptoms. Vaginal cells may be placed on a slide and examined under a microscope to...
Factors That Affect Family Planning
Family planning is about more than just birth control. Family planning encompasses all the decisions a woman makes regarding her reproductive health, from pregnancy prevention and planning, to child spacing and even protecting herself from...
What Are the Causes of UTIs?
Urinary tract infections, more commonly known as UTIs, affect between 8 and 10 million people each year, Healthcommunities.com reports. Around 95 percent of UTIs result from bacteria gaining access to the urethra and ascending into the bladder,...
Abstinence From Sex
Overview With all of the talk about sexuality, birth control and dating, there's a vocal group that believes that you're being encouraged to become sexually active. This is not the case at all, unless you feel pressured from your friends or your...
How Effective is Vaginal Contraceptive Foam?
Women seeking to prevent pregnancy have many contraceptive choices, including vaginal foam. Vaginal foam is an easily available and cheap form of contraception, with few of the long-term side effects of other choices, such as hormonal birth...
What Does Birth Control Do?
Conception requires multiple events to take place. To begin with, sperm has to enter into the vagina and travel to the cervix. Next, it needs to come into contact with a mature egg and fertilize it. The fertilized egg has to travel to the uterus...
What Are the Treatments for a Urinary Bladder Infection?
Bladder infections, also called cystitis, occur when bacteria from the rectum or skin enter the urethra, the tube that empties urine from the bladder to the outside out of the body. The bacteria travel into the bladder and, sometimes, into the...
Types of Birth Control & Its Effects
Women have the choice to prevent pregnancies through the use of birth control. Some forms of birth control, like birth control pills and intrauterine devices (IUDs), contain hormones that alter a woman's body; when use properly, the hormones will...
Accutane & Pregnancy
Accutane, the brand name of the medication isotretinoin, treats severe nodular acne. Although this medication successfully reduces acne for many people, it may cause life-threatening birth defects when taken during pregnancy. Pregnant women and...
How to Stop the Birth Control Pill Mid-Cycle
The birth control pill works to prevent pregnancy and regulate the menstrual cycle with the use of hormones. Most pills are taken on a 21- or 28-day cycle to maintain consistency. With so many birth control choices, it is not uncommon to stop and...
Provigil Effects on Birth Control Medicines
Modafinil, sold under the brand name Provigil, is used to treat sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea. Provigil is a stimulant that enhances daytime wakefulness but is known to interact with many prescription drugs,...
Chronic Yeast Infection Causes
Yeast infections commonly impact both women and men, taking the form of vaginal and throat infections, called thrush, as well as infections of the penis. Symptoms may include intense itching and burning, a yeasty smell and thick discharge....
How to Switch Contraceptives
Although some couples use the same contraception throughout their reproductive years, many change their minds and decide to use a new birth control method. Unpleasant side effects, limited availability, the financial cost, wanting a more permanent...
About Nordette
Nordette is an oral contraceptive that goes under the generic name ethinyl estradiol (estrogen) and levonorgestrel (progesterone), two hormones combined to prevent pregnancy. Other brand names for Nordette are Levora, Aviane and Lutera. Oral...
Causes of Brown & Yellow Vaginal Discharge
Most women experience normal vaginal discharge that varies throughout the menstrual cycle. Vaginal cells produce normal bacteria and fluids--about a teaspoon a day--that is white or transparent, thick to thin, and odorless. However, if the color...
Contraceptive Technology
Birth control technology has improved dramatically in the last 25 years. The Draper Fund report from the U.S. National Library of Health Medicine describes advances in oral contraceptives, time-release birth control and IUD techniques that have...
3 Ways to Prevent Cervicitis
By far most cases of cervicitis are caused by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). STDs are almost entirely preventable by practicing safe sex, which means using a condom 100 percent of the time. Beyond that, it's wise to limit your sexual...
Pros & Cons of Condoms as a Contraceptive
Condoms are a form of birth control that uses the barrier method; male condoms are rolled over the penis to prevent semen form entering the vagina. Condoms are often made of latex, lambskin or polyurethane. Some condoms are coated with additional...
Pros & Cons About Birth Control Pills
The birth control pill is an oral contraceptive made up of synthetic hormones that is taken on a daily basis. Oral contraceptives are used by 30 percent of U.S. women for birth control, according to The Mayo Clinic. Commonly referred to as "the...