How Do I Get Pregnant

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The diversity of birth control methods is sometimes overwhelming, although we need to admit that it helps immensely; due to the large offer of types of birth control, everybody can find something suitable. What matters most with this variety of options is to select the one that suits anatomical factors, health condition, age and several other criteria. Normally, you should consult a specialist before taking a decision. Yet, people who have sexual intercourse occasionally and change sex partners often, have fewer safe options available. You can stay health only by using condoms correctly. This is the best chance you’ve got for a healthy love life.

Besides condoms, birth control patches, pills, rings, shots, spermicides and IUD, natural family planning methods and sperm barriers represent the main types of birth control available at the moment. Normally, they all have a high efficiency rate, and pose no usage difficulty, yet, not every kind of birth control is universally valid. This is the reason why you should discuss the types of birth control available with a specialist in order to identify the one that suits you best.

Let’s take the case of hormonal pills. Such contraceptives have significantly improved over the years and they are much safer to use now than in the past. The number of side effects is consistently lower, yet they remain out of many women’s reach. You will have to be straightforward with the gynecologist about your love life and your medical history.

Health risks are associated with all the main types of birth control. Plus, unless you use the methods correctly, the efficiency will never be optimal and chances are for unplanned pregnancies to appear. Once you learn what types of birth control you can use, you should move on to narrowing down your search and deciding for one or two methods to use in parallel. For example, you can try condoms and natural family planning or spermicides and condoms. Another possibility is to combine spermicides with diaphragms.

Lots of responsibility is required to actually build fertility awareness. You can only determine what types of birth control are most useful by analyzing the efficiency rate, the costs, the risks and the way the methods work. On the average, sexual education can be improved at any age, particularly since there is a multitude of facilities that provide assistance with this.

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The American affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation is usually known by the shorter title of Planned Parenthood. This institution provides assistance to couples, singles, children and teens, not only for sexual issues but also for many other reproductive health care problems. It militates for pro-choice policies, sexual education and more comprehensive health programs provided by the government. The organization is considered very controversial because they provide surgical abortion on request.

The history of Planned Parenthood began in 1916 when Margaret Sanger founded the first American birth control center in Brooklyn, NY. Gradually, the organization became actively involved in supporting women’s sexual rights and choices. There are over 850 affiliates of Planned Parenthood working around the United States, and the clinics usually provide services such as:

-abortion;
-pregnancy counseling;
-birth control solutions;
-emergency contraception;
-medical tests and screening for breast, testicular and ovary cancer;
-pregnancy medical tests;
-treatment for sexually transmitted diseases;
-hormonal treatments for andropause and menopause;
-sexual education and more.

Most of the funds used by Planned Parenthood come from the government in the form of contracts and grants, but there is  very intense sponsorship from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which increases the annual budget considerably. Nevertheless, there are many non-profit for-life organizations that lobby the government to stop funding Planned Parenthood. The right to abortion that the Planned Parenthood supports is considered very controversial and there is a number of laws that the organization fights against.

Planned Parenthood is for total sexual freedom and the possibility to make choices, and therefore opposes all forms of restrictions. Whether it be right or wrong, that is for everyone to tell for his/her part. Yet, the open access to sexual education and birth control methods, decreases the number of unplanned pregnancies. If Planned Parenthood succeeds in reducing the number of abortions and inherent emotional problems that derive from such interventions, it means that the birth control efficiency of their methods deserves public recognition.

Moreover, Planned Parenthood supports the testing of new contraceptives, but lots of reasons still make the organization controversial. Some matters have been the subject of public debates while other have never reached the eyes or ears of the media. The White House’s policy towards abortion may influence future policies and funds allocation to one side or another. We’ll see to which…

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Sexual awareness, good knowledge of how the body works and plenty of involvement in the family life are necessary for a couple to successfully practice natural family planning. This kind of birth control is not easy, and both partners share the duty of getting information. The same methods used for the prevention of pregnancy can also be applied the other way round, when the couple is trying to conceive. Among the most common options here we can mention tests for ovulation, the monitoring of the cervical mucus, the basal temperature method, the standard days method, and even computer fertility tests and charts.

Natural family planning comes cheap and it is not difficult to understand and put into practice. Yet, it requires willingness to accept the eventual limitations of the method as well as good communication with the life partner. From the entire month, only ten days can be fertile, you just have to approximate which ones. Two choices are possible: not to have sex or use some other birth control method. Mention must be made that natural family planning does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, therefore, it should be used only if you know your partner very well. Condoms are the only ones that can stop STD.

For the efficient use of natural family planning, a woman has to interpret her fertility on a daily basis. Keep in mind that there are chances of getting pregnant even if you calculate your fertile and infertile days; consequently, consider alternative birth control if a pregnancy could be devastating for you. Therefore, if a possible pregnancy would not be such a disaster for you, natural family planning could be taken more lightly. The effectiveness of the method totally depends on how accurate and precise the woman is with the determination of the fertile period of the month.

Statistics indicate that in case of perfect usage, the effectiveness of natural family planning ranges between 95% and 98%, which is actually higher than that of oral contraceptives. Yet, if we are to discuss not the perfect user but the average user, the efficiency rate drops somewhere between 75% and 88%. These data are closer to reality because few people who use natural family planning, actually follow all the rules correctly.

Who relies on natural family planning? Such birth control choices enjoy a higher popularity within some communities because of some religious or cultural beliefs. There are also couples that prefer to stay natural and accept the potential risk of conceiving. In fact, for lots of people who try natural family planning, a baby would not be a problem or a mistake.

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Emergency contraception or the morning after pill is a hormonal treatment administered if another form of birth control has failed, or when no protection was used. There are many resemblances between the morning after pill and the regular hormonal pill since the ingredients are the same. The morning after pill should not replace a regular birth control method, because used frequently it can seriously impair health.

Take the morning after pill as soon as you can after unprotected sex. Yet, you have a three or five day interval to administer it and still prevent a pregnancy. The efficiency is higher when you use the pill earlier. Do not mistake this birth control method for the abortion pill, because this is not the effect it produces. Its action at the level of the reproductive system consist in the prevention of the ovulation and the alteration of the womb lining so as to become unsuitable for egg nesting.

The morning after pill has similar side effects with the regular hormonal pill, and the efficiency rate is pretty high. The usual adverse reactions to hormonal treatments may appear nonetheless: nausea, headaches, breast tenderness and spotting. Read the list of instructions carefully and check the side effects in detail for your birth control purpose. Do not take the morning after pill if you suffer from porphyria or some liver disease. There are also drugs and herbal supplements that interact with the morning after pill decreasing its efficiency.

Get a drug prescription right away if you need the morning after pill. Do specify that you need the morning after pill urgently, in order not to be appointed for some later date. The sooner you act, the higher the risk of unwanted pregnancy. Sometimes you may not even need a prescription to buy emergency contraception; the policy differs from state to state. The cost could be a problem, as some pharmacies sell the morning after pill at very high prices. There are also cases when you can use free emergency contraception provided by some non-profit organizations.

The morning after pill does not protect you for the entire menstrual cycle, and after you take it you are again exposed to the appearance of pregnancy if you don’t use another birth control method. Do not take more emergency contraceptives during the same menstrual cycle because of the serious adverse reactions. Rely on some serious birth control method or abstain from sex.

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Natural birth control depends on fertility awareness. Some people can’t or won’t use hormonal contraceptives and prefer natural family planning over other modern contraceptive solutions. The sympto-thermal method, the ovulation method, the standard days method or the rhythm method are just a few of the natural birth control options people rely on. Here is how each of these works.

The standard days method

The menstrual cycle is divided into three main periods according to the standard days method. Day number 1 is the first day of the period. There are very reduced chances of getting pregnant if you have sex between day 1 and day 8. Between day 9 and day 18, ovulation takes place and you are fertile. You should not have sex, or you should use another birth control method. Natural birth control is once again possible between day 20 and day 32.

The ovulation method

A woman can recognize when ovulation is about to begin by the changes in the cervical mucus, yet, it is often hard to tell. Ovulation usually takes place between the 9th and the 18th day of the menstrual cycle, with variations from woman to woman. If you prefer natural birth control, you can use the fertility tests available in drug stores to learn when you are most fertile, and use extra birth control during that period or abstain from sex.

The sympto-thermal method

The sympto-thermal method is both a natural birth control solution as well as an option for couples trying to conceive. It requires a careful monitoring of the changes in the body and it needs several months to reach a conclusion for the observation.

The big disadvantage of natural birth control is that it cannot offer any guarantees. There is a lot of unpredictable in the way a woman’s body behaves during the menstrual cycle, and many unplanned pregnancies appear as a result. If the menstrual pattern is regular, then the efficiency of natural birth control methods is very high, just like that of hormonal birth control. Talk to your physician about the options you have, and see what he/she advises for. Professional advice could simplify your choices a lot, and good information may save you from an unwanted pregnancy!

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Male birth control is considered a controversial issue for lots of reasons. A few years ago large pharmaceutical companies like Schering, Organon or Wyeth announced the production of hormonal birth control designed especially for men, but the results of their research hasn’t been finalized yet. Why? The market seems to be little receptive to male birth control shots or pills, and the investments in technologies are huge. Several programs have been abandoned for this reason, and it seems that drug companies don’t show any renewal in their interest for this kind of birth control products.

Statistics show a certain willingness on the part of men to use alternative forms of birth control. Normally, male birth control should consist of some form of testosterone shot or pill that would impair the production of sperm. A certain prejudice has been recognized with women because many are reluctant to trust men to follow such treatments. At present, vasectomy is the only viable male birth control solution besides the condom. How would hormonal birth control work for men?

The sperm production can be inhibited by the administration of testosterone and progestin; this male birth control solution would be totally reversible with no impact on fertility. The testosterone pill doesn’t work because the hormone is too rapidly metabolized by the liver. The solution seems to come from a monthly shot, or the combination of the ingredients in a topical products such as a cream. One third option is that of twice-a-year implants and although the procedures are invasive, they could be an alternative to women’s pill.

Between 10% and 15% of men have a low reaction to hormonal male birth control, which is quite a high inefficiency rate. Too many cells have to be blocked which certainly raises an issue. While with female hormonal treatments, the egg is the only cell that has to be blocked from ovulation, with male birth control, there are millions of spermatozoon that have to be inactivated. Race also seems to affect the efficiency of this birth control method although researchers don’t know why.

Last but not least, we should also briefly refer to condoms as the most commonly used form of male birth control. This is preferable for many couples around the world, as well as for people who change their sex partner often. It is the only birth control method that is non-invasive and protects against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

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Free birth control has become a solution to reduce the high number of abortions as well as limit the infections with various STD including HIV. Teenagers and couples who cannot afford to pay for regular birth control, can take advantage of such solutions, on one condition:to know where to get them. Free oral contraceptives are now provided with local health departments all over the United States. Lots of the programs available also provide access to free medical investigations in addition to offering free birth control.

Planned Parenthood should be your first stop when searching for free birth control solutions. Gynecologist exams and free pills are the most important services included in the Family Planning Benefit Program. If this is not a viable solution for you, try a non-profit pregnancy center in your neighborhood. It is a false assumption that such centers provide services only to pregnant women, as they can also assist you prevent pregnancy efficiently.

As for teens, the access to free birth control is bliss. Teens will use birth control methods if they are well informed and supported in their choices. The risk not only of pregnancy but also of sexually transmitted diseases gets a lot lower too. Give teens all the support they need to learn about their sexuality and be able to cope with it. Free birth control methods are available in lots of places. They are private, discreet and incredibly helpful!

Teens even get free condoms as bonuses for online purchases. You place an order on the web site, and as bonus for the purchase, they will also ship a number of free condoms that they will package discreetly. Some volunteers belonging to non-profit organizations also go in schools and teach teens about the basics of sexuality while also supplying them with free birth control methods. Condoms enjoy the highest popularity and they are encouraged over other birth control methods because they also protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

Students should visit the school’s health center and ask about free birth control. In case you fear parents’ notification, you should first inquire about the school’s policy before asking for birth control. If you can’t get it this way, there are other solutions available. One way or the other, you should be able to find free birth control from one of the sources we’ve mentioned here.

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An easy to administrate contraceptive solution, the birth control shot makes a good choice for lots of couples all over the world. It has a slow-release form and it normally contains one type of hormone only: progesterone. During this period, there is no ovulation and no egg is released into the uterus.

In comparison with the hormonal pill, the birth control shot has a higher efficiency range. Only 3 out of 100 couples experienced unplanned pregnancy with the shot while for the pill the incidence is 8 in 100. Yet, if you wait longer than three months before you get the next shot, chances of getting pregnant are higher.

There is no protection against sexually transmitted diseases with the birth control shot. Plus, there are physiological changes that could be an inconvenience while using this birth control method. Here are some common side effects to the shot:
-irregular menstrual periods;
-headaches, breast tenderness and weight gain;
-depression and mood changes.

Overweight is the most difficult to fight back if it appears as a side effect, because hormonal imbalances are harder to correct. Other long-term side effects have been reported in relation to the use of the progesterone birth control shot. Thus, many women have developed osteoporosis by losing in bone density during the treatment.

In case you decide that the birth control shot is a good option for you, talk to your health care provider and make sure that your daily calcium intake is enough to support the hormonal treatment without loss of bone density. Moreover, fertility may be harder to recover after the long term use of the birth control shot. The fertility problem is not permanent, and women can recover in time, but difficulties could appear along the way.

We should also expose some health issues or conditions that make the use of the birth control shot problematic. Do not use the birth control shot if you suffer from any of the following:

-headaches;
-disorders with blood coagulation;
-unexplained vaginal bleeding;
-thrombosis;
-cancer;
-if you suspect a pregnancy.

As for costs, the birth control shot is not expensive, not to mention that health insurance usually covers the expenses. The best advice you can get related to the shot is at your doctor’s office.

Moreover, do not use other drugs or herbal supplements in parallel with the birth control shot because you could reduce the efficiency. If you must follow a medical treatment, then use some alternative birth control method.

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The birth control ring is a local device made of a soft and flexible material that is inserted in the vagina. It slowly releases hormones into the blood stream so as to influence the uterus and the ovaries and thus prevent pregnancy. The birth control ring contains two main ingredients: progesterone and estrogen, both with a role in the function of the reproductive system. The blockage of the ovulation means that no egg is released for fertilization. Another anatomical modification consist in the thickening of the cervical mucus and the changes in the uterine lining.

Insert the birth control ring in the vagina on the first day of your period and let it work for 21 days in a row before removing it. It should be removed on the same day of the week when it was inserted. Don’t use it for seven days more and the menstrual bleeding will occur. Then, the cycle continues. The similarity is very high with regular hormonal treatments. Yet, you should check the usage instructions carefully so as to make certain that you don’t overlook some detail. Mention must be made that the birth control ring is not efficient for the first seven days after the start of the treatment.

Either abstain from sexual intercourse or use a condom until the birth control ring becomes efficient. With this birth control method there is no protection against sexually transmitted diseases. As for the physical comfort, lots of girls and women wonder whether the ring will not be a problem. Normally, since the position in the vagina is not important, the ring can be placed as you consider more comfortable. Just as it happens with vaginal tampons, you should not even be aware of it. There is no need to remove it when bathing or swimming.

In terms of efficiency, the birth control ring acts similarly with the combined pills. Yet, you may not be able to use it if you suffer from certain health conditions. Only a health care provider can determine whether the birth control ring makes a good choice for you or not. The number of adverse reactions is lower for the birth control ring, yet, unpleasant symptoms are often reported. Mood changes, spotting, headaches and dizziness are a few of the regular reactions to the use of the birth control ring. Normally, after the transition period, the inconvenience should go away.

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The birth control pill represents one of the most efficient contraceptive methods available. It is administered by women and it consists of a combination of hormones that control the release of the eggs from the ovaries into the uterus. Here is how it works:

-It combines estrogen and progesterone, the two hormones that inhibit ovulation. Pregnancy cannot appear without ovulation.

-It thickens the cervical mucus preventing the sperm from entering the uterus.

-It changes the lining of the uterus, thus preventing the nesting of the egg.

The birth control pill has to be taken daily, preferably at the same hour, for twenty one days. There is no administration for the last seven days of the menstrual cycle, and it is within this interval that the period appears. The pills are available either in 21 or in 28 pill packages. The last seven pills in the 28-pill package are inactive as they contain no hormones.

As for the advantages of the birth control pill, they are pretty numerous.

-The monthly bleeding is less intense.
-The pre-menstrual discomfort disappears.
-Fertility is preserved, and it is totally reversible when you stop taking the pill.
-It solves hormonal imbalances.
-It prevents some forms of cancer.

There is one special kind of birth control pill that contains active hormones for 12 weeks and then inactive pills for a week. This means that you will have a bleeding once every three months.

Yet, another type of birth control pill is the mini-pill. It contains progesterone only, and it requires continuous administration daily, on the same hour, without the monthly break. The efficiency of the mini-pill has been reported as inferior to the combined birth control pill.

The normal efficiency of the birth control pill is very high, with only 8 couples out of 100 reporting a pregnancy during the treatment. When taking the pill at random hours or when forgetting to use it daily, the efficiency drops. Plus, the efficiency of the medication also depends on some individual factors too.

For example, the birth control pill may not work properly when drugs or herbal supplements are administered in parallel. Moreover, the incidence of side effects should not be overlooked. Read carefully about the possible adverse reactions to the birth control pill, as well as the health conditions that make the use of the pill very risky. Stick doctor’s orders for the administration of the birth control pill!

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