Birth Control Pills
Sex and Your Teen
by Pamela M. Peeke, MD, MPH
Today, nearly 70 percent of all high school seniors engage in sexual intercourse before graduating, one in eight contracts a sexually transmitted disease (STD) each year and more than 80 percent of all STD cases occur among those under 29.
And, an estimated one in five adolescent girls has an STD and doesn't know it. If you're a parent - even if your child is still in diapers - I bet you're white-knuckled with fear right about now. Don't be.
Obama Administration Revises Controversial Contraception Mandate
Move comes in response to religious groups that oppose birth control
By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Religious organizations that object to providing birth control coverage under the Affordable Care Act would be allowed to hand that responsibility off to a third party under new rules proposed Friday by the Obama administration.
The Pill Isn't Your Only Choice for Birth Control
Choosing whether to have a baby and when to have one are among the biggest decisions a woman makes. For most women, it's important to have some control over these choices, and that's why many women use contraceptives at various stages of their lives. If you are a sexually active young woman who is not ready to have children, it's important to use a contraceptive that works for you.
Birth Control Options Chart
Not sure what birth control to use? Whether you’re considering birth control for the first time or whether you’re at a different stage of life and are reevaluating your choice, this chart can help you find the method that’s best for you. Be sure to discuss your options with your health care provider.
Birth Control Pill
Effectiveness: 92 to 99.7 percent (effectiveness is near 100 percent if the pill is taken daily as directed; because many women do not use as directed, the pregnancy rate is 2-9 pregnancies per 100 women each year, and it may be slightly less effective if you’re overweight).
What You Need to Know About Birth Control Coverage
The first thing you should know about birth control coverage is that it may be changing. The Affordable Care Act, approved in 2010, says that insured women will qualify for contraceptives without any out-of-pocket expenses, starting August 2012. However, many details remain to be worked out by insurers, and the future of health care reform could change depending on the outcome of the November 2012 presidential election.
How to Effectively Use Your Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills—often known as "the pill"—have been touted for their reliability. Experts estimate that they're more than 99 percent effective when taken as directed. But there's a big caveat here: Women need to take their contraceptives consistently and correctly to prevent pregnancy.
Starting a Regimen
Stay Healthy While Traveling
You've renewed your passport and loaded up on tiny bottles of shampoo and lotions in an effort to travel light. And whatever's forgotten can be picked up at a local pharmacy…right? Think again.
Prayer as medicine: A recent survey shows that many people believe in the power of prayer and other forms of spirituality to help heal
Prayer as medicine: A recent survey shows that many people believe in the power of prayer and other forms of spirituality to help heal. They may pray for themselves, participate in prayer circles, or ask others to pray for them.
