10 Non-Hormonal Birth Control Methods
Hormonal birth control is perfectly safe for most women, and it may even have health perks: The Pill, for example, has been shown to lower your risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer, says Eve Espey, MD, chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of New Mexico. But if the hormonal methods make you feel lousy—maybe you've noticed mood swings or a dampened sex drive—or you'd just rather avoid them, other options abound. Here are 10 to explore and discuss with your doctor.
The method: Male condom
How to use it: Made of thin latex or plastic, condoms are worn on the penis during intercourse.
Effectiveness: Pretty good if you use them correctly; only 2 women out of 100 will get pregnant if they always use condoms perfectly. Not so perfect? About 18 out of 100 women will get pregnant in a year with typical use.
The good: They're simple to use, inexpensive, widely available, and protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The bad: The failure rate is high, and they can make sex feel less spontaneous. "Plus, some people can't stand the way they feel," says Espey. It's also worth noting that you or your partner could be allergic to latex.
The method: Female condom
How to use it: Not as popular as the male condom, the female condom is a plastic pouch that's inserted into the vagina right before intercourse. It has flexible rings at the ends—one at the closed end keeps it in place while the ring at the open end stays outside of the vagina during sex.
Effectiveness: Similar rate to the male condom—about 79% effective with typical use. The good: It's woman controlled, and it prevents STIs.
The bad: "It's a project," says Espey. "Sometimes you can feel it, and it tends to move during intercourse." Also, it can irritate your vagina or your partner's penis.
Sunday, 19 March 2017
6 Things The Color Of Your Period Blood Says About Your Health
6 Things The Color Of Your Period Blood Says About Your Health
Your period can tell you a lot about your health. In fact, last year the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists published a report recommending that it be viewed as a vital sign the same way your blood pressure, pulse, and temperature are. Why? Because in addition to telling you whether you're pregnant or not, your period can provide key insights into your hormone health—and your hormones keep everything from your brain to your reproductive system running smoothly.
While what's normal for one woman may not be normal for another, there are a few changes you should watch out for, particularly when it comes to the color of your flow. Below, find 6 things your period blood is trying to tell you about your health.
If it’s pinkish…
You may have low estrogen levels. Especially if it's accompanied by a lighter-than-usual flow, or if you're an avid runner, says New York-based functional medicine nurse practitioner Margaret Romero. Studies have found that excessive exercise can lower estrogen levels, which can subsequently mess with your period, sometimes causing it to disappear altogether. (It's not uncommon for female professional athletes to stop ovulating.)
While this may not seem like a big deal (who hasn't fantasized about never having to deal with a period at least once or twice?), low estrogen levels can increase your risk of osteoporosis if left untreated. So if you've recently started training for a marathon, have started working out for the first time in your life, or have upped the intensity of your workouts and you notice that your periods are suddenly lighter in color and flow or less frequent, talk to your doctor.
Romero says other potential culprits of a pinkish flow can include poor nutrition, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or perimenopause, which is when your ovaries start producing less estrogen in preparation for menopause (generally, it occurs around four to five years before menopause).
Your period can tell you a lot about your health. In fact, last year the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists published a report recommending that it be viewed as a vital sign the same way your blood pressure, pulse, and temperature are. Why? Because in addition to telling you whether you're pregnant or not, your period can provide key insights into your hormone health—and your hormones keep everything from your brain to your reproductive system running smoothly.
While what's normal for one woman may not be normal for another, there are a few changes you should watch out for, particularly when it comes to the color of your flow. Below, find 6 things your period blood is trying to tell you about your health.
If it’s pinkish…
You may have low estrogen levels. Especially if it's accompanied by a lighter-than-usual flow, or if you're an avid runner, says New York-based functional medicine nurse practitioner Margaret Romero. Studies have found that excessive exercise can lower estrogen levels, which can subsequently mess with your period, sometimes causing it to disappear altogether. (It's not uncommon for female professional athletes to stop ovulating.)
While this may not seem like a big deal (who hasn't fantasized about never having to deal with a period at least once or twice?), low estrogen levels can increase your risk of osteoporosis if left untreated. So if you've recently started training for a marathon, have started working out for the first time in your life, or have upped the intensity of your workouts and you notice that your periods are suddenly lighter in color and flow or less frequent, talk to your doctor.
Romero says other potential culprits of a pinkish flow can include poor nutrition, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or perimenopause, which is when your ovaries start producing less estrogen in preparation for menopause (generally, it occurs around four to five years before menopause).
6 Autoimmune Diseases That Mess With Your Weight
6 Autoimmune Diseases That Mess With Your Weight
Autoimmune diseases happen when your body's immune system starts attacking its own organs, tissues, and cells. Although they're on the rise, they're also tricky to diagnose. Symptoms can creep up slowly, and many of them—like achy joints, fatigue, and tummy troubles—overlap with other disorders.
But there's one symptom that many autoimmune diseases share: weight changes. "Almost everyone with an autoimmune disorder has it affect their weight one way or the other," says Mark Engelman, MD, a clinical consultant for Cyrex Laboratories, a clinical lab specializing in functional immunology.
So if the number on the scale suddenly goes up or down with no good explanation, take stock of whether you've experienced any other weird, nagging symptoms, and talk to your doctor if you think an autoimmune disease could be to blame. While Engelman notes that just about any autoimmune disease can affect your weight to some extent, here are a few of the most common culprits.
Type 1 diabetes
Of the 29 million Americans who have diabetes, only around 1.25 million have type 1, which occurs when the immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. (Type 2 diabetes, the more common form, is not considered an autoimmune illness.) Because insulin plays a key role in how your body uses and stores glucose for energy, many people with undiagnosed type 1 diabetes experience unexplained weight loss. If you're having any other symptoms—like excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, or blurred vision—talk to a doctor.
Autoimmune diseases happen when your body's immune system starts attacking its own organs, tissues, and cells. Although they're on the rise, they're also tricky to diagnose. Symptoms can creep up slowly, and many of them—like achy joints, fatigue, and tummy troubles—overlap with other disorders.
But there's one symptom that many autoimmune diseases share: weight changes. "Almost everyone with an autoimmune disorder has it affect their weight one way or the other," says Mark Engelman, MD, a clinical consultant for Cyrex Laboratories, a clinical lab specializing in functional immunology.
So if the number on the scale suddenly goes up or down with no good explanation, take stock of whether you've experienced any other weird, nagging symptoms, and talk to your doctor if you think an autoimmune disease could be to blame. While Engelman notes that just about any autoimmune disease can affect your weight to some extent, here are a few of the most common culprits.
Type 1 diabetes
Of the 29 million Americans who have diabetes, only around 1.25 million have type 1, which occurs when the immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. (Type 2 diabetes, the more common form, is not considered an autoimmune illness.) Because insulin plays a key role in how your body uses and stores glucose for energy, many people with undiagnosed type 1 diabetes experience unexplained weight loss. If you're having any other symptoms—like excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, or blurred vision—talk to a doctor.
7 Autoimmune Diseases Every Woman Should Know About
7 Autoimmune Diseases Every Woman Should Know About
Autoimmune diseases—which occur when the immune system turns on you and starts attacking healthy cells—can impact anyone, but almost 80% of people who have them are women. No one knows exactly why, but recent research suggests that it may have to do with differences in the way certain genes are expressed in females. Whatever the cause, it's especially bad news since autoimmune illnesses are on the rise. "In the past 50 years, the incidence of autoimmunity in the US has tripled," reports Amy Myers, MD, author of The Autoimmune Solution.
There are at least 80 different autoimmune diseases. Though each one is unique, many share hallmark symptoms, such as fatigue, dizziness, and low-grade fever; the classic sign is inflammation, which can cause redness, heat, pain, and swelling (these 6 autoimmune diseases can mess with your weight). Treatment depends on the disease, but it often includes anti-inflammatory medications, drugs that suppress the immune system, or newer biologic agents that either mimic substances normally produced by the body or block other substances that are part of the immune system, says Howard Smith, MD, a rheumatologist and director of the Lupus Clinic at Cleveland Clinic.
Natural strategies are also gaining traction, including reducing inflammatory foods like those high in sugar and saturated fat, reducing stress, lowering your burden of toxins, and healing your gut. As Myers notes, 80% of you immune system is located in your gut.
Catching autoimmune diseases early is the best way to slow their progression, but you need to know what to look for. Read on for the scoop on 7 of the most common ones:
Autoimmune diseases—which occur when the immune system turns on you and starts attacking healthy cells—can impact anyone, but almost 80% of people who have them are women. No one knows exactly why, but recent research suggests that it may have to do with differences in the way certain genes are expressed in females. Whatever the cause, it's especially bad news since autoimmune illnesses are on the rise. "In the past 50 years, the incidence of autoimmunity in the US has tripled," reports Amy Myers, MD, author of The Autoimmune Solution.
There are at least 80 different autoimmune diseases. Though each one is unique, many share hallmark symptoms, such as fatigue, dizziness, and low-grade fever; the classic sign is inflammation, which can cause redness, heat, pain, and swelling (these 6 autoimmune diseases can mess with your weight). Treatment depends on the disease, but it often includes anti-inflammatory medications, drugs that suppress the immune system, or newer biologic agents that either mimic substances normally produced by the body or block other substances that are part of the immune system, says Howard Smith, MD, a rheumatologist and director of the Lupus Clinic at Cleveland Clinic.
Natural strategies are also gaining traction, including reducing inflammatory foods like those high in sugar and saturated fat, reducing stress, lowering your burden of toxins, and healing your gut. As Myers notes, 80% of you immune system is located in your gut.
Catching autoimmune diseases early is the best way to slow their progression, but you need to know what to look for. Read on for the scoop on 7 of the most common ones:
8 Styling Mistakes That Are Making You Lose Your Hair
8 Styling Mistakes That Are Making You Lose Your Hair
Everybody sheds. In fact, most people lose around 50-100 hairs per day, so it's normal to lose a few strands while you're in the shower, brushing your hair, or styling your locks. That said, your hair shouldn't be coming out in handfuls; if it is, talk to your doctor, since you might have an iron deficiency, hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome, lupus, or alopecia. A receding hairline or widening part could also be caused by stress, post-pregnancy hormone shifts, or genetics.
But there's another factor you might not have considered: your styling habits. Yes, that's right: Something you're doing in an attempt to make your hair look better could actually be making it much, much worse. Below, Danielle Allyson, stylist at Butterfly Studio Salon in New York, shares 8 surprising styling mistakes to avoid.
Heat styling your hair without any protection
Curling or straightening your hair without first applying a protective product is a surefire way to dry out the cuticle of your hair and end up with fried, thinning locks. To give your hair a break, always use a heat protectant spray or serum (try TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray), and don't heat-style your hair more than twice a week.
Brushing your hair too often
Excessive combing or brushing strains your scalp, which can cause breakage and hair loss, so Allyson recommends brushing only once in the morning and once at night.
"Unless you have extremely tangled hair, there's no need to brush more often," she says. If you do consistently struggle with tangled hair, try gently combing with conditioner in the shower or use a detangling spray (such as Oribe Run-Through Detangling Primer) on damp hair afterward.
Everybody sheds. In fact, most people lose around 50-100 hairs per day, so it's normal to lose a few strands while you're in the shower, brushing your hair, or styling your locks. That said, your hair shouldn't be coming out in handfuls; if it is, talk to your doctor, since you might have an iron deficiency, hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome, lupus, or alopecia. A receding hairline or widening part could also be caused by stress, post-pregnancy hormone shifts, or genetics.
But there's another factor you might not have considered: your styling habits. Yes, that's right: Something you're doing in an attempt to make your hair look better could actually be making it much, much worse. Below, Danielle Allyson, stylist at Butterfly Studio Salon in New York, shares 8 surprising styling mistakes to avoid.
Heat styling your hair without any protection
Curling or straightening your hair without first applying a protective product is a surefire way to dry out the cuticle of your hair and end up with fried, thinning locks. To give your hair a break, always use a heat protectant spray or serum (try TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray), and don't heat-style your hair more than twice a week.
Brushing your hair too often
Excessive combing or brushing strains your scalp, which can cause breakage and hair loss, so Allyson recommends brushing only once in the morning and once at night.
"Unless you have extremely tangled hair, there's no need to brush more often," she says. If you do consistently struggle with tangled hair, try gently combing with conditioner in the shower or use a detangling spray (such as Oribe Run-Through Detangling Primer) on damp hair afterward.
6 Ways Your Selfie Obsession Is Affecting Your Health
6 Ways Your Selfie Obsession Is Affecting Your Health
You probably have one of three very distinct selfie personalities. You either detest them (you'd never take one, let alone post one on social media), you take so many selfies you give Kim K. a run for her money, or you swear you're not that kind of person...but sometimes snap 'em on the sly.
We don't mean to be the selfie police (selfie sticks, on the other hand...), but they're not always the harmless photo op you might think. Here is a handful of ways selfies actually affect your health.
They draw out your narcissistic side.
We know it's not called anti-social media, but posting too many selfies isn't necessarily putting your best foot forward. In a 2014 Ohio State University study of 1,000 men, researchers found that guys who posted more selfies also ranked higher on scales of narcissism and psychopathy. Now, the selfie-takers were still in the normal range of these undesirable traits—but there are better sides of you to display, we're sure of it.
Selfies could seriously endanger you.
While you're busy perfecting your duck face, you might be putting yourself directly in harm's way. Selfie-snappers have died—yes, died—pursuing the perfect pic a top tall buildings, hanging off bridges, and toeing the edges of cliffs. Is it really worth it?!
You probably have one of three very distinct selfie personalities. You either detest them (you'd never take one, let alone post one on social media), you take so many selfies you give Kim K. a run for her money, or you swear you're not that kind of person...but sometimes snap 'em on the sly.
We don't mean to be the selfie police (selfie sticks, on the other hand...), but they're not always the harmless photo op you might think. Here is a handful of ways selfies actually affect your health.
They draw out your narcissistic side.
We know it's not called anti-social media, but posting too many selfies isn't necessarily putting your best foot forward. In a 2014 Ohio State University study of 1,000 men, researchers found that guys who posted more selfies also ranked higher on scales of narcissism and psychopathy. Now, the selfie-takers were still in the normal range of these undesirable traits—but there are better sides of you to display, we're sure of it.
Selfies could seriously endanger you.
While you're busy perfecting your duck face, you might be putting yourself directly in harm's way. Selfie-snappers have died—yes, died—pursuing the perfect pic a top tall buildings, hanging off bridges, and toeing the edges of cliffs. Is it really worth it?!
From Perky To Sagging - Why This Has Happened To Your Boobs
From Perky To Sagging, Why This Has Happened To Your Boobs
Let me be clear from the outset …. there is nothing you can do to return your twins to the way they were in your 20s or 30s …. or even early 40s. Even breast lift surgery results are not permanent, because the breast skin and ligaments will stretch again eventually.
Sagging breasts is a natural, inevitable process that happens to all women at some point, except to women with fairly small breasts.
It is ironic that many women with small breasts dreamt of having bigger breasts when they were younger …. some may have even undergone breast augmentation procedures.
But their small breasts serve them well in menopause and beyond. Some women who enjoyed being well endowed when they were younger, complain that during menopause their boobs are so heavy that they have to hold them up when they walk around!
The purpose of this post is to help you to better understand what has happened to your boobs …. and why you now have sagging breasts. This may help you to free up
attention that may be fixed on your twins and what has happened to them. What your breasts consist of Breasts do not have muscle. They are made of Fat. The amount and distribution of fat determines the overall size and shape of breasts. When women are younger, their breasts have less fat and are mostly comprised.
Let me be clear from the outset …. there is nothing you can do to return your twins to the way they were in your 20s or 30s …. or even early 40s. Even breast lift surgery results are not permanent, because the breast skin and ligaments will stretch again eventually.
Sagging breasts is a natural, inevitable process that happens to all women at some point, except to women with fairly small breasts.
It is ironic that many women with small breasts dreamt of having bigger breasts when they were younger …. some may have even undergone breast augmentation procedures.
But their small breasts serve them well in menopause and beyond. Some women who enjoyed being well endowed when they were younger, complain that during menopause their boobs are so heavy that they have to hold them up when they walk around!
The purpose of this post is to help you to better understand what has happened to your boobs …. and why you now have sagging breasts. This may help you to free up
attention that may be fixed on your twins and what has happened to them. What your breasts consist of Breasts do not have muscle. They are made of Fat. The amount and distribution of fat determines the overall size and shape of breasts. When women are younger, their breasts have less fat and are mostly comprised.
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