 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Birth Control
| Is it safe to use both a condom and a diaphragm simultaneously? If so, would that be a more effective birth control method than using either individually? |
| View Answer |
I am currently on two different antidepressants, bupropion and fluoxetine. Is it possible for my birth control to become less effective as a result of taking anti-depressants?
|
| View Answer |
| I’m a single woman. I’ve used condoms during sex many times over the last few years. They have been all types, but I think mostly latex. I’ve never had a problem with them before, with or without lubrication, but last night it burned. I didn’t use extra lube, so it wasn’t that. I couldn’t tell if it was from the condom, but shortly after we started using it, it started burning, and we took it off. Can I form and allergy to something I’ve been in contact with for a long time? What are the symptoms for latex allergies? If I’m allergic to latex, what can I do? |
| View Answer |
My girlfriend used to be bulimic, and as a result, hasn't had her period in about six months. Even though she hasn't had a period, can she still become pregnant?
|
| View Answer |
My wife has been using the pill for 10-20 years and now plans to stop taking it. We've found a great deal of information about the temporary and long-term effects of being on the pill, but nothing about discontinuing it. Surely after taking hormones for so long there must be some effect when a woman goes off the pill. Has this been studied?
|
| View Answer |
I am getting married and have been doing a lot of research on birth control. My church has introduced me to natural family planning — the Creighton model. I like everything about it, but my only hesitation is its effectiveness. I can't seem to find any "negative" statistics on this method and all the websites seem biased. It is very important for me and my future husband that I do not become pregnant, and I am very wary about the effectiveness of NFP. What are your thoughts on this method?
|
| View Answer |
My boyfriend and I are looking for a birth control method besides the use of condoms. I am looking into methods that are hormone free. I ran into a website selling "fertility monitors" that take the temperature under your tongue to indicate your fertility status. The website claimed that the monitor is nearly 100 percent effective. Is this true? Can you also recommend other effective hormone-free methods?
|
| View Answer |
My doctor told me recently that there is a new version of Norplant available that only uses one rod instead of six. Is it available now?
|
| View Answer |
I'm 17 years old and moved out of my parents' house three months ago. I have been dating the same guy for two years. When I asked my doctor for a prescription for birth control, he said I was too young to be having sex and that these days it's dangerous because of all the STIs. I didn't think my doctor could refuse it to me because of my age. Since he did, what do I do? Is there another way I can get birth control?
|
| View Answer |
I've heard that the pill and other hormonal methods of birth control will lower my sex drive? Is that true?
|
| View Answer |
I've been using the shot for more than a year, and I'm not anywhere near as wet as I used to be. I am only 22 years old, and the only time I get wet now is if I am in the middle of extremely stimulating intercourse. I used to be wet just at the thought of stimulation. What can I do? Will it ever come back?
|
| View Answer |
I hear the sponge is back with a new look! Who's it best for?
|
| View Answer |
I have breast cancer on both sides of my family and want to know if I can use combined hormone methods. I saw your answer to a question about the safety of hormone therapy. You said that "... combined therapy with estrogen and progestin slightly increases the risk of breast cancer. ..." Combined hormone birth control pills also contain estrogen and progestin. Do they also increase the risk of breast cancer?
|
| View Answer |
My daughter is 12. I've talked with her about menstruation and sex. She hasn't started her period yet. Should I take her to my gynecologist for an exam when she starts? If not, what age should she go? Is it appropriate for me to start her on some type of birth control when she starts having her period? I had her at the age of 16, and I'm scared to death of her going through the same thing!
|
| View Answer |
Does the patch work on anyone, regardless of size and shape? I heard that size affects the way a patch works on the person, so I just wanted to be sure.
|
| View Answer |
I live in Louisville, KY and was wondering if Planned Parenthood here would be able to help me get an IUD. I've been on the pill for about eight years and just want to change methods. I never have unprotected sex, and I've been with the same man for 3.5 years.
|
| View Answer |
I am a 42-year-old woman who lives a very healthy life. I eat lots of vegetables and fruits and do sports. I used to smoke two to four cigarettes a day, but I was never a heavy smoker. At present, I am seeing someone special, and I want to take the pill. Can I get the pill prescribed at my age?
|
| View Answer |
| How do I decide which method of birth control is best for me? |
| View Answer |
I am a 30-year-old woman who had my tubes tied back in 1995. Now I need to see if I can get a reversal. Does Planned Parenthood help with the reversal? Can you tell me if there is a place I can go that may help me with my situation?
|
| View Answer |
I heard IUDs can cause infertility. Is that true?
|
| View Answer |
Do I need a pelvic exam to get the pill, patch, shot, or ring?
|
| View Answer |
How old do you have to be to get your tubes tied?
|
| View Answer |
Are there any herbal contraceptives that work?
|
| View Answer |
Isn't it true that kids are more likely to have sex if their schools distribute condoms?
|
| View Answer |
What would be wrong with making teens ask their parents for permission to use birth control?
|
| View Answer |
Is it safe to take the pill continuously to avoid having periods?
|
| View Answer |
Is there really a new kind of permanent birth control for men that isn't a vasectomy?
|
| View Answer |
I heard it's dangerous to take the Pill for more than 10 years. Is that true? Is there a limit?
|
| View Answer |
Should a guy wear a condom when receiving oral sex? Does it prevent any diseases?
|
| View Answer |
How soon will it be before there's a pill for men?
|
| View Answer |
Is it true that emergency contraception pills cause abortion? What about other hormonal methods of birth control?
|
| View Answer |
Is it true that condoms cause HPV infections that lead to cancer?
|
| View Answer |
I've been hearing lately that the birth control patch is dangerous. Is that true?
|
| View Answer |
Is it true that the pill protects against heart disease?
|
| View Answer |
I read an article in Consumer Reports about condoms, and Planned Parenthood condoms got mixed reviews. Why?
|
| View Answer |
What are low-dose birth control pills? If they're effective, why doesn't everyone take them?
|
| View Answer |
I can't see a doctor at the present time, and I want to start using the patch. Would it be smart to buy birth control over the Internet? I don't think I need to have a pelvic exam because I'm not sexually active yet.
|
| View Answer |
How old do you have to be to get your tubes tied?
|
| View Answer |
I've been married about three months. I am really worried about getting pregnant, but I'm not using any kind of birth control. Once in a while my husband and I use a condom. But most of the time we don't. The rest of the time, he pulls out before he ejaculates, but I heard that sometimes that just isn't enough. I'm afraid that if I use birth control for a long time that later on when I want to have kids I won't be able to. What would you suggest?
|
| View Answer |
| I am 24 years old, have had two strokes, and can't take the pill. I have been on the shot for more than a year, but don't like it. What are my other options besides abstinence and condoms. I saw a small clip on TV last year that said that the pill actually decreased your chance of stroke. Is this true? |
| View Answer |
I heard somewhere that sterilization is the most popular form of birth control in the U.S. Can that be true?
|
| View Answer |
I had a tubal six years ago after my second son was born. Since then I've had maybe one period a year. Do tubals cause early menopause?
|
| View Answer |
| How soon will it be before there's a pill for men? |
| View Answer |
Can't HIV pass through condoms? Why use them if they don't even work to prevent sexually transmitted infections?
|
| View Answer |
| How soon after I stop using Depo-Provera can I plan on becoming pregnant? |
| View Answer |
Will flu shots interfere with my birth control?
|
| View Answer |
I'm allergic to latex! What can I use instead of latex condoms?
|
| View Answer |
| Isn’t it unhealthy for a woman to use a combined hormone contraceptive pill to put off her menstrual period for many months or years? |
| View Answer |
Do women who take the pill need to use another kind of protection during menstruation when they are taking the non-active, reminder pills?
|
| View Answer |
Do low-carbohydrate diets, like the Atkins diet, interfere with the effectiveness of the pill or increase menstrual flow and breakthrough bleeding?
|
| View Answer |
My insurance doesn't cover my birth control, but my friend's insurance does. How is that fair?
|
| View Answer |
Does taking antibiotics make the pill less effective?
|
| View Answer |
Does the pill cause birth defects when a woman stops using them?
|
| View Answer |
| Will having no periods for years at a time by using extended hormonal contraception — regular oral contraceptives, Seasonale, or Seasonique — lead to infertility? |
| View Answer |
Can a woman use the pill if she has high blood pressure?
|
| View Answer |
This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.
|
|
