Emergency
Contraception
Emergency contraception is used to prevent pregnancy
after having sex without birth control or if a problem
occurred with the method of birth control used. Using
birth control when you have sex is the best way to
prevent unwanted pregnancy. However, if you have sex
without birth control, you can use emergency contraception.
Emergency contraception is a type of hormonal birth
control. It should not be used on a routine basis-regular
use of a birth control method (such as condoms or
birth control pills) is most effective. If there is
some reason you should not take birth control pills,
you may not be able to take emergency contraception.
Doctor's offices, family planning clinics, and hospital
emergency rooms can prescribe emergency contraception
pills. Regular use of a birth control method is not
only more effective, but provides health benefits
that emergency contraception does not have. Emergency
contraception is highly effective in preventing pregnancy.
If you use emergency contraception pills within 72
hours of unprotected sex, your chance of getting pregnant
is greatly reduced.
Birth
Control
Birth control (or contraception) helps a woman plan
her pregnancies. Some methods of birth control also
help protect against sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs), including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS). If a sperm meets an egg in the fallopian tube,
fertilization--union of egg and sperm--can occur (see
figure below). Birth control methods work in a number
of ways. There are many methods of birth control.
The birth control pill, injections, vaginal ring,
skin patch, intrauterine device (IUD), diaphragm,
Lea's Shield, and cervical cap require a prescription.
One of the most popular methods of hormonal birth
control is the birth control pill (oral contraceptive).
Most birth control pills are combination pills. One
type of injection of hormonal birth control, called
depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), provides
protection against pregnancy for 3 months. In this
method, certain doses of combination birth control
pills are taken within 72 hours of sex without birth
control.
Barrier
Methods of Contraception
Barrier methods are some of the oldest and safest
forms of contraception (birth control). These methods
work by acting as barriers to keep the man's sperm
from reaching the woman's egg. Some methods also may
protect against certain sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs). Barrier methods are safe and effective ways
to prevent pregnancy. Combining chemical and physical
barriers--such as spermicides and a diaphragm--provides
more protection. Barrier methods are not as effective
as some other birth control methods, such as birth
control pills or the intrauterine device (IUD). Spermicides
are chemical barrier methods that include tablets,
foam, cream, jelly, and film (thin sheets that contain
spermicide). Of all birth control methods, latex condoms
provide the best protection against STDs. The female
condom provides a physical barrier that prevents sperm
from entering the cervix. Like the male condom, the
female condom is more effective when used with a spermicide.
Hormonal
Contraception - Injections, Rings, and Patches
In addition to oral contraceptives (birth control
pills), there are several other forms of hormonal
birth control-injections, rings, and patches. These
methods are safe and effective for most women. Hormonal
methods of birth control, such as injections, rings,
and patches are effective ways to prevent pregnancy.
With most types of hormonal birth control, a woman
takes hormones similar to those her body makes naturally.
The hormones also cause other changes in the cervical
mucus and uterus that help prevent pregnancy. One
type of injection of hormonal birth control, called
depot-medroxy-progesterone acetate (DMPA), provides
protection against pregnancy for 3 months. In addition
to preventing pregnancy, the vaginal ring may offer
other health benefits (see box). The vaginal ring
and the skin patch have benefits in addition to preventing
pregnancy. The skin patch is a weekly method of hormonal
birth control. The skin patch is a very effective
method of birth control.
Birth
Control Especially for Teens
Can I get pregnant the first time I have sex? This
pamphlet talks about the different types of birth
control that teenagers can use. If the couple isn't
using any birth control, the girl can become pregnant.
A girl can get pregnant any time she has sex--even
her first time. If you do have sex, use birth control
every time. One type of birth control is hormonal.
Barrier Methods Another kind of birth control you
can choose is barrier methods. If you have sex without
using any birth control, or if the condom breaks during
sex, you can use emergency contraception to prevent
pregnancy. But if you are having sex, protect yourself
by using a latex condom every time. Talk to Your Partner
Before you have sex, talk to your partner about using
condoms.
You
and Your Baby: Prenatal Care, Labor and Delivery,
and Postpartum Care
You may wonder what labor and delivery will be like.
It can serve as a guide to help you have a happy,
healthy pregnancy and birth. Early and regular prenatal
care (a program of care for a pregnant woman before
the birth of her baby) can increase your chances of
having a healthy baby. Often, you will receive care
from a whole health care team that may include doctors,
nurses, nurse-midwives, and childbirth educators.
If you bleed in early pregnancy, your doctor may perform
a pelvic exam and may order testing. Childbirth preparation
classes will help you prepare for labor and delivery.
Early in pregnancy, your breasts begin to grow and
change to prepare for breast-feeding your baby. This
usually happens between 36-38 weeks of pregnancy in
women who have not had a baby before, but may happen
later. Women who are anemic in pregnancy are less
able to cope with bleeding, infections, and other
problems that may occur at the time of birth. Your
doctor may try a number of treatments-bed rest, intravenous
(given by vein) fluids, or special medications that
help to relax the uterine muscle.
Detecting
and Treating Breast Problems
Your breasts are always changing. They change during
the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and
menopause (when menstrual periods end). One major
problem, breast cancer, remains one of the leading
causes of death in women. Mammography is a way to
detect changes in the breast tissue by X-ray. If you
have an increased risk of breast cancer (see box),
your doctor may suggest you have this test done more
often or before age 40. Mammography is vital for all
women, regardless of breast size or if you have breast
implants. Most breast lumps (about 90%) are found
through breast self-exams. Routine exams become even
more important after menopause because the risk of
breast cancer increases with age. Breast cancer is
the leading cause of death from cancer in women aged
34-50. If breast cancer is found and treated early,
most women can be cured. This is why routine breast
self-exams, mammography, and checkups by your doctor
are vital. If you have found a lump in your breast
or the results of your mammography are not normal,
other tests may be used to help diagnose breast problems.
Endometriosis
Sometimes, tissue like that which normally lines the
inside of the uterus grows elsewhere in the body.
Endometriosis can cause pain before and during the
menstrual period. For some women, the pain is mild.
Severe endometriosis also may lead to infertility.
Endometriosis can cause pain and infertility. Endometrial
tissue outside the uterus responds to changes in hormones.
Severe endometriosis also may cause infertility. If
other causes of pelvic pain can be ruled out, your
doctor may treat endometriosis without doing any further
exams or surgery. Although treatments may relieve
pain and infertility for a time, symptoms may come
back after treatment. Endometriosis: A condition in
which tissue similar to that normally lining the uterus
is found outside of the uterus, usually on the ovaries,
fallopian tubes, and other pelvic structures.
Having
a Baby
Pregnancy and childbirth change your life. If you
are pregnant and plan to have the baby, you must now
care for and think for two people--you and your baby.
This pamphlet will tell you more about why prenatal
care is a good idea, some changes you may need to
make, and how you can plan for your baby and your
future. If you feel that someone may harm you or if
you want to harm yourself, talk to a doctor or nurse,
a school counselor, or a member of the clergy. You
may decide to end the pregnancy (abortion) or have
the baby. Prenatal care is the health care you receive
before your baby is born. The earlier you get prenatal
care, the better your chances are for a healthy pregnancy,
birth, and baby. Because pregnancy requires extra
nutrients, your doctor may prescribe a prenatal vitamin
for you. Female condoms may help prevents STDs. Prenatal
care and a healthy lifestyle can help you stay healthy
and have a healthy baby.
Dysmenorrhea
More than half of women who have menstrual periods
have some pain for at least 1-2 days each month. Usually,
the pain is mild. When the pain is this severe, it
is called dysmenorrhea. Painful periods are the leading
cause of women missing work and school. The menstrual
period begins with the first day of bleeding of one
period and ends with the first day of the next period.
During the menstrual cycle, estrogen and progesterone-two
hormones made by the ovaries-cause changes in the
endometrium (the lining of the uterus). Sometimes,
when the uterus contracts it produces a cramping pain.
Secondary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain that has
another cause in addition to menstruation. With secondary
dysmenorrhea, pain often begins earlier in the menstrual
cycle. It can cause pelvic pain and cramping and may
make normal menstrual cramps worse.
