If a woman is sexually active and she is fertile, meaning that she is physically able to
become pregnant, she needs to ask herself, "Do I want to become pregnant
now?" If her answer is "No," she must use some
method of birth
control (contraception).
Terminology for "birth control" includes contraception, pregnancy prevention, fertility control, and family planning. But no matter what the
terminology, sexually active people can choose from a variety of methods to reduce the possibility of their becoming pregnant. Nevertheless, no method of birth control available today offers perfect protection against sexually transmitted infections (sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs), except abstinence.
In simple terms, all methods of birth control are based on either preventing a man's sperm from reaching and entering a woman's egg (fertilization) or preventing the fertilized egg from implanting in the woman's uterus (her womb) and starting to grow. New methods of birth control are being developed and tested. And what is appropriate for a couple at one point may change with time and circumstances.
Unfortunately, no birth-control method, except abstinence, is considered to
be 100% effective.
Types of hormonal methods of contraception
There are several different types hormonal methods of birth control. The differences
among them involve
the type of hormone,
the amount of hormone, and
the way the hormone enters a woman's body.
The hormones can be estrogen and/or progesterone. These hormones may be taken orally
(taken by mouth), implanted into body tissue, injected under the skin, absorbed
from a patch on the skin, or placed in the vagina. The mode of delivery
determines whether the hormonal exposure is continuous or intermittent.
The different hormonal types of birth control are comparable in that they are
all highly effective and all are reversible. However, none of the hormonal
methods of birth control protect a woman against sexually transmitted
infections.
Sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs,
are infections that are transmitted during any type of sexual exposure,
including intercourse (vaginal or anal), oral sex, and the sharing of sexual
devices, such as vibrators. Women can contract all of the STDs, but may have no symptoms, or have different symptoms than men do.
Though uterine cancer's cause is unknown, there are many factors that will put a woman at risk, including: over age 50, endometrial hyperplasia, using hormone replacement therapy, obesity, using tamoxifen, being Caucasian, having colorectal cancer. Symptoms of cancer of the uterus (endometrial cancer) include abnormal vaginal bleeding, painful urination, painful intercourse, and pelvic pain. Treatment depends on staging and may include radiation therapy or hormone therapy.
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled, sac-like structures within an ovary. Causes of ovarian cysts are numerous. Symptoms of an ovarian cysts may be pain in the belly or pelvis. Treatment of an ovarian cysts depends on type of cyst.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death in women in the U.S. Symptoms include a lump in the breast or underarm area, nipple pain, change in breast size or shape, an inverted nipple, nipple discharge, and breast skin changes. Treatment may involve chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, hormone therapy, or surgery.
Amenorrhea is a condition in which there is an absense of menstrual periods in a woman. There are two types of amenorrhea, 1) primary and 2) secondary. Treatment of amenorrhea depends on the type (primary or secondary). In prmiray, surgery may be an option and in secondary amenorrhea medication or lifestyle changes may be treatment options.
There are a number of different methods of birth control to include: barrier methods, IUDs, hormonal methods, natural methods, and surgical sterilization. Birth control methods can be reversible or permanent. In simple terms, all methods of birth control are based on either preventing a man's sperm from reaching and entering a woman's egg (fertilization) or preventing the fertilized egg from implanting in the woman's uterus (her womb) and starting to grow.
Women's health is an important topic area to guide a woman through the stages of her life, as well as knowing the conditions and diseases that may occur. Educating yourself so that the transitions into different phases of life is key to a healthy, happy, and productive life.
There are four phases to the sexual response for men and women. Couple do not usually reach each phase at the same time, and they are dependant from individual to individual. The four phases of the sexual response cycle include phase 1, excitement; phase 2, plateau; phase 3 orgasm; and phase 4 resolution.
Reproductive health encompasses the beginning of menstruation for women, choosing the right birth control method for you and your partner, preventing contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and for women, ending with the menopausal transition.
I may have breast cancer, what questions should I ask my doctor?
If you have received a positive or possible diagnosis of breast
cancer, there are a number of questions that you can ask your
doctor.
The answers you receive to these questions should give you a better
understanding of your specific diagnosis and the corresponding
treatment. It is usually helpful to write your questions down before you meet with your health-care provider. This gives you the opportunity to ask all your questions in an organized fashion.
Each question is followed by a brief explanation as to why that
particular question is important. We will not attempt to answer these
questions in detail here because each individual case is just that,
individual. This outline is designed to provide a framework to help
you and your family make certain that most of the important questions
in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment have been addressed. As cancer treatments are cons...