Lunelle birth control shot

Lunelle birth control shot is a hormonal contraceptive used in preventing pregnancy. It consists of a combination of synthetic estrogen and progesterone. This is an injective hormonal contraceptive, used once a month. Every woman taking Lunelle needs a prescription to get it and a health care provider who could make a shot.

This form of birth control helps to protect against unexpected pregnancy through several actions. First, it stops ovulation from occurring, therefore no egg is released and pregnancy cannot occur. Second, Lunelle changes uterine mucus, so that it becomes thicker and it becomes harder for sperm to enter the uterus and meet with an egg. Finally, it alters the uterine lining, so that it becomes harder for implantation to occur.

Lunelle birth control shot

Lunelle is also a very private form of birth control, since nobody sees it, and only your health care practitioner is aware of it. It also does not interact with sexual intercourse. Since this form of birth control is reversible, it does not affect future fertility. It is very easy to use unlike some other contraceptives.

Lunelle birth control shot has to be given every 28 – 30 days. The amount of time between injections cannot be longer than 33 days, since it will not be effective. Usually, the shot is given during the first 5 days of a woman’s menstrual cycle . It can also be given within the first 5 days after first trimester abortion.

Administration of this method of birth control is a bit different in women after pregnancy. A woman can receive a Lunelle birth control shot after 4 weeks following delivery if she is not nursing a baby. She can receive this contraceptive after a minimum of 6 weeks following delivery if she is breastfeeding.

Since Lunelle has to be given every month, you can arrange a date for the next one the day you have your shot. This way you will not forget when the next injection needs to be given. Make sure you do not exceed 33 days between each shot. If you cannot receive the next shot within a month, you need to use additional contraceptives, since Lunelle may not be effective in preventing pregnancy.

Although this form of contraception is very convenient, effective and easy to use, not every woman can take it. Women older than 35 years of age and smokers, also those, who had previous heart attack or stroke, liver disease, cancer and other conditions.

It is important not to take Lunelle for women who have a history of blood clot formation, unexplained vaginal bleeding, or are pregnant. A combination of these medical conditions and this hormonal form of birth control may lead to serious health problems. Therefore, only a doctor or your health care provider can decide if you are a good candidate for having Lunelle birth control shot.

Lunelle birth control shot advantages

Lunelle birth control shot has a lot of advantages. First of all, this form of contraception has a very high efficiency in protection against unexpected pregnancy. Its efficacy is up to 99% in birth control . Since, Lunelle shot id given only once a month but it is effective against pregnancy throughout a month, it is more comfortable that the pill. It has to be injected only once monthly, and a woman does not have to bother remembering to take every day, or use additional for of contraception in case she forgets.

Lunelle birth control shot disadvantages and side effects

As with any forms of birth control, this contraceptive has not only advantages but also disadvantages. Women have to remember that this hormonal mean of contraception does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases , including HIV. Therefore condoms have to be used during every sexual intercourse in order to protect oneself from sexually transmitted diseases. This drug has quite a few side effects, and its long-term risks are not yet known. Another disadvantage is that Lunelle is a prescription contraceptive, and a woman needs to go to her health care provider every month to have a shot.

The most common and expected side effects of the use of this contraceptive are irregular bleeding and weight gain. Bleeding can be from very minimal, as spotting, to very intense, due to which a woman has to be admitted to the hospital. Normally, every woman should expect a weight gain of 4 pounds due to fluid retention every year while using Lunelle. However, some women can gain from 10 to 20 pounds every year.

Other known side effects include nausea, vomiting, headache, decreased libido, mood swings, dizziness, and other. Some women experience very hard side effects, others feel quite well taking Lunelle birth control shot.

Another disadvantage of this form of birth control is that some drugs reduce efficiency of Lunelle . These drugs are mainly antibiotics, barbiturates, herbal medicines and anti-seizure drugs. You have to inform your doctor about any medications that you are taking with this form of birth control. If these are drugs that interact with efficiency of this contraceptive, you will need to take additional form of birth control.

Most women, who want to become pregnant after taking Lunelle birth control shot, are usually able to conceive a baby immediately after they stop taking this contraceptive. However, some women may need to wait for a month or three until their periods get back to normal and they can become pregnant. There are no known effects on a baby if a mother has been taking Lunelle before getting pregnant.

This form of contraception is available throughout USA. It is a safe method of birth control . If you are considering hormonal contraception, Lunelle birth control shot might be a perfect option for you due to many advantages. Consult your doctor about other contraception options before choosing, which contraceptive is best for you.

Lea’s contraceptive

Lea’s Shield (or Lea’s contraceptive in Europe) is a barrier method of contraception designed for women. It is a hormone-free cup-shaped device made of medical grade silicone rubber. This mean of birth control is inserted into the vagina to cover the cervix and block sperm during sexual intercourse. It is a washable and reusable form of barrier methods that can be reused for six months.

This birth control device has a round shape and smooth edges. Unlike other barrier contraceptive methods, Lea’s shield is provided in one size. Therefore, there is no need to be fitted for every woman’s anatomy like with diaphragms. It also has a valve in center, which does not allow sperm to enter the cervix but lets the cervical mucus through.

Lea’s contraceptive is easy to insert and to remove due to a special loop for insertion and removal. It is very easy to use and comfortable because of its flexible construction. Just like other barrier contraceptive devices this form of birth control stays in place via suction. It can be used either with or without spermicide . But this device is much less effective when used without spermicide.

Like other barrier contraceptives, Lea’s shield works creating a barrier for sperm. The device suctions up to the cervix covering it and part of the upper vagina completely. Thus, no sperm can enter the uterus and fertilize an egg, so pregnancy is not likely.

How to use Lea’s contraceptive?

Lea’s shield is very easy to use. It can be put into the vagina just like a tampon. Since it has a flexible structure, this device can e squeezed and gently inserted into the vagina, as far as it is comfortably possible. Just like with a tampon, you should not feel this contraceptive device in your vagina once it has been properly inserted. Use a special loop when you want to remove Lea’s shield.

This contraceptive device can be placed into the vagina anytime before having sex. Since, its efficiency is much higher when used with spermicide, it is highly recommended to put spermicide around the ring of the device. Then take the shield and insert it into the vagina, as described above.

To be effective in birth control, this device should be left in place for at least eight hours after sexual intercourse. However, you cannot leave Lea’s shield in your vagina for longer than 48 hours. Since most spermicides are efficient for up to eight hours, you must put additional spermicide if the device is left in the vagina for longer than eight hours but you are to have sexual intercourse.

After removing Lea’s shield you need to wash and dry it carefully. You can use water with soap to wash the device. Once you have washed it properly, leave it to dry on a clean, dry towel. Bear in mind, that you need to put this mean of birth control into a special protective case, which protects the shield from dirt and damaging.

The efficiency of Lea’s contraceptive in birth control is very similar to that of other barrier methods. If used properly this device has a failure rate from 10% to 15%. This rate is about 8% if the shield is used together with spermicides.

Lea’s contraceptive advantages

Lea’s shield offers a lot of advantages for women in birth control. First of all, since this is not a hormonal method of birth control, it does not affect women’s menstrual cycle nor has other side effects and complications associated with hormonal contraceptives. It comes in one size, and therefore, it fits every woman, and does not need to be fitted by a doctor. It can be reused for up to six months when washed. It is not an expensive contraceptive method, its price is about $70 per shield.

Lea’s contraceptive disadvantages

Despite all these advantages, just as all birth control methods, Lea’s contraceptive has a few disadvantages. As compared to other forms of birth control, such as hormonal contraceptives, the shield has a quite high failure rate. As it has to be used with spermicides, these can affect vaginal lining in a way that it is more disposed to infections, including yeast infection or sexually transmitted diseases. Just like other female barrier birth control methods , Lea’s shield does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases , including HIV. Therefore, you need to use condoms during every sexual intercourse. As the device has to be placed inside the vagina, there is a certain risk for vaginal or bladder infections.

There are almost no limitations for women, who want to use Lea’s shield for birth control . It is very suitable for breastfeeding mothers. Also for women who cannot or do not want to use hormonal contraceptives. Since the device is very easy to use, many women choose it instead of using a diaphragm or cervical cap. Finally, Lea’s contraceptive can be used as additional birth control method after forgetting to take the pill.

There are a lot of options for birth control. And all of them have both certain advantages and disadvantages. It is up to you, which method of contraception to use, Lea’s shield is one of the options.

IUD removal

The intrauterine device (IUD ) is a safe and effective method of birth control used by many women worldwide. Copper IUD may be used for ten years after insertion, whereas hormone releasing IUD’s expire after 5 years of use and must then be removed or replaced.

There are different reasons for the IUD to be removed. Most often they are removed at the expiration date. All IUD’s both copper and hormone releasing IUD’s must be removed at expiration date. The use of these devices after expiration date may lead to different complications and even infertility in some women.

Reasons for IUD removal

The most frequent reason why the intrauterine device is removed before its use expires is pain and bleeding. This happens usually within the first year of use. Other reasons include intrauterine infection, expulsion and pregnancy due to the method failure. Also, a woman can decide to have her IUD removed when she wants to discontinue using contraception in order to become pregnant.

In menopausal women the intrauterine device is usual to be removed within one year after disappearance of menstruation . No developed complications have been reported, in cases where IUD has not been removed.

Just as the insertion of intrauterine device the removal of this contraceptive method must be performed by a health care provider, including a midwife or nurse, who is trained to do it. It is not a complicated procedure and is performed routinely. The health care provider may remove this type of birth control device at any time. Bear in mind that it might be easier to remove IUD during menstrual bleeding, though it is not that hard to remove it at any other time.

It is important to reduce the risk of infection by taking regular infection prevention measures. The health care specialist grasps the threads at the external exit with ring forceps and then slowly and gently pulls them away from the uterus, avoiding the breakage of the string. If it is not possible to move IUD , the practitioner should stop traction and find out the reasons why the device is stuck. In case an IUD is deep in the uterus, hysteroscopy may be needed for safe removal of it.

If it is the removal of an expired IUD, a new one can be inserted immediately after removal, if a woman wants to continue this mean of birth control .

Lactational Amenorrhea Method

Lactational  Amenorrhea Method (LAM) is a certain birth control method that relies on natural infertility after labour when a fully breastfeeding mother is amenorrheic. This contraceptive method is based on physiological condition when breastfeeding suppresses ovulation and hence, reduces fertility. A woman can stay infertile for as much as six months postpartum when she is fully breastfeeding and has had no menses since childbirth.

LAM has a lot of advantages compared to other methods of birth control . First of all, studies have shown that this contraceptive method has high efficiency in birth control being from 98 to 99% effective. This is a safe, easy to use mean of contraception that starts straight after delivery of the child. Even more, no chemicals or barrier devices need to be used helping both partners to relax during sexual intercourse.

In addition to family planning properties, LAM also provides healthy nutrition of the baby, increases its immunity and prevents diseases. Nursing helps to build a healthy and stable relationship between a mother and an infant, making the family stronger and healthier. Finally, this birth control method has no side effects and possible risks.

Requirements for Lactational Amenorrhea Method

Despite all advantages of this contraceptive method , not all mothers can use LAM for family planning, since there are certain requirements they need to fulfill. Breastfeeding must be the only source of nutrition for a newborn baby. This means that a woman must be fully breastfeeding. No supplements should be added to infant’s nutrition. Even more, a mother may not use pumping since this reduces the efficiency of this birth control method.

Another requirement that must be fulfilled for LAM to be effective is that a mother must be amenorrheic, meaning that she has not had menstruation since labour. Other sources claim that a breastfeeding mother must not have had menses after 56 days after childbirth. As there could be other types of vaginal bleeding due to labour, this can be disregarded if it happens earlier than 56 days after childbirth.

LAM efficiency

LAM is effective for 6 months post-partum. Therefore, an infant should be younger than six months of age in order for this family planning method to be efficient. Even if a woman continues breastfeeding and stays amenorrheic longer than six months after childbirth, she should use additional means of contraception in order to avoid possible pregnancy.

When breastfeeding is concerned there are several more things a mother should know to use LAM efficiently. A mother should start nursing the baby as soon as possible after labour. There cannot be any schedule. The woman should breastfeed often, depending on the baby’s request. For this method of birth control to be effective, there cannot be long breaks between nursing, and a mother should do it both day and night. Some sources advise the intervals not to be longer than four hours in the daytime and six hours at night. No bottles, pumps or supplements should be used, since this reduces the efficiency of LAM. And finally, which is sometimes hard to do and your doctor’s consultation may be needed, breastfeeding must not be interrupted due to the illness of a mother of the baby.

Disadvantages of lactational amenorrhea method

Unfortunately there are some disadvantages and limitations of this method of birth control. It works only for a certain limited amount of time, six months post-partum. LAM cannot be used by mothers who cannot or do not want to breastfeed. Some women, especially those who work, may find it hard to manage regular full breastfeeding. And finally, LAM does not protect against sexually transmitted disease , including HIV, therefore, women, who have multiple partners, must use condoms .

Every woman has a right to choose the most optimal method for family planning. Doctors and health care specialists can help them with information and detailed instructions how to use lactational amenorrhea method effectively to provide temporary child spacing. Also, health care specialists can help a woman to find another optimal method of birth control before the effect of LAM expires. Do not hesitate to consult your doctor about all possible family planning methods after childbirth.

Bleeding after emergency contraception

Emergency contraception or “the-morning-after-pill” id the type of contraception used after unsafe sexual intercourse in order to avoid unplanned pregnancy from occurring. It should be taken within 72 hours after unsafe intercourse. Although it is one of the methods of birth control, it should not be used on the regular basis, since it has a few unpleasant side effects.

50% of women taking the morning after pill experience nausea, 20% of them vomit. There are also other side effects, such as fatigue, headache, breast tenderness, and dizziness. Since emergency contraception pills are a type of hormonal birth control , it may also cause irregular bleeding.

Bleeding should can occur either before expected time of the next period or after. A woman may also experience no bleeding or period at all. If a women experiences per-term bleeding, she should expect her normal period within a month. If it does not occur, she should do a pregnancy test as it might be a reason for absent menstruation.

In general, if menstruation does not occur within a week after expected term, after taking n emergency contraception pill, a woman should check if she is not pregnant. Since this type of birth control makes female hormone levels out of order, it is understandable that menstrual cycle gets slightly irregular.

Women should also bear in mind that irregular bleeding or spotting might be a sign of sexually transmitted infection. Since emergency contraception methods do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases , a woman should see her physician and be checked for STD’s.

If bleeding occurs after taking the morning after pill, the woman should always see her physician or gynecologist, as only the doctor can determine, whether bleeding is a side effect or due to some other reason.

Male contraceptive

Condom was the only choice for men in reversible birth control for ages. Since the 1960’s, when female birth control pill has been invented, women seemed to have more control over contraception than men. It seems that the situation is going to change anytime soon because various new reversible birth control methods have been found for men. Question is, whether men are going to use their new options in birth control or not.

A thirty-year-old Michael said that he was happy to hear that men are given a new option of contraception but he also added that he would not even consider taking a hormonal form of birth control. And many men are very anxious about possible side effects of hormones, since they are aware of women’s experience with hormonal contraception in the past. At the moment, no registered substances of hormonal or non-hormonal male contraception are available in the market. Scientists have developed the first hormonal birth control method for men in the 90’s. Even though, it seemed to be a huge revolution in the history of human contraception, no registered form of this type of contraception is available in the market yet.

New method of male contraception

This hormonal method of contraception for men is a combined form of an implant and injection. An implant contains testosterone, a male hormone, and has to be inserted under the skin and changed every 4 months. Additional injections of progestin, a female hormone, should be made 3 times a month.

This method switches off sperm production reversibly but additional amount of testosterone should be added to keep male functions and libido at the normal state. A lot of clinical trials have to be passed yet, but yet hormonal male contraception, either injectable or implant showed no significant side effects, apart from minor headaches, increased nocturnal perspiration and mood swings. It seems that this is good news, and soon patches, creams or even birth control pill might be available.

However, even though this method was 99.9 % effective in birth control, it is still not available in the market due to side effects and negative male opinion towards hormonal substances of contraception.

There were several articles about male contraception in the news recently. It seems that two separate drugs were developed with totally different types of action. One of them, called Adjudin, is still in preclinical stage. At the moment this drug in the injectable form is being tested on rats in laboratories. So far it has shown high efficiency, total reversibility and no side effects.


Adjudin stops germ cells from developing into sperm after injecting the substance into the bellies of male rats. This contraceptive showed to be effective in birth control. Fertility returned after 20 weeks. And even though this drug is far from the use in humans, men have significant hope for the new contraceptive option to be available.

Another recent drug that scientists are even happier about, since it has been already undergoing clinical trials, is a non-hormonal form of male contraception. British scientists developed this new drug after noticing that patients treated with drugs against schizophrenia or hypertension tended to have no ejaculation.

A new male birth control pill contains a hormone-free substance that influences contraction of the muscles that are responsible for ejaculation but does not affect orgasm sensation. Therefore sperm does not ejaculate but a man can still experience orgasm and involve himself into a normal sexual intercourse.

This new way of male contraception is absolutely revolutionary, since it does not affect sperm production. It contains no hormones. And it is a totally reversible form of male contraception. The pill has to be taken two hours prior to sexual intercourse, it results in so called “dry ejaculation” and fertility is back again within half a day.

Side effects of male contraceptive

Clinical trials are already being made, showing that no side effects have been found so far. Researchers say that based on many factors this pill could be marketed within five years. However, some are concerned about men’s reactions towards this product. Some men might have problems with the drug because they might feel like losing their virility. Time will reveal, which of the methods is really worth trust but it is already pleasing that men might soon have several new option in birth control .

Mirena IUD

Mirena is levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system. It is a hormonal birth control method for women. Mirena IUD, like other IUDs, is a T-shaped device. The difference is that it contains of 52 mg levonorgestrel (progestogen hormone), which is constantly released directly into the uterus at the amount of 20 µg/day. Its contraceptive effect lasts for up to five years. This IUD should be removed not later than 5 years after insertion.

Mirena IUD

Levonorgestrel is a chemical form of a progestogen hormone, which in natural form is one of the most essential female sexual hormones. In vivo it is provided by the ovaries. Birth control pills – both combined and progestogen only – also consist of levonorgestrel.

Levonorgestrel is responsible for contraceptive effect of Mirena IUD. It has three mechanisms of action, which enables Mirena IUD to be highly effective in birth control . Levonorgestrel thins the uterine lining, thickens the cervical mucus and inhibits sperm mobility.

It does not have any effects on the ovaries but some users may experience absence of ovulation.

The efficiency of Mirena IUD

Mirena IUD is highly effective in birth control. Its effectiveness is up to 99.9 %, a failure rate being 0.16 per 100 women per years of use. It is nearly as effective as tubal ligation or vasectomy. Contraceptive effect is reversible, and 80 percent have been able to become pregnant within 12 months after removal of the intrauterine device .

To be able to use Mirena IUD, a woman must have had at least one previous pregnancy. No history of previous pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is one of the main requirements for eligibility for this type of intrauterine device. Mirena does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Contraindications of using Mirena IUD

Pregnancy, cervical dysplasia, genital infections, uterine or cervical cancer, undiagnosed abnormal bleeding are the main contraindications for the use of this IUD. In addition, women who have or have had breast cancer should not use it either. Women, who have a history of icterus, headaches and migraine, hypertension, leukemia, heart disorders, should consult their doctor about other options of birth control .

How to insert Mirena IUD

Mirena IUD should be inserted into the uterus at the doctor‘s office seven days of the onset of period or straight after first trimester abortion. A doctor should check for infection before inserting the device. The cervix should be inspected to determine the size of a uterine device.

Follow ups are recommended after insertion of Mirena IUD . First examination should be scheduled in two weeks. Regular check ups should be performed every three months to consult about bleeding, weight gain, lower abdomen pain, headache and other side effects. Mirena IUD is to be taken out after five years of use. It is best to remove the device during period, since removal of Mirena at other times of the cycle may require the use of additional birth control methods .

Mirena IUD side effects

Even though Mirena IUD is an effective and easy to use method of contraception, just like all hormonal birth control options, it has possible side effects. Since the active ingredient levonorgestrel affects the uterine lining, one of the most common side effects is irregular bleeding and spotting during the first 3 – 6 months. The number of such days continuously diminishes and even 20 % of Mirena users have no bleeding at all by the end of the first year of use. Therefore, a woman should consult a doctor about possible changes in the menstrual pattern to be ready for such effects.

Other possible side effects include lower abdominal pain, nausea, weight gain, headaches, back pain, irritability and others. But these are quite uncommon side effects, and the advantage of this device higher. There is also a low risk of ectopic pregnancy, and therefore, it is recommended to not insert Mirena IUD to women who have a history of ectopic pregnancy. The risk of infection is slightly higher, compared to women, who do not use this device, and therefore additional measures should be taken to protect against STD‘s.

The cost of Mirena IUD is about $300. If you are not satisfied with current method of contraception and considering about Mirena IUD, consult your doctor about the advantages and disadvantages of this device. And if you are a good candidate for this device and decide to use it, you might be actually happy to keep your life simple.

ParaGard IUD

ParaGard T 380A is a T-shaped intrauterine device that contains copper and is used in birth control . It is a non-hormonal method of female contraception. It is about 3 cm long and is produced of both copper and plastic. Tiny thread is added to the device, which helps on removal of this type of IUD.

Paragard IUD

Only doctors should insert Paragard IUD into the uterus. This device is effective in birth control straight after its insertion into the uterus. Since it can be left without removal for up to ten years, the price of the device is quite high, fluctuating from $400 to $500 in the United States of America. Paragard IUD is an effective, non-hormonal, long lasting and reversible form of birth control available now.

The action of this device as a method of birth control is not entirely known. Since it does not contain any hormones, copper IUD does not affect ovulation. Paragard IUD is known to kill sperm due to antispermicide effects of copper. This device also changes the uterine lining so that it becomes thinner, and hence, uterine cavity becomes more hostile for sperm and unavailable for implantation of an egg. It also acts as a stimulating agent for prostaglandins that inhibit production of certain hormones needed to assist pregnancy.

The efficiency of Paragard IUD

The efficiency of Paragard IUD is considered to be high, reaching about 90%. Some claim that failure rate is 1% for users, who are comfortable with this type of IUD. However, clinical studies have shown that the possibility that this device falls out the uterus during the first year of use is 5%. And even though, Paragard IUD may be left inside for up to ten years, many women stops using it sooner due to side effects.

This type of intrauterine device is a reversible form of contraception. Women are able to conceive right after removal of IUD.

Should a woman become pregnant with Paragard in place, the device should be removed to prevent possible complications of pregnancy. Removal of an intrauterine device may be sometimes complicated leading to miscarriage or even surgical abortion. If IUD is not removed, long-term effects to fetus are not yet known.

Am I suitable for copper IUD?

Not every woman is suitable for using this form of birth control. First, a woman should have had at least one pregnancy before inserting the device. Her uterus should be normal in shape. Post-pregnancy or post-abortion intrauterine infection during the past 3 months is a contraindication for this method of contraception. It is strictly not recommended to insert an IUD if a woman has a history of previous acute Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). Other contraindications are uterine or cervical cancer, Wilson’s disease or allergy to any of the components of the device, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, and cervical infection.

A woman should consult her health care professional to find out whether she is suitable or not for having Paragard IUD. Women should also know that this device does not protect against any sexually transmitted diseases, therefore additional measures should be used for that.

Paragard IUD side effects

Like all method of birth control, Paragard IUD has certain side effects and possible complications that women should be aware of. The most common side effects include longer and heavier menstruation for several months after insertion. In addition, women also experience spotting. These side effects usually disappear in several months after beginning of use. But a woman should contact a doctor in case of severe menstrual bleeding or if she misses a period, since it might be due to pregnancy.

One of the most serious complications associated with the use of an IUD is perforation of the uterus. Luckily, it is a very rare case. Expulsion of the device is rather frequent and is more likely to appear in younger patients. Pelvic inflammatory disease is also a possible complication due to Paragard, like other IUD’s. Other complications include backache, vaginal discharge, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or even infertility . If any complaints occur a woman should contact her doctor immediately in order to avoid these complications.

Even though there are possible side effects and complications associated with this device, and it efficiency in birth control is not as high compared to hormonal methods of birth control, Paragard IUD is probably one of the most popular non-hormonal methods of contraception these days.

Menstrual cycle

If you are a teenage girl, you have probably started having a period already. If you are still waiting for your first menstrual bleeding, you might be anxious about this topic and want to know more about it. Menstrual cycle is quite a complex physiological process in a woman’s body but it is very interesting and important for you to understand.

Menstrual cycle

What is a menstrual cycle? It is a periodic cycle of certain physiological changes in women’s body. Menstrual cycle is closely associated with female fertility. Reproductive hormones, such as estradiol (estrogen), progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, are responsible for recurring changes during this cycle.

Menarche is the first period in a woman’s life. The age of menarche depends on diet, genetics, environment and health status. The average age for the first menstrual bleeding is 12 years worldwide. However, this age ranges from 8 to 16 and is considered normal. Menstrual cycle continues during the whole woman’s reproductive life, the end of which is called menopause , and most commonly starts at the age of 51 years. This is when the menstrual cycle stops occurring and a woman cannot get pregnant anymore.

The length of a woman’s menstrual cycle is very individual – it can be shorter or longer. Normally, less than eight days between the longest cycle and shortest one are allowed to consider the menstrual cycle as normal.

Girls, who have their menstrual cycle for the first time in their life, should learn how to count their cycle. You should start your cycle from the first day of menstrual bleeding. Menstrual cycle is divided into several phases, which differ in physiology and hormones that regulate menstrual cycle.

Menstruation phase

First phase is menstruation. Normally it lasts from 3 to 5 days (but 2-7 days duration is also normal). During this time a woman experiences uterine bleeding of about 35 milliliters and therefore, may require more iron in her diet to avoid iron deficiency. Uterine cramps are also very common during period, and might require the use of some medications to soothe them.

Follicular phase

After menstrual phase is over, follicular or proliferative phase starts under control of the rising follicular-stimulating hormone on the 5th day through 13th day of the menstrual cycle. During this phase, the amount of estrogen increases and, therefore, uterine lining becomes thicker. In addition, due to the action of the follicle-stimulating hormone follicles begins to develop in the ovary, until there is only one of them, called the dominant, left. This dominant follicle continues to grow and soon is able to ovulate, meaning to leave the ovary.

Ovulation phase

Ovulation is the next phase of the menstrual cycle and it is when a mature ovum is released from the ovary to the abdominal cavity. This is due the action of estradiol, which triggers the luteinizing hormone that helps an egg to become mature and weakens the membrane of the follicle, so that a mature ovum could be released. Fallopian tubes must catch this released egg and bring it to the site of fertilization. If a woman has sexual intercourse during ovulation or a few days before or after it, then sperm is able to join the egg, and a woman becomes pregnant. If sperm is not present at the time of ovulation, an egg will not get fertilized and eventually it will dissolve in the uterus.&

During the phase of ovulation, this usually occurs on the 14th day of the menstrual cycle , a woman experiences changes in vaginal discharge, which then becomes profuse, stringy and clear in color. Also, some women may experience a dull pain at the lower part of the abdomen, lasting for a few hours. In addition, some women may have a light mid-cycle bleeding. Scientists say, that at the time of ovulation women have a greater smell ability.

Luteal phase

After the ovulation phase is over, luteal phase starts from the day 15 through 28 of the cycle. Parts of the follicle that are left in the ovary become a so called corpus luteum, that produces large amounts of progesterone. Progesterone is necessary for the uterine lining to proliferate, in order to become more suitable for implantation of a fertilized egg. If an egg is fertilized then it gets implanted in the uterus and corpus luteum continues to produce large amounts of progesterone and, therefore, when a woman becomes pregnant one of the first signs is absence of a period. If an egg does not get fertilized, corpus luteum diminishes in about two weeks and stops secreting progesterone, therefore menstrual bleeding occurs on the 28th day of the menstrual cycle.

During ovulation and luteal phase, the woman’s body temperature rises by one quarter to half a degree Celsius, which is important for women who use temperature method as a natural birth control method.

Duration of the menstrual cycle

The duration of the follicular phase and the menstrual cycle varies. The luteal phase usually lasts the same number of days in the same woman. Its length is from 10 to 16 days depending individually. Sperm is known to be able to survive in a woman’s body from 3 to 8 days. The period when a woman is most fertile, meaning the highest possibility of sexual intercourse to lead to pregnancy, is 5 days before ovulation and 1-2 days after it. There are certain natural methods of birth control that try to detect accurate time of ovulation and determine fertile and infertile days of the menstrual cycle.

It is, however, a mistake to take into account that ovulation always occurs on the day 14 of the menstrual cycle. There are several methods, such as basal body temperature measurements, vaginal discharge observation, observation of the cervical position. And there are also certain detection kits that help women to determine the exact day of ovulation.

However, women should be aware that natural birth control methods have a very low practical efficiency in contraception. And also, a woman must have a regular menstrual cycle in order to use natural birth control method effectively.

There is also a phenomenon known for women, who live closely together, for example, roommates, to have menstrual cycles similar in length. Although this was not 100% proved, it can still be observed, and thought to be due to the action of pheromones.

Diane 35 birth control pill

Diane 35 birth control pills had been advertised almost everywhere: on TV or radio, on the buses or student campuses. It is thought to be a birth control pill but as a matter of fact it is not. Diane 35 has received a lot comments on causing blood clots. Is it safe to use it? Here are some opinions of the experts.

Diane 35

Diane 35 was approved in Canada in 1998 and it has never been approved in the USA. It was approved in Europe, Asia and also Latin America for the purposes of birth control and acne treatment. The first warning sign was the case in Germany when a woman using Diane 35 for 14 years died because of liver cancer. Following this event it was firstly restricted in Germany and in the rest of the Europe.

There is an opinion that Diane 35 is not a contraceptive. However it has both: estrogens and progestin and can protect you from getting pregnant. It should be prescribed for the treatment of acne problems or the reduction of facial or body hair. Diane 35 is also used by women with androgen-dependent diseases and for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome. The recommended duration of a treatment is around several months in order to achieve the wanted results.

Later concerns of the Diane 35 were focused not on the liver toxicity or the potential cancer risks but on its ability to cause blood clots which can appear in the legs and even travel to the lung what is dangerous. Under several studies Diane 35 birth control pill can be considered as a bit riskier than other birth control pills . Doctors in Canada for example can not advertise it as a contraceptive as it is not approved for this use.

As an example it could be of a woman from Ontario who appears to have blood clot in the brain. She was taking Diane 35 for four years. Her heamatologist agreed that a birth control pill was likely to cause her a blood clot. Many contraceptive pills carries the risk of causing blood clots however at the time woman was taking pills there were sent advisories to the patients and doctors with a risk of Diane 35 comparing to other birth control pills. That was the reminder the Diane 35 was never approved for birth control.

There is an opinion of gynaecologist that Diane 35 is safe to use as in the 50 countries in the world it is prescribed for a birth control . Some physicians think that if it is used correctly it is as safe as any other oral contraceptive. Also Berlex (a drug company) says that recent studies show that there is no increased risk of clotting.

The records of Health Canada records are not attractive. It seems that Diane 35 contributed to the 35 blood clots and 5 deaths of Canadian women. The comparison was done to another contraceptive known as Alesse. Despite there are more prescriptions of it the numbers of blood clots are lesser (7 to 1).

Such are the controversial opinions regarding Diane 35. As to everything you decide to take please be aware of their risks and always consult to a specialist before making the decision your own.