If you are struggling with depression, or have at one point in your life, it is important to learn more about how the birth control pill may affect your depression. Depending on the type of depression you have, birth control pills can improve it or make it worse.

PMS or Menstrual related depression can be improved by using the birth control pill. Depression that only sets on during “that time of the month” is caused by hormonal changes in your body. Those rapid changes can be “mellowed” by taking the pill. Many women with menstrual or PMS related depression see an improvement in the way the feel after being on the pill for a couple of months.

If you constantly suffer from depression, it is probably not hormone related, at least not related to the hormonal changes associated with your period. Taking the pill in this case can make things worse instead of helping relief your depression. Many women feel increased depression after being on the pill. There are also some who don’t start feeling depressed until they start taking the birth control pill. Usually using an alternate form of birth control in addition to some natural or prescription medication will get you back out of depression.

Different types of birth control pills seem to affect depression in different ways. In general pills with higher levels of progesterone are most likely to worsen your depression.

If you are currently suffering from depression talk to your health care professional about treatment options prior to starting on the pill. If you are already on an antidepressant, you may want to discuss birth control with your physician to see which option will have the least effect on your mental health and to make sure there isn’t any interaction or reaction with your depression medication.

If you are feeling depressed and think it may be caused at least in part by your birth control pill, make an appointment with your physician to discuss how the two of you can get you back out of depression and feeling better.

For more information about depression, its causes and treatment options, as well as other women’s health issues, visit http://www.healthandbeautyinfo.com

For more extensive free information on Modern Birth Control go to:

Modern Birth Control Methods

What is birth control?

Birth control refers to any activity, medication, or equipment used to prevent pregnancy. There are many types of birth control available for women who do not wish to become pregnant. The decision on which method is right for you should be made with your physician, as well as with your partner.
Birth control methods work in different ways to prevent pregnancy, including the following:

-creating a barrier that blocks sperm from reaching the egg
-killing sperm
-preventing eggs from being released by the ovaries
-changing the cervical mucus to hinder sperm from moving into the uterus
-altering the tissue lining the uterus so that a fertilized egg cannot implant
What are the different types of birth control?

Some methods that do not require a prescription from your physician include the following:

abstinence - not having sexual intercourse.
spermicides - foams or creams placed inside the vagina to kill sperm; these may also provide some protection against sexually transmitted diseases, especially when used with a latex condom.
male condoms - a thin tube made of latex or a natural material that is placed over the penis. The sperm is collected in the end of the condom. Latex condoms may provide some protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
female condoms - a liner made of latex or natural material that is placed inside the vagina. Latex condoms may provide some protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
natural family planning - timing intercourse to avoid “fertile” days using various methods of monitoring body temperature, watching for changes in cervical mucus, and the use of ovulation prediction kits. This method, often known as the “rhythm” method, has a high risk for pregnancy.
Some methods that require a prescription include the following:

oral contraceptives (birth control pills) - medications taken daily that prevent ovulation by controlling pituitary hormone secretion. Usually, oral contraceptives contain the hormones estrogen and progestin. Some types are progestin-only.

In addition to prevention of pregnancy, oral contraceptives have several health benefits including regulating menstrual cycles and decreasing the amount and length of menstrual periods. This can help increase iron stores in women with iron deficiency associated with excessive bleeding. Prevention of certain ovarian and endometrial cancers is a significant benefit of the use of oral contraceptives. Some research has found that some benign (non-cancerous) breast diseases, including fibroadenoma and cystic changes, occur less frequently with the use of oral contraceptives. Recent studies have also suggested that oral contraceptive use may reduce the occurrence of severe disabling rheumatoid arthritis.

mini-pill - unlike the traditional birth control pill, the mini-pill has only one hormone, progestin. Taken daily, the mini-pill thickens cervical mucus and prevents the sperm from reaching the egg. The mini-pill also can decrease the flow of your period and protect against PID and ovarian and endometrial cancer.
Norplant/Implants - capsules containing the synthetic hormone levonorgestrel, implanted under the skin in the upper arm of a woman, which continuously prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg for up to five years. Anesthesia is required for insertion and removal of this type of birth control.
Depo-Provera - a progesterone-like drug given by injection to prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation. The effects last for about three months and another injection must be given to continue birth control effectiveness.
monthly injections - a new type of contraceptive that combines two types of hormones, estrogen and progestin, in a monthly injection. These hormones work to prevent ovulation and continue regular menstrual periods. The injection must be repeated every 28 to 33 days to be effective.
patch - this is a skin patch worn on the body that releases the hormones estrogen and progestin into the bloodstream. It is most effective in women who weigh less than 200 pounds.
diaphragm or cervical cap - a dome-shaped rubber cup with a flexible rim that is inserted through the vagina to cover the cervix. This type of birth control must be inserted prior to having sexual intercourse.
hormonal vaginal contraceptive ring - a ring that is placed inside the vagina around the cervix. The ring releases the hormones estrogen and progestin.
intrauterine device (IUD) - devices placed in the uterus through the cervix by a physician. The IUD works by preventing an egg from being fertilized in the tubes or from attaching to the wall of the uterus. IUDs containing hormones must be replaced annually, while copper IUDs can last up to 10 years.
intrauterine system (IUS) - the IUS is a small T-shaped device that is placed inside the uterus by a physician. It releases a small amount of hormone each day to prevent pregnancy.
Essure- a thin tube is used to thread a tiny, spring-like device through the vagina to the uterus into each fallopian tube. A material in the device causes scar tissue to develop and permanently plug the tubes.
Surgery that results in the inability to become pregnant includes the following:

hysterectomy - removal of the uterus and usually the ovaries and fallopian tube. This is a permanent form of birth control.
tubal ligation or tubal occlusion (”tying the tubes”) - surgery to cut, cauterize, or band the fallopian tubes to prevent the egg from being transported to the uterus. Tubal ligation is designed to be a permanent method of birth control. Although certain types of tubal ligations can be reversed, the reversal procedure may not be successful.
vasectomy - cutting or clamping the vas deferens, the tubes that carry the sperm from the testes - are blocked. The testes still produce sperm, but the sperm die and are absorbed by the body. This is a permanent male birth control measure.
Methods that have been suggested as preventive, but may actually present a high risk for pregnancy include the following:

-withdrawal before ejaculation
-sexual intercourse during menstruation
-standing up immediately after sexual intercourse
-douching after sexual intercourse
Can’t remember to take the pill or need something longer term?

1. Intrauterine Device (IUD)

The intrauterine device, also know as “IUD”, is the most popular form of reversible birth control in the world with more than 85 million women users. An IUD is a soft flexible “T-shaped” plastic device that is inserted into the uterus to be used for contraception. The device is inserted and removed at separate office visits. The IUD is one of the safest, most effective and private methods of birth control.

Effectiveness: IUDs offer a very effective, safe, and hassle free contraception option and they last for a very long time.
Pregnancy: The ability to become pregnant returns quickly when IUD use is stopped.

There are two IUDs currently on the market in the USA:

a) The Mirena® IUD
Offers 99.9% effective birth control for up to 5 years. This device has a small amount of progestin hormone on it that usually makes your period lighter, and in some cases stops your period. Women tend to like these lighter periods on this IUD. Some women may experience irregular and/or heavier periods for the first 3 to 6 months after insertion but this usually resolves with ongoing use.

b) The ParaGard® IUD
Offers 97%-99% effective birth control for up to 10 years. The device is non-hormonal and has a small amount of copper on it. Occasionally women may have heavier periods on this IUD.

2. NuvaRing®
NuvaRing® is a once a month contraception. It is a comfortable, flexible contraceptive ring that prevents pregnancy by releasing a low dose of hormones. The ring need only be replaced once every four weeks - it is left in place for three weeks and taken out for the remaining week each month. Many women who use the vaginal ring have more regular, lighter, and shorter periods.

Effectiveness: Less than 1% of women will get pregnant each year if they always use NuvaRing® as directed and less than 8% will get pregnant each year if they don’t always use NuvaRing® as directed.
Pregnancy: If you decide you want to become pregnant, stop using NuvaRing®.

3. Depo-Provera®
Depo-Provera® is a birth control shot that is administered in the arm and lasts three months so you only have to think about it four times a year (every 12 weeks). The birth control shot does not contain estrogen, another type of hormone that is in many types of birth control, including the pill, patch, and ring. This means the shot can be a good choice for women who cannot take estrogen and for women who are breastfeeding. For most women, periods become fewer and lighter. After one year, half of the women who use the birth control shot will stop having periods completely. Some women have longer, heavier periods. Some women have increased spotting and light bleeding between periods.

Effectiveness: Less than 1% of women will get pregnant each year if they always use the birth control shot as directed and less than 3% of women will get pregnant each year if they don’t always use the birth control shot as directed.
Pregnancy: Because the birth control shot is long lasting, it can take a long time to get pregnant after getting your last shot - anywhere from nine months to more than a year. So, Depo-Provera® is not a good birth control method for you if you are thinking of getting pregnant soon.

For more information check out Savannah gynecologist.

Without a doubt, even as we speak, there are many different types of birth control devices and methods being developed today. Birth control is a very important part of family planning and with the rate of unwanted pregnancies and occurrence of teenage sex, the many different types of birth control devices and methods should be introduced as early on to teens as possible.

For example, there’s the barrier method of birth control which includes devices like diaphragms, cervical caps and shields that ultimately works by covering up the cervix so that sperm cannot enter the uterus during sexual intercourse. When the sperm cannot enter the uterus, the egg cannot be fertilized by the sperm. The barrier method is not 100% foolproof, although none of the birth control methods and devices are ever 100% secure so, in order to achieve its full potential, usage of the barrier type of birth control should be used together with an effective form of spermicidal application which kills off sperm that enters the body. Spermicidal applications are available in varying types, i.e., cream, foam or gel form.

The most common and most effective form of birth control remains to be the hormonal types of birth control which includes the varying types of birth control pills, injections and patches available in the market. They are excellent ways for birth control but some people are not able to use the oral contraceptive type of birth control or prefer not to use them. In that case, they may have to use other forms of birth control in the market.

Talking about spermicides, there is something called the contraceptive sponge that is somewhat like a foam or sponge that one inserts into the body of the female to cover the cervix area. The foam contains sperm-killing chemicals that kill of sperms that enter the body. Not only do contraceptive sponges block the sperm from entering the cervix, it also doubles up as spermicide, working as a 2-in-1 birth control device.

In recognizing the need for an urgent or emergency birth control device, there is something called the ‘emergency contraceptive’ that is available off the counter in most pharmacies, hospitals and clinics. The emergency birth control device is useful to women who forgot to take their oral birth control, is forced to have unprotected sex, or used birth control methods but it did not work (condom breaking). The emergency birth control works by stopping the ovaries from releasing eggs, stopping fertilization of the egg when the sperm has entered the body and it also stops the fertilized egg from attaching itself to the wall of the uterus.

Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas.  He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.womens-health-center.net on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

For more detailed information on Modern Birth Control visit

Birth Control Devices And Methods

Best Birth Control

If you are still not emotionally and financially ready to have a child, then the best option to prevent pregnancy is to make use of an effective birth control method. Today, there are a lot of birth control options for you to choose from. Birth control options range from implants, IUDs, pills, sterilizations, and injections.

Each year, millions of people in the US alone are using different types of reliable birth control method.  However, there are still some types of birth control that are proven to be inefficient, including condoms, spermicide, and most especially natural planning. The non-prescription and natural types of birth control are generally the least effective ones.

Despite the inefficiency reports on some birth control methods, a lot of people still prefer to use the least ineffective ones as means to prevent unwanted pregnancies. To ensure efficient protection, it is recommended to properly choose the best birth control type to use.

Choosing the best birth control

There are different types of birth control methods to choose from. The types vary according to non-prescription methods, prescribed means, and the natural planning approach.

Non-prescription:

1. Condoms

Condom is probably the most common type of non-prescription birth control method. This is widely available in drugstores and supermarkets. It is proven that the latex condoms work better in preventing pregnancies than the ones made from polyurethane.

Condoms are not advisable to use with lotions, oils, and petroleum jelly. These are, however, best used with non-oily lubricants.

2. Spermicide

You can buy this type of non-prescription birth control method in various forms such as jelly, cream, and foam at drugstores. Spermicide contains certain chemicals that kill sperm, thus, preventing pregnancy. This birth control, however, is one of the types that are proven ineffective.

Prescription:

1. Birth control pill

Generally, there are two types of birth control pills: these are the mini pills and the combined oral contraceptives. You need to get a prescription from your doctor to buy these birth control medications in drug stores.

2. Cervical cap

This is a soft rubber cup with a round rim that is inserted in a woman’s vagina. It is basically  smaller than the diaphragm. This is oftentimes difficult to insert, thus, requiring you to go to a  clinic to have it fitted.

3. Norplant

Norplant is a type of progestin placed under the upper arm skin of a woman. Known to have two types, namely the six-rod and the two-rod, norplants are made from rubber rods. You need to visit a specialized doctor to have the rods removed.

Natural Planning:

The natural planning method is also called as periodic abstinence or fertility awareness. This  method works by monitoring the days that you and your partner cannot have sex. The abstinence  period starts seven days before a woman ovulates and three days after ovulation.

To properly perform the natural planning method, you need to ask your gynecologist regarding the  ovulation period. The doctor will then determine the best time for you and your partner to have  sex by means of body temperature, changes in vaginal mucus, and the menstrual cycle.

A very good way to get more detailed information about the best types of birth control and the birth control method that is right for you is to obtain the free information kit which is available from  Types of Birth Control

and can also be obtained from:

http://www.modernbirthcontrol.com