Types of Birth Control Pills

!±8± Types of Birth Control Pills

What are birth control pills

More than 45 years since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved "the pill" in 1960, it continues to be the most popular and one of the most effective forms of reversible birth control. Today, American women have more than 40 different oral contraceptive products from which to choose.

"The pill" is the common name for oral contraception. There are two basic types of birth control pills: combination pills and progestin-only pills. Both are made of hormones like those made by a woman's ovaries. Combination pills contain estrogen and progestin. Both types require a medical evaluation and prescription. Both can prevent pregnancy.

Progestin-only pills

The progestin-only pills (also called "mini-pills") became available in the 1970s. Their use was and has been limited - making up only 1 to 10 % of contraceptive market. This type of pills contains no estrogen and therefore they do not usually prevent ovulation. To work effectively, they must be taken at a certain time every 24 hours. Even missing one pill can greatly reduce effectiveness.

Progestin-only pills have specific advantages over combined oral contraceptives. Because they do not contain estrogen, they are a good contraceptive choice for breastfeeding women, as estrogen reduces milk production, and for women with health conditions that preclude use of combined oral contraceptives pills, such as migraine headaches, thromboembolism, and cardiovascular disease. In addition, progestin-only pills do not have most of the estrogen-related side effects of oral contraception: nausea, headaches and other symptoms associated with starting the combined pill are minimal. However, bleeding and spotting days during the intramenstrual period may be higher than with the combined pills and missed pills may result in a higher chance of pregnancy that with the combined oral contraceptives.

Combination pills

When you hear the term "birth control pill," it most often refers to oral contraceptives containing estrogen and progestin. Combination pills contain a combination of these two hormones. They are categorized as monophasic, biphasic, or triphasic pills depending on whether the level of hormones stays the same during the first three weeks of the menstrual cycle or changes.

Combined birth control pills work by preventing ovulation - the release of a mature egg from a woman's ovary. The estrogen in the pill causes this.

Monophasic pills

Monophasic pills contain the same amount of estrogen and progestin in all of the active pills in a pack. Examples of monophasic pills include Alesse, Brevicon, Desogen, Levlen, Levlite, Loestrin, Modicon, Nelova, Nordette, Norinyl, Ortho-Cept, Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho-Novum, Ovcon, Yasmin. Because of the uniform hormone level in all the pills, monophasics are least likely to cause side effects, such as mood changes, that can result from fluctuating hormone levels in the body.

The FDA approved a new packaging of a monophasic birth-control pill called Seasonale in 2003. The product is packaged in a 91-day supply and is designed to prevent menstruation for the entire time period. Women taking Seasonale will have only four periods a year. Seasonale contains the same estrogen and progestin in the same amount as many other monophasic birth control pills. Although many other monophasic birth control pills are used in this way, Seasonale is the only product approved for use.

Multiphasic pills

Phasic pills were developed in the 1980s. Multiphasic oral contraceptives contain varied amounts of hormones and are designed to be taken at specific times throughout the entire pill-taking schedule. They were developed to reduce side effects of oral contraceptives, including breakthrough bleeding, spotting and amenorrhea, associated with higher levels of hormones.

Biphasic pills change the level of hormones once during the menstrual cycle. The progesterone dose is increased about halfway through the cycle. Examples of biphasic pills include Jenest, Mircette, Necon 10/11, Nelova 10/11, Ortho-Novum 10/11.

Triphasic pills contain three different doses of hormones in the active pills (changing every seven days during the first three weeks of pills). Triphasic pills gradually increase the dose of estrogen and some pills also increase the progesterone dose. Triphasic pills include Cyclessa, Ortho-Novum 7/7/7, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Triphasil, Tri-Levlen, Trivora, Tri-Norinyl.

Emergency contraceptive pills (ECP)

Emergency contraceptive pills are not intended to be used regularly as a contraceptive. They are designed to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. The FDA has approved one emergency contraception pill called Plan B, which contains the progestin levonorgestrel.

Advantages of ECP:
Reduces the chance of unintended pregnancy Can be obtained easily - Plan B will soon be available over the counter for women 18 and over can be obtained in advance and kept handy in case of an emergency.

Disadvantages:
Timing. Because you must take the first dose within 120 hour of having unprotected sex. The sooner you take them after unprotected intercourse, the more effective they are.
Which Pill is better?

Monophasic birth control pills work as well as the more expensive and more complicated biphasic and triphasic products. Monophasic products with low amounts of estrogen may cause less bloating or breast tenderness but more breakthrough bleeding. So for most women, the monophasic birth control pills represent a good first option. All combination products containing both estrogen and progestogen are more effective in preventing pregnancy than are the "mini-pills." However, progestin-only pills are a good choice for breastfeeding women and for women who can't use combined oral contraceptives pills.

Types of Birth Control Pills

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Low Dose Birth Control Pills

!±8± Low Dose Birth Control Pills

Reducing the side effects of birth control pills (cheers in the gallery!) led to the reduction of the amount of synthetic hormones, estrogen and progestin, that they contained and to the development of the 'new generation', low dose birth control pills. "Low dose' won't have much meaning for you if you don't know what this term refers to so the basic information below may help.

So How Low can I go with the dose of hormone ingredients to still be effective at preventing pregnancy?

Good question, as not all birth control pills contain exactly the same amount of estrogen and progestin. I thought a useful reference for you would be a list of low dose and ultra low dose pills so that you can at least discuss the pros and cons with your doctor and see if you are a good candidate to move from say, a low dose 0.035mg estrogen pill down to an ultra low dose 0.020mg estrogen pill. You may find you experience fewer or reduced side effects. Generic brands in low dose birth control pills are also available.

Birth control pills with the very lowest amount of estrogen, that is 0.02mg of estrogen (usually ethinyl estradiol) are classed as 'ultra low dose' contraceptive pills. 0.020mg of estrogen is sufficient for contraception but the side effects of spotting and breakthrough bleeding are more common with these types of ultra low dose birth control pills than with low dose pills containing 0.030mg or 0.035mg of estrogen.

Here are some brand names of the "ultra low dose" birth control pills on the market , you may find a generic version on line now that you know what amount of estrogen to look for. The estrogen component is listed first and the progestin component second.

Alesse (Aviane,Lessina,Lutera,Sronyx) contains 0.02 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.1 mg levonorgestrel Mircette contains 0.02 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg desogestrel
Pills containing 0.02mg- 0.035mg.of estrogen are classed as 'low dose' pills. Here are some brand names of "low dose" birth control pills :

LoOvral contains 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and and 0.3 mg nogestrel Nordette contains 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg levognorgestrel Ortho-Cept (Reclipsen, Solia) contains 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg desogestrel Desogen contains 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg desogestrel Levlen21 contains 0.03 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg of levonorgestrel Seasonale/Seasonique contain 0.03mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg of levonorgestrel
If you are a fan of triphasic pills, here are some low dose ones: Cyclessa

Phase 1: ethinyl estradiol 0.025 mg and desogestrel 0.1 mg

Phase 2: ethinyl estradiol 0.025 mg and desogestrel 0.125 mg

Phase 3: ethinyl estradiol 0.025 mg and desogestrel 0.15 mg

In a study of 5,654 women, over six menstrual cycles, some used the popular triphasic Ortho-Novum 7/7/7 and others used Cyclessa. It was found that women who used Cyclessa had significantly less breakthrough bleeding or spotting and experienced an average weight loss of 4lbs. versus an average weight gain of 2lbs. with those who took Ortho-Novum 7/7/7.

Ortho Tricyclen Lo : 3 types of pill in the pack

each white tablet contains 0.025 mg ethinyl estradiol and 0.180 mg of norgestimate each light blue tablet contains 0.025 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.215 mg norgestimate each dark blue tablet contains 0.025 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.250 mg of norgestimate
(Ortho Tricyclen and Ortho-Cyclen, each with 0.035 mg of ethinyl estradiol, contain slightly higher amounts of estrogen in each type of pill than Ortho Tricyclen Lo)

YASMIN and YAZ are two more low dose birth control pills containing 0.03 mg and 0.02 mg respectively

of estrogen but they have a different type of progestin from the other pills called drospirenone (3.0 mg). On the down side, since Yasmin/Yaz can increase levels of potassium, it is not recommended for women with liver, adrenal or kidney problems but on the up side, Yasmin/Yaz appear to reduce water retention and therefore bloating and in some women gives a sense of well being. These pills also have a following among acne sufferers as they seem to improve this skin condition in a lot of cases.As with many other types of birth control pills, Yasmin may not be suitable for you if you also take other over-the-counter pain relievers, potassium sparing diuretics, potassium supplements or specific medications so you MUST check this out with a physician first.

Nursing Moms

You will have heard of the 'mini' pill (progestin only pill or POP) which is usually prescribed for women who are breastfeeding or who have an intolerance to estrogen. A 'Mini pill' can be started immediately after childbirth or abortion. There is no 7-day break or dummy pills as there are with the combined pill and it must be taken at the same time every day. Micronor contains 0.35 mg norethindrone and NO estrogen whatsoever. In other countries some brand names include: Microlut 28, Microval 28, Locilan 28 and Noriday.

Pills that contain high amounts of estrogen or progestin are used for emergency contraception and are known as 'the morning after pill' or Plan B. One common pill is Preven -each blue film-coated pill contains 0.25 mg levonorgestrel and 0.05 mg (that's MILLIGRAMS not micrograms) of estrogen - usually you take 2 doses, 12 hours apart. Plan B is a 'morning-after' pill that contains only one hormone, progestin (Levonorgestrel) Tablets, 0.75 mg.

Low Dose Birth Control Pills

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How to Choose a Theme For a Charity Event

!±8± How to Choose a Theme For a Charity Event

Charity events raise a lot of money for fundraising causes and gain a lot of attention for the charity or cause running the event. But with more charities springing up every day representing a diverse number of causes, how can you get your fundraising event noticed by fundraisers and the media?

The best charity events don't follow a cookie-cutter approach - they are themed for each charity. They may also have a secondary theme that makes the event stand out.

Charity themes are those that make each event unique to your charity. For example, charity balls are very common, but have you ever been to a charity ball where you can bring your pet? This would be a perfect, and unique, way to fundraise for an animal charity. The event stands out because it's fun, different, and it also represents the charity perfectly.

Other charity-themed event ideas:

Pink parties for breast cancer charities Kid-friendly events for children's charities Athletic events for sport charities Pet-themed parties for animal causes Environmental events for green charities

Consider who your target fundraising audience is and what charity you're representing to come up with an ideal theme: Climb a mountain for Sport Relief, hold a tree-planting party for Greenpeace, or hold a pink bake sale at a local community centre. All of these ideas are much more interesting than generic charity events like dances, balls or parties.

You can also choose a secondary theme for your fundraising event. This can be anything but should tie in with what's going on in your community. Seasonal events like Halloween, Christmas, Easter and Valentine's Day parties are popular.

You can also look to your local community for inspiration. For example, if you live at the seaside, a beach party might be the perfect charity event for your fundraising efforts.

Look around you for ideas and have fun with it. Anything that will make your charity event stand out from the others is an idea worth considering.

How to Choose a Theme For a Charity Event

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Top Ten Fashion Trends From the 1940's

!±8± Top Ten Fashion Trends From the 1940's

Rationing:

World War II impacted virtually every aspect of American life and fashion was no exception. In 1942, the United States imposed a rationing system similar to the one Great Britain had implemented the previous year, limiting, among other things, the amount of fabric that could be used in a single garment. Materials including wool, silk, leather and a fledgling DuPont Corp. invention called nylon were diverted for use in uniforms, parachutes, shoelaces and even bomber noses.

Jackets could be no more than 25 inches in length, pants no more than 19 inches in circumference at the hem, belts no more than two inches wide and heels no more than an inch in height. Hemlines rose to the knee in an effort to conserve fabric. Buttons, cuffs, pockets and decorative details like ruffles and lace were used sparingly. Women wore shorter, boxy jackets for a V-shaped silhouette reminiscent of military uniforms. Even Hollywood traded elaborate costumes for simplified designs, a move many claimed lent movies a new air of realism.

Nylon:

As soon as it was introduced in 1938, women embraced synthetic nylon as a replacement for silk stockings. In the early 1940s, however, with silk already diverted to the war effort, the government recognized similar uses for nylon and commandeered it as well. Women responded by coating their legs in tan makeup and drawing lines up the backs of their calves to mimic seams. By the time the war ended and stockings returned to store shelves, nylon had become a generic term for hosiery.

Swing skirts.

The swing skirt had a round cut designed to look best in full jitterbug twirl. Swing skirts were a common sight on USO dance floors as young women danced with uniformed men to the jazzy horns that characterized the Big Band Era. Housewives were known to wear a more conservative version of the swing dress, sometimes in polka-dot or tiny floral prints.

Hats:

Hats became one of the few ways to express individual style with minimal resources. They were worn in a wide range of styles and personalized with scraps of foil, sequins, netting, paper and string.

Hair and makeup:

Hairstyles became more elaborate as women sought ways to contrast their dull wardrobes. Shoulder length or longer hair was rolled into complex shapes and secured with bobby pins. Screen sirens like Lauren Bacall, Veronica Lake and Rita Hayworth popularized side parts and finger waves. Makeup was dramatic, characterized by matte foundation, powder, heavy brows and bright scarlet lips.

Platform pumps:

The wartime shortage of leather and steel forced shoe designers to get more creative and, as a result, shoes were cobbled from materials ranging from crocodile hide to cork. Shoes were more utilitarian than stylish, with low heels and limited color choices. By the mid to late 1940s, platform pumps with high heels in T-straps, ankle straps or open toes had replaced the dowdy wedgie with its flat shape and thick cork soles.

Menswear as womens wear:

A number of men may have spent the first half of the 1940s in uniform, but their civilian clothes came in handy for the women who filled their home-front jobs. Women raided the closets of absent men and tailored the suits to fit themselves. McCalls even introduced a pattern aimed specifically at modifying a masculine suit to fit feminine curves. Suddenly, the sexually ambivalent look pioneered in the late 1930s by Katherine Hepburn and Marlene Dietrich was radical no more. The emergence of the dress pattern and electric sewing machine led women to make their own suits from scratch, opting for gabardine due to the scarcity of wool. Many with physically demanding factory jobs soon began wearing practical pants and Rosie the Riveter jeans.

Sweaters:

By the mid-1940s, many women had abandoned the single-piece corset in favor of panties and structured bras that lifted and accentuated the bust line. In 1946, a well-endowed Jane Russell appeared onscreen in a cantilever bra designed by Howard Hughes, prefiguring the bullet-bra 1950s and the reign of the sweater girl. Loose-fitting cardigans were also popular, particularly on college campuses.

Sportswear:

The virtual disappearance of French fashion houses during the war led American designers to explore their own creativity. Designers like Bonnie Cashin and Claire McCardell were instrumental in the creation of sportswear, that singularly American look featuring coordinated separates that could be worn in layers or in various combinations. The trend not only gave women increased options and made it appear as if they had more clothes than they actually did, but also blurred the line between couture and ready-to-wear by showing women they could be both chic and comfortable without spending a fortune.

The New Look:

By the late 1940s, women craved a return to glamor and designers obliged with swirling skirts and shimmering evening gowns inspired by film stars like Ingrid Bergman, Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Crawford.

In 1947, French couturier Christian Dior almost single-handedly brought an end to wartime austerity with a fashion line observers christened the New Look. Severe angles were replaced with curves, hemlines dropped back below the knee and skirts were generously draped. Structured undergarments were key to the New Look, which featured broad shoulders, cinched waists, emphasized bust lines and padded hips. The pencil skirt was a figure-hugging alternative to bouffant skirts. Men, too, longed for freedom from conservative tailoring in khaki and olive drab. They found relief in wide-legged trousers, full-length coats and suits in an array of colors. Both mens and womens trousers featured higher waists, widely cut legs and cuffs and came in textured tweeds and jewel tones.

The New Look met with protest from women who had grown accustomed to baring their legs and were disinclined to cover them back up. Moreover, the opulent, fabric-rich designs seemed wasteful in contrast to wartime fabric restrictions. The desire for change prevailed, however, and the look flourished throughout much of the 1950s.

Top Ten Fashion Trends From the 1940's

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