ABOUT CONTRACEPTIVES

CONTRACEPTIVES

If you use contraceptives and suddenly find yourself pregnant, you may wonder why your chosen method of birth control failed to work. The fact is that an overwhelming 53% of unplanned pregnancies occur in women who are using contraceptives. And while you may think that only teenagers and young women experience contraceptive failure, the fact is that the majority of unplanned pregnancies, about three-quarters of them, occur in women over the age of 20, according to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association.


Why are so many women getting pregnant while using contraceptives?
Failure to follow the instructions for a given birth control method exactly as directed is a key cause of contraceptive failure. If you're using birth control pills, taking them at exactly the same time every single day greatly reduces any chance of contraceptive failure and unplanned pregnancy.

Women who use a diaphragm or cervical cap need to make sure that the cervix is completely covered before having sexual intercourse.

IUD users need to check that the device is in place monthly.

Another cause of contraceptive failure occurs when contraceptives are used inconsistently. Forgetting to take just one birth control pill significantly raises your risk of becoming pregnant; forgetting to take more than one oral contraceptive in a month means that you should use an alternative contraceptive for the remainder of that menstrual cycle. Barrier methods such as condoms, cervical caps, and diaphragms have to be used during each and every act of sexual intercourse; forgetting just one time means you might become pregnant. Of course, natural family planning only works when practiced consistently and correctly.

Condoms that break or have even the smallest tear also often led to unplanned pregnancy. So when using condoms, it is of importance that they are used properly and in Good Condition.

Causes of condom damage includes:

1. Improper use,

2. Inadequate use of a water-based lubricant,

3.Using condoms past the expiration date, improper storage.

4. Jewelry, fingernails, and other objects may create tiny tears in condoms that render them ineffective. If condoms are your choice in contraception, make sure to use a vaginal spermicide to decrease your risk of unplanned pregnancy should condom damage occur.


Contraceptive failure may also happen in women taking certain drugs or herbs. If you're using oral contraceptives check with your doctor and / or pharmacist for any possible drug / herb interactions that may reduce the effectiveness of your birth control pill.

Believing that you are not in your fertile period is a huge mistake that can potentially lead to an unplanned pregnancy. There is no "safe time" of the month, according to researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health, where they have found that the possibility of pregnancy may occur on almost any day of the month including during menstruation.


Remember, birth control pills and other methods of contraception do not offer any protection against STDs -- only the consistent and proper use of condoms can offer you that protection. Unless you are in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship, the use of a condom is recommended during each and every act of sexual intercourse, as well as during oral sex, to protect yourself.

Pregnancy, Things To Avoid

Pregnancy is a very special time for mother and baby. As a mother during pregnancy you are connected to your baby via the placenta, it is your baby's lifeline. The placenta brings important things, such as oxygen and nutrients, to your baby and it removes the waste products that your baby produces while in your womb. However the placenta cannot stop harmful substances such as alcohol and nicotine, from smoking, crossing from you to your baby. Avoid alcohol - this could lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Avoid caffeine this can reduce absorption of certain nutrients Avoid smoking this can cause problems for mother and baby Avoid drugs & medicines only take prescribed medicines but always consult your doctor before doing so or if you are unsure Avoid herbal supplements the effects of some herbal drugs are not known, always consult your doctor if you are unsure Avoid fish at risk of contamination by mercury - this means such fish as fresh tuna, swordfish, shark, king mackerel or tilefish Avoid fish at risk of contamination by chemicals such as PCB's (industrial pollutants): bluefish, stripped bass, salmon, trout, walleye. Supplements can offer a pure source of essential fatty acids Avoid foods at risk of contamination by listeriosis bacteria: unpasterised milk, soft cheese (such as brie, camembert, cambozola & stilton), raw vegetables and raw seafood (such as crabs, oysters, prawns) Avoid foods at risk of contamination by other bacteria: raw meat such as sushi, seafood (shellfish), rare or uncooked meat or poultry. Avoid raw egg foods such as caesar dressing, mayonnaise, home made ice cream or custard, tiramisu or hollandaise sauce. Avoid foods such as liver and liver products (pate or liver sausage) and fish liver oils (cod liver oil) contain high levels of vitamin A. Excess levels of which have been shown to be harmful to growing babies. Avoid excess salt intake - cut back on your intake of table salt (sodium chloride) by avoiding obviously salty foods, checking labels of pre-bought foods (75 per cent of dietary table salt is hidden in processed foods) and avoid adding it during cooking or at the table Avoid trans fatty acids this includes highly processed foods and foods that have been cooked using oils taken to very high temperatures (hydrogenated foods). These are not only associated with high cholesterol but also the reduction in absorption of essential fatty acids. Use olive oil or rapeseed oil during cooking, do not re-use oils. When you need a snack try fruit or raw vegetable nibbles instead of pastries, cakes, biscuits or crisps. Avoid refined sugars and try to regulate sugar intake, keep your intake of sweets, chocolates and sugary, fizzy rinks to a minimum. Some of these foods are very difficult to eliminate but you must try to reduce them if you can. Some last tips Good Housekeeping Keep your kitchen clean and dry Keep fridge temperatures below 5C (41F) and freezer below -18C (0F) Wash hands thoroughly before preparing foods Store raw meat at the bottom of the fridge, covered, and keep it separate from cooked foods Defrost frozen produce thoroughly before cooking Cook foods thoroughly, and throw away any that are past their use-by dates Finally, keep pets out of the kitchen at all times. Finally it is good to remember You are what you eat and Your baby is also what you eat.