How utilize mental health support

Having a support system in place can be a great way to make sure you’re ready for the inevitable ups and downs of life.

It doesn’t have to look like what you expect

Is there someone in your life you would feel comfortable sharing your struggles with? It doesn’t have to be the person you might feel you’re expected to turn to. Maybe the person who usually falls into the best friend category for you is a little high-strung, and opening up the question of mental health support with that person feels harder than not asking for help at all right now. That’s okay, and it doesn’t mean that person isn’t important to you. There may be someone else in your life who is a better listener, or someone who has more time for you. Maybe it’s a casual friend that can help you the most right now. You can try to turn that casual friendship into a more serious one by opening up, and sometimes this is a great opportunity.

Get specific

Asking for help is hard, and getting too specific about what kind of help you need can feel even harder, but even the people in your life who know you best can’t read your mind. If you’re having a hard time, and thinking you’ll do better reaching out and asking for help, sitting down and making a short list of exactly what might help you out – anything from a more general “please don’t ask me about,” a certain subject, “I’ll tell you when I’m ready,” to the more specific, “I need to take a break from cooking at night until things quiet down at work” – can help whoever it is you’re asking for help figure out the best way to support you.

Give a little to get a little

The strongest support system is one that’s mutually supportive. This can be tricky in moments when you’re the person who needs help, but it’s important to remember that by sharing vulnerability, you are offering friends, family, and others the chance to feel more open to sharing their own vulnerabilities or insecurities. Maybe you have that one friend who acts like a superhero, and always seems to be completely on top of things, even when their life is full of challenges and changes. It can be hard to feel comfortable sharing when you’re having trouble with a friend like that – but if you hide it every time you’re having trouble, they may feel the same way about you.

Asking for help can feel selfish, but everyone needs help at some point. If you make a point of reminding the people in your life that you’re committed to being there for them in the best way you can when it’s their turn, you’re offering the chance to deepen your relationship. Actively listening to what’s going on in the lives of the people in your support network, and doing your best to offer the kind of support they need isn’t just offering that chance, it’s taking an active part in maintaining and developing that relationship.

Think outside the box

Your support system doesn’t have to just consist of people you already know. For one thing, depending on why or how you’re starting to feel overwhelmed, talking to a therapist or looking for a support group can be a great place to get started, especially if you’re not sure how to bring the subject up with the people in your life already. Taking a step like this can make whatever you’re coping with feel more real – and sometimes that’s exactly what you need, as a reminder that your feelings are valid.

You also don’t need to talk to everyone in your life about everything that’s going on in your life. If opening up a big conversation about how you’re feeling seems out of reach, try just asking for help in a simple way. A friend may be willing to help you out if you ask them to carpool to get your toddler to dance class. Your sister may be perfectly happy to take the reins on planning the next family event.

Practice these daily routines to help with managing depression

Sometimes, it’s easy to be harder on yourself than you’d ever allow or want yourself to be with someone else, especially when you’re dealing with depression. When you feel like this, picking some of the people in your life who you love, and who love you, and trying to talk to yourself the way you’d want someone to talk to those people if they were having a hard time can be a good frame for speaking generously to yourself. Like “fake it till you make it,” the way people speak to themselves inside their heads can have a huge impact of the way they think about themselves, and the way they feel, and can easily turn into feedback loops of bad feelings. Making a point to speak to yourself kindly can help to pull you out of the loop of speaking unkindly to yourself in a way that you internalize and feel worse because of.

Some suggestions for dealing with depression – or even most of them – can feel too simple to make much difference, or so often-repeated that it can feel like they can’t possibly make a difference. It’s true that no single one of these strategies may bring an end to depression, but finding the combination that works for you, in conjunction with the type of treatment that works best with your body chemistry and lifestyle, can make a big difference in helping you start to feel better.

Get it out there

Writing in a journal can offer an outlet for getting emotions out without opening them to any judgement, and can give you a way to keep track of your thoughts and notice any patterns in them. For example, do certain thought-patterns seem to go along with more severe depressive symptoms? That’s good information to have, and so is any strategy you might notices for steering your thoughts in other directions.

For endorphins’ sake

Getting into a regular exercise schedule is one of the most common pieces of advice when it comes to managing depression, and in turn, it’s one of the most dismissed pieces of advice. It’s true that exercise isn’t a magic bullet for depression, but getting outside and moving around on a regular basis has a whole host of benefits that can contribute to starting to feeling better. Between the sun, the change of scenery, the endorphins, and the fresh air, anything from a walk around the block to training for a marathon can be a healthy part of managing depression.

Treatment

Depression is a medical condition, but there’s a lot of stigma around it. Some may mistakenly characterize it as a personal problem, and to be resistant to seeking out treatment from professionals. If depression is negatively affecting your quality of life, seek help. Medication, psychotherapy, or some combination of the two, can have a huge positive impact on your life. Just like with these informal strategies, finding the treatment plan that works well for you can take some trial and error, and figuring out how to be patient with yourself and your medical team will be an important part of the process.

Setting up a pattern

Having a strong routine in your life  can help you demonstrate to yourself what you’re capable of, especially when you’re having an especially hard time. It can help to keep self-care tasks from slipping during difficult episodes, and when depression does become severe enough to interfere with routines, having those routines set up to begin as a control can show how much is changing.

General physical health

A lack of physical health doesn’t cause depression, but it can certainly contribute to it. Making sure to eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep (but notice if you find yourself sleeping more and more often), avoiding alcohol and street drugs can help keep you in your best shape possible to combat depression.

Reach out

Often, during periods of strong depression, spending time with people can be one of the early things that gets cut out. Isolating yourself can create a feedback loop of bad feelings, though, whereas spending time with someone, even if the sound of that feels exhausting, can be a way to get out of your own head a bit. Making a point to reach out to people who feel restful or helpful to you during this time, instead of the people who may ask more from your energy reserves, can help to make social experiences during periods of depression more meaningful and positive.

Fake it till you make it

Sometimes, especially during a spell of depression, putting on a can-do attitude – even if it’s not how you feel – is a great way to get through a difficult or challenging day, from a huge family gathering to coordinating with an electrician or landlord over an unexpected wiring problem in your house, to a normal day of work at a time when you just don’t think you can do it. One of the reasons faking it till you make it works is that putting on an attitude can help to infect you with some of the feelings you’re putting on, but that benefit also comes with a caution. It’s also key for you to know and understand how you’re really feeling. Denial about depression can mean putting off making the changes that can help you feel better.

Other things to consider

Depression can make even the simplest tasks feel more challenging, and managing changes to your life, routine, and comfort zone when you’re experiencing depression can feel like an especially dangerous game. Making changes can help you feel out the shifts in your routine that can better support your changes in mood, attitude, and mental health, though. Dealing with depression means that you may be able to benefit from a certain amount of extra support, but by making changes in your own life, some of that support can come directly from you.

Signs of depression and when to talk to a doctor about it

Most people experience majority of the symptoms of depression at some point in their lives, to one degree or another, and it can be hard to tell which moods and feelings are symptoms of disorders which require treatment. For this reason, many people who do have depression or other mood disorders are diagnosed many years after noticing symptoms, or are never diagnosed or treated at all.

Watch out for these symptoms and signs of depression

There are a wide range of symptoms of depression, and some of them are physical, which can make it easier for some people to figure out how and when to reach out and ask for help. Both physical and emotional symptoms may be signs of depression if they last for two weeks or longer. Physical symptoms of depression include:

• Changes in sleep, whether that’s sleeping more often than usual, or insomnia
• A loss of appetite, or increased craving for food, causing either over- or under-eating
• A loss of sex drive
• Tiredness or lack of energy
• Aches and pains or headaches with no obvious cause

The emotional effects of depression can vary widely, from a consistent level of negative feelings all the way to feeling suicidal or hopeless. Emotional symptoms of depression can include:

• Feelings of sadness, hopelessness or feeling on the edge of tears
• Anger, irritability, or frustration, especially anger or frustration that feels excessive to events
• A loss of interest or pleasure in favorite things or interests
• Slowed thoughts, speaking and movements
• Agitation, twitchiness or restlessness
• Feelings of guilt, inability to let go of past mistakes or blame
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Thoughts of suicide should be treated as a medical emergency and you should go to your local emergency room right away.

Depression can be caused and set off by different things at different times. Sometimes depression is triggered  more by life events and stressors. Other times, it’s more determined by brain chemistry, regardless of life and stressors. Often, it’s some combination of the two. In any case, when depression affects your life, reaching out to a healthcare provider  for treatment and support is one of the best ways to start to work towards recovery.

Talking to your provider

Depression is a serious condition, and not something that one snaps out of by force of will. The earlier treatment starts, the faster and more effectively one can begin to start feeling better.

Primary care providers tend to be the first line of defense against depression. Starting the conversation about your mental health with the healthcare provider you’re the most comfortable with is never a bad idea, but it’s also good to remember that most PCPs don’t specialize in mental health treatment, and mental health providers like psychiatrists can be fantastic resources as you start to figure out what your needs around treatment are.

Sex Ed. class 2.0

Here, we’ve rounded up five things you should have learned from sex ed. class before reading this article, but will be useful to you long after you close it.

1. It is normal and healthy to masturbate

Masturbation is not just expected by boys and men, but encouraged. Yet, common cultural narratives tell girls and women that masturbation is dirty and wrong.

Here’s the thing: Nothing could be further from the truth. For people of all genders, masturbating is both normal and healthy! Benefits of masturbating include: reduced stress, boosted mood, and increased self confidence long term. And beyond being healthy, masturbating also feels good, which is absolutely reason enough to partake!

In summary: You should have been taught that masturbation is healthy. Further, you should have been encouraged to touch yourself in whatever locations, using whatever pressures, at whatever speeds, for however long, and however often you want.

2. STIs can be transmitted during oral sex

Despite the fact that many sex education curriculums rely on fear-mongering, few programs acknowledge sex acts other than penis-in-vagina intercourse exist, and therefore do not touch on potential risks of such acts. Like, oral sex for example.

From fellatio and cunnilingus to analingus, oral sex can bring Big Time pleasure for the giver and receiver alike. Still, important to know the potential risks. Ready?

While the risk is lower than it is during vaginal or anal intercourse, an STI can be transmitted during oral sex from a mouth or throat, to a penis, vagina, vulva, or anus — and vice versa. That means that, yes, an STI can infect body parts other than the genitals.

When oral STI symptoms do appear, they may include: sore throat, pain during swallowing, sores around the lips, sores and blisters in the mouth, and swollen lymph nodes. But as is true with STIs located elsewhere in the body, the most common symptom of an oral STI is no symptom at all. And that’s why it’s so important to get tested for oral STIs, between (oral sex) partners or once a year (whichever comes first). Oral STI testing involves a simple mouth or throat, and treatment typically involves an oral antibiotic or prescription mouthwash.

What can you do to reduce risk of STI transmission during oral hanky-panky? Glad you asked. With a partner who’s STI status you don’t know or who has an STI , you can use an external condom or dental dam to reduce risk of transmission.

3. PReP can be taken by all genders

PReP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a daily oral medication that can be taken by HIV-negative people to greatly reduce their risks of contracting HIV, if exposed to the virus. Highly effective, PrEP is one of the best additions to the sexual health space…ever.

While there is more that can be done to spread awareness about PReP to all people, cis-women in particularly tend to be less likely to take PReP. The problem is that people of all sexual orientations, genders, and genitals are susceptible to HIV, if exposed to the virus through sex, intravenous drug use, contaminated blood transfusion, or pregnancy. In fact, globally more than half (52%) of HIV-positive people in the world are women.

No matter your gender, to figure out if you’re a good candidate for PrEP read the federal guidelines put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and/or talk to your healthcare provider.

4. Sex is not supposed to be painful

No, not the first time you have it. No, not during anal sex. No, not postpartum. Pain is the body’s way of telling you that something is wrong — and it’s a message worth listening to.

Sometimes pain during sex is a sign that you need additional lubrication or that your not-yet aroused-enough for what’s happening. In these instances, slowing down and adding lube can turn your sex session from “ouch” into “ooh!”.

When sex is consistently painful, however, or you experience these symptoms outside of sex (for example: while urinating or inserting a tampon) there may be an underlying condition. Pain during sex is a common symptom of conditions like hypertonic pelvic floor, endometriosis, vaginitis, vulvodynia, vaginismus, and pelvic inflammatory disease.

If you’re experiencing pain during sex, stop. If you want to continue having sex, try slowing down and/or add a store bought lubricant. If the pain becomes more chronic, bring it up with your healthcare provider or seek out the guidance of a trauma-informed pelvic floor specialist.

5. Consent is an informed, ongoing, and enthusiastic agreement to engage with someone that can be withdrawn at any time

As of 2020, only 9 states required consent be taught in sex education curriculum. That means that a whopping 41 states don’t teach students the importance of receiving “Y-E-S”, nor validated the decision to say “N-O” at any point during a sexual encounter.

The failure of this absence becomes obvious when looking at the responses from a recent survey of people ages 18 to 25. In it, 53% admitted that they didn’t realize that consent can be withdrawn once someone is already naked (it can!) and just 13% said they’d feel comfortable discussing consent with their sexual partner.

While the staggering sexual assault statistics cannot be blamed on any one thing — curriculums in sex ed. class suffer from widespread avoidance of consent, and it certainly isn’t doing anything to help reduce the number of people assaulted.

If you’re reading this and haven’t yet learned about consent, take the time to read The Consent Checklist by Meg-John Barker and/or Beyond Yes & No by Kai Werder.

Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team

Sources

• “Facts and figures: HIV and AIDS.” UN Women. UN Women. July 2018. https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/hiv-and-aids/facts-and-figures. 
• “Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Care System”. CDC. CDC. September 10, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/effective-interventions/prevent/prep/index.html#About-PrEP. 

Here’s the latest from the Ovia Health Clinical Team, including answers to your questions and some practical guidance. 

If I’m pregnant and I get COVID-19, will the infection be worse?

It’s possible. Research indicates that pregnant people and recently pregnant people (within 42 days of giving birth) are at higher risk for significant complications from COVID-19 than their non-pregnant peers. This means that while the overall risk for severe illness is low, there is an increased risk of hospitalization, intubation and mechanical ventilation, blood clots, and requiring intensive care. There is also an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and possibly an increased risk of pregnancy loss when compared to pregnant women who did not get COVID-19. 

These risks are compounded for Black pregnant people, who have long experienced nearly twice the risk of preterm birth when compared to white people. Many studies have demonstrated that race is likely an independent risk factor when it comes to healthcare outcomes like preterm birth, separate from other risk factors like income or education. That race-related risk may stem from chronic stresses of societal racism as well as the race-related inequalities that have been identified within the healthcare system. 

Pregnant parents who test positive for COVID-19 should be offered a discussion about the medication Paxlovid. You can read more about that here.

What can I do to prevent infection?

Prevention is no different for pregnant people than it is for anyone else. Follow the advice that you receive from your local health department, from the CDC, and from your healthcare provider. Avoid going to public places if you think or know you have COVID-19, to prevent spreading it to others. 

If you know local rates of Covid are high, wear masks when indoors and practice social distancing. Being vaccinated has been shown to provide protection against severe COVID-19 disease. However, you can still get sick and pass the illness on to vulnerable people who aren’t vaccinated or cannot be vaccinated (like newborns).

Is hand sanitizer safe in pregnancy?

Yes, Yes, YES. The CDC reports [3] that handwashing with soap and water is more effective than hand sanitizer. However, you can’t take the sink in your car or on a walk or to the grocery, so make sure you use hand sanitizer regularly in addition to handwashing. Furthermore, it’s often much easier to wipe hand sanitizer on your children’s hands than it is to get them properly washed, so consider this a regular habit as well.

If I get COVID-19, will I pass it to my fetus?

The most recent research on the topic says that transmitting COVID-19 while pregnant is very rare – for moms in North America, the rate was about 0.1%. This does not include the risk of passing it to your newborn during routine care postpartum. However, studies suggest that people who tested positive for COVID-19 during pregnancy are more likely to have complications, such as preterm birth [6]. There is no evidence that cesarean delivery reduces the risk of infection for Baby, so this is not recommended.

What about during and after birth?

It is extremely important that you call your healthcare provider before you go to the hospital if you think you have COVID-19. Once at the hospital, your provider knows what to do to reduce the risk that your baby (and the healthcare professionals who care for you) will become infected.

Keep in mind that testing positive for COVID-19 when in labor may cause changes to your birth plan and hospital stay. You may want to consider extra precautions in the last weeks of pregnancy to avoid this.

What is the risk to my baby? And what about the risk to my other children?

Children seem to be at less risk of becoming really sick with COVID-19 than adults are, but infants make up the bulk of serious cases and hospitalizations in children under 17. Current evidence suggests that babies are not likely to get COVID-19 from their mothers as long as preventative steps are taken, such as wearing a mask around your baby, washing your hands for 20 seconds prior to holding your baby, and having them sleep 6 feet away from you. You should still do everything you can to reduce the risk of exposure. Children with certain underlying conditions are at risk for complications from COVID-19, so it is important to keep them safe and communicate with their pediatrician.

Is breastfeeding safe if I think I have COVID-19?

There are many benefits to breastfeeding for parents and babies. It appears unlikely that COVID-19 can be transmitted through breast milk, though helpful antibodies can be passed along! 

If you test positive for COVID-19, this may impact the care of your newborn. In-hospital, the CDC recommends discussing with your provider the risks and benefits of caring for your newborn while sick. Mildly ill people generally room in and care for their newborns. If you are seriously ill, this may not feel like a physically possible or safe option. Once you are home, wash your hands frequently — and always before touching your baby. Wear a mask when you are within 6 feet of your baby or another person. If you have a caregiver who lives with you, they should also wear a mask whenever caring for your baby.

We know that with other illnesses, you pass antibodies to your baby through your breast milk. Antibodies are what your body makes to help fight off illness. The research into COVID antibodies in breastmilk is really encouraging and suggests that antibodies are passed through breast milk after infection or vaccination. 

What if I’m trying to conceive and not yet pregnant?

There’s no evidence that COVID-19 or any similar viruses impact conception or cause birth defects if you are sick when you conceive.

Should pregnant people get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Multiple well-respected clinical organizations, including the ACOG (the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) and the ACNM (American College of Nurse-Midwives), recommend the vaccine to people who are trying to conceive, pregnant, and breastfeeding [11].

The first clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax did not include participants who were known to be pregnant or breastfeeding. This is typical for pharmaceutical research. Recent studies have included pregnant people and show that there is no increased risk and that vaccines given in any trimester do not negatively impact pregnancy outcomes. In addition, vaccinating in the second or third trimester may offer additional protection to your newborn.

Additionally, none of these COVID-19 vaccines contain a “live” virus. This means you cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccines. In general, vaccines that do not contain “live” viruses are safe during pregnancy and do not have increased risks for infertility, miscarriage, fetal anomalies, or stillbirth. Side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines include pain at the site of injection, fever, fatigue, and chills. These typically go away after a couple of days. These side effects are normal and expected and are indicators of your immune system doing its job to learn to protect you from the virus. There have been very rare reports of unexpected, adverse reactions from the vaccines. A severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis can happen in very rare cases. The incidences of these adverse events are so low that getting vaccinated remains safer than potentially getting infected with COVID-19. [12].

You can also reach out to the experts at Mother to Baby for more information. Your midwife, doctor, or other healthcare professional is also a great resource for more information about the COVID-19 vaccine. Ultimately, you are the one who knows what is best for your body and your family.

Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team

Sources:

Dara D. Mendez, Vijaya K. Hogan & Jennifer F. Culhane “Institutional racism, neighborhood factors, stress, and preterm birth”. Ethnicity & Health. 19:5, 479-499. October 18, 2013.

Jasmine D. Johnson et al., “Racial Disparities in Prematurity Persist Among Women of High Socioeconomic Status,” American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2. 2(3), 100104. Nov 10, 2020

James W. Collins Jr et al., “Very Low Birthweight in African American Infants: The Role of Maternal Exposure to Interpersonal Racial Discrimination,” American Journal of Public Health. 94(12), 2132–2138. December 2004.

Braveman Paula, et al. “Explaining the Black-White Disparity in Preterm Birth: A Consensus Statement From a Multi-Disciplinary Scientific Work Group Convened by the March of Dimes” Frontiers in Reproductive Health. Vol. 3. 684207 September 2, 2021.

What artificial insemination is and the types to consider

It’s essentially when sperm is introduced into a female’s uterus or cervix with the hope of getting pregnant without sexual intercourse. You might think of it as a little bit of assistance with getting pregnant. Just how are these methods different?

IUI

IUI stands for intrauterine insemination. This insemination method injects the sperm directly into the uterus. Because this insemination method will place sperm closer to the egg that other insemination methods, IUI is believed to have a slightly higher success rate than other methods. Many people who undergo IUI (and the following two forms of insemination, ICI and IVI) do it while also taking fertility drugs to increase egg production and, as a result, increase the chances of getting pregnant. If you’ve heard about IUI leading to a higher chance of multiples, it’s likely because of accompanying fertility treatments, not the procedure itself.

ICI

ICI isn’t a tasty frozen treat you can get at your local movie theatre – it stands for intracervical insemination. Intracervical insemination happens when sperm is injected into the cervix, which is the tissue that connects the vagina and the uterus. Unlike IUI, you can perform ICI with unwashed sperm. There is a recommendation that IUI and ICI be performed by a healthcare provider, but some couples have found success performing these methods of artificial insemination at home.

IVI

IVI means intravaginal insemination, which is when sperm is injected into the vagina. Of the three methods of artificial insemination, this one places the sperm farthest from the egg and therefore has the lowest success rate. However, it’s the cheapest method and doesn’t necessarily require assistance from a healthcare provider. If you’d like to try intravaginal insemination at home, it can be done with a clean syringe or a cervical cap.

IVF

You’ve probably heard of IVF, which stands for in-vitro fertilization, but this procedure isn’t actually a method of artificial insemination. IVF is sometimes confused with the above methods and believed to be a kind of artificial insemination, but it’s actually another type of assisted reproductive technology. For IVF, semen and an egg are combined to form an embryo, and that embryo is then implanted into the uterus.

So which method is best?

Each method of artificial insemination has its own set of benefits. The cheapest method of artificial insemination is IVI, and if you’re looking to inseminate at home, you might want to consider this method. But the most effective method might be IUI. And IVF is an effective form of assisted reproductive technology, but it’s expensive, and, like all of these methods, it isn’t guaranteed to work. Really, if you need a little bit of help getting pregnant and are considering one of these methods, it’s advisable to speak with your healthcare provider or a fertility specialist so that they can help you decide which method will be best for you.

Common misconceptions and facts about birth control

How many of these facts did you already know? Take a look at common misconceptions and vital facts about birth control.

“The pill” doesn’t just describe one single kind of pill.

The name might suggest that it’s just one single medication, but “the pill” actually includes a number of different kinds of oral contraceptives. There are two main varieties of the pill — combination pills, which contain estrogen and progestin, and the minipill, which contains only progestin. And each type comes in a variety of doses, brands and generics. Conventional packs lead to a period every month, whereas continuous dosing/extended cycle packs lead to a period once every three or more months. With so many options to choose from, many people can find a form of the pill that’s a good fit.

Most birth control doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Many types of birth control do a fantastic job at preventing pregnancy — IUDs and the birth control implant are 99% effective! — but most birth control doesn’t protect against STIs. Male and female condoms are the only types of birth control that provide protection against STIs. They are not the most effective at preventing pregnancy — 85% and 79%, respectively — so it’s often a good idea to use more than one contraception in order to both prevent pregnancy and protect against STIs. Just don’t use male and female condoms together. They can rub against each other and break or slip, making them much less effective at protecting against both pregnancy and STIs.

You can use the pill to skip your period.

And it’s safe to do so. Essentially, you can skip taking the hormone-free “reminder” pills found at the end of a pack and instead take the first week of active pills in the next pack to skip your period. Some people do this so they don’t have to deal with getting their period on a special occasion or during travel. Others do it to skip out on pain or discomfort during their period. If you take the pill and are interested in skipping your period, just be sure to check in with your healthcare provider to understand how to do so with your specific brand.

The morning-after pill isn’t just for the morning after.

The name may suggest that you need to use the morning-after pill (or “emergency contraception”) right away to lessen your chance of getting pregnant after unprotected intercourse. But, technically, you have a little more time to do so — some brands of morning-after pill can be taken up to 72 hours (or 3 days) after intercourse, others for up to 120 hours (or 5 days) after. It is worth noting that the morning-after pill is most effective the sooner it’s taken because the hormones in it keep your body from ovulating — no ovulation, no pregnancy. Depending on where you live, the morning-after pill may be available over the counter or as a prescription. Just be aware: some studies suggest that these pills may be less effective at preventing pregnancy for people with higher body weights. In addition, many combination birth control pills can be used as emergency contraception if you have them at home. Talk to your provider about what option is best for you.

Some birth control is approved for use for up to 10 years.

The copper IUD is approved for use for 10 years to prevent pregnancy! The small T-shaped device is inserted into the uterus, and once in place, it can safely stay there for a decade. It can always be removed sooner, after which, it is possible to get pregnant right away. Because many people use this as a long-acting, reversible form of birth control, depending on your insurance, it may also come with the added perk of being cost-effective.

Hormonal birth control can be used for much more than just to prevent pregnancy.

42% of people who take the pill do so exclusively to prevent pregnancy. The other 58% take the pill for other reasons as well. Hormonal birth control can be used to help with irregular or particularly uncomfortable periods — heavy periods, lengthy periods, heavy cramping and discomfort, or pain and other health problems related to endometriosis — or even mood disorders and acne. Hormonal birth control can improve quality of life for those suffering from some of these conditions.

That’s the overview of important birth control facts and common misconceptions. If you want to learn more, or have questions about what sort of birth control might be right for you, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider.

And if you’re taking the pill or have an IUD, add it to your Ovia profile!

Read more about your birth control options

• Which birth control option is right for you?
• Finding the birth control method that works for you

Sources

• “Barrier Methods of Birth Control: Spermicide, Condom, Sponge, Diaphragm, and Cervical Cap.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, May 2018. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/contraception/barrier-methods-of-birth-control-spermicide-condom-sponge-diaphragm-and-cervical-cap.
• “Birth Control.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, May 2019. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/especially-for-teens/birth-control.
• “Combined Hormonal Birth Control: Pill, Patch, and Ring.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, March 2018. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/contraception/combined-hormonal-birth-control-pill-patch-and-ring.
• “Contraceptive Use.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 21 2019. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/contraceptive.htm.
• “Emergency Contraception.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, May 2019. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/contraception/emergency-contraception.
• “IUD.” Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood, Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/iud.
• “Long-Acting Reversible Contraception: Intrauterine Device and Implant.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, January 2018. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/contraception/long-acting-reversible-contraception-intrauterine-device-and-implant.
• “Plan B morning-after pill.” Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-massachusetts/online-health-center/planned-parenthood-services-birth-control-abortion-std-hiv-pregnancy-health-care/emergency-contraception-plan-b.

Birth control myths, debunked

We’re here to set the record straight by debunking some widespread myths and help you get closer to finding the best birth control method for you!

MYTH: Hormonal birth control makes you gain weight

Birth control might make you retain water, but it doesn’t make you gain weight. It’s not uncommon to gain a little weight as a result of retaining water when starting hormonal birth control, but this side effect typically goes away quickly. Some hormonal birth control may come with other side effects, like an increased appetite or feeling bloated, but there’s no proven association between hormonal birth control and longer term weight gain. (One exception is the birth control shot [Depo Provera], which for some patients has been shown to have longer-term weight gain as a side effect.) As with all birth control, if you’re concerned about or if you experience any side-effects, you should speak with your healthcare provider to see if there’s another option that might be a better fit for you. It could just be a matter of switching to a similar birth control with a different combination of hormones.

MYTH: All pills are created equal

There are many different types of birth control pills. Combination pills contain estrogen and progestin, whereas the minipill contains only progestin — both options come in a variety of doses. Some pills are organized in conventional packs and you can expect a period every month, others are continuous dosing/extended cycle packs with a period once every three months. There’s a wealth of different pills to choose from, brand name options and generic options.

Birth control pills have different benefits and side effects. For people with certain medical conditions, sometimes the pill is not a good fit. Your healthcare provider can help you learn more.

MYTH: Taking birth control can negatively affect your fertility

Birth control use — whether used for a short time or long-term — doesn’t affect your fertility. After using certain hormonal birth control methods, you may need to wait a few months before your menstrual cycle will return to normal so you can get pregnant. But there’s no evidence that birth control presents any long-term fertility issues, and some people get pregnant right away after stopping the pill.

MYTH: Using the pill to skip your period isn’t good for you

While you should check with your healthcare provider about the specifics for your birth control pill, it’s entirely safe to skip your period. It’s also very easy. Just take a pill that includes hormones every day and skip the hormone-free “reminder” pills at the end of a pack. Some people like to skip their period if it’s going to fall on a special occasion — like on a vacation or while traveling — others opt for this option to avoid period discomfort. Regardless of the reason you’d like to skip yours, you may experience a little bit of spotting, which is normal.

MYTH: Long term use of hormonal birth control isn’t healthy

Hormonal birth controls aren’t necessarily a good fit for everyone — certain health conditions might increase the risks associated with using specific birth control pills, or the pill in general. But hormonal birth control is a very good fit for a lot of people. It can even help certain people feel better. For those with particularly irregular or uncomfortable periods — a heavy period, lengthy periods, heavy cramping and discomfort, or pain and other health problems related to endometriosis — hormonal birth control can improve quality of life, with lighter, shorter, more regular, more comfortable periods.

MYTH: Birth control’s primary use is to prevent pregnancy

Certainly, a lot of people use birth control to prevent pregnancy — and as the name suggests that’s the primary reason many people might use it. But many take birth control for other reasons already mentioned — like to have a more comfortable or more regular period and relieve major pain and discomfort — and for even to help improve mood or acne. Everyone has their own reasons for wanting to use birth control, and no matter your reason, a healthcare provider can help you find the type of birth control that’s a good fit for you.

And if you’re taking the pill or have an IUD, add it to your Ovia profile!

Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team

Read more about birth control

• Are LARCs more popular than ever?
• Who should I talk to about birth control?

Sources

• “Birth Control.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, May 2019. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/especially-for-teens/birth-control.
• “Combined Hormonal Birth Control: Pill, Patch, and Ring.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, March 2018. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/contraception/combined-hormonal-birth-control-pill-patch-and-ring.
• “Contraceptive Use.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 21 2019. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/contraceptive.htm.
• “IUD.” Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood, Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/iud.
• “Long-Acting Reversible Contraception: Intrauterine Device and Implant.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, January 2018. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/contraception/long-acting-reversible-contraception-intrauterine-device-and-implant.

Know your options before you talk to someone about birth control

The first bit of good news: there are many birth control methods for you to choose from. Whether you are selecting an option for the first time or hoping to switch to one that’s a better fit, it’s likely that you can find a method that accommodates your needs. Your first step should be to speak with a healthcare provider and make an appointment to figure out a good fit. They can talk you through all of your options, answer any questions, and, if necessary, give you a prescription or schedule placement of a long-acting option.

Tips for talking with a provider

There are a number of different types of providers that you can speak with. You can work with your primary care provider, an OB/GYN, a certified nurse midwife, or a nurse practitioner to learn about your options. And you can do so in any number of different settings — like at a hospital, a private medical practice, a health or family planning clinic, or a community health center. Find a provider that you feel comfortable with at a convenient location.

Be honest

You should speak with your provider honestly about your general health, your period and your cycle health, your medical history, your lifestyle, and if or when you have any plans to have children. If you feel uncomfortable disclosing certain medical or sexual history, (for example, abuse or previous abortions) that is okay. It can take time to develop a trusting relationship with a provider. It is very helpful to talk about any experiences you’ve had in the past when taking birth control. Birth control isn’t one size fits all — when you are open about your needs and concerns you are more likely to find a good option!

Talk about your priorities

Does it make sense for you to take a pill every day or would you like to opt for a longer lasting option? Do you want something that will help you manage your period? Is effectiveness at preventing pregnancy your top priority? Make sure you talk with your provider about what’s most important to you.

Ask questions

Your provider is there to help you learn more about your options and ensure that you leave feeling good about the one you’ve chosen. You don’t need to have all the answers, so ask any questions that are on your mind and ask for clarification if anything is unclear. Do you want to know more about side effects? Or about how to use the method you’ve decided on? This is the time to ask away!

Choosing a birth control method is a very important — and very individual — decision. Speaking with a provider you trust is the best way to get started.

Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team

Read more

• How much do you know about birth control?
• Which birth control option is right for you?

Sources

• “Birth control methods.” Office on Women’s Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, April 24 2017. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/birth-control-methods.
• “Choose the Right Birth Control.” MyHealthfinder. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, February 5 2020. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/topics/everyday-healthy-living/sexual-health/choose-right-birth-control.
• “What do I need to know about birth control?” Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/teens/preventing-pregnancy-stds/what-do-i-need-know-about-birth-control.

How long does it take (on average) to get pregnant?

Many factors can influence how long it takes to get pregnant, including your cycle, general health, fertility conditions, age, and lifestyle.

Getting pregnant faster

Although it takes the average female up to six months to conceive, there are ways to improve fertility health and reduce time to pregnancy. Staying healthy through diet and exercise and taking folic acid supplements can greatly increase your chances of conceiving, relative to those who don’t do these things. Individuals who track their fertility data to pinpoint their ovulation are also able to speed up their time to conception. Even your mood might help with your fertility: some studies have found that happier emotional states correlate with faster conception.

How long is too long?

Although any female without a condition of infertility or sterility can get pregnant naturally before menopause, some may take a bit longer than others. Doctors recommend that couples who have not conceived after one year of trying seek a fertility consultation to determine if an alternative route to conception might be explored, whether it’s in vitro fertilization (IVF), surgery, or fertility medication. It’s recommended that women over 35 should seek a fertility consultation after six months of trying.

If you have any questions about trying to conceive or your fertility health in general, don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider for more information.

Read more

• Does pregnancy loss impact future conception?
• Trying to get pregnant for more than a year

Sources

• Dr. Walter Willett. “Nurses’ Health Study II.” National Institutes of Health. United States, 1989-. Web.
• “Nutrition During Pregnancy: FAQ001.” ACOG. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 4/15/2015. Web.