Feminine Buzz

Birth Control Pills, a Cure for Acne?

At first, taking birth control pills to cure the problematic acne is totally a ludicrous idea. It turns out that the idea is not as far fetched as we thought at first. Birth control pills, depending on the situation, can help teenage girls handle a terrible acne problem.

For teenage girls, or even older women, acne problems can be a source of embarrassment. There are several remedies for acne. Doctors, of course, can help determine what kind of medication is necessary and appropriate for each individual in order to solve their acne problems. Medications can range from acne creams to antibiotic, and to the occasional birth control pills.

Birth control pills seem to work on teenage girls since the pills contain synthetic hormones that help balance the already fluctuating hormones inside their body brought about by puberty. These hormonal fluctuations are seen as one of the causes of acne problems. Doctors have prescribed the use of birth control pills to control acne for years. Although, the pills are not labeled to be of such use, the effectiveness of them to some people is notable. Fortunately, the FDA has begun approving the use of some birth control pills as alternative medications to treat acne.

Even though FDA has already approved the use of oral contraceptives for acne treatments, doctors often prescribe their use only after several medications and treatments were tried and were found to be ineffective. It is also common that oral contraceptives are used alongside other conventional acne medications. This method has been proven to be more effective than using it alone.

All birth control pills contain synthetically produced progestin and estrogen hormones. These two are responsible for preventing the ovulation of eggs in the woman?s ovary. Oral contraceptives reduce the production of testosterone in the female body. When the production of testosterone is reduced, the amount of oil produced by the skin is also reduced. Consequently, the skin has a lower chance of experiencing pore blockage due to the decrease of the oil being produced.

Some oral contraceptives, meanwhile, contain progesterone that helped reduce the androgen hormones in the body. By doing this, the breakout activity of acne can be reduced.

However, some brands of oral contraceptives actually increases the levels of testosterone in the body and instead of preventing acne, it can result to a possible major outbreak. This is why it is important to consult your doctor before taking matters into your own hands. There?s only so much you can read from the labels of the drugs and read in the internet. Professional opinion is still a valued one and should be asked for every time situations like this arise.

It is common for doctors to prescribe a daily dosage of birth control pills for a period of three weeks. Afterwards, you will have to take placebo pills to induce the normal menstruation cycle. Don?t be too impatient and begin taking more pills that what was prescribed. It is normal to see any noticeable effects only after the third month that you began taking the pills.

The use of birth control pills as a cure of acne is not without side effects. The most common side effect includes weight gain, nausea, mood swings, breast tenderness, and menstrual spotting. There are situations where the side effects are very serious.

Stroke, headaches, gallstones, increase blood pressure, blood clots, and even depression, are some of the observed serious effects of using oral contraceptives for acne control, although, these effects are very uncommon.

How to Cope With Food Aversions

Do you find yourself suddenly feeling queasy at the thought of the left over pasta that you could not get enough of the other night? Food aversions are a normal part of pregnancy and the flip side to food cravings. Nearly eighty five percent of all pregnant women suffer from food aversions. Food aversion is when food your normally are able to look at, smell and even taste suddenly send you running in the opposite direction. They appear in the first trimester and usually trigger that fun part of pregnancy we call morning sickness. Some women find that they disappear by the start of their second trimester right around the same time morning sickness disappears. Other women find that their food aversions stay with them their whole pregnancy and a few women find that foods they developed aversions to through out the pregnancy stay with them even after they deliver.

Just like with food cravings, your hormones are more than likely to blame for your food aversions. Some experts believe that just as food cravings are your body’s way of telling you that you need a certain food, food aversions are your body’s way of protecting you from eating anything that can harm your baby. This might be why a lot of women report that they experience aversions to alcohol and coffee. The theory is still under debate though because so many pregnant women are turned off by food that is healthy for them and their babies.

Try not to fight a healthy aversion. Consider it a blessing if the mere thought of your normal morning cup of joe turns your stomach upside down. Cutting back caffeine will be a walk in the park for you. The same goes for cigarette smoke. Many women have said that the first clue they had that they were pregnant was the fact that the smell of smoke sent them running. Others say that their first clue they were pregnant was when they had actually felt sick when thinking about having a glass of wine with dinner.

If you find that you have aversions to healthy food, try to work around it as best as possible. Do not force yourself to eat food that you have aversions too. It is not a pleasant experience; instead try to look for alternatives. Some women find the thought of salad or anything green revolting. If you are one of them, you might be wondering how you are going to get the nutrients and vitamins you need. One alternative is to try and drink some vegetable juice.

While drinking vegetable juice is not the same as eating vegetables it has its benefits when you can’t look at your veggies. You should also try eating different color veggies like peppers or carrots. If it is protein like fish and chicken that make you sick, get your protein in other forms. Cheese, yogurt, eggs and nuts are fantastic protein alternatives. Or you can try and hide your meat in dishes. Stir chicken into a casserole or mix some seafood into a pasta dish. This way you can still get your protein in, and with less of a risk of getting sick.

Just like with morning sickness, do not beat yourself up if you can not eat as healthy as you would like while you are dealing with food aversions. Chances are once you enter your second trimester, they will disappear and you can eat more of a variety of foods.

The Problems Behind Baby Monitors In Blocks Of Flats

Time and again, parents turn to technology for quick fixes to various parenting problems. These solutions are often in the form of gadgets that have the potential of making life a lot easier for the middle-class, working parents. Then again, if you live in an apartment building with a dozen ?or more ?tenants, you could come across a number of additional setbacks every time you try to use a wireless device. Baby monitors in blocks of flats definitely face the challenge of interfering with each other.

Fixing Wireless Interference

Baby monitors basically provide parents with an extra pair of eyes or ears. As helpful as these gadgets may be, they could also turn out to be a nuisance every time you encounter interference problems. Unfortunately, such instances could take place quite often if you live in a flat with very close (as in proximity) next-door neighbors.

There are actually a number of ways to get rid or avoid interference issues when using baby monitors inside an apartment building. Here are some of them:

1) Change the frequency band.

Most modern wireless devices are equipped with capabilities of channel adjustments. This is one way of patching up interference problems. The process may be as effortless as sliding a switch or pushing a key. If you happen to be using a router with a wireless connection, then you should at least stay away from the uppermost or lowermost channels. These frequencies have a propensity of interfering with other devices in your home, including the baby monitor.

2) Switch on the baby monitor before other devices.

In order for the baby monitor to obtain the most excellent reception and transmission using the 2.4-GHz channel, you need to switch off all devices that operate in the same frequency. Then switch on the baby monitor followed by your other wireless gadgets. Remember that the base unit of your cordless phone should be switched on last.

3) Purchase a digital baby monitor instead.

To make sure that your neighbors will not be able to pick up the sounds transmitted by your baby monitor, buy a digital type as an alternative to the analog version. This way, you can rest assured that the only sounds you’ll hear are the ones that have originated from your baby’s room.

4) Keep your electronic devices at a safe distance from each other.

If channel adjustments still won’t work and the substitution of the appliance is not an immediate alternative, make an effort to keep the conflicting devices at a safe distance from one another. Doing so will somehow reduce the likelihood of interference.

Other Safety Tips

- Don’t ever use a mere baby monitor to justify your absence. Parental supervision is undoubtedly important, especially if you live in an apartment building where strangers can easily come and go.

- Do not position a baby monitor’s transmitter or receiver near water. Like any electronic device, baby monitors can cause an electrical shock if not used properly.

- Adhere to the manufacturer’s strict instructions at all times with regard to the usage and the placement of baby monitors inside your home.

- Handle the baby monitor with care. Do not recklessly carry the device around. Also, avoid clutching the monitor by the antenna because it can easily break.

- Safeguard the baby monitor from direct heat sources, as well as the glare of the sun.

- Do not forget to position the baby monitor’s receiver or transmitter on a sufficiently high surface that could not be reached or disturbed by other children.

Those were some of the things you can do for problems with baby monitors in blocks of flats. If you can’t completely get rid of the dilemma, you can at least do something to minimize its annoying effects.

An Overview of Happiness

Happiness seems to be a fleeting thing to some people;
others seem to have a good grasp on it and seem to be
able to hang on for dear life!

Happiness means different things to different people,
but there are similarities that have led scientists to
believe that there is much people can do to assist
themselves in their personal pursuit of happiness.

Most people who are truly happy have a true sense of
purpose in their life. What is your passion and are
you living it? For many people, faith in God brings
them happiness, hope for the future and a sense of
purpose.

Happy people generally are giving people; giving truly
does bring the giver joy, if it?s done with a real
attitude of giving for the sake of giving. Happy
people are also thankful for the things in their life,
and for the people and relationships in their life.
Nurture your special relationships with family and
friends and think about dumping negative relationships
that do nothing except bring you down.

Optimism doesn?t come naturally to some people, but
the happiest people are optimists, always looking on
the lighter and brighter side of life. Take it easy on
yourself-lighten up!

If you are online often, have a joke-of-the-day sent
to you. Don?t be afraid to laugh; laughing releases
endorphins in your brain that make you truly happy-as
does exercise.

Consciously look for the bright side in every
situation throughout the day; instead of instantly
thinking something won?t work, think about how it
could.

Be mindful of how blessed you are; got a job? Be
thankful. In a good relationship? Be thankful.
Thankfulness will lead to happiness every time.

Birth Control and Side Effects

There are different types of birth control pills around. Before you start using any, you should consider the side effects.

Studies have shown that there are only two methods that do not have side effects. First is abstaining however, it may be hard sometimes to control the urge if both of you feel like doing it. The best thing to do then is outercourse or masturbation so the sperm will never come into contact with the egg.

The second is with the use of condoms because it does not release any hormones into the body and it is simply used as a barrier that is disposed off after intercourse.

Spermicides come in different forms. There are creams, film, gel, suppositories and tablets. The side effects of using them include the risk of TSS and one of you will experience a burning or itching sensation. It rarely causes a skin rash but when it happens, this will only go away after some time.

Those who choose to use the diaphragm are at risk of bladder and urinary tract infections. If you have had this in the past, you are strongly discouraged to stop using it. There have also been cases of toxic shock syndrome or TSS but is also quite rate. This should not left in the vagina for more than 24 hours because there will soon be a smelly vaginal discharge, an inflammation or an infection could occur.

Birth control pills have a lot of side effects. These include breast tenderness, headaches, mood changes, nausea, spotting and weight gain. It may also contribute to blood clots, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, breast and liver cancer.

Apart from conventional birth control pills, there is a new one called Seasonale. Since it has been around for only 5 years, there have only been a few reported cases of blood clots in the legs or lungs, stoppage or rupture of a blood vessel in the heart and other organs, liver tumors and high blood pressure. However, those who have been taking it regularly complain of breast tenderness, weight gain, vomiting and difficulty wearing contact lenses.

The morning after pill is better known as an emergency contraceptive pill or ECP. This must be taken 120 hours after unprotected vaginal intercourse. Its side effects are similar to that of conventional pills but if you happen to vomit within an hour of ingesting the pill, it is advised that you call a doctor. Another thing to keep in mind is that this should not be used as a regular birth control pill.

The patch is another and this is applied to the skin. One patch is good for a week and this has to be placed for three consecutive weeks and can be placed anywhere in the body. On the fourth week, the female doesn?t have to stick anything so she can normally go through her monthly menstrual cycle. Side effects include application site reaction, breast symptoms, headaches, mood swings and vomiting.

Injectables are injected into the body every three months. The sides effects include irregular periods, weight gain and vomiting. Something similar to that are implants and those who use it may experience irregular bleeding, headaches, nausea, depression, dizziness, nervousness, weight gain or loss and hair loss.

Majority of the birth control methods around have side effects. If you don?t want to experience any, perhaps not having sex at all is the answer to your problems.