Blogs - WEGO Health

Genetic Counseling

Here on WEGO Health, we do our best to not only share what conversations are going on in our other health communities but we also share tips on how to encourage the best health practices in our communities. Some tips of encouragement are easy, tell others to: eat healthy, get lots of rest, listen to your body, ask your doctor questions, etc. In fact, it is pretty easy to encourage members in your online communities advice when it's been proven over and over. But how do you react when members… Continue

Added by amanda on November 17, 2009 at 5:39pm — No Comments

Planned Home Births- Are They Safe?

In my recent interactions on twitter I have come to know some delightful “mommies” who, like myself, care deeply about their role as a parent, from the point of conception and on. These interactions and friendships have brought a topic to mind that might be of interest to others, and in fact, it may be something that you see discussed in your communities. The topic is home birth, the safety of home birth, the benefits of home birth and the overall perception of home birth. I am now at a point… Continue

Added by Amy K on October 30, 2009 at 8:49pm — No Comments

School Board Committee Reneges Decision to Make Birth Control Available?

Have you heard about Revere High School and their recent decision to make birth control available at the school's health center? Well, the decision that was made this past spring might be banned. Right now, contraceptives, including condoms, are available to students who are enrolled in the center and whose parents indicate on an enrollment form that they are interested in their… Continue

Added by amanda on September 18, 2009 at 4:30pm — 1 Comment

Birth Planning 101: What To Consider When Creating Your Birth Plan

As mentioned in last week's post, Developing Your Birth Plan: First Step, Know Your Options, selecting your birthing location is only one piece of a much larger birth plan puzzle. The act of creating a birth plan promotes a level of awareness and familiarity with the labor and delivery process. It's important to take your time with the creation of your birth plan to ensure that you exp… Continue

Added by Vanessa_Rhinesmith on September 17, 2009 at 8:30am — No Comments

Developing Your Birth Plan: First Step, Know Your Options

I am currently reading "Pushed" by Jennifer Block. It's a truly amazing book that provides a raw look at modern day maternity care. As a society, we are increasingly focused on deadlines, schedules and preparation and in the United States, the act of birthing a child is no exception. Women are increasingly induced, having their water broken and scheduling cesarean sections. Have we forgotten how to let nature run it's course - or is the… Continue

Added by Vanessa_Rhinesmith on September 13, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Spotlight: Dawn About.com

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Added by Vanessa_Rhinesmith on July 8, 2009 at 12:00pm — 1 Comment

The Male "Pill"

While I was on Twitter I noticed a lot of buzz going on around a new birth control pill being developed for men. According to the article "Birth control pill for men could be available soon, says WHO", testing for a male hormonal birth control pill is very much underway. Although not expected to hit markets until 2012 or 2013, the pill is expected to "reduce sperm count up to 100 percent" and hav… Continue

Added by Lisa on June 25, 2009 at 4:30pm — 2 Comments

Plan B: more prevalent than ever

I'm impressed with the recent increase in visibility of Plan B. Lately, the emergency contraception pill is becoming more and more visible in both television and print ads. And in a recent article I read here, the pill will now be available for 17 year olds without parental consent or prescription. This overturns the 2006 law that made Plan B unavailable to anyone under… Continue

Added by amanda on March 27, 2009 at 12:45pm — No Comments

I want your pregnancy myths!

Have you heard a silly, strange or just plain disturbing pregnancy prevention myth? If so and you are interested in contributing to next month's birth control newsletter, please leave me a comment (but not the myth!) here and I'll follow up with you to talk more! I'd love to get some WEGO Health members' input on this newsletter - the more personal the better! Thanks! Sarah Continue

Added by Sarah on November 11, 2008 at 7:30pm — No Comments

Gaining weight? It's not your birth control's fault!

The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care has reminded the world that "research has not proven that the Pill causes weight gain." The fear of weight gain makes many women shy away from using a hormonal birth control pill and the IQWiG warns that the fear of weight gain can inhibit a woman from making the best choice in birth control method. If you are interested in learning more about the best birth control choice for you, I encourage you to go to the… Continue

Added by Sarah on November 3, 2008 at 12:00pm — No Comments

When perceptions and reality don't mesh

According to a new Schering-Plough (done by Harris Interactive) study, apparently only six percent of women surveyed worry about getting pregnant when it comes to sex. However, 46 percent of women surveyed say that they are relieved when they get their period if they have been sexually active. 21 percent of women who currently or have previously used birth control to prevent pregnancy admit that they've had trouble remembering to take their birth control, but 75 percent of those same women say t… Continue

Added by Sarah on October 26, 2008 at 2:48pm — 1 Comment

What makes those pills blue?

If I asked you what ingredients are in your ice cream, you could probably list half a dozen, right? But what about your birth control? You’ve got your standard estrogen and progestin, but what binds the pills? What makes your birth control pills blue? A 2005 survey by the International Communications Committee showed that 74 percent of women know what’s in their food, 60 percent know what’s in their clothing,… Continue

Added by Sarah on October 15, 2008 at 12:44am — 2 Comments

Protection without condoms

Responding to last month’s column singing the praises of the male condom, a reader asked a great question: “If we use a different method of birth control, how can we protect ourselves from disease?” I don’t have a perfect answer, but here are some options. Maintain a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a non-infected partner. Of course, you need to stick to the long-term part, the mutually monogamous part and the non-infected partner part to make this work. Easier said than done,… Continue

Added by Sarah on September 30, 2008 at 2:49pm — No Comments

Hormonal birth control for men

If you could, would you make your husband take birth control so that you didn't have to? If you would, researchers at the University of Kansas (go Jayhawks!) are working to help you out. Balancing the burden of birth control written by Matt Bechtold explains that a new male birth control pill "directly targets the creation of sperm cells, and this targeted approach greatly reduces the chance of side e… Continue

Added by Sarah on September 28, 2008 at 9:02pm — No Comments

Pill Positives

Are you breaking out all over? Try a birth control pill! Are you dealing with polycystic ovarian syndrome? Try a birth control pill! Have you recently been diagnosed with endometriosis? Try a birth control pill! Are your periods all over the place? Try a birth co… Continue

Added by Sarah on September 11, 2008 at 9:26pm — No Comments

Spotlight: Rebecca Kraemer

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Added by Adrienne on September 10, 2008 at 11:30am — 3 Comments

Condoms - an oldie but a goodie!

One of the earliest forms of birth control remains, to this day, one of the most common, most effective and least expensive - the male condom. In one form or another, condoms have been around since about 300 BCE (thank the ancient Egyptians) for another fabulous invention). The first condom materials includ… Continue

Added by Sarah on September 6, 2008 at 5:38pm — 3 Comments