By Researchopia
Hows about Birth Control Patch?
The birth control patch is a thin, beige, 1¾-inch (4½-centimeter) square patch that sticks to the skin. It releases hormones through the skin into the bloodstream to prevent pregnancy. Hormones are chemical substances that control the functioning of the body's organs.
How Does It Work?
The combination of the hormones progesterone and estrogen in the patch prevents ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovaries during a girl's monthly cycle). If an egg isn't released, a girl can't get pregnant because there's nothing for a guy's sperm to fertilize.
The hormones in the patch also thicken the mucus produced in the cervix, making it difficult for sperm to enter and reach any eggs that may have been released. The hormones can also sometimes affect the lining of the uterus so that if the egg is fertilized it will have a hard time attaching to the wall of the uterus.
Like other birth control methods that use hormones, such as the birth control pill or ring, a girl uses the birth control patch based on her monthly menstrual cycle. She puts on the patch on the first day of her menstrual cycle or the first Sunday after her menstrual cycle begins. She will change the patch on her skin once a week for 3 weeks in a row. (The patch should be applied to one of four areas: the abdomen, buttocks, upper arm, or upper torso — except for the breasts.) On the fourth week, no patch is worn, and a girl's period should start during this time.
Using The Patch
It's important to apply a new patch on the same day every week to ensure that it keeps working effectively. For example, a girl who applies her first patch on a Monday should always apply her patches on a Monday. When it's time to change the patch, pull the old one off first, before applying a new patch. Place the new patch on a different area from the old patch (but still on one of the four recommended areas listed above) to avoid skin irritation. Don't apply the patch to skin that is red, irritated, or cut.
For the first 7 days on the patch, use an additional form of contraception as well to prevent pregnancy.
If you forget to apply a new patch on the right day, or if the patch becomes loose and falls off, read the instructions that come in the package or call your doctor. If this happens you may need to use a backup method of birth control (such as condoms) or stop having sex for a while to protect against pregnancy. Also, if you stop using the patch for any reason, you will need to begin using another method of birth control, usually after 24 hours of removing your last patch.
It's OK to participate in normal activities like swimming and exercise while wearing the patch. You can also get it wet in the shower or in the bath. However, the patch should not be moved or removed until the week is up (pulling the patch off to reposition or move it may cause it to lose some of its stickiness and it might fall off easily). Don't try to decorate the patch, change the size of a patch by trimming it, or try to attach it with tape. Talk to your doctor if the patch falls off.
The patch should not be applied over makeup, creams, lotions, powder, or other skin products as these may prevent it from sticking well. (Skin products may also affect how hormones are absorbed by the skin.)
How Well Does It Work?Ongoing studies suggest the birth control patch is as effective as the birth control pill. That means that about 8 out of 100 couples will have an unintended pregnancy during the first year of use. Of course, the chance of getting pregnant depends on whether you use the patch correctly. Delaying or missing a weekly application or removing a patch too early reduces its effectiveness and increases the chance a girl will become pregnant.
For girls who weigh more than 198 pounds (90 kilograms), the contraceptive patch may be less effective in preventing pregnancy.
In general, how well each type of birth control method works depends on a lot of things. These include whether a person has any health conditions or is taking any medications that might interfere with the patch. How effective the patch is at preventing pregnancy also depends on whether the method chosen is convenient — and whether the person remembers to use it correctly all the time.
Protection Against STDsThe birth control patch does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Couples having sex must always use condoms along with the birth control patch to protect against STDs.
Abstinence (the decision to not have sex) is the only method that always prevents pregnancy and STDs.
Possible Side Effects
The birth control patch is a safe and effective method of birth control. Most young women who use the patch have no side effects. Smoking cigarettes while using the patch can increase a girl's risk of certain side effects, which is why health professionals advise women who use the patch not to smoke.
The side effects that some women have while using the patch are similar to those experienced with the birth control pill. These may include:
irregular menstrual bleeding nausea, headaches, dizziness, and breast tenderness mood changes blood clots (these are rare in women under 35 who do not smoke, but there may be a higher risk with the patch than with the Pill) Other possible side effects seen in patch users include:
skin reactions at the site of application of the patch problems with contact lens use — a change in vision or inability to wear the lenses menstrual cramps Many of these side effects are mild and tend to disappear after 2 or 3 months.
Who Uses It?
The birth control patch may be a good choice for sexually active young women who weigh less than 198 pounds (90 kilograms) and find it difficult to remember to take a pill every day or who have difficulty swallowing pills.
Not all women can — or should — use the birth control patch. In some cases, medical or other conditions make the use of the patch less effective or more risky. For example, it is not recommended for women who have had blood clots, severe high blood pressure, certain types of cancers, certain types of migraine headaches, or diabetes with certain problems. It's recommended that girls who have had unexplained vaginal bleeding (bleeding that is not during their periods) or who suspect they may be pregnant should talk to their doctors, discontinue using the patch, and use another form of birth control in the meantime.
Girls who are interested in learning more about the possible health benefits and risks of different types of birth control, including the patch, should talk to a doctor or other health professional.
How Do You Get It?A doctor or a nurse practitioner must prescribe the patch. He or she will ask questions about health and family medical history, and may also do a complete physical exam, including a blood pressure measurement and a pelvic exam. If recommending the patch, the doctor or nurse practitioner will write a prescription and provide instructions on how to use it.
Those who start using the patch may be asked to return within a few months for a blood pressure measurement and to ensure that there are no problems. After that, a doctor may recommend routine exams once or twice a year or as needed.
How Much Does It Cost?
The patch usually costs between $15 and $50 a month, although health and family planning clinics (such as Planned Parenthood) might sell them for less. In addition, the birth control patch and doctor's visits are covered by many health insurance plans
By Researchopia
LOW BACK PAIN AND SPASMS
CONDITION
Low back pain (LBP) is pain that occurs anywhere over your lower back between the bottom part of your rib cage and the top of your buttocks (Figure 1). Acute back pain is pain that happens right away when you are injured or soon afterward. Chronic low back pain is usually present for more than a few months, but also can come and go repeatedly over a long time. Spasms are when muscles tighten up and cause pain.
The back is made up of bones, muscles, nerves, ligaments (fibrous tissue that holds bones together) and discs (round, gel-filled structures that sit between the bones of the spine and act as shock absorbers or cushions.) The bones of your spine form a hollow canal through which the spinal cord and its nerves pass. Any of these can be affected in LBP.
LBP is one of the most common bone or joint problems for which people see a doctor.
Most people will have low back pain at least once. People 20 to 50 years old are most likely to have back pain, but older adults can have more severe or chronic back pain.
Regular or recurrent back pain in youngsters under age 18 is almost always abnormal and needs to be looked at by a doctor.
Most of the time, back pain goes away on its own within three to six weeks, but in a small percentage of people it can become chronic and last or recur over a long time.
CAUSES
Acute low back pain is usually the result of an injury involving bending or twisting, especially while lifting things. The most common of these injuries are sprains (a ligament injury) and strains (an injury to muscle) with muscle spasm.
Low back injuries also can occur in almost any sport, but are most common in contact sports such as football and hockey. Sports like gymnastics and rowing that require athletes to bend backward a lot can also cause back injuries.
Discs that have degenerated (broken down) over time and degenerative arthritis of the spine bones (vertebrae) are the most common causes of chronic low back pain.
Aside from sprains, strains and spasms, some of the more common conditions causing LBP include:
a herniated disc, which occurs when the soft center of the disc pushes out through the firm outer covering surrounding it
a pinched nerve (sciatica), a condition in which there is pressure on a large nerve that runs from the lower back down the legs
a tight spinal canal, which can result from a bulging disc or bone spurs that can form as a result of arthritis
muscle spasm (tight, painful muscles) that accompanies most acute back injuries
myofascial pain, which is pain in muscles related to poor posture
fractures, acute (those that happen as a result of a fall or injury), stress (those that occur with certain repeated activities such as bending backward) and compression (those caused by osteoporosis, a condition that can result in the collapse of thin, brittle vertebrae)
pain disorders such as fibromyalgia, a problem with pain processing in the brain that affects the whole body.
Less common causes of LBP include:
tumors or other growths that take up space in the spinal canal
inflammatory arthritis, a type of arthritis that causes swelling in other parts of your body
problems (such as appendicitis) in another part of your body (such as your belly) that result in pain in your lower back.
Certain things can increase your risk for back pain:
working in a job that involves a lot of heaving lifting, bending at the waist and twisting
long periods of sitting
poor posture (such as slumping forward in soft chair with no low back support)
being overweight
not doing regular walking or aerobic exercise
depression, a condition that leaves you feeling down most of the time
smoking
pregnancy.
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
You will notice pain in your lower back that can be achy or feel spastic or tight. Sometimes, it may burn. Occasionally, there may be sharp pain with movements such as bending and twisting.
Your pain may get worse when you bend forward, especially if you bend forward and lean sideways.
You may notice that your back feels stiff after you have been still for awhile, such as after sitting or upon getting up in the morning. It may feel better when you have gotten “warmed up” or started moving around.
A pinched nerve in your back can cause pain, numbness, tingling, loss of sensation and muscle weakness in almost any part of your upper leg, lower leg and foot.
You may notice that coughing, laughing, sneezing, getting up from a sitting position or straining and lifting will worsen your pain, especially if you have injured a disc or have swelling in your spinal canal.
Pain can get worse when you stand or sit for too long or when you lie on your stomach, especially when your upper body is propped up on your elbows.
Pain that happens immediately after an injury means that you may have torn something such as a muscle, tendon, ligament or disc.
Pain that starts slowly and stays the same or builds up over time can indicate an injury or medical problem that is gradually getting worse.
“Red flag” symptoms that tell you there may be a serious injury or illness causing your back pain include:
night pain that wakes you up
unintentional or unexplained weight loss
fever higher than 101° F
problems urinating or having a bowel movement, such that you can’t go or have lost control
numbness or problems with loss of sensation in the skin around your bottom
foot and ankle muscle weakness that causes you to suddenly trip over your toes while walking
weakness, numbness, tingling or problems feeling both legs or feet.
Other things that you should report to your student health service or health care provider right away include severe pain and/or and weakness, numbness, tingling or problems feeling one leg or foot that happens immediately after a fall (especially from a high place like a ladder) or after an injury caused by great force (such as a motor vehicle accident or a football tackle).
WHEN TO CALL YOUR STUDENT HEALTH SERVICE OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER
Call 911 if:
You have severe back pain after a fall or an injury resulting from an incident such as a motor vehicle accident and/or weakness in your legs or feet, loss of urine control, problems controlling your bowel movements OR numbness, tingling or loss of sensation in your legs and feet.
You have such severe pain after an injury that you cannot get up and walk.
Call your student health service or health care provider right away (day or night) if:
You have any of the “red flag” symptoms listed above.
You have not had a fall or other injury but you suddenly develop weakness, numbness, tingling or problems feeling one leg or foot.
You have not had a fall or other injury but you have had chronic back problems and sciatica, and suddenly develop a worsening of symptoms such as weakness, numbness, tingling or problems feeling one leg or foot.
You are more than 50 years old or you have been taking steroid medication and you suddenly notice back pain, especially after coughing, sneezing or bending over. This can be caused by a compression fracture of your vertebrae.
You have redness or swelling over the back or spine, which can signal infection.
You notice that it burns when you urinate, you urinate more frequently, have blood in your urine, have nausea or vomiting and have back pain located above the area of your lower back that is over your lower ribs .
You have had chronic back pain and it suddenly gets worse, especially if you did not injure or re-injure your back.
Call your student health service or health care provider during regular office hours if:
You have had chronic problems with (and may have been seen by a doctor for) weakness, numbness, tingling or difficulty feeling one leg or foot that persist but are not getting worse.
Your back pain has lasted more than a week or two, started slowly without an injury and you do not have pain, numbness, tingling, loss of sensation or weakness in your legs or feet.
You have mild, tolerable pain that lasts more than a week or two but does not limit your daily activities. The pain may have started slowly or begun right away after an injury, it stays in your back only and does not go into your legs or feet.
SELF-CARE AT HOME
Avoid positions and activities that increase your pain, such as bending forward and twisting or leaning sideways.
Avoid lifting anything over five pounds until your back is better or you have been seen by a student health service or health care provider.
Do not stay in bed. Bed rest is an outdated recommendation that can make your pain worse. Stay gently active, if you can, by doing simple things like walking or moving around your house and engaging in activities of daily living. It is okay to decrease some activities for a few days.
Avoid athletic activities that require bending, twisting or straining such as weightlifting, football, basketball, dancing, golf, jogging, gymnastics and skiing.
The lower back is an area where you may use cold, heat or both to help relieve pain and spasm. There are many recommendations, but you may start by using a cold pack over the most painful area in your back for 10 to 15 minutes, then using a heat pack for 10 to 15 minutes. You may repeat this as often as you need to. If your pain gets better, gradually back off using cold and heat.
You may take ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®), naproxen (Aleve®), or acetaminophen (Tylenol®) as directed for pain. (See labels for dosing and risks.)
Be creative to find a comfortable sleeping position. You may need to put a pillow under your knees while lying flat on your back. You can use a small pillow under the curve of your lower back or, if lying down is uncomfortable, you may try sleeping in a recliner for a few days. Also, lying curled on your side with your hips and knees bent and a pillow between your knees sometimes helps.
Stretching and strengthening exercises can often help back pain, but starting these too soon after injury or pain that begins abruptly can set you back or make your injury worse. Time is what resolves most acute back pain, but as mentioned above, if your pain is not getting better over one to two weeks, your doctor will help guide you to exercises that can help your back.
PREVENTION
Stay active and do aerobic or cardiovascular exercise regularly. Walking is especially good.
Keep your hamstrings (the muscles on the back of your upper legs) flexible. Do stretches (Figure 2) daily, repeat them two to three times and hold each stretch for 20 to 30 seconds without bouncing. Gradually pull each leg straight until you feel a stretch in your muscles. Without causing too much discomfort, try to pull your leg slightly straighter each time you exhale.
Lift things using proper technique. Get close to the object you want to lift and directly face it. Bend at the knees and hips while keeping your back relatively straight. Grasp and hold the object close to your body, then pick it up using your legs and hips. Avoid any twisting. Ask for help lifting very heavy things so as not to exceed your limits.
When you are moving heavy objects by sliding or rolling them, push rather than pull, and use a partner to stabilize the object.
Practice good posture when you are sitting for a long time, especially at a desk or in a car. Sit as straight as possible and maintain the curve in your lower back. Using a lumbar support or a back pillow in your seat can sometimes help. Avoid slumping forward. Take frequent breaks to walk around.
Wear good-quality athletic shoes and avoid high heels when you have back pain.
Avoid smoking, eat a healthful diet and keep your weight at a level appropriate for your height.
By Researchopia
The only way to suppress male fertility by drugs is to inhibitu spermatogenesis.Though considerable efforts has been made in this direction and effective drugs have been found,no satisfactory/acceptable solution is yet yangible.Reasons are-
(1) Complete suppression of spermatogenesis is relatively difficult without affaceting other tissues:millions of spermatozoa are released at each ejaculation vs a single ovum per month in women.
(2) Spermatognesis takes 64 days.A drug which even completely inihibited spermatogenesis will take a long latent period to prodcuce infertility.Similarly,return of fertility will be slow.
(3) Gonadotropin suppression inhibitis testosterone secretion as well,resulting in loss of libido and impotence:unacceptable to all men and to most spouses.
(4) Risk of adverse affects.
(5) Most importantly-men don’t get pregnant:few would be ready to bear the contingency of regular medication so that their sexual partners do not become pregnant.
By Researchopia
Types of Female Contraception methods:
(1)Combined Pills:
It contain an estrogen and a progestrin.The estrogen is either ethinylestradiol or its methyl ester mestranol,used alone the ovulation inhibitory doses.While both estrogen and progestrin synergise to inhibit ovulation,the progestrin ensures prompt bleeding at the end of a cycle and bloacks the risk of developing endometrial carcinoma due to estrogen.One tab is taken daily for 20-22 days,starting on the 5th days of menstruation.The next course is started after a gap of 6-8 days in which bleeding occurs.Thus a cycle of 28 days is maintained.Calender packs of pills are available.
(2) Sequential Preparation:
It was inroduced to duplicate the menstrual cycle more faithfully.The first 15 Tab contained only estrogen and the next 6 had progestin added.The dose of estrogen in this regimen had to be relatively larger and failure rates are slightly higher.Furthe,estrogen alone could increase the incidence of endometrial carcinoma,These have ,thereof,been withdrawn.
(3) Phased Regimen:
These have been intoduced to permit reduction in total steroid dose without compromising efficacy.These are biphasic or triphasic.The estrogen dose is kept constant while the amount of progestin is low in the first phase and progressively higher in the second and third phases.
(4)Minipill:
It has been devised to eliminate the estrogen,because many f the long term risks have been ascribed to this component.A low dose progestin only pill is taken daily continuously without any gap.
(5) Postcoital Contraception:
The most commonly used regimen now is Levonorgestrel 0.5 mg+ethinylestradiol 0.1 mg within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse,Repeated after 12 hours.
NOTICE:CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE TAKING ANY MEDICINE
By Researchopia
Condition:
Hamstrings are a type of muscles made by three powerful muscles at back side of thigh that enable the knee to bend. This attaches our sitting bones to thigh bones (femur) and bones around knee (tibia and fibula). Hamstring attach to bones by strong tissue known as tendon. A hamstring strain is caused when any hamstring muscles or tendons of thigh tear. This is common reason of muscles injury.
Causes:
Hamstring tear during excessive force applied on it especially in case of sports and in case of excessive running, jump and kicking.Hamstrin torn when it excessively stretch when body bend at the waist over a straight leg. This also can happened in case of water skiing, dancing, ice skating and during weightlifting.
Symptoms:
Person can notice pain when on affected are and felling may be Hot or sharp or stabbing. Person can hear a pop when he tears through hamstring muscles.
Bring Health Care Provider:
Call health provider when a person feel pain or weakness on affected part or he notice severe swelling or large lump on back of thigh.
Or he feels severe to moderate pain during sitting.
Self Care At Home:
Use crutches to take weight of injured leg.
Wrap thigh with elastic wrap until health provide not come. Use ice packs or cold packs over the injured part.
Person can take Tylenol to relieve from discomfort (see the label for dosing and risks), however avoid use of ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) because they may increase risk of bleeding into muscle.
Avoid running, jumping and kicking until symptoms of pain not improve.
Wrap thigh with a elastic wrap and wear it as much for 24 to 36 hours to minimize swelling and bruising.
From the first days after injury, elevate your injured leg on chair frequently a s much as possible.
For reduce pain, and swelling use the cold pack or ice pack every hour or two for the first 24 to 36 hours.
After first 1 to 2 days, use cold packs 3 to 6 times daily as symptoms demanded.
Person can take ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) or naproxen (Aleve®) for swelling and pain. (See labels for dose and risks.)
When swelling starts to reduce from the day of injury, he can start mild stretching and strengthening exercises. Avoid aggressive stretching that causes.
Stretch muscles of thighs 3 to 4 times daily and avoid excessive stretching. Stretching can be done with help of chair.
Prevention:
maintain muscles flexible by use of regular exercises.
By Researchopia
Over 100 million women worldwide are currently using hormonal abortion pills .with this pills fertility can be suppressed at will,for as long as desired,with 100% confidence and complete return on discontinuation.The efficacy,convenience,low cost and overall safety of oral abortion pills(contraceptives) has allowed women to decide if and when they will become pregnant and to plan their activities.A variety of oral and parenteral contraceptives or abortion pills are now available offering individual choices.It has been now realized that other health benefits may also accrue from use of OCs.
By Researchopia
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation also termed as drug rehab or rehab, is a term coined for treatment to cure for drug dependency.
Treating Drug dependency is included in various drug rehab programs in which patients teach living in drug free environmnet. In general patients advised to keep stay with friends who are still use these dependency drugs.There are 12 steps program are available for such types of patients ,this program give guideline to patients how to live and improve there life styles without using drugs. Many programs give importance that rehabilitation is a process without culmination. For legal drugs such as alcohol,100% abstention—rather than attempts at moderation.
Types of treatment like: In Patient, out-patient, local support groups, extended care centers,and sober houses. gender and age specific drug rehab program is also avalilable now days.In a survey of treatment providers from three separate institutions (the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, Rational Recovery Systems and the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors) measuring the treatment provider's responses on the Spiritual Belief Scale (a scale measuring belief in the four spiritual characteristics AA identified by Ernest Kurtz); the scores were found to explain 41% of the variance in the treatment provider's responses on the Addiction Belief Scale (a scale measuring adherence to the disease model or the free-will model addiction).[5]
