birth-control-22.matches:
birth control pill
Adolescent contraception.

Nelson AL.

PIP: By age 19, the average North American man has had sex with 5.11 people. Almost two thirds of high-school senior-aged women have had sex. While the rates of sexual activity among teens in the US are not substantially different from rates in other developed western countries, adolescent pregnancy rates in the US are several times higher than in most other countries. These high rates of adolescent pregnancy are partly due to the collective reluctance among adults in the US to discuss sexuality issues with adolescents and provide them with contraception. Effective communication is the key to providing contraception to teens. Studies have clearly shown that teens are interested in sexuality and would like to discuss the issue with their physicians. The author notes that any successful program to reduce unwanted pregnancies among teens will understand that teens are often concrete thinkers focused upon their physical appearance and dedicated to taking risks. Oral contraception, long-acting progestin methods, condoms, and other options are discussed. However, emergency contraception with birth control pills is the one most important contraceptive option which can be provided to teens. The approach has recently been approved by the FDA Advisory Board for both safety and efficacy. Recent studies, however, show that less than 10% of US clinicians informed their patients of the availability of emergency contraception. Information on providers of emergency contraception can be obtained by dialing Princeton University's Office of Population Research's toll-free emergency contraception hotline at (800) 584-9911.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9000861&dopt=Abstract birth control pill



birth-control-22.matches:
birth control pill
Attitudes toward condom use among female college students.

Minoia J, Rose MA.

Cortland County Health Department, Jacobus Center for Reproductive Health, USA.

The purpose of this study was to explore attitudes toward condom use, identify the frequency of condom usage, and examine the relationship between attitudes and condom use among sexually active female college students. This descriptive study used a convenience sample of 47 female college students attending a rural county family planning clinic. Students who reported condom use scored significantly higher on the Condom Attitudes Scale than those not using condoms. Other significant differences between condom and noncondom users were noted. The results provide insight into strategies for improving safer sexual behavior through nursing interventions for college populations.

PIP: The aim of the study was to explore attitudes toward condom use, identify the frequency of condom usage, and examine the relationship between attitudes and condom use among sexually active female college students. From the end of February 1996 through March 1996 all sexually active female college students aged 18-24 years attending an upstate New York rural county family planning clinic for reproductive services and birth control supplies were approached to fill out a self-administered questionnaire containing the Condom Attitudinal Scale with total possible scores from 11 to 55. 47 female college students returned the questionnaire. 42 were Caucasian. Their mean age at first intercourse was 16.2 years. 14 students reported using only condoms, 16 reported using a combination of condoms and birth control pills, and 13 reported using only birth control pills. The scores on the Condom Attitudinal Scale ranged from 29 to 54, with a mean of 45.9. Those who never used condoms (n = 9) had a mean score of 44.11; those who sometimes used condoms (n = 26) had a mean score of 44.96; and those who always used condoms (n = 12) had a mean score of 49.5. Students who reported always using condoms scored significantly higher in their attitudes toward condoms than those who sometimes or never used condoms (p = 0.04). Respondents who reported condom use only as a method of birth control had a mean condom attitude score of 48.0. Those who used condoms in combination with pills had a mean condom attitude score of 46.1, while those who used birth control pills only had a mean condom attitude score of 42.6. Students who reported a sexually transmitted disease (STD) history had a significantly earlier age at first intercourse (p = 0.39) than those with no STD history, and they also had a higher number of sexual partners. Students reporting condom use at last intercourse had a greater mean number of partners during the 6 months than those who did not use condoms at last intercourse (p = 0.000).

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9060717&dopt=Abstract birth control pill



birth-control-22.matches:
birth control pill
Blood pressure trend and cardiovascular events in nuns in a secluded order: a 30-year follow-up study.

Timio M, Lippi G, Venanzi S, Gentili S, Quintaliani G, Verdura C, Monarca C, Saronio P, Timio F.

Department of Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Hospital of Foligno, Italy.

30-year data are presented on blood pressure and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality for 144 nuns living in a secluded order in six nunnerlie in Umbria, central Italy and 138 lay women from the same region. There were no significant differences at baseline regarding age, blood pressure, body mass index, race, ethnic background, menarche, family history of hypertension or 24-hour urinary sodium excretion. None of the women were smokers and none took birth control pills nor did they use estrogen replacement therapy. During the observation period blood pressure remained remarkably stable among the nuns. None showed a rise in diastolic blood pressure to above 90 mm Hg. On the contrary the lay women showed the expected rise in blood pressure with age. This resulted in a gradually greater difference (delta > 30/15 mm Hg) in blood pressure between the two groups, which was statistically significant. There were 31 fatal and 69 non-fatal cardiovascular events during the 30 years of follow-up. These were significantly more common in the lay women, 10 vs. 21 fatal and 21 vs. 48 non-fatal in the nuns and lay women respectively. It appears reasonable to assume that the difference in psychosocial stress is the main underlying factor for the observed findings.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9105646&dopt=Abstract birth control pill



birth-control-22.matches:
birth control pill
A design for studying the DSM-IV research criteria of premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Gehlert S, Hartlage S.

School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA.

The DSM-IV estimate that 3-5% of women have premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is based on studies that: used non-representative samples, did not consider all research criteria, or were retrospective. In the present study, prospective data from a multiethnic sample of women were analyzed to develop an effective method of considering all DSM-IV research criteria for PMDD. One-hundred and seventeen subjects between the ages of 13 and 55 years who were neither pregnant nor menopausal were recruited from outpatient clinics at a teaching hospital for a study of changes in women's health through time. Daily urine samples were taken for two menstrual cycles, analyzed to establish phase of cycle, and correlated with daily symptom ratings. Subjects were assessed for psychiatric disorders. Four methods of symptom analysis were used. Prevalence rates ranging from 1.0% to 7.1% were determined that differed according to the method of measuring the symptom change. The group of women with PMDD did not differ from the sample as a whole on variables including age, parity and birth control pill use. When all criteria were considered as they appear in DSM-IV, prevalence estimates of the present study did not differ markedly from those in DSM-IV.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9138205&dopt=Abstract birth control pill



birth-control-23.matches:
birth control pill
The influence of family and friends' basic conditioning factors and self-care agency on unmarried teenage primiparas' engagement in contraceptive practice.

Mapanga KG, Andrews CM.

University of Zimbabwe.

PIP: Orem's 1991 self-care deficit theory states that basic conditioning factors influence self-care agency and self-care, and that self-care agency is necessary for self-care. The authors explored the influence of emotional support from family and friends upon unmarried teenage primiparas' self-care agency and the influence of self-care agency on the use of contraceptives. 75 unmarried teenage primiparas aged 13 (1.3%) to 18 (42%) years, of mean age 17.013 years, were randomly selected from a major urban hospital's children outpatient program for the care of their children for participation in the study. The young women had given birth at the hospital in the preceding 24 months. 73 were Black, 15 lived alone, 37 lived with their mother, 49 had some high school education, 19 graduated from high school, 15 were unemployed, and 40 were students. Public assistance was the main source of income for 46 of the young women. 70 participants were sexually active. 33 (44%) of them used some form of contraception every time they had sexual intercourse, 13.3% almost every time, 21.3% sometimes, 5.3% almost never, and 9.3% never. 18.7% were using condoms alone, while another 18.7% used condoms and oral contraceptive pills together. 12% used either Norplant or Depo-Provera and 9.3% used birth control pills. Multiple regression analysis found emotional support from both family and friends to have a positive effect upon self-care agency, but no positive effect upon contraceptive practice. Emotional support from family was more important than emotional support from friends in predicting self-care agency. Self-care agency did not have a positive effect upon contraceptive practice. These findings support the need for community health nurses to encourage emotional support from family and friends in the interest of promoting self-care agency, but caution must be exercised in using the health promotion model to affect contraceptive practice.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7602339&dopt=Abstract birth control pill



birth-control-23.matches:
birth control pill
Medical history in women with premenstrual syndrome.

Chuong CJ, Burgos DM.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.

This study was designed to identify significant factors in the medical history of women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Medical history variables of 190 women with PMS were compared with those of a group of 182 women without premenstrual symptoms who sought gynecological care (control group). All the participants were carefully selected by interview and designated questionnaires. Women with a past or present psychiatric history were excluded. The results showed that age, number of children, age of menarche, smoking history and family history of psychiatric disorders of the women with PMS and the controls were similar. Women with PMS exhibited a significantly greater frequency of postpartum depression (43% versus 12%), past birth control pill use (91.6% versus 45.9%), alcohol use (39.5% versus 14.8%) and drug use (48.4% versus 14.1%) than did the controls respectively; all p values were < 0.05). Our data suggest an association between these factors and PMS. They should be identified in women with premenstrual complaints during the initial visit, and the roles of these factors in the pathophysiology of PMS need to be further investigated.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7787954&dopt=Abstract birth control pill



birth-control-14.matches:
birth control pill
New Campaign in Thailand.

Phelan BJ.

PIP: A program run by Community-Based Family Planning Services in rural Banglamoong, Thailand, is completing its first year of family planning efforts with considerable success. Under the program, district leaders such as the police chief, doctor, school prinicipal and pharmacist, are approached and asked to recommend village inhabitants to serve as distributors of birth control pills and condoms and as referral agents for people desiring IUD insertion and sterilization. These people, who receive 5 cents for every pill or condom sale, act as salemen with a simple message, "Too many children make you poor." The fact that they are members of the community and convenient to the inhabitants has made the program more successful than some programs at the district and national level. In addition, the volunteers have formed the nucleus of a broad-based paramedical corps trained to recognize signs of certain deseases.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12258379&dopt=Abstract birth control pill



birth-control-23.matches:
birth control pill
[Norplant and its side effects]

[Article in German]

Kato K, Joachim A, Nielsen P, Habib ND.

OB/GYN Service, U.S. Army Hospital Berlin.

Norplant is a subcutaneous contraceptive with levonorgestrel. From March to October 1993. Norplant was implanted in 58 women and its side effects were observed for a period of six months. No pregnancy occurred during the study period. Almost all the women experienced irregular menstruations or amenorrhea. The most frequent side effect was weight gain in 21 women (36.2%) followed by headache (13.7%), hair loss (8.6%) and emotional changes (8.6%). However, they were usually mild and 86.2% of the women showed complete satisfaction at the end of study. Norplant was removed in 6 women for its side effects. Younger women appeared to tolerated better than older women. There was a significant relationship between the frequency of side effects with Norplant and those with previous use of birth control pills.

PIP: During the period of March-October 1993 Norplant was implanted in 58 women who appeared at first, third, and sixth monthly control examinations at the OB/GYN Service, US Army Hospital, Berlin, Germany. The six rods were inserted under local anesthesia within 4-5 minutes. The average age was 24.6 years, and they were counseled individually after watching a video film about the procedure. One month after the implantation the skin appeared normal without hematoma or infection. Only 2 women had a regular menstrual cycle in the course of six months, but no pregnancy occurred. 27 women (46.5%) reported at least one side effect. Most frequent was weight gain (21 cases, or 36.2%); other side effects were headache (8 cases, or 13.2%), loss of hair (5 cases, or 8.6%), mood changes (5 cases, or 8.6%), fatigue (2 cases, or 3.4%), decreased libido (1 case, or 1.7%), and nausea (1 case, or 1.7%). In women aged 20 years or younger fewer problems occurred than in older women (p 0.025). 54 women had also used oral contraceptives. 25 of these (46.3%) had side effects, i.e., headache, migraine, or nausea. There was an association between the side effects of Norplant and those of oral contraceptives (p 0.025). At the end of the study 86.2% of women (50) reported to be satisfied with Norplant, 10.3% of women (6) said they were not satisfied, and 3.4% of women (2) were undecided. Norplant was removed in 6 cases because of side effects. Among these were 3 women with heavy hair loss, 2 with mood changes, and 1 with increasing headaches. Almost 90% of the women accepted Norplant. It is very important to instruct women in detail about the action of Norplant and counsel them in order to reduce the rate of removals.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7793168&dopt=Abstract birth control pill



birth-control-23.matches:
birth control pill
The effects of gender and birth control pill use on spontaneous blink rates.

Yolton DP, Yolton RL, Lopez R, Bogner B, Stevens R, Rao D.

Pacific University College of Optometry, Forest Grove, OR 97116.

BACKGROUND: Two major reference works suggest that men and women blink spontaneously at different rates, but they disagree with regard to which gender blinks faster. METHODS: Spontaneous blink rates of 59 males and 86 females, 44 of whom were taking birth control (BC) pills, were measured for 5 consecutive minutes. Schirmer test results and tear break-up times (TBUTs) were also obtained. RESULTS: Females taking BC pills blinked at a mean rate of 19.6 times per minute, females not taking birth control pills blinked 14.9 times per minute, and males blinked 14.5 times per minute. There were very large differences between blink rates for individuals in each of the groups. No strong associations were found between spontaneous blink rates and a history of contact lens use, tear break-up time, Schirmer test results, temperature or humidity in the examination room, subject age, or menstrual cycle phase. CONCLUSIONS: The 32 percent increase in mean blink rate for females taking BC pills suggests that the pills affect at least one of the mechanisms that control spontaneous blinking, but it is unclear how they accomplish this.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7822673&dopt=Abstract birth control pill



birth-control-23.matches:
birth control pill
The in vitro effect of aspirin on increased whole blood platelet aggregation in oral contraceptive users.

Norris LA, Bonnar J.

Trinity College Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

PIP: The effects of triphasic oral contraceptives on whole blood platelet aggregation in 36 Italian women are reported here. Aspirin's effects on platelet aggregation were also studied. 18 women took a triphasic oral contraceptive; 10 women took Trinordiol, while 8 took Trinovum for at least 90 days. The remaining 18 women took nothing and served as controls. The study was aligned with each woman's birth control pill cycle. Blood was taken daily on days 15-21 of their cycle. Either saline solution or acetylsalicylic acid was added to the blood samples and compared. All data was statistically analyzed using unpaired student's t-test. Effects of 3 aggregating agents, ADP, PAF, and EDTA, on platelet aggregation were studied. Arachidonic acid and adrenalin bitartrate were also studied in this manner. An increase in platelet aggregation was observed in women taking oral contraceptives. No difference was found between patients taking Trinordiol and those taking Trinovum. The results of this study indicate an increase in whole blood platelet sensitivity to collagen, adrenalin, and arachidonic acid when using oral contraceptives. Aspirin, at low doses, may have a role in preventing early thrombus formation in women taking oral contraceptives.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8042198&dopt=Abstract birth control pill