(( VaginaPagina ))

What is this?
VP is initiating a new kind of FAQ called the Top 20 that will contain comprehensive answers to the questions that are most commonly asked in the community. This FAQ item deals with another oldie but goodie: HBC (Hormonal Birth Control). We will link this post from our side bar as well as the Archives (under "READ THIS BEFORE YOU POST ABOUT HBC") for ease of use.

NOTES & DISCLAIMERS: Before you post with HBC questions, please read this guide carefully. Chances are, you'll find many of the answers you need. We hope this becomes a valuable resource for everyone; however, as our profile page states, this guide should not be used as a subsitute for medical care/advice. Use this (as with everything else you see here) at your own risk/empowerment! This resource was compiled by the VP team and represents our own findings; sources are indicated/linked otherwise.

We get a lot of questions asking people to share their own personal experiences with a particular brand of HBC, to which jennifer0246 usually says, "Birth control is like hair dye. the exact same shade of brown will look very different on you than it looks on me. That is to say, birth control has lots of possible side effects, but they're totally different from woman to woman, and you can't really judge what your experience is going to be like based on what someone elses was like." So please keep that in mind when you're asking around.

Oh, and your comments are welcome, of course, so feel free to leave your own tips and questions here in this post. And hey, if this is the first time you're seeing this item, be sure to scroll all the way down to the comments to see what other VPers have to say.

Let's begin, shall we?

---

This Top 20 Question covers the following items:

+ What is hormonal birth control (HBC) and how does it work?
+ What are the different types of HBC?
+ How do I get me some of that HBC?
+ OK, I've got some HBC now. How do I start taking it?
+ What are the side effects of HBC?
+ What happens if I experience periods or “withdrawal bleeding” on HBC?
+ Can I skip periods on HBC?
+ Am I still protected from pregnancy during my placebo week?
+ What do I do if I am late with my hormonal birth control? What if I miss a dose?
+ When do I need back-up protection?
+ Does HBC protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
+ What can interfere with my HBC?
+ What about generic versions of HBC? Are they safe?
+ So, I've heard that HBC works by making my body think it is pregnant. Does that mean pregnancy tests won't work right while I am using HBC?

( Read more... )

What is this?
VP is initiating a new kind of FAQ called the Top 20 that will contain comprehensive answers to the questions that are most commonly asked in the community. We're kicking things off with an oldie but goodie: yeast. We will link this post from our side bar as well as the Archives (under "READ THIS BEFORE YOU POST ABOUT YEAST INFECTIONS") for ease of use.

NOTE: We already delete many YI posts, but this guide means that even more YI posts are going to be deleted in the future. One of our most common complaints is that YI posts are cloging up Friends Pages. Before you post about (what you think might be) a YI, please read this guide carefully. Chances are, you'll find all the answers you need. We hope this becomes a valuable resource for everyone.

Your comments are welcome, of course. And hey, if this is the first time you're seeing this item, be sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom to read member comments/tips.

Let's begin, shall we?

---

Yeast Infection Connection
I think I have a Yeast Infection--how can I tell? And what are some remedies that don't involve Monistat or going to the doctor? What can I do to prevent YIs in the future?

This Top 20 Question covers the following items:

+ What is a yeast infection and how do you get one?
+ How do you know if you've got one? What are the symptoms?
+ OK, I’ve got a yeast infection. How do I treat it?
+ Can men get yeast infections too?
+ It seems like I always have a yeast infection—what’s the deal?!
+ How do I prevent YIs in the future?
+ Is it OK to have sex while I'm treating my yeast infection?
+ Can I treat my infection while I'm on my period?

( Read more... )