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According to Daily Mail, “Research suggests that taking the contraceptive pill makes women less competitive with each other, meaning they are less likely to fight to keep their ideal man.” Um. What? I don’t even. Okay, science.

Apparently, The University of Groningen in the Netherlands surveyed women between 20 and 31 by asking questions about intra-sexual competition. So basically they asked if they were threatened by other women or not. They found that “women in a relationship were less competitive when they were on the Pill, making them less likely to fight to keep their partner if another woman comes along to turn his head.”

They believe that this is because the pill suppresses testosterone, which encourages rivalry. Fertility expert Dr. Allan Pacey from Sheffield University says, “I don’t think there’s sufficient evidence for doctors to start issuing a health warning to women,” and thinks the study needs more research.

I don’t think there needs to be more time wasted on this research. Maybe it’s just me, but I was probably more competitive when I was on the pill. And in my relationships I wasn’t just like “Oh well, this guy will do.” Not to mention, if another woman came around “to turn his head,” I would definitely fight to keep my man.

Am I totally outside the norm on this one? Are women on the pill just giving up their boyfriends because he looks at someone else? Are women just getting married to some guy because they’re not fighting for what they really want?

I don’t think this study really has any scientific basis. Obviously, everyone reacts differently to birth control. And there are so many different types of birth control pills so really, I think it’s impossible to make a sweeping generalization.

Do you think birth control makes you less competitive with other women? Do you think it makes you settle? Tell us in the comments!
 

Are your birth control pills giving you pain during orgasms?

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The easiest way to make a decision about birth control is to be totally informed on all of the choices. Make a pro con list for each one, talk with your doctor and figure out what will be the best for you.

I’ve used several types of contraception, and I’ll tell you that it does take some trial and error so your first pick might not agree with you. That’s okay! I just want you to know as much as you can.

So go ahead and click through for your complete guide to birth control options!

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The study discovered that with couples who met after a woman went on the pill, the men were “less likely to have manly faces.” The study links to another study about manly faces so we know just what a manly face is. In case you were wondering, manly faces feature heavier brows and stronger jawlines.

So I guess if I didn’t wax my brows for a few weeks and walked around clenching my teeth, maybe my face would be more manly. Good to know so I can avoid women like myself who are on the pill because it sounds like it can now turn you into a lesbian.

Oh but apparently women on the pill are finding less manly men attractive, but they’re attractiveness rating for females is unaffected. Okay, so it doesn’t make you attracted to girls.

I mean, if I think about it, the guys I started dating after I went on birth control totally look way less manly that the other teenage guys I dated in high school. And you know I’ve been on birth control for so long, the guys I date now basically just look like chicks.

Y’all, this whole thing is bananas. And not in the good Rachel Zoe way. Birth control can make you do a lot of things like not get pregnant. This nonsense about it making you attracted to “less manly men” is just ridiculous. Who’s to say that one person’s definition of manly is the same as someone else’s?

Attractiveness is subjective. That’s why we’re not all attracted to the same people! We would all be insanely jealous human beings if everyone had the same idea of what was attractive.

Do you think birth control makes you attracted to less manly men? Do you think it changes your perception of attractiveness at all? Tell me in the comments!
 

Speaking of birth control, do you know about the Depo-Provera shot?

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Let’s see what y’all had to say:

loveadell100 said:

Does anyone know any idea in how I would get birth control pills without having to tell my parents? And if they’re not free can you also list prices if you know any?

flamingoccm said:

Go to the doctor? Planned Parenthood? You have to get a prescription. They’re NOT going to be free, and the cost depends on what your insurance covers and the brand you get, so I really cannot give you a list of prices.

alegnatm said:

Get a friend or another trusted adult to give you a ride, at Planned Parenthood they have a sliding scale, and it shouldn’t be that expensive.

I’m all for birth control, but it’s also something you should never take without a prescription. I understand that it’s scary to talk to your parents because they might not get where you’re coming from. But I think it’s really important to talk to them about this.

You don’t have to tell your parents if you get birth control from your doctor. However, I honestly don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t talk to my mom about it beforehand. She discussed some of the trouble she had with birth control which helped me make my decision on which one I wanted to take.

I went on birth control because I had really terrible cramps and a very irregular cycle, but talking it out with my mom opened a new dialogue for us. I discuss pretty much everything with her now, and it’s so comforting that I have her to go to.

So while you don’t have to discuss it with your parents, I think it’s worth it. And if you can have a mature discussion about why you want to go on birth control, they might see you’re more grown up and can be responsible.

What do you think about getting birth control without telling your parents? Did you talk to your parents about birth control? Tell me in the comments!

Need advice on a different topic? Do you have a story you want to share? Post your own thoughts and questions in our boards and start chatting with other girls.

Does being feminine mean you’re weak or stupid?

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Let’s take a look at some of the numbers:

- From 2006-2011, 5.8 million women between 15 and 44 have used emergency contraception
- 59% of those women had used it once while 24% used it twice
- Women between 20 and 24 were the most likely to use it
- 49% reported using emergency contraception because they had unprotected sex

That last one floored me. I mean, really?! There’s a reason it’s called emergency contraception. It’s for emergencies!

Being able to take Plan B is not an excuse to have unprotected sex, nor should it be used as birth control. In fact, Plan B even tells you not to use it as a regular birth control because it’s not as effective that way.

I personally think Plan B is great, and it’s wonderful that women have the option in emergencies. Come on ladies! Not only is that 49% not using Plan B in the recommended way, they’re putting themselves at a higher risk for STDs because guess what? Plan B doesn’t protect against those.

If you’re having sex, be smart. Use condoms when you have sex. And then use Plan B if that condom fails you somehow.

There’s absolutely no excuse to use Plan B as your Plan A.

Have you taken Plan B? Did you take it because it was an emergency? Or did you have unprotected sex? Tell me in the comments!
 

This girl had a crazy pregnancy scare

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Imagine that same convenience in emergency contraception. Sound crazy? It’s not. Shippensburg University has a birth control vending machine at their health center. It dispenses condoms, pregnancy tests, decongestants and Plan B. Oh and Plan B is available for $25 instead of the $50 you’d spend at a pharmacy. The vending machine can be used by students and university employees, which is totally awesome.

But naturally, some people freaked out and called for the FDA to impose regulatory action. Turns out though, that the FDA said no because they don’t think action is necessary. Because it’s a good idea. And because all of the students are of legal age to purchase Plan B so it just makes it more convenient and less embarrassing than going to the drug store and having a pharmacist give you that judgmental look.

I’ve taken Plan B before, and pharmacists either give you a “Bless your heart” look or a “Oh you little tramp” look. It’s never good. It’s never a “I’m glad you’re being responsible after your other forms of contraceptive failed you.”

It’s my understanding that the concern is the vending machine makes emergency contraceptives too accessible, but what does that even mean? There’s not really regulation on Plan B in drug stores either. You could buy a Plan B every day if you wanted to. (Don’t do that though, it’s emergency contraception for a reason!)

Is it the fact that it’s in a vending machine that’s upsetting people? Are they upset about the condoms and pregnancy tests too? What about the cold medication?

This is literally shoving birth control reminders in students’ faces. If you’re at the health center being treated and you see a vending machine like that, it’s going to remind you to be safe. So props to the FDA for recognizing the positives here.

What do you think about this vending machine? Do you think it’s a good or bad idea? Do you think students will abuse the privilege? Tell me in the comments!

Science confirms that sex with condoms is awesome

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Not carrying these around is the greatest. Source: Shutterstock

When I saw this news about a new IUD designed for young women, I was so excited! And partly mad that it didn’t come out four years ago so I could have avoided a world of trouble.

An IUD or “intrauterine device” is a birth control that contains either copper or progesterone and is inserted into your uterus for anywhere from 3-5 years. This new one is called Skyla, and it’s a low-dose IUD that prevents pregnancy for up to three years. Skyla is smaller than the other IUDs out there, and it was designed with young women in mind.

When I was eighteen, I suffered from a pulmonary embolism, which is a blood clot in the lung. And it’s exactly as terrifying as it sounds. I was fortunately home from college for winter break. I woke up in the middle of the night, struggling to breathe and with a searing pain in my back. I crawled my way toward my parents’ room, and my brother found me on the floor.

I spent a week in the hospital doped up on Morphine and being prodded with needles and IVs. The doctors said had we arrived an hour later, the clot would have broken apart and traveled to my heart or brain, which could have killed me. I can easily say this as the worst week of my life.

I was able to go back to school, but I was very ill. I had marks on my arms from constant blood tests (2-3 a week) to monitor my blood thinners. I was medicated for eight months and my doctors were still trying to figure out why this happened to someone my age.

After countless tests, my doctors concluded that my blueberry-sized clot was a direct result of my birth control, Yaz. Blood clots are a side effect of most birth control pills, as estrogen is a blood-thickening agent. But they’re really not that common (so don’t totally flip out, ok?) and they’re normally more of a concern for women over 30 and smokers. You’ve seen the lawsuit commercials about Yaz and blood clots, I’m sure. And I’m involved in one of those. The entire experience was scary and really hard to accept. Here I was, young and healthy, and then I all of a sudden wasn’t.

From that point forward, I wasn’t allowed to be on regular birth control. I could take mini-pills under strict watch of my gyno, but I had really awful periods. I had paralyzing cramps, serious irregularity, migraines and all that fun stuff, which is why I started birth control in the first place. I had switched to Yaz per a recommendation from my dermatologist since I was struggling with acne. Yaz was supposed to be this miracle birth control for me that cleared up my acne, help with my period issues and kept me baby-free. Obviously, it wasn’t.

The mini-pills were rough for me. They’re progestin-only, which means they don’t control the hormonal effects of your period. They strictly deal with the not having babies thing. Progestin is funky and affects all women differently. For me, it meant getting my period every other week. I hated everything. I was sick of feeling awful, so I stopped taking the mini-pills and was birth control free for a year.

This is where the Mirena IUD came in. I couldn’t get an IUD at eighteen because quite simply it didn’t fit. IUDs aren’t large by any means, but they don’t fit in the small uteruses (uteri?) of young women. They’re really made for adult women who’ve already had a child, and that wasn’t me. So my gyno told me to give it a few years, and I finally got Mirena last summer. It’s the best thing that’s happened to me. I don’t feel crazy, I don’t have mood swings, I don’t have a period. Oh, and I don’t get pregnant.

Having an IUD has changed my life, and I really wish Skyla was an option for me years ago. Not only did I suffer from some of the worst menstrual side effects, but my regular birth control almost killed me. I was so lucky, and I’m so fortunate that I can discuss these issues with you now.

If an IUD is something you’re interested in, start the conversation with your doctor. Don’t think that just because you’re young that you shouldn’t have one. They can be safe for teens, especially now with the introduction of Skyla. Do some research, ask questions, chat with your mom, talk to me.

What do you think about IUDs? Do you have one? Are you worried about getting one? Tell me about it in the comments!

Tips on how to get your best kiss

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I totally agree with her message that bros (or you know, even just men in general not of the bro-persuasion) can take a stand when it comes to reproductive rights. I know quite a few who are (yay!), but there’s always strength in numbers.

The humorous concept was able to point out some of the very serious nonsense happening around regulating reproductive rights in the U.S. and how this is a chance for men and women to band together and help protect important rights.

I will say though that I wasn’t totally crazy about the final line . I know, it’s comedy, but after a message about people being willing to helping each other out, it just felt weird to me to end this message with potential oral sex as the incentive to get guys to help. Is it just me?

In any case, the video asks viewers to check out AisFor.org and DrawTheLine.org. If you have a few minutes, you may want to take a look and learn a little bit more about what these organizations are doing to make strides when it comes to reproductive rights.

What did you think about this video? Do you agree with Sarah Silverman’s message? Do you know any “bros” willing to stand up for reproductive rights? Did you check out AisFor.org or DrawTheLine.org? Tell us in the comments!

Tina Fey Gets Down With Reproductive Rights

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There are pros (convenience) and cons (costs) to buying birth control over the counter. | Source: Shutterstock

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, your insurance probably covers your birth control prescriptions. But will you even need a prescription soon? Maybe not.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists–a really influential group when it comes to your babymaker–released a report saying that selling birth control over the counter could really help curb unintended pregnancies. You might be like, “Okay, how? Especially if birth control is available all over as it is?” Here’s the thing: A lot of women and girls who need birth control can’t always afford the doctor’s visit to get it, and even if they can, often it’s hard to squeeze an appointment in before you run out of your pills, which can lead some women to miss doses.

If birth control is available over the counter, you can run in anywhere at anytime and snag a pack if you need it–no need to wait for an appointment, sit in a waiting room, or wait for a fax to go through from your doc. It also makes sense when you consider that Plan B is available over the counter for anyone 18 and up–and it’s got the same hormones in it as birth control pills do, just in a higher dose.

The only issue that comes with selling birth control pills over the counter is the price issue. Because of the Affordable Care Act, most of us won’t have to pay a copay for oral contraceptives (meaning when you get a prescription for them, your insurance will cover it and save you out of pocket expenses). If birth control is sold over the counter, then you’ll have to pay for it out of pocket. That presents a conundrum, because if someone can’t afford a doctor’s appointment to get birth control pills, they likely won’t be able to afford paying for them out of pocket, either.

The FDA is offering to meet with drug companies to discuss options regarding over the counter birth control, but it’s unclear if any of them have bitten the bait yet. And if they do go through with it, chances are birth control would be treated like Plan B in that anyone under 18 would need a prescription for it. So while it may not even happen at all, if birth control were to be sold over the counter, it likely wouldn’t affect you for a while.

Do you think birth control should be sold over the counter? Would you be more likely to use birth control pills if you didn’t have to go to a doctor first? Would you be willing to pay out of pocket for birth control pills if it saved you time from going to the gyno? Tell us in the comments!

Can you get free birth control? Probably!

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Birth control pills are nothing to be ashamed of. | Source: Shutterstock

I went to visit my parents for a weekend recently, and I brought my birth control pills with me–because, well, you’re supposed to take them every single day, and without them, my periods are heavy and make me really sick (something I inherited from my mom’s genes). I left my birth control pills as well as an antibiotic for a stupid sinus infection at my usual seat at their kitchen table, that way I’d remember to take them both with my breakfast.

Except when I woke up and groggily went to pop my pills with my Peanut Butter Crunch, the tiny green monthly pack was missing. I thought maybe I forgot to take it out of my bag, or that I left it in my old room, but after a ton of digging in every imaginable place I could have left it, they were still gone. I wound up having to take my pill a lot later than normal because the pack was MIA.

Eventually I asked my mom if she’d seen them. Guess what? She did. Why? Because she hid them from me. WTF? Yes, my own mother hid my birth control pills. Why did she do that? “Because I don’t want those things out,” she whispered. “They’re embarrassing!”

Uh, okay. Taking pills to make sure my cramps don’t make me miss work to stay in the fetal position for a week is embarrassing? Being sexually healthy and responsible is shameful? I don’t understand her line of thinking, because my mom doesn’t even know who Rush Limbaugh is. And by all accounts, she’d probably detest him as much as we do. But apparently she, like the ignorant radio douchebag, assumes that birth control pills indicate promiscuity. And while in my case it’s far from it (I’m quite the prude, much to the chagrin of a lot of dudes who assume otherwise), there’s nothing wrong with being sexually active if the partners involved are consensual, of age, and responsible. No one’s sex life is anyone’s business, and assuming things about someone’s sex life based on whether or not she pops birth control pills is just plain stupid. Oral contraceptives serve a bunch of health purposes, and they’re nothing to be ashamed of. It’s just one example of how slut shaming can actually affect your health.

Plus, I always figured illegitimate grandchildren would embarrass her a lot more.

Have you ever been ashamed of taking birth control? Do you have a hard time talking about birth control with your parents, even if it’s for health reasons? Tell us in the comments!

Girls take birth control for a LOT of reasons other than sex!

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