Latest news with #contraception
News24
3 days ago
- General
- News24
Still searching for the right birth control? You're not alone and here's why
Unintended pregnancies remain high in SA, with 81 out of every 1 000 women affected. Misinformation on social media is leading women to make uninformed contraceptive choices. A wide range of contraceptive methods exists, each with unique benefits and possible side effects. In a country where nearly one in every 10 women of reproductive age experience an unintended pregnancy, it's clear that something is not adding up, and it's not just about access to contraception. For many women, the real barrier to effective contraception lies in a haze of misinformation, fear and societal pressure. According to the UN Population Fund's State of the World Population 2022 report, 81 out of every 1 000 South African women aged 15 to 49 experienced an unintended pregnancy between 2015 and 2019. That's well above the global average of 64 per 1 000. But the issue isn't just about young girls falling pregnant in rural villages or women without access to clinics. Urban, educated and digitally connected women are also making misinformed decisions, often based on what they have heard from their peers or read on social media. Pretoria resident Mpho Mashiane (27) said social media heavily influenced her decision-making on contraception. I wanted something long-term, but I kept seeing videos on TikTok about how the IUD [intrauterine device] moves around inside you and even 'gets lost' in your body. I got scared and decided to just use condoms and hope for the best. Mpho Mashiane Dr Caitlin Hegter, a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Mediclinic Kloof Hospital in Pretoria, said such stories are concerning but common. In today's world, it may seem like we have all the information we need at our fingertips, especially through social media. But much of this information is unreliable and not based on evidence, leading many women to receive advice that may not be in their best interests. Dr Caitlin Hegter She outlined the major contraceptive options available, explaining they fall into two broad categories: hormonal and non-hormonal. These include barrier methods (such as condoms and diaphragms), long-acting reversible contraceptives such as implants and injectables, IUDs, emergency contraception, and permanent methods such as sterilisation. Hegter explained: When selecting a contraceptive method, there are various factors to consider, including effectiveness, convenience and possible side effects. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each woman's medical history and personal preferences should guide the decision. Some health conditions, such as a history of blood clots, may make certain hormonal options unsuitable. She also stressed the importance of shared responsibility. 'Contraceptive responsibility should not fall solely on women; male options such as condoms and a vasectomy should be considered as part of the conversation.' A persistent myth Hegter often encounters is that contraceptives cause infertility. She said: The misconception that using contraceptives for years makes it difficult to conceive is one of the biggest myths. Most women will regain their natural fertility levels once they stop using contraception. She added that many people are unaware that contraceptives are used to treat more than just unwanted pregnancies. 'We often use the same methods, such as the pill or the Mirena, to treat other gynaecological conditions as well.' Thandeka Mavundla, a sexual and reproductive health activist based in KwaZulu-Natal, believes a major problem lies in outdated and incomplete sexual education. 'We're still stuck at teaching teenagers how to put a condom on a banana, while grown women are making life-altering decisions based on YouTube comments,' Mavundla said. 'We need comprehensive, age-appropriate and evolving education about contraception, not just once in life orientation [school lessons] but ongoing, such as mental health.' When it comes to guidance, Hegter encourages women to consult with healthcare professionals and not rely solely on social media or peer advice. She said: Articles such as this one play an important role in educating women, but it's also vital to seek guidance from trusted healthcare professionals when deciding which form of contraceptive is best suited to you. And if you ever feel unsure about your options or current contraceptive, don't hesitate to seek a second opinion. Because, when it comes to something as important as your body, your health and your future, facts, not fear, should lead the way.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Australian women lagging on use of IUDs due to education ‘failure', experts say
Most Australian women don't know that intrauterine devices (IUDs) are the most effective form of contraception. Experts say this nationwide 'failure in public education' has contributed to low uptake and caused Australia to lag behind other western countries. The latest Jean Hailes National Women's Health Survey of 3,537 reproductive age women found more than 80% of 18 to 24-year-olds and 60% of 25 to 44-year-olds want to avoid getting pregnant. The survey found only 7% of women aged 18 to 24 and 11% of women aged 25 to 44 reported using an IUD. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The CEO of Jean Hailes, Dr Sarah White, said the results show Australia is 'far behind' equivalent countries such as the UK, South Korea, France and the US. In Sweden and England rates of use are over 30%. IUDs are small devices implanted in the uterus. As a form of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), they are the most effective way to prevent pregnancy (over 99%). Contraceptive pills also have a rate of efficacy above 99% if taken correctly. But its effectiveness can be reduced if taken irregularly or absorption can be affected by diarrhoea and vomiting. When the survey tested women's knowledge on which methods were best at preventing pregnancy, the most common answer (32%) incorrectly identified condoms, while 27% said all are equally effective. Just one in four women (27%) correctly identified IUDs. Conducted online in mid-2024, the survey found three in 10 women aged 25 to 44 and 8% of women aged 18 to 24 said they'd had an unplanned pregnancy. White said 'most women are not aware that these long-acting, reversible contraceptives are actually the most effective form of contraception at a time when so many of them are saying it's really important for them not to become pregnant.' 'They're walking past one of the best options they've got because they just don't know about it.' Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion The lack of knowledge of the effectiveness of IUDs 'goes a long way to driving that low uptake,' White said. IUDs had other benefits, she said, including their convenience in not interrupting sex, easing period pain and being more cost effective over the long term than other forms of contraception. The leader of the Sphere Centre of Research Excellence in women's sexual and reproductive health in primary care, Prof Danielle Mazza, said not enough healthcare providers in Australia are trained in the insertion of IUDs, and may be less likely to emphasise the benefits. Sphere conducted the survey in collaboration with Jean Hailes. In its most recent budget, as part of the half a billion dollar package for women's health, the federal government increased payments to doctors and nurse practitioners to insert and remove IUDs. Eight centres will be set up to train healthcare professionals. White said access issues in rural and regional Australia might be alleviated if more women were considered using IUDs. IUD insertions by a private provider has higher upfront costs, White said, but that cost is 'well and truly recouped' compared with buying the pill or condoms over the long term. As several states have moved towards pharmacy prescribing the contraceptive pill, Mazza said it is important women are still being advised about all their contraceptive options, including LARCs, even though pharmacists can't provide them. White said some women are also concerned about the pain of insertion, in part fuelled by social media amplifying negative experiences. 'But in fact, there's a lot of people who really swear by having IUDs and love how convenient they are..' The chair of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' sexual reproductive health committee, Prof Kirsten Black, said in her experience patients will often say 'that's not nearly as bad as they thought' after the procedure. Black said it was surprising knowledge was so low in the survey, but added 'we have a real failure of public education in this area,' unlike in northern Europe. Black said she hopes the government incentives will improve the skills of primary care practitioners to provide IUDs.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
PMDD: 'I want a child but I'm scared to come off the pill'
If 29-year-old Marianne Barry doesn't take the contraceptive pill each day, she could have symptoms of severe anxiety or even suicidal has pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a condition which affects as many as 8% of women, but for which the average wait time for a diagnosis is around 12 remains the primary course of treatment for women living with PMDD, but for women who wish to become pregnant this poses a dilemma."I want to have a child, but I also want to be sane," said Welsh government said it was "determined to improve the diagnosis, treatment and awareness of conditions affecting women", including PMDD. Marianne, a teaching assistant from Cardiff, spent eight years going back and forth to her GP before seeking a private diagnosis two years ago, when her symptoms became overwhelming."I would wake up in the morning and I could feel this thing bubbling up inside of me," she said."It was like my brain was almost hot with feelings of anger, being upset, anxiety – the anxiety was just insane."She began to realise that her symptoms coincided with her menstrual cycle, and started to make a record of them."I could feel it and I'd go 'OK, well I know my period's coming.'"Before she was prescribed the contraceptive pill, Marianne's symptoms would re-appear each month, which she said left her in a constant cycle of anxiety."You almost feel like you've made it up because you have this really bad low and then everything seems to start getting better again as you're coming towards that ovulation period." What is PMDD? According to the NHS, symptoms of PMDD are "similar to PMS, but are much more intense and can have a much greater negative impact on your everyday life".Symptoms can include:Headaches and joint and muscle painOvereating and problems sleepingFeeling very anxious, angry, depressed or exact cause of PMDD is not fully understood, but the average wait time for a diagnosis is around 12 years in Wales. Dr Llinos Roberts, a GP, believes this is due to a lack of research."The treatment options are somewhat limited and I think this reflects the lack of research historically that's gone into health issues particularly affecting women," said Dr Roberts."The options we have are contraception, which helps reduce the symptoms of PMDD. Also you've got the options of treating the actual symptoms with CBT and antidepressants." For Marianne, who wants children in the future, the idea of coming off her medication and her symptoms potentially returning is too daunting for her."There's no certainty that you're going to get pregnant, you don't know how long it's going to take. So, I want to have a child but I also want to be sane," she said."I'm too scared to come off my pill now." Corinne Sinclair, 30, from Cardiff, was diagnosed with PMDD two months ago and is currently trying for a baby. Antidepressants are her only treatment option but she has been told by doctors that if she gets pregnant, she will have to think about coming off those too."I think more research could be done into PMDD to give women more options that isn't just taking the contraceptive pill," said Corrine."It's a bit of a cop-out really and I feel they tend to do that with a lot of women's issues."Corinne also has endometriosis, which can make conceiving a child more difficult. She said the worry of this, and the potential return of her PMDD symptoms - which include dark thoughts and struggling to find the motivation to get out of bed - caused her a lot of stress."When you're trying for a baby, it's supposed to be an exciting and happy time and it is, and I'm still hopeful and looking forward to it, but there is that niggly worry at the back of your head," she said."After having the baby, am I going to suffer with my mental health?"During pregnancy, am I going to be really unwell mentally?" No silver bullet Dr Roberts said PMDD could be difficult to diagnose as it was often mistaken for depression or anxiety. She advised women with suspected PMDD to keep a detailed diary of their symptoms, to keep track of when they occur and subside, and to provide that evidence to their said there was no silver bullet for women with PMDD who wanted to have children."This can be very challenging for women who want to conceive but know that if they come off their contraception that's likely to exacerbate their PMDD symptoms," she said."If they're somebody who has significant PMDD symptoms, it's a matter of balancing the pros and cons of coming off contraception." The Welsh government said its Women's Health Plan for Wales outlined how it was "determined to improve the diagnosis, treatment and awareness of conditions affecting women"."Pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is included as part of the menstrual health priority area within the plan," a spokesperson said."Funding of £3m will be used to deliver the actions in the plan." Additional reporting by Dani Thomas.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Naga Munchetty admits she catches up on sleep in the pub after gruelling morning wake up calls
Having co-hosted BBC Breakfast for more than a decade, Naga Munchetty is accustomed to 3am starts. However clearly, the early morning wake-up calls are catching up with her. 'My local pub will put me in the corner because I sometimes sleep between meals, between courses,' revealed Naga, 50. 'I genuinely love my job... but sometimes I could do with the extra hour of sleep,' she admitted. The presenter remains full of beans, however, adding that she likes to 'get rip-roaring drunk at my local golf club – and no one will take my picture'. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. It comes after Naga opened up about her health issues and admitted she was vilified after revealing she had been sterilised. The broadcaster underwent keyhole surgery to block her fallopian tubes in 2019 when she was in her mid-forties, having decided years prior with husband James Haggar that she didn't want children. While she had initially tried the contraceptive coil, the procedure left her in agony and she was forced to remove it a year later. With the coil no longer an option and having decided she didn't want to be 'reliant on hormones or the regimen of the pill', she underwent surgery - a permanent form of contraception. Yet Naga has revealed that she faced a backlash when she revealed her decision, telling Saga magazine - for whom she also posed for a striking photoshoot - that she was branded 'wicked' over her choice. Naga began: 'We liked the life we had and we wanted to pursue that life. Parenthood is expensive, it's exhausting and a commitment for life.' She continued: 'My mum will say, "You're still my baby and I worry about you." But I remember people saying, "That's so wicked! How can you deny your parents grandchildren?" 'It was hard for Mum, but she understands now. She says, "Naga, it would have been wonderful to have grandchildren, but equally, it's wonderful seeing what you're doing and who you've become." Isn't that what we want for our children?' Naga suffers from adenomyosis, a condition which affects one in ten women in the UK, occurs where the lining of the uterus starts growing into the muscle in the wall of the womb. She was diagnosed in November 2022, but had been suffering with symptoms since the age of 15, taking 32 years for her to get a diagnosis. Naga has now released a book on medical misogyny entitled It's Probably Nothing, about the importance of women being heard in medical settings. 'I feel a lot of responsibility as custodian to so many women's stories,' she confessed. 'They were often in tears talking to me, realising how much time and how many opportunities they've lost because of their health. They blame themselves for not pushing harder, though they did the best they could.' She revealed that she managed to keep her condition secret while hosting BBC Breakfast, explaining: 'People see me as a trusted source of information, no one's interested if I'm feeling unwell.'
CNN
21-05-2025
- Health
- CNN
Is it healthy to skip your period on birth control? A medical expert weighs in
Don't like having your period? Hormonal birth control can be used for more than just preventing pregnancy — it's also a popular way to go months or even years without a period. Continuous use birth control involves taking hormonal pills without what's called a placebo week or using other methods such as an implant, ring or injections without a break. This method can end the regular bleeding associated with periods, as well as the cramps, migraines and other symptoms of menstruation. As social media becomes a hotbed for amateur medical advice and personal anecdotes, posts about getting off the pill and preventing pregnancy through nonhormonal methods rake in thousands of views daily on apps like TikTok. As influencers share their fears about infertility and the possible harms of suppressing your body's natural processes, reproductive experts say myths and misinformation about hormonal birth control are on the rise. To understand more about the risks, rewards and science behind using birth control to forego menstruation, I had a chat with reproductive health expert Dr. Kavita Nanda. As an obstetrician-gynecologist and clinical researcher for the North Carolina-based human development nonprofit FHI 360, Nanda has spent over 25 years studying continuous use birth control and other forms of contraception. This conversation has been condensed for length and clarity. CNN: How does hormonal birth control work? Dr. Kavita Nanda: Combined contraceptives use synthetic forms of estrogen and progesterone together. Combination methods work to prevent pregnancy by preventing ovulation, which is the release of an egg from the ovaries. Other methods use synthetic progesterone only, including pills, implants, injectables and intrauterine devices, or IUDs. Both combined and progestin-only methods make the mucus in your cervix thicker, which makes it hard for sperm to enter the uterus, and the lining of your uterus also remains thin. CNN: What is continuous use? And how does it differ from other methods? Nanda: The standard way to take combined contraceptives is cyclically, every day for three weeks, and then you have a break in the hormones for a week. You either don't take a pill, or you take a placebo for a week, so you have what's called a withdrawal bleed. The lining of the uterus sheds, and that's what people call a 'period,' although it's really just a hormone-free withdrawal bleed. But when we talk about continuous use, you don't take any breaks. The uterine lining stays thin and intact, and this means that users can go weeks, months or even longer, without a 'period.' CNN: How long can you safely go without a monthly bleed? Nanda: There have been studies comparing continuous versus cyclical use, and it's just as effective and just as safe. There's no medical reason to have a period or withdrawal bleed when you're on hormonal contraceptives. As long as you don't have any contraindications (medical conditions) for the birth control pill, you don't have contraindications for the continuous use of the pill. Historically, before contraception, women didn't necessarily bleed all the time, because a lot of time was spent either being pregnant or breastfeeding. In both of those conditions, there's no monthly bleeding, often for months. Now, if you're not pregnant or breastfeeding, you're not on hormonal contraception, and you don't have a monthly period — that's something you do need to discuss with your provider, because that could signal an issue. CNN: Are there any side effects specific to continuous use? Nanda: The side effects in general are similar to those with cyclical use. For example, you might have nausea, breast tenderness and headaches (at any time). With continuous use, some people experience unexpected breakthrough bleeding or spotting, especially initially, but this usually improves over time, and many people do achieve amenorrhea or (the) cessation of menses. For some people, it may take three to four months. CNN: How does continuous use affect fertility after stopping? Nanda: There's no evidence that long-term use of hormonal contraception — whether it's combined hormonal interception, taken continuously or cyclically — causes infertility, and fertility typically returns within a month or two. Basically, once you stop, the (synthetic) hormones go away very quickly from the blood, ovulation is no longer suppressed, your normal estrogen and progesterone production resume. Assuming that you had normal menstrual cycles before, they would resume. (One exception is) if you're taking something like the Depo Provera contraceptive injection. It doesn't cause infertility, but it may take longer for fertility to return after injections. CNN: Why were placebo pills invented if there's no harm in skipping them? Nanda: When the combined oral contraceptive pill was developed in the 1950s, the now-standard 21 days of active pills followed by a seven-day hormone-free interval was not based on medical necessity, but rather on cultural and strategic reasons. At the time, there was a widely held belief that menstruating every 28 days was a sign of normal female reproductive function. To align with that expectation, the regimen was designed to mimic a natural menstrual cycle, with a monthly withdrawal bleed intended to reassure both users and physicians that they were not pregnant — important in an era before home pregnancy tests were readily available — and, at the time, to help ease religious and societal resistance to contraception. CNN: Who may consider continuous use birth control? Nanda: It's really a personal preference and a discussion between a person and their provider. Someone might not want to have a period for years, or some people prefer to bleed three times a year. Some people feel reassured by monthly bleeding. Continuous use may be especially helpful for people who have painful periods, heavy periods, endometriosis, migraines, iron-deficiency anemia, physical or intellectual disabilities, and transgender individuals. Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.
