SearchExclusive.com

3 Types Of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (Larc)

3 types of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC)

Post pregnancy, it is essential to ensure that the mother’s body heals from all the exertion caused during childbirth. Therefore, necessary measures should be implemented to prevent another pregnancy for at least a year. This can be achieved by adopting the right birth control option. Using birth control buys more time for both parents to realize if they are ready for another child. However, birth control methods such as pills, sponges, spermicides, diaphragms, patches, and vaginal rings can come across to be inconvenient for many mothers. In such scenarios, long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) can be used.

In simple words, LARCs are birth control methods that don’t need constant monitoring and can last for months and at times even years based on a couple’s personal preferences. Moreover, their effects are reversible, if the parents wish to have another child. At the moment, there are three common types of LARCs used, i.e., IUD (intrauterine device), implant, and injection. Each of these birth control methods has their own sets of advantages and drawbacks. Read further to know more.

Contraceptive implant
The contraceptive or birth control implant comprises two tiny rods, equal to the size of matchsticks. These rods are inserted under the skin of the upper arm. The implant consists of a hormone known as progestin that is slowly released in the mother’s body to thwart any fertilization activity. The hormone also helps to thicken the mucus in the cervix so that the sperm can’t reach the egg. A contraceptive implant is said to be 99% efficient and can last for up to 3 to 5 years.

The side effects of a contraceptive implant vary across women. The most common complaint is irregular menstrual cycles. Moreover, periods could also get lighter, heavier, or stop completely. Additional side effects of using contraceptive implants are breast tenderness, nausea, weight gain, headache, ovarian cysts, headaches, and infection in the area where the rod is implanted. The cost of a contraceptive implant can go up to $1,300. Although, the good news is that it is covered under most health insurance plans.

IUD (intrauterine device)
An intrauterine device is a tiny T-shaped device that is implanted in the uterus to inhibit the insemination process. At the moment, there are two forms of IUDs, hormonal and copper that work in similar ways. Like the implant, the hormonal IUD contains progestin that thickens the cervical mucus and hinders the ovulation process. The hormonal IUDs can last for 3 years. On the other hand, the copper IUD induces inflammation, creating a hostile environment for sperm implantation. Copper IUDs are comparatively more enduring, i.e., they can prevent a pregnancy for up to 10 years. IUDs are 99% efficient which makes them one of the most popular forms of birth control methods.

Although rare, IUD does carry certain risks such as infections, irregular or heavy periods, severe menstrual cramping, allergic reactions, and expulsion. Therefore, it is crucial to discuss and review all the involved risks with a gynecologist before getting an IUD.

Contraceptive shot
For mothers, who don’t prefer implants or IUDs, contraceptive injections or shots can be a viable option. This shot is nothing but a man-made version of progestin, the hormone that is instrumental in evading unplanned pregnancies. Unlike implants and IUDs that last for years, contraceptive shots are useful for only 12 to 13 weeks. Therefore, these have to be taken periodically, that is in every 3 months to ensure its effectiveness. In case the shot is missed, couples should temporarily switch to another birth control method. Contraceptive shots are 97% effective.

Some side effects of this injection include abdominal pain, dizziness, anxiety, and headaches. Likewise, adult acne, bloating, painful joints, hot flashes, insomnia, depression, hair loss, breast pain, reduction in bone density, and weight gain are some uncommon, undesirable effects of birth control shots. These are more likely to occur if the injection is used for more than a year. Therefore, contraception shots are not recommended to be used for more than two years.

If one experiences side effects from any of the above-mentioned methods, then they should immediately contact their gynecologist.

Related Reading

Tips for Buying the Best Dog Food

Most of the dogs do not have a food fuss and may eat almost anything that you feed them. Dogs are not choosy at all when it comes to food and nutrition. Hence, it is important to make sure that the food that you are purchasing for your dog is healthy. The landscape of dog food has been developing by leaps and bounds in recent times. There is a wide variety of options to choose from in the online and offline market. Given the wide range of options that are available today, buying the best dog food might seem to be a confusing task indeed. All the commercial pet food that is available in the market today is regulated by the FDA. Therefore, most of the products do contain nutritious, healthy, and safe ingredients. But it does help to know certain basic factors you should look for while buying food for your dog. Prioritize on the nutritional guarantee The best dog food, which meets the dog’s needs adequately has a statement written on the label of the product, from the Association of American Feed Control Officials. Buy from some of the best dog food brands, such as Fromm Family Foods, Earthborn Holistic, Nature’s Variety Instinct, and The Honest Kitchen.

Different Types of Kitchen Cabinets Available for Your Home

The most important aspect when designing your kitchen is deciding on the type of cabinets. In addition to functionality, kitchen cabinets score on aesthetics as well. Once the layout is planned, you can go ahead with choosing the cabinets. If you’re remodeling your home or just the kitchen, what you need to consider are the types of cabinets that furnish your kitchen. Here are a few types of kitchen cabinets that you can choose from. Base cabinets These kitchen cabinets are mounted on the floor and they are placed after checking out the floor plan. A major part of your job in the kitchen is on these base cabinets, which hold and support the countertops. These base cabinets are combined to carve out kitchen islands. A number of base cabinets are fused/set against one another and installed on site. The base cabinets, in addition to supporting the countertops, serve as drawers to hold your cutlery and appliances. Wall cabinets Mounted on the walls, these cabinets can store everything, right from your cookware to cookbooks. In terms of design, they offer utmost flexibility. Wall cabinet kitchen is available in varying heights, multiple widths, and custom depth options. This customization helps you to fit in your stuff of varying shapes and sizes into the wall cabinets.

How to Pick the Right Dog Food for a Sensitive Stomach

In today’s world, where you are presented with over a dozen choices for every item you would purchase for your own kitchen, it is not surprising that you have an equal number of options for your dog’s food. However, choosing the perfect brand and formula for your dog out of a range of options in the market is not an easy job. Your pet depends on you and trusts you to make the right choice for them. Therefore, it is imperative that you do your research about the products available in the market, understand what your dog needs, know what might be your pet’s problems, and then make a sound decision. What is a sensitive stomach? Dogs are known to have voracious and large appetites. Keeping that in mind, it is normal to assume that they have strong stomachs. They can eat close to anything be it sweets, bakes, chewy gum, hard leather or even woolen socks for that matter! It always so happens that the strongest of them are prone to allergies and can develop a disorder which is medically translated as a sensitive stomach. This might be due to a sudden change in the food habits or even due an infection picked up from somewhere.

All You Need to Know about Cat Food

For cat owners, cat food is a hot topic. You need to think about it in different aspects. The best thing is to know which ingredients are good for cat food and which are harmful. If you are aware of this, you can get an idea about the quality of the cat food just by going through the label. It is always sensible to stick to one brand of cat food. However, you may also want to try and prepare cat food yourself. There are also various options for wet cat food as well. Cat’s love for fish is universal, so you can do without going for expensive cat food. Nevertheless, whether you buy it or prepare cat food at home, you need to ensure that the food contains enough nutrition and calories. You would need to have some idea about the ingredients that must be present in cat food and make a worthy selection for your cat. Basic ingredients present in good cat foods Cats need a variety of nutrients to stay healthy and active; they need various vitamins, minerals, fats, proteins, and oils. The following is a brief explanation of the basic ingredients that should be present in cat foods.