ML Interest Tag: birth-control

Funniest Parenting Tweets of the Week: May 31, 2019

by Karly Wood

About half the country is already out of school and ready to embrace summer––how did that happen!? While you’re gearing up for a season of sun and fun, keep scrolling to see this week’s roundup of parent tweets. They’re guaranteed to give you a laugh!

 

1. Just sayin’.

2. Sounds about right.

3. 🙄

4. Oh, it will be.

5. Besties!

6. Couldn’t be more true.

7. They go all out!

8. Here.You.Are.

9. Nope!

10. FRIGHTENING.

11. So excited for summer!

12. The jury’s still out.

13. At least she’s consistent

14. GENIUS

15. You wish….

https://twitter.com/andwhatamom/status/1133957990606704640

––Karly Wood

 

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Your Birth Control Might Not Work because of Your Genes, Study Finds

by Erica Loop

As much as we might try to plan our families, as Bob Ross would say, sometimes a “happy little accident” can happen. If a happy accident has happened to you or someone you know, human error isn’t necessarily at fault. New research published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology may have found a reason for why birth control fails for some women.

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus studied 350 women who had had a contraceptive implant in place for 12 to 36 months. Five percent of the participants had a gene called CYP3A7*1C—and it’s that gene that put women at greater risk for hormonal birth control failure, according to the researchers.

photo: ecooper99 via Flickr

So what does a gene have to do with unintended pregnancy? The CYP3A7*1C is typically only active in fetuses. After birth the gene switches off—or at least it should. If the gene, which manufacturers the CYP3A7 enzyme, continues to work after birth, it can contribute to the breakdown of the hormones used in some birth control methods.

So what does this mean for you? In theory, if you have the gene in question, your hormonal birth control could fail. But unless you have a full genetic workup, it’s not likely you’ll ever know you have an active CYP3A7*1C. The research is a starting step towards a better understanding of the influence our genes have on what we put into our bodies.

According to the study’s lead author, Aaron Lazorwitz, MD, assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, “When a woman says she got pregnant while on birth control the assumption was always that it was somehow her fault. But these findings show that we should listen to our patients and consider if there is something in their genes that caused this.”

—Erica Loop

 

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Is This App as Good as Your Regular Birth Control? Science Thinks So

by Erica Loop

What if you could prevent pregnancy without having to take a daily pill, get a shot or use some type of intrauterine device? According to recent research published in the journal European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Healthcare, the Dot fertility app could make having to take hormonal birth control a thing of the past.

Dot is a fertility app that uses an algorithm to predict pregnancy risk. It adapts or “learns” over time, personalizing high and low fertility times for the user. The first-of-its-kind study, conducted by researchers from the Institute for Reproductive Health at Georgetown University Medical Center, followed over 200 participants for 13 menstrual cycles. The results showed a five percent “typical-use” failure rate and a one percent “perfect-use” failure rate.

photo: FirmBee via Pixabay

The study (which was conducted online via surveys and instant messages) revealed that out of the hundreds of women participating, there were only 25 pregnancies. Twenty-four of the pregnancies resulted from incorrect use and one occurred during a cycle when the Dot user reportedly used the app correctly.

Victoria Jennings, PhD, principal investigator of the study and director of the IRH at Georgetown, said, “Women must be able to base their app choice on solid evidence about how well the method works and what’s involved in using it. That’s why it was so important that an app like Dot undergo a rigorous effectiveness trial conducted according to established study guidelines used to study other methods.”

Jennings also noted, “This is a particularly important finding because it suggests that Dot can be appropriate for a wide range of women.”

Even though this study could usher in a major breakthrough when it comes to pregnancy prevention, always consult your medical provider before starting, stopping or changing your current method of birth control.

—Erica Loop

 

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Recall Alert: The FDA Issues a Major Recall of Birth Control Pills

by Erica Loop

Check your medicine cabinet right now. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued a major birth control recall for four lots of Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP.  Due to a packaging error, users of these birth control pills could miss tablets or accidentally take a placebo instead of an active tablet. So if you use this product, and take it incorrectly due to the packaging problem, you could get pregnant.

A representative from the pharmaceutical manufacturer, Apotex Corp., told Red Tricycle in an emailed statement, “Apotex is committed to product quality and patient safety and takes all steps necessary to protect patients who use our products. Thus, this voluntary recall was initiated out of an abundance of caution.” Read on for more information on the recall and what you should do about it.

Recalled Birth Control Description

The current recall is only for Apotex Corp.’s Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol Tablets, USP 3MG/0.03MG, manufactured by Oman Pharmaceutical Products Co. LLC. Oman under the subcontract from Helm AG, Germany.

This estrogen/progestin birth control includes 28 film-coated, biconvex tablets. There are 21 active yellow tablets and 7 white placebo tablets in each pack.

Why the Birth Control Was Recalled

The recalled packages may have an incorrectly ordered pill arrangement or empty blister pockets. This error could result in women missing active birth control pills or taking placebos instead pills containing the active ingredients (drospierone and ethinyl estradiol).

A representative from Apotex noted, “No complaints have been received for blisters missing an active tablet or having a placebo instead of an active tablet, and no case has been reported to Apotex for pregnancy.”

How to Tell If Your Birth Control Was Recalled

If you use this product, look for the NDC numbers on the inner and outer cartons. The inner-carton NDC number is 60505-4183-1 and the outer-carton number is 60505-4183-3. The affected lot numbers include 7DY008A, 7DY009A, 7DY010A and 7DY011A.

Visit the FDA’s website here for more information.

What Women Can Do

Anyone using this birth control pill should contact their physician or healthcare provider ASAP. Return the affected products to your pharmacy for a new (non-recalled) pack. If you can’t immediately exchange your affected pill pack for the correct one, or think that you may have missed one or more active pills, use another form of birth control until you talk to your doctor. Missing birth control pills puts you at risk for getting pregnant.

Contact Apotex Corp. by phone at 800-706-5575 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday. You can also email with company with questions at UScustomerservice@Apotex.com.

—Erica Loop

Photos: Courtesy of U.S. FDA/Featured photo: Ake via Rawpixel

 

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This One-Touch Birth Control Patch Could Be a Game-Changer for Women

by Shahrzad Warkentin

Birth control can be a great tool for preventing an unplanned pregnancy, but when you’ve already got mom brain it can be hard to make sure you take it correctly every day. That’s what makes a new kind of birth control such a game-changer, as this micro-needle birth control patch means all you’d have to do is give yourself a little tap once a month.

According to a new study published in the scientific journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a patch that uses dissolvable micro-needles to inject levonorgestrel, a common hormonal medication that prevents pregnancy.

photo: Christopher Moore/Georgia Tech via EurekAlert

All users need to do is apply the patch to their skin and the tiny micro-needles break off, implant themselves under the surface of the skin (where they dissolve) and slowly release the drug over time. Despite the tiny needles, the entire process is painless. The price tag is also pain-free—with the researchers reporting that each patch should only cost about one dollar.

Don’t call your OB/GYN just yet, however. So far the drug has only been tested successfully on rats, but the researchers are hopeful that it will have similar results in humans.

Mark Prausnitz, a regents’ professor at Georgia Tech’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and author of the research paper, said in a statement to EurekAlert, “Because we are using a well-established contraceptive hormone, we are optimistic that the patch will be an effective contraceptive. We also expect that possible skin irritation at the site of patch application will be minimal, but these expectations need to be verified in clinical trials.”

—Shahrzad Warkentin

 

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The Brutally Honest Truth About Motherhood

By April Sutphen

There are certain things mothers just aren’t supposed to think, or at least not say out loud. These thoughts can include, but are not limited too, “I wish I could run away,” “What has my life become?” or, “If they say my name one more time I’m going to scream!” We all feel it. We all get it. We’ve all experienced it.

Motherhood is a beautiful and magical experience but it’s not always peaches and cream. Nothing in life is. Are there moments where I wonder, “What would life be like without kids?” Yes! (Sorry, did I answer that too enthusiastically?0

I’ve said, on many occasions, that I became a mother before I was fully prepared for the responsibility. But then there are so many people in life that say, you’re never really ready to have a child. There’s never enough money, enough preparation or a perfectly laid plan. This is probably true, but I would’ve liked a little more time to process the whole thing.

How It All Started

Let me give you a brief rundown of how my life unfolded from age 21 to present. I met my husband three weeks before I turned 21. He is 16 years older than me, had been married twice before and was in the midst of his second divorce. His ex-wife and her four kids (none were my husbands) were still living in the house. He was staying with his parents.

The same week I turned 22, his divorce was finalized and we moved back into the house, which was a disaster, to say the least. It took several months and a ton of elbow grease to get the home into livable condition for us. The following summer, before I turned 23, he proposed. We were married the following November: I was 24. That December he broached the subject of children. He was 40 and never having had children with either of his previous wives, he was concerned. He worried that we wouldn’t get pregnant right away or might face complications. So, I stopped taking my birth control pill in December, figuring, “Hey, this will probably take a while.”

Wrong! We found out in April after the holidays that I was pregnant. We were both excited and nervous. I was 25. It sounds foolish to many when I say that I did not fully understand the weight of what was happening—that in just nine short months my life would be changed forever. My life would no longer be my own. I would be giving up my freedom, spontaneity and overall sanity some days. Why didn’t anybody tell me?

The Constant Struggles

The first few years of my son’s life were most difficult for me. My husband worked as a full-time police officer and owned several businesses. Life was hectic to say the least. And I was left home alone to care for our son—the son I wasn’t ready for. The son my husband wanted.

Those were the thoughts running through my mind. I felt guilty for feeling that way. Was there something wrong with me? I loved my son unconditionally but sometimes viewed my role as mother as a burden and something I had not chosen for myself. I realize that is a very martyr way of thinking. And no one forced me to become a mother. I was my own woman who made my own decisions.

The Regrets That’s Won’t Go Away

As I reflected on my life prior to motherhood, I had a lot of regrets and feelings about lost opportunities. I never went away to college, my choice. I was only 17 when I graduated high school and the thought of moving away from my family was unappealing to me. I remember hearing of my friends applying to universities in California, Florida and Texas. Some were even traveling out of the country to study and volunteer abroad! I remember thinking then, “What, are they crazy?” Whereas now my thought is, “Wow, what an amazing opportunity.”

I commuted to a four-year college and then went to graduate school in Massachusetts. The program involved distance learning, which meant I spent two 10 day residencies a year at the university. The remainder of the work was done via email and computer. But for those 10 days where I stayed in a gorgeous hotel off-campus, walked through the park each morning to class and indulged in late night dinners and drinks with my fellow scholars, I felt like I was really living life. I was finally doing something for myself. It was thrilling. I felt independent, responsible and strong. It was a brief time in my life, a memory that I hold very close to my heart.

Why Motherhood Is Worth It, No Matter What

So, yes, I can be honest and say that I have mommy moments where I wish I was alone, where I could travel at will, skip dinner, watch reality television and workout at any hour of the day. I could rock out to inappropriate music in the car, walk around naked and be spontaneous. All of those luxuries go out the window when you become a parent. But, they are replaced with other amazing things that I wouldn’t experience if I wasn’t a mother.

Those moments when my son tells me that I’m beautiful or that he loves me more than anyone in the entire world. Or, when he bounds off the bus with his spelling test in his hand, beaming with pride over his 100. When he scores his first goal in soccer or asks me to snuggle with him. Those moments where I watch him sleep and stare in amazement at his brilliance, innocence and kind heart.

I’ve learned to let go of those feelings of regret and resent. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I became a mother for a reason. My son makes me a better, stronger person. And there is always time later in life for adventures that are all my own. In 10 short years my son will be the same age I was when I graduated high school. And maybe he will decide to move away to college. And I hope he does. I want him to experience everything that life has to offer.

I want my son to have no regrets. There will be time later in life for “me”—right now is the time for “us.”

 

Featured Photo Courtesy: Jenna Norman/Unsplash

I am a 32 year old mother of a son and wife to an officer. I am honest about both the love and struggle of parenting. I enjoy being active and writing is my passion, second only to my family.

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Who’s New at the LA Zoo: Meet the Babies!

by rtemiruzzin

The storks must have been working overtime, because at our very own Los Angeles Zoo there’s been a huge number of babies born this year, and we don’t mean the ones in strollers. And as every parent knows, there’s nothing quite as cute as the youngest members of any species, so grab your own wee ones and head on out to oooh and aaah over the new additions at the Zoo.

photo: Wendy Fontaine

Cutest, By A Neck: Leo
If a giraffe isn’t on every toddler’s “must-see-every-time” list, we don’t know what is. And what’s even better than a giraffe? Why, a baby giraffe of course. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 170 lbs at birth, baby Leo was born last November, and is the proud offspring of mom Hasina and dad Artemus. This healthy baby boy can grow to be 18 feet tall and reach 3000 lbs by the time he is full grown. But for now he’s easy to spot as he’s the littlest guy in the herd, seconded by his big sister Sofie, who is in the midst of her terribly-tall twos.

photo: Jamie Pham

Most Likely To Monkey Around: All 5 Chimpanzees
Right now it’s easy to mistake the chimp habitat for a daycare center. It currently houses 5 (see if you can spot them all) babies between zero and 3 years old. Not to worry, though, these mamas have help. There are 4 generations of chimps in residence, led by 48 year old Great-Grandma Pandora, so there are plenty of aunties to lend a simian hand. Look for baby Johari, who will be a year in October, and baby Oliver, who refused to nurse and had to be bottle fed round the clock by a team of dedicated zookeepers. If you don’t see them by the steps, check out the Penthouse, where they’ll be frolicking amid ropes and swings.

photo: Jamie Pham

Triple the Fun: Endangered (Baby) Giant Otters
Who’s the famous set of three sleek, dark haired siblings? Nope, not the Kardashians, we’re talking about giant otters. These gorgeous triplets, two males and one female, were born in March at the new Rainforest of the Americas exhibit. They joined their playful family of a mom, dad, brother and sister, who were the first babies born in the habitat last September. The helpful older siblings can be seen assisting their parents in teaching the newcomers their swimming skills, so look for all of them joyfully slipping and sliding down the water slide.

photo: Emi Ruzzin

Biggest Surprise: Baby Rosie
Guess who was the “happy accident” who weighed nearly 100 lbs at birth? No secret, it’s baby Rosie the hippopotamus. Mom Mara was on birth control to comply with the Species Survival Program, which is designed to choose the best mating matches for conservation efforts, but zookeepers suspected she might have a bun in the oven when she started rapidly gaining weight. You can see baby Rosie who is about to celebrate her first birthday on Halloween, sticking close to her mom and following her around wherever she goes. Dad Adhama engages her in lots of play, but this little one is definitely a mama’s girl. Check out the feeding times to see this hungry, hungry hippo munching on whole heads of lettuce and other assorted veggies.  She’ll teach your kids that eating healthy is the way to grow up to be big and strong!

Biggest Question Mark:  Baby Howler Monkey
Boy or girl? Nobody knows yet the gender of the newest little monkey that was born on July 31. This black haired beauty can be seen cradled in his or her mom’s arms as she (he?) climbs all over the habitat in the Rainforest of the Americas exhibit. You can also spot big sis, born in January. Listen for them making their signature (loud) howl across the zoo.

photo: Emi Ruzzin

Most Cold Blooded: Baby Viper
No, not the one parked next to the Tesla. Zookeepers had to reproduce near freezing Armenian winter conditions to have these successful births, but lucky for us, they finally got the right temperature. There are eight of these little guys and gals, born to two moms in mid-July. Look for them behind the glass in little terrariums at the Care and Conservation Room in the LAIR. (Fun fact: unlike most snakes, these vipers give birth to live young.)

photo: Emi Ruzzin

Most Touchable: Baby Kids
Last but not least, let the kids touch and brush these kids. Of course, we mean the triplet Nigerian dwarf goats born to mom Lacey and the single kid born to mom Glory, right in the Winnick Family Children’s Zoo, commonly known as the Petting Zoo. These gentle kiddos can usually be seen resting against each other and their mamas as they receive attention from small but eager human hands. They don’t seem to mind the gentle petting and brushing, so grab the camera for some cute photo ops.

And Lots More…
There are more young ’uns to visit—baby kangaroos, koalas and all sorts of deer and monkey varieties, just to name a few. Learn what a Visayan warty pig is and why he’s warty; find out if the baby female bighorn sheep has horns; how many prongs are on the horn of the baby pronghorns…and what exactly is a pronghorn, anyway?

Answer these questions and the dozens more that your little ones will come up with, on your next visit to meet the babies at the zoo. Take along hats, sunblock and definitely lots of ice in your water bottle—many of the exhibits are in full sun.

Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Garden
5333 Zoo Dr.
Griffith Park
Hours: Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Christmas Day
Price: $20/adult, $15/child, kids two and under are free
323-644-4200
Online: lazoo.org

Who is the biggest baby? The longest baby? The tallest baby? Your favorite baby? Tell us about your visit to see the babies at the Zoo.

—Emi Ruzzin

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