Recession Sex Lesson #1: Methods of Contraception

In 2007, CNN.com reported that approximately 40% of babies were born out of wedlock. 13% of this includes women over and around the age of 20, and the numbers are continuing to rise!

Why is this people!?!

There is no way that our generation is any more littered with hormonal driven youth than our parents' generation who danced “CASUALLY” to Rick James’ “SuperFreak” and Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get it On!”

I have long wondered the answer to this question, but it crossed my mind last week as I sat in my introductory public health course…

A public health official came from Emory University and gave us a “nifty” acronym to remember ways to effectively use a condom. S.C.O.R.E.:

S-SELECT the condom
C- CHECK to make sure that it is free from puncture
O-OPEN
R-ROLL tightly leaving space at the top, and
E-EJACULATE

(She then suggested that it was more than okay to SCORE! *Wink*)

But, although it can be assumed that most people know the appropriate way to use a condom, I could not help but wonder that maybe there are some more savvy modes of contraception available to help reduce these OVERWHELMING statistics!


For Women:

Of course ladies there are your more generally known methods of contraception that include the pill, the patch, and the female condom but here are some lesser known alternatives.

The Vaginal Hormone Ring: (Better than 95 % effective) - this is kept in the vagina for 3 out of 4 weeks during the month.

Also known as the “Nuva Ring.”

Mechanism: It works very much like the typical birth control pill by releasing the hormones estrogen and progestin (similar to progesterone) which prevent ovulation.

Cost is about 15-50$ a month and can be purchases at the drug store or a clinic.

Contraceptive injections : (100% effective) - simply injected into the buttocks, to avoid impregnation for spontaneous sexual occurrence.

Also known as, Depo-provera, Noristerat, and Jab.

Mechanism: Ovulation is stopped, the mucus in the cervix is thickened, and they thin the lining of the womb so that the egg will not attach for fertilization.

Cost: Approximately 20-40$ per injection, and you can obtain them every 11-13 weeks.

For Men:

Sadly, there have not been many developments for men beyond the dreaded vasectomy and condom use, but there are myths of a new development of …..

“The Male Pill”

It is scheduled for release in 2014 on the British market ----So although many of you guys and girls are holding close to their seats waiting for its release, you may have to wait a while and save travel money!

Helpful Tidbits:

-For UGA students: The UGA Health Center provides free condoms to students through Health Promotions on the First floor of the University Health Center (706-542-1162).
Also, most other medical centers and hospitals provide free condom dispersal for those who are sexually active and/or would like to distribute them for legitimate public health awareness.

-CondomUSA.: is a free wholesale site that sells name brand condoms. They also have a pretty detailed website that you should check out! www.condomusa.com


Cited Articles:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/04/08/out.of.wedlock.births/index.html

Find out more, and the potential side effects of contraceptive methods at:

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/sex_relationships/facts/contraception_which.htm

About the Nuva Ring:
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/birth-control/birth-control-vaginal-ring-nuvaring-4241.htm

About Contraceptive Injections:
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/preventingpregnancy/depoprovera.html

Txtng while Drvng!

I saw this UK Public Service Announcement and figured I would share it! Have a look!






Pretty vicious! Maybe we will all think TWICE about doing it!

“College made me fat!”---You’re right it did!

So you had the Freshman 15, but since then have acquired the Sophomore 26 plus the Junior 11-- which has brought you to a WHOPPING 52 pounds! Whoa. And even though you traverse campus, attend football games regularly, throw a Frisbee or two, you still get those constant COMPLIMENTS when you go home like: “They sure are feeding you up there, aren’t they baby!?”

Interestingly enough for most students ….college does actually make you FAT. I’m sure we all knew this, because if it weren’t the case then the “Freshman 15” wouldn’t be such a huge phenomena. Actually, the average college freshman gains about 5-9 pounds according to freshman15.com and a study done at WashU, but after about 4 years (5,6, or 7 for some) that average adds up! And you blow up!

So, here are the “most common” (yada, yada- emphasis on the quotes) reasons:


-Lack of exercise
-Eating late at night
-Keeping unhealthy snacks on hand (in the dorm room)
-Eating unhealthy cafeteria food
-Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol


Notice that these are mostly a result of a sedentary lifestyle? Most people understand that the mechanism to weight gain is a lack of exercise and poor eating habits. But what are some ways, to continue to live normally and dart those pounds?!


GET INVOLVED- (ever notice how people who don’t do anything….yeah…)


PARTY- when you get there, dance like you are auditioning for America’s Best Dance Crew! You’d be surprised how many calories you burn just shaking it.


SLEEP WELL and DRINK in moderation.


A few misconceptions:


Smoking: Smoking does suppress appetite which makes people skinny right? WRONG. It makes you more likely to chill and or get short of breath faster = laziness= FAT.


Cooking “healthy” meals: Look guys just because you have a celery stick or two with your hot wings doesn’t mean you’re healthy. There are unhealthy vegetarians! Try to avoid adding excessive butter and salt when cooking meals.


Read More:
http://www.freshman15.com/
http://kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/college/freshman_15.html#

*Burp---“No you idiot! …it’s definitely BEER before LIQUOR!”

“Beer before liquor, never sicker; Liquor before beer in the clear!” Oh or, “Beer before wine…feeling fine” and “Oh man, don’t mix dark and light!”

How many times have we heard these quotes? But the fact is that they are all false!

For example:
Long Island- vodka, 1800® Tequila, rum, gin, triple sec, sweet and sour mix and Coca-Cola®.

Kill Bill- Gin, Lemon juice, Peach Schnapps, Southern Comfort, Sugar Syrup, Peach Nectar, and lemon liqueur

The quotes have a good ring to them though?! :) …yea yea I’m guilty of believing them also. But the major reason people care to even commit these sayings to memory is because of the fear of the dreaded HANGOVER!

What is the “science” behind the hangover?

So when you drink alcohol it stops the pituitary gland ( located in the brain) from producing something called anti-diuretic (“no pee”) hormone (ADH) .This causes the water that you take in to be sent directly to the bladder instead of being used by the body. This is why you always have to pee.

As a result the next morning the body tries to pull water from your brain= headaches. And the constant urination causes a decrease in salts, potassium, etc. that that your body needs in order to function properly.

And there you have it folks, the next day your lying in bed foaming at the mouth begging for chicken noodle soup and Gatorade. (Aside: Go Dawgs!)


Here are some TRUSTY ways to avoid a hangover:

-Drink in moderation- spread your intake out over the course of the night. No one likes a light weight ..but people HATE an inmate! (get it? lol)

-Chug as much water as possible before going to bed. Dehydration is a key factor is having a hangover---and the more hydrated you are the less likely you are to wake up feeling horrible.

-TAKE ANTIOXIDANTS: Vitamin C (and/or pure OJ) and E and a milk-thistle supplement right before going to bed. (Hmm…didn’t know that one before!)

-Take Non-Aspirin pain relievers to reduce headache!

And there you have it! You have combated the hangover!

Read More:
http://wweek.com/___ALL_OLD_HTML/beer99-science.html
http://health.howstuffworks.com/hangover2.htm