An Overview of Birth Control

What Is Birth Control? The term “birth control” refers to a broad spectrum of methods that partners engaging in sexual activity use to prevent pregnancy. The most common types of birth control are hormonal methods, barrier methods, surgical procedures, withdrawal, and abstinence. In the United States, over 40% of women are using some form of…

Transition and Gender Affirming Surgery

Transition is the process for trans individuals to express their internal gender identity outwardly through emotional, social, or medical means. Gender dysphoria is defined as strong negative feelings such as distress an individual experiences when their sex assigned at birth does not match their social and psychological identity.1 Keep in mind that there is a…

Male Infertility

Disclaimer Note: While both males and females can be infertile, this article focuses on male infertility, it’s most common causes and treatments. For information on female infertility click here. Infertility is when a male and female partner cannot successfully conceive a child after a year of frequent, unprotected intercourse. Male and female infertility are each responsible…

Female Puberty (Teen Corner)

Puberty is a stage of development during which boys’ and girls’ bodies begin to develop and change into those of young men and women. During puberty, the body grows faster than it has since the first year of life. It is important to realize that everyone goes through the changes, embarrassments, and confusion that can…

How to Increase the Chances of Pregnancy

Some couples are able to get pregnant effortlessly, while others experience varying degrees of difficulty. Many couples who are trying to conceive are anxious to do so. Although having intercourse within the “fertile window” is one of the best known ways to increase the probability of fertilization, there are several other ways that couples can…

Combination Pills

Combination pills, also called “combo pills,” or simply “the pill,” are a form of oral hormonal birth control which contain the hormones estrogen and progestin.1 Combination pills are commonly used as a method of preventing pregnancy, but can also be used for their non-contraceptive benefits such as improving acne, decreasing menstrual cramps or other premenstrual…

Intrauterine Device (IUD)

The IUD is a highly effective, long lasting form of birth control.  The two different types, the hormonal IUD and the copper IUD, function in different ways, resulting in differing advantages and disadvantages.  The IUD must be inserted by a trained health care professional, and it does not prevent against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). What Is…

The Neurobiology of Romantic Love

Romantic love is one of the most universal human experiences. More than 20 years ago, biological anthropologist Helen Fisher studied 166 societies and found evidence of romantic love in 147 of them.1 According to Richard Schwartz, associate professor of psychiatry at MacLean Hospital, romantic love must be wired into our basic biological nature due to…

The Birth Control Implant

The birth control implant, available in over 100 countries, is a highly effective form of hormonal birth control that many people find to be a convenient method of preventing pregnancy. The implant is inserted into the arm and can be kept for up to five years.1 Using a synthetic version of the hormone progestin rather…