Q: What is and who can get the HPV vaccine? A: The HPV vaccine, Gardasil, is a series of three injections to vaccinate against 4 strains of the Human Papilloma Virus most responsible for cervical cancers. At this time, the vaccine is only available for women ages 9-26 but studies and supplies are underway to make this more widely available. Since HPV is becoming one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, it is recommended women receive this vaccine even if she is not sexually active or has already been diagnosed with a strain of HPV. If she is already diagnosed with one strain, the vaccine may still help prevent her from contracting the other strains. The vaccine is now available at PPSCM for $180 per injection and is covered by some insurances. Check with your insurance company and with the provider to see if they participate with the insurance you have. If you don’t have insurance you may be eligible for low cost vaccine through the County Health Department. Q: Do I have to take the Pill at the exact same time everyday and what if I miss a pill? A: It is strongly recommended that since the Birth Control Pills are in lower doses today than in previous generations, they should be taken at the exact same time everyday. The Pills are only time-released for 24 hours. If a female forgets to take a Pill, she should take her next dose as soon as she remembers, even if it means taking two at the same time, and use a back up method (condom and spermicide) for 7 days. If she misses two doses, it is recommended that she take them as soon as she remembers but also use a back-up method of contraception. If she forgets three or more, the current Pill pack is considered no longer effective. She should dispose of the remaining pills, use a back-up methods for at least 2-4 weeks, and start a new pill pack the first Sunday after her menstruation. Q: My friend told me she has BV (bacterial vaginosis). What is BV? How will I know if I have it? And is there a cure? A: BV is the most common type of vaginal infection it is caused by an inbalance of organisms in the vagina. BV is common in women who are sexually active and those who are not. The most common symtoms of BV are a fishy odor from the vagina, it may be stronger after sexual intercourse, discharge may be thin, milky white or gray, most likely you will not have any itching or vaginal irritation. A health care provider must diagnose you and then will provide you with oral medications as well as vaginal suppositroies. Over the counter products are not effective in treating BV. Bacterial vaginosis has also been identified as a cause for increased risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy. Q: If I am on antibiotics will the effectiveness of the birth control pill be altered in anyway? A: Certain antibiotics will reduce the effectiveness of the birth control pill, always tell your doctor you are taking oral contraceptives if you are prescribed medications. Also, since some antibiotics cause side effects like vomiting or diarrhea, the birth control pill may not be completely absorbed into your body, therefore the effectiveness is reduced. Always use a back up method of contraceptives (such as condom, female condoms and spermicide) when on herbal medications or antibiotics. Q. I want to get tested for STIs and want to test for “everything,” what can I be tested for? Q. What is the best birth control method? Q: What’s the difference between post partum depression and the baby blues? A: Between 30%-80% of new mothers suffer mild emotional distress which we call the baby blues, which include crying anxiety, sleeplessness and exhaustion. These symptoms usually begin 3-8 days after child birth and go away quickly. Persistent distress after having a baby can indicate a more serious condition called post partum depression (PPD), which can last for a year or more. If you think you may be experiencing, or know someone who has been experiencing sadness that has lasted for more than two weeks have them discuss this with their clinician. Postpartum depression is treatable with the proper medication. Q: How can secondhand smoke hurt the unborn baby and the newborn? A: Cigarette smoke in the pregnant woman cuts the flow of oxygen to her unborn baby. This can be very dangerous, even life threatening to the fetus. Infants who are born to mothers who smoke are more likely to be born premature, which is the leading cause of infant death. Infants that are around secondhand smoke are at risk of dying of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Infants and children exposed to second hand smoke experience repeated ear infections, longer and more severe colds and coughs, more serious cases of bronchitis and pneumonia. Children can develop asthma or cause more severe asthma attacks and allergies in children who already have them and may even be life threatening. Q: How many women get pregnant every year in the United States? A. About 6 million women become pregnant annually. Approximately half of all pregnancies are unplanned. Q: Is the ‘morning after pill’ the same thing as the ‘abortion pill?’ A: No. The ‘morning after pill’ – better known as Emergency Contraception or EC – is not the ‘abortion pill’ - which is called Mifepriston, Mifeprex or RU-486. Q: I think about sex all the time. Does that make me a sex addict? Answer: According to one of the noted researchers, Patrick Carnes, sexual addiction or sexually compulsive behavior involves a four step cycle which intensifies after each episode of the rituals (rituals that are a prelude to the act); compulsive sexual behavior (the behavior is out of the person's control); despair (after the act a sense of hopelessness and despair rather than satisfaction results). Q: What does LGBTQA stand for? Answer: LGBTQA stands for the part of Kinsey's Sexual Orientation continuum in addition to Heterosexuality. That is Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgendered (Trans-sexual), Questioning and Asexual. Kinsey, rather than separating Heterosexuality from all other orientations, put all of these orientations on a continuum indicating a broad range of "Normal", not just opposite sex attraction and arousal. Q: Everytime I use a condom, my penis becomes itchy. I think I am allergic. Are there other ways to protect myself from HIV and other STI's? A: Sure! First, you must find out what type of male condom you are using. If you are using a LATEX male condom when you experience itchiness, it could be that you are allergic to LATEX. I encourage you to try out a POLYURETHANE male condom. It works just like LATEX without the allergens. Another option is the REALITY CONDOM (also called a female condom). The reality condom is made of polyurethane with an inner ring and an outer ring. This type of condom is inserted into the vagina much like inserting a diaphragm. For anal sex, the inner ring is usually removed. We offer these products at Planned Parenthood so stop by, ask questions or even ask for a demonstration on a pelvic or penis model! Q: Can you get infected with HIV through 'french-kissing'? I heard that you can. A: HIV is mainly spread during unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex with someone who has HIV. The virus is also spread through sharing needles with anybody who is HIV positive as well as contact with infected blood. However, if the person is known to be infected, the Center for Disease Control recommends against 'french-kissing' even though the risk is very low. An investigation by the CDC reveals only 1 case of transmission associated to contact with blood during 'french-kissing'. Transmission is from exchange of blood during ‘french-kissing’ not from saliva. For more information about kissing and HIV, click this link: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/transmission.htm |
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