female health | Zikoko!

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female health | Zikoko!

Weird as it may sound, some women would rather do gymnastics after sex or the “pull-out” method to prevent pregnancy than actual contraceptives. Why? Because of the widespread misinformation about contraceptive side effects and failures.

This is why I’m taking it upon myself to dissect all the female contraceptive options available in Nigeria, to help my girlies make informed decisions. PS: Contraceptives don’t rule out the need for condoms. There are still STIs in these streets, babes.

Birth control pills

Image: Healthy Women

Also known as “the pill”, this contraceptive prevents pregnancy by safely stopping ovulation. Without ovulation, there’s no egg for the sperm to fertilise. Meaning no pregnancy.

There are different types of birth control pills: Combination pills (which contain estrogen and progestin) are the most common type and are taken daily. The mini pill contains only progestin and is better suited for breastfeeding women. It’s also a daily pill. Then there’s the extended cycle pill which reduces the menstrual period to just four cycles in a year. This type is taken continuously for 12 weeks, followed by a one-week break.

Pros: When taken properly, the pill is 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy. They can also help regulate your periods, lessen cramps and even clear your acne. It also doesn’t affect fertility. Most users just need to stop the pills to get pregnant.

Cons: Some pills, especially the mini pills, need to be taken at a certain time daily to be effective. Missing a dosage will make it less effective. You might also experience side effects like spotting between periods, mood changes or blood pressure changes.

Where to find it: Most combination and mini pills can be gotten over the counter at pharmacies. But you should always see a doctor before going on the pill to make sure you don’t have pre-existing medical conditions that may make the pill harmful to you.

Emergency contraceptives, AKA “Plan B”

Image: Facebook

Most people know this as “Postinor 2” because it’s the most popular emergency contraceptive brand in Nigeria. Emergency contraceptives contain either levonorgestrel or ulipristal; hormones that prevent fertilisation.

As the name implies, it shouldn’t be used as a regular form of birth control. It should only be used in cases like random condom tears, when the “pull out” method disgraces you and your partner or when you miss some doses of your regular birth control pill.

Pros: It comes in handy in emergency situations, and when taken within 48 – 72 hours of unprotected sex, can be up to 90% effective in preventing pregnancy.

Cons: Whether you take it immediately or not, if ovulation has already happened, that baby will come into the world. Side effects can include heavier or lighter menstrual periods, nausea and headaches.

Where to find it: Levonorgestrel-based emergency contraceptives can be gotten over the counter at any pharmacy.

Intrauterine Device (IUD)

Image: Planned Parenthood

It’s a T-shaped plastic device that’s placed in the womb to make it impossible for the sperm to get to the egg. IUDs can be hormonal (levonorgestrel) or covered with copper. Sperm doesn’t like copper and won’t go near it; levonorgestrel will prevent the eggs from coming out in the first place. IUDs can stay in the body for three to ten years.

Pros: Inserting the IUD is a pretty quick, painless procedure, and they begin the work immediately — they’re up to 99% effective in pregnancy prevention. Hormonal IUDs can also reduce heavy menstrual bleeding and relieve the pain of endometriosis with long-term use.

Cons: Your periods may be more painful and irregular in the first few months of insertion. There’s also the risk of the IUD slipping out of the womb during your period after it’s first inserted. Other risks include infections from the IUD and, if a careless health provider does the insertion, injuries to the uterine wall.

Where to find it: You should only get an IUD with a doctor or health care provider after proper consultation.

RELATED: 7 Tips for Having Sex with Endometriosis, According to Yeside

Contraceptive implant

Image: Planned Parenthood

Also called a birth control implant, it’s a small flexible rod-like device implanted into the upper arm. It prevents pregnancy by releasing a slow, steady dose of the progestin hormone to stop ovulation or make it hard for the sperm to reach the egg. Implants usually last three to five years before they become ineffective and need to be replaced.

Pros: You don’t have to do anything else, so forget about the stress of remembering to take some pill every day. It’s great for breastfeeding women, and it doesn’t have any long-term effects on fertility.

Cons: Your periods may be irregular, and you have to visit the doctor to remove the implant after it expires. That’s not always a pretty sight.

Where to find it: You should only get an implant with a doctor or health care provider after proper consultation, as the implant may interfere with other medications.

Birth control patch

Image: My Health Alberta

This works similarly to the implant. It delivers pregnancy-preventing hormones through the skin to the body but has to be changed every week for three weeks to be effective. The week without the patch is usually when you get your period. The patch can be placed on your lower abdominal area, back or upper arm.

Pros: You don’t have to worry about tablets and needles for this option. It’s also easy to apply and remove.

Cons: It’s less effective with thicker women. The patch may also cause the body to produce more estrogen than other birth control options and increase the risk of developing blood clots.

Where to find it: The patch should only be used with a doctor’s prescription.

Sterilisation

Image: Aston safety signs

You can also go the permanent route. Sterilisation options include surgical removal of the womb or tying the fallopian tubes.

Pros: It’s 100% effective at preventing pregnancy. In other words, no pregnancy scares in your future.

Cons: You can’t change your mind after the procedure has been done. You’ll also still need to practice safe sex to prevent STIs.

Where to find it: These procedures should only be done by a licensed doctor or surgeon after extensive consultation.

NEXT READ: I Want To Help Prevent Women From Dying During Childbirth

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Tife Oni

March 28, 2024

Her

birth control, contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, female health, pregnancy
Talk True is a Zikoko limited series for medical myth-busting. With each episode, we’ll talk to medical professionals about commonly misunderstood health issues to get the actual facts.

Our society’s obsession with vaginas should be the stuff of documentaries at this point. Every market day, you’ll find at least one person sharing their two cents about how a woman with a high body count is more likely to have a loose vagina.

If it’s not that, it’s people touting the wonders of “vagina tightening” creams to battle loose vaginas. It definitely begs the question: Can “too much” sex really loosen a vagina, or is this widespread belief just a myth? Dr Mary Alo provides answers.

Can the vagina even get loose?

To understand where the conversation about sex and loose vaginas may have started, it’s important to know if the vagina can even be said to become loose. Mary explains that it can feel less elastic.

“The vagina is a distensible fibromuscular organ or tube that extends from the cervix to the vulva. In simple terms, it contains muscles which allow it to stretch and lengthen during sexual intercourse and return to its regular length and width after. It’s highly elastic, and some factors like ageing, which comes with lower oestrogen levels, can cause the vagina to become drier and less elastic.”

So, technically, “loose” isn’t the accurate term, as the vagina doesn’t completely lose its stretch. It just becomes less elastic than before.

So, can sex loosen it?

No. Mary confirms it’s physically impossible for penetration to make the vagina less elastic.

“Sex is not enough to destroy the muscles of the vagina to the point where it loses its elasticity. It’s simply incapable.”

Here’s how it works: The vagina’s anatomy allows it to get lubricated and naturally expand when aroused to accommodate a penis or sex toy. Immediately after intercourse, the vagina returns to its regular state.

What factors can contribute to a loose vagina?

Mary explains that only two factors can alter the vagina’s elasticity: Childbirth and age.

“During childbirth, the muscles of the vagina stretch considerably to accommodate the baby’s size, and this typically results in weakened vaginal muscles. But even then, the muscles go back to normal in about 6 – 12 weeks. However, things like multiple childbirth and trauma during delivery may weaken the muscles even more and increase the risk for the muscles to start losing stretch.

For ageing, as I explained earlier, oestrogen levels dip when women become menopausal, which in turn affects vaginal elasticity.”

Ageing is also associated with a weakened pelvic floor, as a result of decreased collagen production; a structural protein that serves as the main component of the body’s connective tissues. The pelvic floor contains muscles that strengthen the vagina, so when they become weak, the vagina is unable to stretch and relax as it normally should, making it less elastic.

Can the vagina become “tight” again?

We’ve determined that the vagina doesn’t exactly become “loose”, so it can’t be said to be “tight” either, unless you’re talking about vaginismus.

However, you can strengthen the muscles around the vagina to help elasticity and enable it to contract/stretch and relax as it should.

“In the event that childbirth contributes to weakened vaginal muscles, exercises like kegels help strengthen the pelvic floor, and tighten the muscles around the vagina. They’re also the safest option.

For ageing, therapy options like providing synthetic hormones to postmenopausal women help. In some cases, more advanced procedures like laser and radiofrequency tightening and vaginoplasty may be advised. However, these have a certain level of risk and should only be done by licensed medical practitioners.

In response to whether the “vagina tightening” creams and gels marketed by so-called wellness experts work as well, Mary responds in the negative.

“What most of these creams and gels do is dry out the mucosal lining of the vagina, thereby decreasing lubrication. Without lubrication, there’d be more friction during intercourse which gives the false sense that the vagina is tighter. The vagina stretches to accommodate the penis with help from lubrication. If that’s absent, users of these creams may experience temporary swelling of the vaginal tissues from friction which is termed to be “tightening” but is short-lived.

Some of these creams also have astri n gent qualities that tighten the vaginal walls for a short time, but it’s not a permanent option. It’s also unsafe because it can result in pain and micro tears in the vagina, leaving it vulnerable to infection and inflammation”.

This should be your reaction if anyone tries to sell it to you

The takeaway

No amount of penetrative sex can loosen the vagina, whether with multiple sexual partners or one. The only factors that can make the vagina lose its elasticity are childbirth and age. Even then, there are options to improve elasticity, and kegel exercises are the safest bet. So, if anyone makes a claim about a woman’s vagina being “wide” because she’s had many partners, feel free to hit them *figuratively* with facts.

NEXT READ: Talk True: Is Period Syncing a Real Thing?

Tife Oni

June 14, 2023

Her, Talk True

female health, loose vagina, medical myths, myth debunked, Sex, Vagina
Talk True is a Zikoko limited series for medical myth-busting. With each episode, we’ll talk to medical professionals about commonly misunderstood health issues to get the actual facts.

The odds of you waking up and developing a sudden craving for cranberry juice are pretty minimal. With its characteristic tart taste, cranberry juice doesn’t rank high on popular refreshment choices, but it’s a hit in the online feminine wellness space.

Here’s why

A quick vaginal health/wellness search on Instagram will reveal many vendors touting the belief that cranberry juice will make Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) go away forever. Is this claim based on facts, or is it a myth? Dr Mary Alo provides answers.

First off, what’s a urinary tract infection?

As the name implies, it’s a bacterial infection of any part of the urinary system, which includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. In women, it’s typically characterised by a burning sensation while peeing, cloudy or bright red urine, frequent passing of small amounts of urine, fever and pelvic pain.

Image: Sora Shimazaki on Pexels

While men can also have urinary tract infections, women are at a greater risk because they have a shorter urethra than men, making it easier for bacteria to travel to the bladder. Other gender-specific risk factors include using contraceptive diaphragms, pregnancy, frequent sexual activity with new partners and menopause.

It’s important to note that while sex can cause bacteria to move further into the urinary system, UTIs aren’t contagious/sexually transmitted infections.

You know what’ll be contagious, though? The amount of fun you’ll have at HERtitude — Zikoko’s women-only party for the hottest babes. Get tickets here.

How does cranberry juice come in?

Some sources also claim that regular intake of cranberry juice improves the vagina’s “taste” — even though no scientific evidence supports the claim. But Mary explains the flaw in this logic.

“UTIs are infections majorly caused by a bacterial organism called Escherichia coli (E. Coli), and as such, are best treated with antibiotics. The rationale for using cranberry juice is that it can, in a way, help to preserve the flora. Infections are more likely to occur when the normal flora of the urinary tract is disturbed. E. Coli works by attaching itself to the host’s tissue, and current hypothesis suggests that cranberry juice works to prevent the adherence of E. Coli to the urothelium of the urinary tract. Without this attachment, the bacteria can’t infect the mucosal surface, thus preventing an infection from occurring.

But this is prevention. It isn’t enough rationale to use it as a form of treatment as UTIs can only be treated with antibiotics.”

Should you ditch it, then?

Not exactly.

“It makes more sense to use cranberry juice in a proportionate amount as a preventive measure, though I wouldn’t recommend that’s all you use to prevent urinary tract infections.

You can use it in addition to concrete preventive measures like drinking more water, urinating before and after sexual intercourse to limit the spread of bacteria, wiping the vaginal area from front to back after using the toilet and not abusing antibiotics.”

Better treatment options for UTIs

Mary emphasises that urinary tract infections can only be treated with antibiotics.

“Once your healthcare provider confirms that the symptoms point to a urinary tract infection, the next thing to do is prescribe the appropriate antibiotic regimen for treatment. Don’t let people who are more profit-oriented tell you otherwise. Cranberry juice is just one of many ways to prevent UTIs — especially in recurrent infections — and it works in tandem with other preventive measures.”

The takeaway

Cranberry juice has benefits for feminine wellness and vaginal health, but it can’t cure urinary tract infections. At best, it’s a preventive measure, but not in isolation if preventing UTIs is the primary goal.

YOU SHOULD ALSO READ: Talk True: Is Period Syncing a Real Thing?

Don’t leave without getting your ticket to HERtitude 2023!

Tife Oni

May 25, 2023

Her, Talk True

female health, health and wellness, medical myths, medicine, Nigerians, Talk True
You’ve probably experienced some sort of pain or soreness on your nipples before, but contrary to whatever your Google search results say — no, you’re not dying.

Nipple pain can involve any form of tenderness or aching, throbbing, tingling, or burning sensations. It’s actually quite common and often not due to anything serious.

Here’s a list of the possible reasons your nipples hurt, according to Dr Marion Ogunmola, a medical doctor specialising in internal medicine.

1. Friction

If you keep an active lifestyle, you may experience friction with your choice of clothing. If you exercise with thick cotton clothing or without a good sports bra, your nipples may hurt. Even if you aren’t a fitness buff, friction resulting from poorly fitted bras is a genuine possibility.

This can be managed by sticking to adequately fitted bras. If you’re not a fan of bras, make sure to use light, well-fitted clothing or athletic tape to reduce the friction.

RELATED: You People Are Spending This Much Money on Gym?

2. Rough sexual encounters

You may like it rough in the other room, but if foreplay gets too harsh and leads to too much friction, you may notice soreness in your nipples.

You can manage this by communicating with your partner. After all, no be fight. Or use a warm compress to relieve the pain on the affected nipple. However, keep in mind that nipple pain will most likely go away on its own when the cause has been eliminated.

3. Breastfeeding

This is the commonest reason for hurting nipples, and to be honest — nothing prepares you for the initial pain of breastfeeding. The nipples aren’t used to that much pressure, so there’ll be some pain at the beginning, especially for new mothers.

The nipples can also become painful due to poor latch — where the nipple is stuck between the hard palate of the baby’s mouth. So that every time the baby sucks, it becomes clamped between the palate and the tongue.

Affected women can use baby-friendly lubricants on their nipples to soothe the pain. They still have to breastfeed — even when it hurts to prevent engorged breasts and even more pain — but must ensure the baby latches on properly. When latching is done right, breastfeeding eventually becomes less painful.

4. Infection

This is a less-common cause, but infections like candidiasis can cause itchy and painful nipples. While it’s rare, the pain can be due to suppressed immune functions caused by prolonged antibiotic use or other underlying diseases, consistent wet clothing — yeast thrives in dark and moist places — and even breastfeeding.

Treatment typically involves using anti-fungal medication. In the case of infection due to breastfeeding, check your baby for oral thrush so you can treat both simultaneously.

5. Hormonal changes

Hormonal changes during your period can also cause nipple pain — as if we needed another reason to hate on periods. This type of pain is cyclical and only occurs when the red lady shows up.

Yay… so fun

Such pain can be managed using over-the-counter pain medication and adequately supporting bras during your period.

It’s important to note that your nipples can either hurt on their own or be associated with breast pain. If you also experience breast pain, please consult your doctor.

NEXT READ: Six Nigerian Women Share Their Experiences Visiting Male and Female Gynaecologists

Tife Oni

July 20, 2022

Her

female health, Nigerians, nipples
Are you a woman who wants to live her life free of little terrorists? This article is for you. We’ve put together a list of effective birth control methods for women.

1. The blood of Jesus.

There is nothing the blood of Jesus can’t prevent, especially unwanted pregnancies and children. The best way to make the blood of Jesus work is by shouting it before, during and after having sex.

2. Lesbianism.

Lesbianism is a very effective birth control method since other women can’t get you pregnant and you can’t get another woman pregnant either. Being a lesbian comes with the advantage of good and reckless sex.

3. The price of school fees.

The price of school fees is enough to keep your sexual activity minimal and make you thread with caution when having sex. All you have to do is think about how much schools cost and stop yourself from getting pregnant. This method doesn’t make sex any less enjoyable tho.

4. The thought of losing your peace of mind.

Kids bring nothing to the table and all they do is make you tired and miserable from morning till night. Keeping that thought at the back of your mind is a good way to protect yourself from getting pregnant. A child being cute won’t make it stress you any less.

5. Holy water.

Sprinkling holy water on your body is a good way to wade off pregnancy. Holy water reduces the possibility of having children, all you have to do is command the water to stop you from getting pregnant.

*Research done by Zikoko*

6. The price of baby food.

Babies eat so much food for human beings so tiny and jobless and there’s no reason why their food should cost so much, but it does. Keeping a pricelist of baby food close to when having sex is also a very effective birth control method.

7. Celibacy.

Maybe you should try being celibate and just focus on your life. Enjoy the peace and reward celibacy brings.

Ibukun

November 11, 2021

Her

birth control, female health, Funny, parody