PRESSURE COOKERS:

Caring for the domestic appliances can be a tedious job. It is necessary to take care of these appliances to avoid the reduction of their life span by the day to day wear and tear. Here are a few tips that you need to take to make your appliances last longer.

PRESSURE COOKERS:

The main problem with pressure cookers is usually leakage. A leakage in a pressure cooker generally occurs due to improper maintenance of the casket - i.e. the rubber lining placed around the lid - and scratches or dents on the outer surface of the vessel near the rim. The casket is made up of synthetic fibre. It must be removed for washing and cleaning every day, otherwise it will get hard, start developing cracks and lose its original grip, hence not allowing the adequate pressure to build up inside the cooker. If there is insufficient water inside the pressure cooker (apart from the amount present in the food to be cooked) the casket shrinks in size and leakage occurs.

Complaint Areas:

Leakage, casket loosening, safety valve, broken handles, bulging bottom of cooker.


Tips : The Casket


While placing the casket on the rim of the cover, make sure that both the rim and the casket are dry.
If the casket shrinks, gently stretch it a little and replace inside the cooker.
No salt should get inside the rim of the cooker as it prevents complete sealing.
The casket gets spoilt if dry heating occurs. Use at least one cup extra water for steam to form.
Always remove casket from cover while washing and keep it dry and clean.
It should be washed after every use.
Never knock the rim of the cooker while cleaning or using it. The dents that occur allow the steam to escape. If this happens, file the rim with steel wool.
The safety valve in the pressure cooker has been made accident proof mainly by using a special type of feasible metal alloy. It always melts to let off the steam when the water inside the cooker dries out or the vent tube (whistle) is blocked with some solid material. It can withstand pressure upto about 1400 C. Actually it is much better that this safety valve gives way, because the sealed in steam finds a release.

Tips : The Safety Valve


Check your safety valve regularly, and if you need to replace it, do so with another one from an authorised dealer only.
Do not buy a safety valve from just anywhere, as it may not be genuine. All pressure cooker manufacturing firms supply spare parts to regular dealers.
Check the vent tube (whistle) regularly for clogged food particles.
See that there is enough water at the bottom of the cooker.
Do not fill food right to the top of the vessel. The handle of a cooker generally breaks because the lid is not properly closed arrow to arrow. The screw inside the handle can also come off if not properly maintained.
Tips : The Handles


Close the lid of cooker as shown on the handle.
Remove the screws of the handles and oil them regularly. It gives them a longer life.
Tips: The Cooker Bottom

Do not unnecessarily be alarmed if the bottom of the cooker turns black. Aluminium has a tendency to turn black after constant use. Rubbing with lime peel or tamarind can reduce it.



MIXERS:

Most Indian mixers come in two sizes – half litre and one litre. Some have the grinder attached to the motor itself, above which is placed the blender. Others have two separate jars, one for grinding, and another for blending. All mixers have a one year guarantee against any manufacturing defects.

Complaint Areas:

Rubber coupling gets worn out, the plastic jar cracks, motor breakdown, broken blades.

Tips:

Fit the rubber coupling correctly in the grooves provided in the machine, otherwise the coupling will be worn out.
If the coupling is worn out and is still used in this condition, it tells heavily on the nylon stud above the coupling. Cracks develop on either side of the nylon stud. This leads to leakage of fluid into the grinder jar, which is normally meant only for dry masalas. If this happens the motor can eventually burn.
Most housewives fail to notice the cracks when they give their mixers for repair. The moment a crack develops, take it to the nearest dealer.
Do not grind anything wet in a grinder meant only for dry stuff.
Never overload the mixer.
Add sufficient fluid to the items to be ground to allow free rotation of blades. Otherwise the blades might break or the motor may burn.
Always run the machine when the grinder blender is covered. The addition or removal of material must be done only after the machine has fully stopped and the blades are stationary. Otherwise it may damage the gadget and your fingers.
Take extreme care to run the machine only at its given capacity.
After switching off the mixer, wait for at least 5 to 10 seconds before lifting the grinder or blender out of the machine.
Clean and dry the mixer thoroughly.
Never put hot water in the mixer to wash it. The jar may get jammed.
The machine will also have a longer life if run at a lesser speed.

What Can Go Wrong With the Skin, Hair, and Nails?

What Can Go Wrong With the Skin, Hair, and Nails?

Some of the things that can affect the skin, nails, and hair are described below.
Dermatitis



Medical experts use the term dermatitis (pronounced: dur-mah-ty-tus) to refer to any inflammation that might be associated with swelling, itching, and redness of the skin. There are many types of dermatitis, including:

* Atopic dermatitis is also called eczema. It's a common, hereditary dermatitis that causes an itchy rash primarily on the face, trunk, arms, and legs. It commonly develops in infancy, but can also appear in early childhood. It may be associated with allergic diseases such as asthma or food, seasonal, or environmental allergies.
* Contact dermatitis occurs when the skin comes into contact with an irritating substance or a substance that a person is allergic to. The best-known cause of contact dermatitis is poison ivy. But lots of other things cause contact dermatitis, including chemicals found in laundry detergent, cosmetics, and perfumes, and metals like jewelry, nickel plating on a belt buckle, or the back of the buttons on your jeans.
* Seborrheic dermatitis, an oily rash on the scalp, face, chest, and back, is related to an overproduction of sebum from the sebaceous glands. This condition is common in teens.

Bacterial Skin Infections

* Impetigo. Impetigo (pronounced: im-puh-ty-go) is a bacterial infection that results in a honey-colored, crusty rash, often on the face near the mouth and nose.
* Cellulitis. Cellulitis (pronounced: sell-yuh-ly-tus) is an infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue that typically occurs when bacteria are introduced through a puncture, bite, or other break in the skin. The cellulitic area is usually warm and tender and has some redness.
* Streptococcal and staphylococcal infections. These two kinds of bacteria are the main causes of cellulitis and impetigo. Certain types of these bacteria are also responsible for distinctive rashes on the skin, including the rashes associated with scarlet fever and toxic shock syndrome.

Fungal Infections of the Skin and Nails

* Candidal dermatitis. A warm, moist environment, such as that found in the folds of the skin in the diaper area of infants, is perfect for growth of the yeast Candida. Yeast infections of the skin in older children, teens, and adults are less common.
* Tinea infection (ringworm). Ringworm, which isn't a worm at all, is a fungus infection that can affect the skin, nails, or scalp. Tinea (pronounced: tih-nee-uh) fungi can infect the skin and related tissues of the body. The medical name for ringworm of the scalp is tinea capitis; ringworm of the body is called tinea corporis; and ringworm of the nails is called tinea unguium. With tinea corporis, the fungi can cause scaly, ring-like lesions anywhere on the body.
* Tinea pedis (athlete's foot). This infection of the feet is caused by the same types of fungi that cause ringworm. Athlete's foot is commonly found in adolescents and is more likely to occur during warm weather.

Other Skin Problems

* Parasitic infestations. Parasites (usually tiny insects or worms) can feed on or burrow into the skin, often resulting in an itchy rash. Scabies and lice are examples of parasitic infestations. Both are contagious — meaning they can be easily caught from other people.
* Viral infections. Many viruses cause characteristic rashes on the skin, including varicella (pronounced: var-ih-seh-luh), the virus that causes chicken pox and shingles; herpes simplex, which causes cold sores; human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes warts; and a host of others.
* Acne (acne vulgaris). Acne is the single most common skin condition in teens. Some degree of acne is seen in 85% of adolescents, and nearly all teens have the occasional pimple, blackhead, or whitehead.
* Skin cancer. Skin cancer is rare in children and teens, but good sun protection habits established during these years can help prevent skin cancers like melanoma (pronounced: meh-luh-no-ma, a serious form of skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body) later in life, especially among fair-skinned people who sunburn easily.

In addition to these diseases and conditions, the skin can be injured in a number of ways. Minor scrapes, cuts, and bruises heal quickly on their own, but other injuries — severe cuts and burns, for example — require medical treatment.
Disorders of the Scalp and Hair

* Tinea capitis, a type of ringworm, is a fungal infection that forms a scaly, ring-like lesion in the scalp. It's contagious and common among school-age children.
* Alopecia (pronounced: ah-luh-pee-sha) is an area of hair loss. Ringworm is a common cause of temporary alopecia in children. Alopecia can also be caused by tight braiding that pulls on the hair roots (this condition is called traction alopecia). Alopecia areata (where a person's hair falls out in round or oval patches on the scalp) is a less common condition that can sometimes affect teens.

Hair loss history, Tests

Hair loss history

To determine the cause of your hair loss, your health professional may ask you about:

* Characteristics of your hair loss. Is your hair thinning, with your scalp becoming more visible, but your hair is not noticeably falling out? Or is your hair shedding, with lots of hair falling out?
* How long your hair loss has been occurring. How long has it been since you had your normal amount of hair?
* Your family history of hair loss. Does your mother or father, brother or sister, or any other relative have hair loss? If so, what caused their hair loss?
* Your hairstyling habits. Has your hair become fragile from pulling it too tight or from other hairstyling habits? Have you had any chemical treatments to your hair, such as perms or bleaching? Do you use a blow-dryer that may be too hot? Is a curling iron damaging your hair?
* Any recent illness. Have you had any skin rashes, such as ringworm, recently?
* Medications you are taking. Are you taking blood thinners (anticoagulants) or medications for arthritis, depression, or heart problems? Have you had any cancer treatment?
* Your diet. Are you getting enough protein and iron in your diet?


Tests

If the reason for your hair loss is not clear, your health professional may do tests to check for a disease that may be causing your hair loss. Tests include:

* Hair analysis. Your health professional will take a sample of your hair and examine it under a microscope. A scalp sample might also be taken.
* Blood tests, including testing for a specific condition, such as an overactive or underactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism).

Hair loss in women is more difficult to diagnose than it is in men because the pattern of hair loss is not as noticeable as it is in men. In women with mild to moderate hair thinning who are otherwise healthy (with normal menstrual cycles and fertility history), testing to diagnose hair loss usually is not done. However, in women who have irregular menstrual cycles, continued episodes of acne, or too much body hair (hirsutism), testing for a class of hormones called androgens, including testosterone, is sometimes done.

Hair Loss- Teens

Baldness or hair loss is typically something only adults need to worry about. But in a few cases, teens lose their hair, too - and it may be a sign that something's going on. Hair loss during adolescence can mean a person's sick or maybe just not eating right. Some medications or medical treatments, like chemotherapy treatment for cancer, also cause people to lose their hair. And people can even lose their hair if they wear a hairstyle that pulls on their hair for a long time, such as braids.


Losing hair can be stressful during a time when appearance really matters, but the good news is that hair loss that happens during the teen years is often temporary. Once the problem that causes it is corrected, the hair usually grows back.
Hair Basics

Our hair is made of a type of protein called keratin. A single hair consists of a hair shaft (the part that shows), a root below the skin, and a follicle, from which the hair root grows. At the lower end of the follicle is the hair bulb, where the hair's color pigment, or melanin, is produced.

Most people lose about 50 to 100 head hairs a day. These hairs are replaced - they grow back in the same follicle on your head. This amount of hair loss is totally normal and no cause for worry. If you're losing more than that, though, something may be wrong. The medical term for hair loss - losing enough hair that a person has visibly thin or balding patches - is alopecia (pronounced: ah-luh-pee-shuh).

If you have unusual hair loss and don't know what's causing it, it's a good idea to see your doctor. A doctor can determine why the hair is falling out and suggest a treatment that will correct the underlying problem, if necessary.
What Causes Hair Loss?

Here are some of the things that can cause hair loss in teens:

* Illnesses or medical conditions. Endocrine (hormonal) conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes or thyroid disease, can interfere with hair production and cause hair loss. People with kidney and liver diseases and lupus can also lose hair. The hormone imbalance that occurs in polycystic ovary syndrome can cause hair loss in teen girls as well as adult women.
* Medications. Some medications that have hair loss as a side effect may be prescribed for teens. These include acne medicines like isotretinoin, and lithium, which is used to treat bipolar disorder. Diet pills that contain amphetamines can also cause hair loss. Chemotherapy drugs for cancer are probably the most well-known medications that cause hair loss, but some cancers including leukemia and lymphoma can cause hair loss even before treatment begins.
* Alopecia areata (pronounced: air-ee-ah-tuh). This skin disease causes hair loss on the scalp and sometimes elsewhere on the body. It affects 1.7% of the population, including more than 4 million people in the United States. Alopecia areata is thought to be an autoimmune disease, in which the hair follicles are damaged by a person's own immune system. (In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, tissues, and organs in a person's body.) Alopecia areata usually starts as one or more small, round bald patches on the scalp and can progress to total hair loss, although total hair loss only happens in a small number of cases. Both guys and girls can get it, and it often begins in childhood. The hair usually grows back in 6 months to 2 years, but not always.
* Trichotillomania (pronounced: trik-o-til-uh-may-nee-uh). Trichotillomania is a psychological disorder in which people repeatedly pull their hair out, often leaving bald patches. It results in areas of baldness and damaged hairs of different lengths. People with trichotillomania usually need professional help from a therapist or other mental health professional before they can stop pulling their hair out.
* Hair treatments and styling. Having your hair chemically treated, such as getting your hair colored, bleached, straightened, or permed, can cause damage that may make the hair break off or fall out temporarily. Another type of baldness that results from hair styling can actually be permanent: If a person wears his or her hair pulled so tightly that it places tension on the scalp, it can result in a condition called traction alopecia. Traction alopecia can be permanent if the style is worn for a long enough time that it damages the hair follicles.
* Poor nutrition. Poor eating can contribute to hair loss. This is why some people with eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia lose their hair: The body isn't getting enough protein, vitamins, and minerals to sustain hair growth. Some teens who are vegetarians also lose their hair if they don't get enough protein from non-meat sources. And some athletes are at higher risk for hair loss because they may be more likely to develop iron-deficiency anemia.
* Disruption of the hair growth cycle. Some major events can alter the hair's growth cycle temporarily. For example, delivering a baby, having surgery, or getting anesthesia can temporarily stop the hair growth cycle. (Because the hair we see on our heads has actually taken months to grow, a person may not notice any disruptions of the hair growth cycle until months after the event that caused it.) This type of hair loss corrects itself.
* Male-pattern baldness. Among adults, particularly men, the most common cause of hair loss is androgenetic (pronounced: an-druh-juh-neh-tik) alopecia, also called male-pattern baldness. This condition is caused by a combination of factors, including hormones called androgens and genetics. In some males, the hair loss can start as early as the mid-teen years. It can also occur in guys who take steroids like testosterone to build their bodies.

What Can Doctors Do?

If you see a doctor about hair loss, he or she will check your scalp and, in some cases, may take hair samples. You may also be tested for certain medical conditions that can cause hair loss.

If medication is causing hair loss, ask the doctor if a different drug can be substituted. If your hair loss is due to an endocrine condition, like diabetes or thyroid disease, proper treatment and control of the underlying disorder is important to reduce or prevent hair loss. Using a product like minoxidil that can discourage hair loss and speed up hair growth also may be helpful. Alopecia areata can be helped by treatment with corticosteroids. And if a doctor finds that nutritional deficiencies are causing your hair loss, he or she may refer you to a dietitian or other nutrition expert.
Catastrophic Hair Loss

Hair loss can be the first outward sign that a person is sick, so it may feel scary. Teens who have cancer and lose their hair because of chemotherapy treatments go through a difficult time, especially girls.

It can help to feel like you have some control over your appearance when you're losing your hair. Try some of the many options for disguising hair loss - such as wearing wigs, hair wraps, hats, and baseball caps. For most teens who lose their hair, the hair does return - including after chemotherapy. And hair loss during chemotherapy is usually a sign that the treatment is working to destroy the cancer cells because you can see how it's working on the good cells (your hair!).
Taking Care of Your Hair

Eating a balanced, healthy diet is important for a lot of reasons, and it really benefits your hair. And don't forget to treat your hair well. For example, some doctors recommend using baby shampoo, shampooing no more than once a day, and lathering gently. Don't rub your hair too vigorously with a towel, either. Many hair experts suggest you consider putting away the blow-dryer and air drying your hair instead. If you can't live without your blow-dryer, try using it on a low heat setting.

Style your hair when it's dry or damp. Styling your hair while it's wet can cause it to stretch and break. And try to avoid teasing your hair, which can also cause damage. Finally, be careful when using chemicals - such as straighteners or color - on your hair.

Why can periods be so painful?

PERIOD PAIN


There is a long-held belief that women have a higher pain threshold than men and perhaps it’s because women have just had more practice.

The agony of childbirth aside, many women get a monthly dose of torment every time they menstruate. As the saying goes, “Fear that which bleeds for five days and does not die.”


Period pain, also known as dysmenorrhoea, ranges from the odd twinge to a debilitating plethora of symptoms. As well as stomach cramps, some women experience nausea, vomiting, fainting, irregularity, headaches and exhaustion.

If that isn’t enough, women who don’t know what it’s like - and doctors - can be unsympathetic. Surveys indicate that 70% of women regularly use painkillers to cope with menstrual pain and half say the pain “seriously disrupts” their life.

Why can periods be so painful?
During menstruation, strong muscular contractions cause of the majority of period pain –similar to those which women suffer when they go into labour. As the uterus contracts the blood supply to the womb is temporarily cut off. This stops oxygen flow to the muscles, causing the body to release chemicals which trigger pain.

What can I do to help my period pain?

Instant helpers:

A hot water bottle on the site of the pain.

Painkillers like aspirin and paracetamol.

Evening primrose oil. This is especially effective if taken before the onset of cramps.

Raspberry leaf tea, strong and hot, before and during the pain.

Exercise: walking, cycling or swimming at a gentle pace is ideal for easing minor period pain. Take it easy and stop if you feel nauseous.

Preventative steps:
Your doctor may recommend the contraceptive pill or other medication to help your period pain. Additionally, there are plenty of different supplements which can assist with menstrual pain. Each one has its own pros and cons and what works for one woman may be useless for another.

Talk to a pharmacist or specialist health store about some of the following: Magnesium, calcium, B group vitamins, calendula, feverfew, dandelion and others. Trial and error may help you to discover which remedy or combination of remedies works for you.

The pain of periods

Causes
The pain of periods is caused by contractions of the uterus or womb, similar to those of another 'normal' pain women suffer - during labour.


Mild contractions constantly pass through the muscular wall of the womb

Mild contractions constantly pass through the muscular wall of the womb, although most women are unaware of them. During menstruation, however, they are stronger than normal and during labour they're stronger still.

Each contraction causes the blood supply to the womb to be temporarily cut down as the blood vessels in the muscle wall are compressed. As the tissues are starved of oxygen, chemicals that trigger pain are released.

At the same time the body is also releasing chemicals called prostaglandins, which induce stronger contractions and which may directly cause pain in the womb. As the contractions get stronger, so the pain increases.

The aim of these contractions is to help the womb shed its delicate lining (as a period or bleed), so a new lining can be grown ready for a fertilised egg to implant itself. This is an essential part of female fertility, but pain is a side effect.

When is it not normal?

Severe period pains should always be investigated to check for a treatable cause

Severe period pains should always be investigated to check for a treatable cause. As a very rough guide, if you've had severe period pain (known as dysmenorrhoea) since around the time your periods first started, it's less likely that a particular cause will be found. However, even if this is the case, other factors - especially stress - can make the pain more difficult to cope with. Treating these factors can therefore help to reduce the pain.

However, there are exceptions to this guide. Conditions such as endometriosis can sometimes cause severe pain from an early age (although the pain typically gets worse as the disease does more damage with each monthly cycle). Other causes of severe period pain include fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease and sometimes narrowing of the cervix.

The best guide to seeking help is when the pain begins to interfere with life, preventing you from working or coping with daily tasks. The first step is to find a simple treatment that works for you. If this doesn't control the pain, talk to your doctor.

Simple treatments
Exercise - you may not feel like it, but getting active is a good way to ease pain. Try gentle swimming, walking or cycling.


Painkillers - ibuprofen and aspirin can be particularly effective as they have anti-prostaglandin effects. Take them regularly throughout the day (following the packet instructions), not just when pain becomes difficult to cope with.


Complementary therapies - there are lots to try, including herbal treatments (evening primrose oil or raspberry leaf tea) or meditation. For more information, take a look at our Complementary medicine section.


Tens - transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation, or Tens, is widely used for period pains, especially in Scandinavia. Small electrodes are placed on the abdomen to stimulate the nerve in the pelvic area in a way that reduces pain.


Other treatments

Top tips

Periods pains are rarely a sign of disease, especially in young women.
Try to find a simple remedy that suits you; you may find it's enough to control the pain.
If pain is unbearable, talk to your doctor - there are several possible treatment options and it may be necessary to rule out other conditions.
Beware abnormal or extra symptoms - these might be a clue to endometriosis.



If these measures fail to control the pain or your doctor suspects endometriosis or another condition, a more detailed investigation may be recommended. This will probably involve using an ultrasound scan or minor laparoscopy (where a doctor uses a telescopic instrument to look inside the abdomen).

In the US, more invasive surgery is quite common, but in the UK such operations are controversial except for proven endometriosis.

The final option, hysterectomy (removal of the womb), may seem drastic, especially if there's no underlying disease. However, the agony of period pains can be so great that a few women - who've perhaps completed their families and have tried other treatments without success - feel it's a rational option.

Painful periods

Painful periods


Period pains are cramping abdominal pains experienced during, and sometimes just before, a woman's monthly period. They affect 80% of women at some time in their lives. Usually they are not a sign of a serious underlying problem and can be treated with self-help methods.

Painful periods
The medical term for painful periods is dysmenorrhoea. There are two types.



Primary dysmenorrhoea
This term is used to describe normal period pain experienced by many women around the time of their period. There is no underlying medical problem. It most commonly affects teenagers and young women. This is the type of period pain discussed in this factsheet.

Secondary dysmenorrhoea
This term is used to describe pain around the time of the period that’s caused by an underlying problem. It is less common than primary dysmenorrhoea, and tends to affect women later in their reproductive lives.

What causes period pain?
Pains may start with the first-ever period. However, they are more likely to begin 6-12 months later, once cycles where an egg is released are established. It's these cycles that appear to cause more pain.

The cause of period pain is not certain. Once an egg has been released from one of the ovaries, natural chemicals produced by the body called prostaglandins are made in the lining of the uterus (womb). Some prostaglandins cause the walls of the uterus to contract. Some women produce higher levels of prostaglandins, which may cause increased contractions of the uterus. These cramps may be more painful because there is reduced blood (and therefore oxygen) supply to the myometrium (muscle wall of the uterus) during the contractions.

Cord blood banking

Cord blood banking is becoming increasingly popular with expecting parents all over the world, but just what is cord blood banking? Cord blood banking is the process of collecting and storing your child’s umbilical cord blood in order to use the stem cells contained within that blood. Many people are confused as to just what stem cells are and how they can help you.

Unlike embryonic and fetal stem cells, which are a very controversial source of stem cells, and bone marrow, a harder to come by source of stem cells, those stem cells found in cord blood have been used to treat numerous diseases. And the list of what these stem cells can help with keeps growing as researchers discover new and more effective ways to use the stem cells.

When it comes to cord blood banking, parents have two choices: they can either store their child’s stem cells privately or donate them to a public bank. Many parents have a hard time deciding which is better, donation or private storage. The right choice is up to each individual family, but there are a number of issues you need to consider when you are deciding on cord blood banking.

One of the biggest issues with private storage is the price. While the initial cost can seem a bit overwhelming, it is important to remember just what goes into a company’s pricing.

Another problem for some couples is the lack of access to donate. Although donating is a good choice, a number of couples have found that, when they look in to how to donate, the hospital in which they plan to give birth does not participate in such a program. This obstacle can make it difficult for a couple to pursue donation.

If the time ever comes that your child or another family member needs a stem cell transplant, it is important to understand just what is involved when it comes to performing a transplant. Who will be a suitable match? How will those stem cells be found and prepared? Learning the answers to these important questions may help you decide whether private or public banking is best for you.

Once you have decided just what you would like to do, whether it is privately bank or donate, it is important that you create a checklist so that you stay organized before the birth of your baby.

Banking Your Newborn's Cord Blood

On the day you deliver your baby, you'll probably be overcome with visions of your future with your child - first smiles and steps, birthday parties and sports events, and holidays and life milestones. Your little one ever becoming seriously ill will probably be the last thing on your mind.

But some parents do consider the possibility that a serious illness might someday affect their child - and they make a choice on the day their baby is born that might impact the future health of that child or even their other children. They're deciding to bank their newborn's cord blood.

So, what is cord-blood banking, and is it right for you?
Cord-Blood Banking

After a baby is delivered, the mother's body releases the placenta, the temporary organ that transferred oxygen and nutrients to the baby while in the mother's uterus. Until recently, in most cases the umbilical cord and placenta were discarded after birth without a second thought. But during the 1970s, researchers discovered that umbilical cord blood could supply the same kinds of blood-forming (hematopoietic) stem cells as a bone marrow donor. And so, umbilical cord blood began to be collected and stored.

What are blood-forming stem cells? These are primitive (early) cells found primarily in the bone marrow that are capable of developing into the three types of mature blood cells present in our blood - red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Cord-blood stem cells may also have the potential to give rise to other cell types in the body.

Some serious illnesses (such as certain childhood cancers, blood diseases, and immune system disorders) require radiation and chemotherapy treatments to kill diseased cells in the body. Unfortunately, these treatments also kill many "good" cells along with the bad, including healthy stem cells that live in the bone marrow.

Depending on the type of disease and treatment needed, some children need a bone marrow transplant (from a donor whose marrow cells closely match their own). Blood-forming stem cells from the donor are transplanted into the child who is ill, and those cells go on to manufacture new, healthy blood cells and enhance the child's blood-producing and immune system capability.

Collection of the cord blood takes place shortly after birth in both vaginal and cesarean (c-section) deliveries. It's done using a specific kit that parents must order ahead of time from their chosen cord-blood bank.

After a vaginal delivery, the umbilical cord is clamped on both sides and cut. In most cases, an experienced obstetrician or nurse collects the cord blood before the placenta is delivered. One side of the umbilical cord is unclamped, and a small tube is passed into the umbilical vein to collect the blood. After blood has been collected from the cord, needles are placed on the side of the surface of the placenta that was connected to the fetus to collect more blood and cells from the large blood vessels that fed the fetus.

During cesarean births, cord-blood collection is more complicated because the obstetrician's primary focus in the operating room is tending to the surgical concerns of the mother. After the baby has been safely delivered and the mother's uterus has been sutured, the cord blood can be collected. However, less cord blood is usually collected when delivery is by c-section. The amount collected is critical because the more blood collected, the more stem cells collected. If using the stem cells ever becomes necessary, having more to implant increases the chances of engraftment (successful transplantation).

After cord-blood collection has taken place, the blood is placed into bags or syringes and is usually taken by courier to the cord-blood bank. Once there, the sample is given an identifying number. Then the stem cells are separated from the rest of the blood and are stored cryogenically (frozen in liquid nitrogen) in a collection facility, also known as a cord-blood bank. Then, if needed, blood-forming stem cells can be thawed and used in either autologous procedures (when a person receives his or her own umbilical cord blood in a transplant) or allogeneic procedures (when a person receives umbilical cord blood donated from someone else - a sibling, close relative, or anonymous donor).

How long can blood-forming stem cells last when properly stored? Theoretically, stem cells should last forever, but cord-blood research has only been ongoing since the 1970s, so the maximum time for storage and potential usage are still being determined. Blood-forming stem cells that have been stored up to 14 years have been used successfully in transplants.
Pros and Cons

Cord-blood banking isn't routine in hospital or home deliveries - it's a procedure you have to choose and plan for beforehand, so be sure to consider your decision carefully before delivery day.

The primary reason that parents consider banking their newborn's cord blood is because they have a child or close relative with or a family medical history of diseases that can be treated with bone marrow transplants. Some diseases that more commonly involve bone marrow transplants include certain kinds of leukemia or lymphoma, aplastic anemia, severe sickle cell anemia, and severe combined immune deficiency.

The odds that the average baby without risk factors will ever use his or her own banked cord blood is considered low; however, no accurate estimates exist at this time.

The expense of collecting and storing the cord blood can be a deciding factor for many families. At a commercial cord-blood bank, you'll pay approximately $1,500 to store a sample of cord blood, in addition to a $100 yearly maintenance fee. You might also pay an additional fee of several hundred dollars for the cord-blood collection kit, courier service to the cord-blood bank, and initial processing.

In most cases, stem cell transplants are performed only on children or young adults. The larger the size of the person, the more blood-forming stem cells that are needed for a successful transplant. Umbilical cord blood stem cells aren't adequate in quantity to complete an adult's transplant.

In addition, it's not known whether stem cells taken from a relative offer more success than those taken from an unrelated donor. Stem cells from cord blood from both related and unrelated donors have been successful in many transplants. That's because blood-forming stem cells taken from cord blood are naive (a medical term for early cells that are still highly adaptable and are less likely to be rejected by the recipient's immune system). Therefore, donor cord-blood stem cells do not need to be a perfect match to create a successful bone marrow transplant.

There has been little experience with transplanting self-donated cells. Some experts are concerned that an ill baby who receives his or her own stem cells during a transplant would be prone to a repeat of the same disease. Most of the bone marrow transplants that use blood-forming stem cells have been performed on relatives of the donating child, not on the donating child.

The risks to the health of the mother and baby at the time of collection are low, but they do exist. Clamping the umbilical cord too soon after birth may increase the amount of collected blood, but it could cause the baby to have a lower blood volume and possible anemia soon after birth.
Is It Right for You?

As parents evaluate their reasons for banking their newborn's cord blood and begin to research cord-blood bank facilities, there are many considerations and cautions to keep in mind.

Some doctors and organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), have expressed concern that cord-blood banks may capitalize on the fears of vulnerable new parents by providing misleading information about the statistics of bone marrow transplants. Parents of children of ethnic or racial minorities, adopted children, or children conceived through in vitro fertilization may be especially encouraged to bank cord blood because it's statistically harder to find a match in these cases.

The AAP doesn't recommend cord-blood banking for families who don't have a history of disease. That's because research has not yet determined the likelihood that a child would ever need his or her own stem cells, nor has it confirmed that transplantation using self-donated cells rather than cells from a relative or stranger is safer or more effective. According to the AAP, "private storage of cord blood as 'biological insurance' is unwise. However, banking should be considered if there is a family member with a current or potential need to undergo a stem cell transplantation."

Other doctors and researchers support saving umbilical cord blood as a source of blood-forming stem cells in every delivery - mainly because of the promise that stem-cell research holds for the future. Most people would have little use for stem cells now, but research into the use of stem cells for treatment of disease is ongoing - and the future looks promising.

If you do decide to bank your newborn's cord blood, be sure to discuss your options with your obstetrician. Here are a few questions to consider before choosing a cord-blood bank:

* How financially stable is the cord-blood bank? (Financial stability means a reduced chance that you will have to transfer your sample if the facility closes.)
* How many samples are processed in the facility? (A larger number of samples usually means that there are more collection and handling procedures in place.)
* Do I have the option of switching to another facility if I choose?
* What happens to my sample if the facility goes out of business?
* What are the yearly fees and maintenance costs involved? Will these fees increase, or are they fixed?

Like community or hospital blood banks, cord-blood banks are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has developed standards regulating future cord-blood collection and storage.
Donating Your Baby's Cord Blood

You may decide that instead of banking your newborn's cord blood, you'd like to donate it to a nonprofit cord-blood bank for research or to save the life of another child. By choosing this option, the cord blood will still be collected after your child's birth, but it will be anonymously marked and sent to a public bank. However, if your child or a family member later develops a disease that requires a bone marrow transplant for treatment, you won't be able to obtain the donation you made to the bank.

If you'd like to donate your child's umbilical cord blood, contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross or a local university hospital, or check the National Marrow Donor Program's list of registered cord-blood facilities that accept donations. You'll need to give proper written consent before you donate your child's umbilical cord blood, but there's no cost and the process is confidential.

Hematopoietic stem cells a

Hematopoietic stem cells are capable of evolving into all the specific cell types in the blood and immune system. They can be found in people of all ages. The three sources of hematopoietic stem cells which are routinely used for medical treatments are:

1. the bone marrow of an adult person
2. the peripheral blood of an adult person
3. the umbilical cord blood of a newborn baby

When a patient requires a Hemaotpoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT), the treating physician will decide which source of stem cells to use. This will depend on several factors, including but not limited to: the degree of match between donor and patient (sometimes the donor and patient are one and the same person), the expected speed of engraftment, and the amount of time available to search for a perfectly matching donor.

Diseases Treated with Stem Cells

Diseases Treated with Stem Cells

Stem cell transplants have been used since the 1960’s to treat a variety of diseases. In 1988 cord blood stem cells were used for the first time in hematopoietic (blood) stem cell transplantation. Umbilical cord blood stem cells have now been used in over 3,500 transplants worldwide as a valuable alternative to traditional sources of hematopoietic stem cells. Utilizing the process of stem cell banking, cord blood stem cells also show great promise for potential future applications including treatment and repair of non-hematopoietic tissues, gene therapies, mini-transplants, among others.

* Current Stem Cell Applications
* Potential Future Applications
* Download list in pdf format

Current Stem Cell Applications

Acute Leukemia’s
Acute Lymphoblast Leukemia (ALL)
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
Acute Biphenotypic Leukemia
Acute Undifferentiated Leukemia

Chronic Leukemia’s
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
Juvenile Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (JCML)
Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML)

Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Refractory Anemia (RA)
Refractory Anemia with Ringed Sideroblasts (RARS)
Refractory Anemia with Excess Blasts (RAEB)
Refractory Anemia with Excess Blasts in Transformation (RAEB-T)
Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML)

Stem Cell Disorders
Aplastic Anemia (Severe)
Fanconi Anemia
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)
Pure Red Cell Aplasia

Myeloproliferative Disorders
Acute Myelofibrosis
Agnogenic Myeloid Metaplasia (myelofibrosis)
Polycythemia Vera
Essential Thrombocythemia

Lymphoproliferative Disorders
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Hodgkin's Disease

Phagocyte Disorders
Chediak-Higashi Syndrome
Chronic Granulomatous Disease
Neutrophil Actin Deficiency
Reticular Dysgenesis

Other Inherited Disorders
Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome
Cartilage-Hair Hypoplasia
Glanzmann Thrombasthenia
Osteopetrosis
Adrenoleukodystrophy

Inherited Platelet Abnormalities
Amegakaryocytosis / Congenital Thrombocytopenia

Inherited Metabolic Disorders
Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS)
Hurler's Syndrome (MPS-IH)
Scheie Syndrome (MPS-IS)
Hunter's Syndrome (MPS-II)
Sanfilippo Syndrome (MPS-III)
Morquio Syndrome (MPS-IV)
Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome (MPS-VI)
Sly Syndrome, Beta-Glucuronidase Deficiency (MPS-VII)
Adrenoleukodystrophy
Mucolipidosis II (I-cell Disease)
Krabbe Disease
Gaucher's Disease
Niemann-Pick Disease
Wolman Disease
Metachromatic Leukodystrophy

Histiocytic Disorders
Familial Erythrophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis
Histiocytosis-X
Hemophagocytosis

Inherited Erythrocyte Abnormalities
Beta Thalassemia Major
Sickle Cell Disease

Inherited Immune System Disorders
Ataxia-Telangiectasia
Kostmann Syndrome
Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency
DiGeorge Syndrome
Bare Lymphocyte Syndrome
Omenn's Syndrome
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
SCID with Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency
Absence of T & B Cells SCID
Absence of T Cells, Normal B Cell SCID
Common Variable Immunodeficiency
Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome
X-Linked Lymphoproliferative Disorder

Plasma Cell Disorders
Multiple Myeloma
Plasma Cell Leukemia
Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia
Amyloidosis

Other Malignancies
Ewing Sarcoma
Neuroblastoma
Renal Cell Carcinoma
Retinoblastoma

Potential Future Stem Cell Applications

Alzheimer’s Disease
Cardiac Disease
Diabetes
Lupus
Multiple Sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophy
Parkinson’s Disease
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Spinal Cord Injury
Stroke

Cord blood stem cells

Cord blood stem cells are more proliferate and have a higher chance of matching family members than stem cells from bone marrow. Fathers have a 25% chance of matching their child's cord blood stem cells. Siblings have a 25% chance of being a perfect cord blood match.
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Collection, storage and costs

Main article: cord blood bank

There are 2 main methods in cord blood collection from the umbilical vein; before the placenta is delivered (in utero) or after (ex utero.)

With ex utero collection method, the cord blood is collected after the placenta is delivered and the umbilical cord is clamped off from the newborn. The placenta is placed in a sterile supporting structure with the umbilical cord hanging through the support. The cord blood is collected by gravity drainage yielding between 40-150 mL.

A similar collection method is done for in utero except that the cord blood is collected after the baby has been delivered but before the delivery of the placenta.

After collection the cord blood units must be immediately shipped to a cord blood bank facility. At public cord blood banks, this blood is then analyzed for infectious agents and the tissue-type is determined. Cord blood is processed and depleted of red blood cells before being stored in liquid nitrogen for later use.

New parents have the option of storing their newborn's cord blood at a private cord blood bank or donating it to a public cord blood bank. The cost of private cord blood banking is approximately $2000 for collection and approximately $100 per year for storage as of 2005. The donation of cord blood may not be available in all areas, however the opportunity to donate is becoming more available. Several local cord blood banks across the United States are now accepting donations from within their own states. The cord blood bank will not charge the donor for the donation, but the OB/GYN may still charge a collection fee of $100-$250, which is usually not covered by insurance. However, many OB/GYNs choose to donate their time.

"According to research in the Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (1997, 19:3, 183-187), the odds that a child will need to use his or her own stem cells by age twenty-one for current treatments are about 1:2,700, and the odds that a family member would need to use those cells are about 1:1,400." [1]

In 2005, University of Toronto researcher Peter Zandstra developed a method to increase the yield of cord blood stem cells to enable their use in treating adults as well as children.[2]
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Usage

When cryopreserved cord blood is needed, it is thawed, washed of the cryoprotectant, and injected through a vein of the patient. This kind of treatment, where the stem cells are collected from another donor, is called allogeneic treatment. When the cells are collected from the same patient on whom they will be used, it is called autologous and when collected from identical individuals, it is referred to as syngeneic. Xenogeneic transfer of cells (between different species) is very underdeveloped and is said to have little research potential.[citation needed]
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Diseases treated with cord blood

Beginning in the late 1980s, cord blood stem cells have been used to treat a number of blood and immune-sytem related genetic diseases, cancers, and disorders. Because of medical issues around using one's own cells, in nearly every instance the treatments are done using cells from another donor, with the vast majority being unrelated donors.

Little Lies

If we don't, I'll get blue balls." "I'm a virgin." "The condom is too small." Sound familiar? More than likely, you've been told at least one of those things before. Or were you the one who told one of those little lies to get your partner to do something or think a certain way?



Now that you're a little older and wiser — and you've figured out that sex doesn't have much to do with birds or bees — it's a good time to be chatting "Everyone tells small lies in their relationships," says April. She's right — most people do. But small lies can lead to big lies, and just like a big lie, a small lie can destroy a relationship.

Little Lies

Lie #1: "If you don't, I'll get blue balls."

While it's true that guys may have some discomfort if they're aroused and they don't ejaculate, it won't kill them, it won't even hurt much, and the feeling goes away pretty quickly. Melanie says, "Whenever a guy tells me the 'blue balls' story and I'm not in the mood, I tell him to get rid of it himself." He does have a hand, and there's always a cold shower!

"I believed my boyfriend when he said he was allergic [to condoms]. Then I got gonorrhea."

Lie #2: "I'm a virgin."

Lies about virginity. People lie to friends, parents, and even boyfriends and girlfriends. "I tell guys I'm a virgin so they'll feel special and I don't get a bad reputation," says Brenda. On the other hand, guys might lie and say they aren't virgins when they really are. There's a strong double standard when it comes to virginity — it says that girls who have sex are sluts but guys who have sex are studs. Of course, neither thing is true, but these gender stereotypes put a lot of pressure on both girls and guys to conform to them.

Bigger Lies

Lie #3: "The condom is too small."

Even though the ring at the end of some condoms can be constricting for some very large penises, condoms can accommodate even the largest penis. Some guys use this fib about size to avoid strapping on the latex. Tony takes it even further: "I tell girls I'm allergic to condoms."

Charlotte says, "I believed my boyfriend when he said he was allergic. Then I got gonorrhea." 'Nuff said.

Lie #4: "Of course I had an orgasm."

Meagan laughs, "I say I had an orgasm because I don't want to hurt his feelings. It takes too long." She may spare her boyfriend's feelings, but when a woman lies, her partner doesn't know anything's wrong. You have to either continue lying (and continue missing out) or 'fess up. The truth is, a lot of girls have trouble having an orgasm when they have sex play with a partner. Communicating with a partner is key — girls should let their partners know that they haven't reached orgasm so their partners can help them get there, too.

Even Bigger Lies!

Lie #5: "I love you. Let's have sex."

Love. It can feel so good at times and so painful at others. But it may be most hurtful when it's used to get sex. John admits, "I've told girls I love them, to have sex. It usually works, but I always feel like a jerk afterwards." The fact is that having sex with someone is about doing what's right for you whether she or he says the love word or not. We all have sexy feelings. But we don't always have sex when we have them.

Lie #6: "I'm pregnant."

Faking a pregnancy to trap a guy can only cause hurt and anger.

"I said I was pregnant to get him to stay with me," says Erica. And he did. But not for long. "I could only keep it up for so long. Once he found out, he broke up with me anyway. Now he hates me."

Caught

One lie usually leads to others. Small details are bound to be forgotten. A slip here, a slip there and what? You're caught.

"He told me he never had oral sex, so I thought he'd love me more if I did it," says Amber. "Then I found out this girl did it to him and his friends at a party, just days before I did. I felt so stupid."

Lessons Learned

The one thing most people who have told lies have in common is that they often hurt themselves, get caught, and lose out on worthwhile relationships with other people. So you don't have to learn the hard way, here are a few suggestions:

* No one can read your mind. Communicate clearly.


* If you have to lie, maybe you're with the wrong person.


* Lies, no matter how small, hurt and lead to distrust.


* Honesty is an essential part of a healthy relationship. Without it, a relationship is doomed.

So before you tell your partner that little white lie, think about it. Is it worth it?

How to Avoid Pregnancy

How to Avoid Pregnancy


The decision about whether to have sex is a very important one and can often be quite difficult to make. It may surprise you to know that, when it comes to sex, most teens and parents agree that the first priority for teens is to wait to have sex in order to protect their physical and emotional health. But it is also true that the majority of teens and parents feel that if a young person is going to be sexually active, using contraception — "protection'" — is a must.

On this webpage you can find plenty of material including information about contraception and abstinence.

* Abstinence - When it comes to sex, many teens choose to wait. And some teens who have had sex in the past have decided to wait a while until having sex again. Visit this section for information to help you say "it's okay to delay."

* Contraception - Whether you call it contraception, birth control, or protection, it's all the same thing. If you have decided to have sex, you need to know the facts about protecting yourself from pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Sex has consequences.

* Thinking About the Right-Now: What Teens Want Other Teens to Know About Preventing Pregnancy- When it comes to teen pregnancy, teens get loads of advice from adults, but they aren't often asked to offer their own. Thinking About the Right-Now offers tips written for teen by teens on preventing pregnancy.

* Test Your Knowledge- Think you know all there is to know about teen pregnancy? Take the quiz and find out!

Emergency contraception:

Emergency contraception:
Preventing pregnancy after you have had sex

You can become pregnant if you have unprotected intercourse even just once! Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) can prevent pregnancy. The ECP should only be used in an emergency. It only works for a short period of time.



When should I use the ECP?
The ECP is best used within three days (72 hours) after unprotected sex. Some doctors will prescribe it up to five days, but there is less evidence about how well it works then. The sooner you take the ECP, the better it will work. Unprotected sex includes:

*

When no birth control was used.
*

When birth control may have failed. For example:
–If a condom broke or slipped.
–If a diaphragm or cervical cap came off, tore or was taken out too early.
–If you missed taking two or more of your birth control pills or started a new pack three or more days late.
–If you were late for your birth control shot.
*

When you have been abused, sexually assaulted or raped and are not already using a reliable method of birth control.

Although sometimes called the morning-after pill, emergency contraception has been proven to be effective up to three days after intercourse. It does not have to be taken in the morning.

How well does the ECP work?
If 100 women have unprotected sex just one time, eight of them will get pregnant. Using the ECP, one to three will get pregnant.

The ECP is only for emergencies. It is not a good form of regular birth control. Things that work better include the birth control pill, the shot or the needle (Depo-Provera [Pharmacia & Upjohn Inc, Mississauga]), an intrauterine device (IUD), condoms or abstinence (not having sex).

The ECP won’t protect you against sexually transmitted infections. If you are worried about sexually transmitted infections (STIs), please talk to your doctor or visit a clinic.

What is the ECP?
ECPs are made of the same hormones as birth control pills. Some have only one hormone (called Plan B) and some have two (called the Yuzpe method). See Table 1 for a comparison of the two types.
Table 1
Yuzpe Method Plan B
Chance of getting pregnant cut by 75%

More nausea and vomiting

Costs about $15 to $20
Chance of getting pregnant cut by 85%

Less nausea and vomiting

Costs about $30 to $35

Is the ECP safe?
Yes. The ECP is only used for a short time, and the amount of hormones in the ECP is low.

One group that found the ECP to be safe is the World Health Organization. They say that the ECP is extremely safe and can be safely used to prevent pregnancy.

If you have ever had blood clots, a stroke or a heart attack, you should only use the ECP called Plan B. It is made with only one hormone, progestin.

What if I am already pregnant?
Emergency contraception will not make your pregnancy go away. It is not an abortion pill. However, if you find out after you have taken it that you are pregnant, it will not harm the fetus. Many women have taken estrogen and progesterone (the hormones in ECPs) in early pregnancy and have gone on to have normal babies. If you find out you are pregnant, you should discuss your options with a health care provider as soon as possible.

What are the side effects of emergency contraception?
The most common side effects of ECPs are nausea and vomiting, especially with the Yuzpe method. If your doctor gives you this form of ECP, they will also give you medication to prevent vomiting. If you throw up within an hour of taking the first dose of ECPs, you need to take more ECPs. Some women also have tender breasts, bloating, irregular bleeding, and headaches. These do not last long.

How do I use the ECP?
Either kind of ECP comes in two doses. For Plan B, taking two pills at one time is as effective as the old regimen of one pill and then another 12 hours later. For the Yuzpe method, take the first one as soon as possible. Take the second pill one 12 hours later.
The first dose or the complete dose for Plan B must be taken within 72 hours (three days) after unprotected sex (it could be five days according to your doctor’s prescription). The sooner you take the ECP, the better it will work.

If you throw up within 1 hour of taking the pills, you need to take another dose.

If you are given a pill to prevent nausea (always given with the Yuzpe method) do not drive or drink any alcohol for 36 hours after the first set of pills. The medication that you take to prevent nausea may make you feel drowsy.

Do not take any extra birth control pills. They will not decrease your chance of getting pregnant and will make you feel sick.

What if it’s too late for the ECP?
If it is too late for you to take the ECP, an IUD may cut the risk of pregnancy. An IUD may work if you had unprotected sex within the past seven days.

What should I do until my next period?
The ECP will not last until your next period. If you are not taking a regular form of birth control, you should use condoms and foam if you have sex.

If you are already taking oral contraceptives (the pill) but have missed some pills, start a new pack of pills the day after you take the ECP. The use of a condom is essential to prevent STIs.

If you want to start oral contraceptives or Depo-Provera (the injection), wait until your next period starts and use condoms and foam until then.

Your next period may be a little early or a little late; however, most women get their next period at about the regular time. If you don’t have a normal period within three weeks after taking the ECP, you should have a pregnancy test to make sure you aren’t pregnant.

Why not just use emergency contraception each time I have sex?
Emergency contraception is not as good at preventing pregnancy as other methods of birth control such as birth control pills taken regularly or birth control shots. In addition, you should be using condoms to prevent STIs such as human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS).

Where can I find more information?
Your paediatrician, family doctor, pharmacist or local public health department will have more information about this topic. In some provinces, Pharmacists can give out emergency contraception without a prescription.

Getting Pregnant: Fact and Fiction

Getting Pregnant: Fact and Fiction


Several years ago, a few doctors at Harvard Medical School took a pretty strange take on the Pepsi® challenge. They tested different kinds of cola, in this case Coca-Cola®, and discovered that Classic Coke® and its lo-cal cousin have mild spermicidal properties. The study was inspired by an old urban legend that douching with Coca-Cola after having unprotected sex can prevent pregnancy. It doesn't. The spermicidal effect it has is too mild for that! Separating fact from fiction can be tricky, so here are a few of the more prevalent myths about pregnancy and the truth behind these tales.

I can't get pregnant if I douche after sex.

Douching after sex — whether it's with Coca-Cola, Pepsi, water, vinegar, or any other substance — will not prevent pregnancy (nor will urinating). Douching can cause yeast infections, so it's probably not the best idea anyway. There's just no reason to use Coca-Cola anywhere near the vagina; not only is it messy and sticky, but also it might irritate your skin and cause an allergic reaction. And forcing those tiny little air bubbles into the body can be dangerous. Sperm are excellent travelers and can reach the cervix faster than you can say "not-so-fresh-feeling," so douching is pointless when it comes to preventing pregnancy. (Jumping up and down after sex or switching positions doesn't help either.)

The only 100 percent effective way to prevent pregnancy is to abstain from vaginal intercourse.If you do decide to have vaginal sex, use birth control — and use something that has been proven to be safe and effective.

The only effective way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse is to take emergency contraception (EC). EC pills can prevent pregnancy — if taken within 72 hours of unprotected vaginal intercourse. EC is sometimes known as "morning-after" contraception.

I can't get pregnant the first time I have sex.

Sorry — there are no freebies when it comes to preventing pregnancy. The chance of getting pregnant the first time is the same as it is the 50th time. Some people believe that an intact hymen — the thin skin that stretches across part of the opening of the vagina (which, by the way, isn't detectable in all virgins because it can be stretched by non-sexual physical activity, such as playing sports) — will keep out sperm and prevent a woman from getting pregnant. However, the hymen doesn't cover the cervix, and it's usually stretched during intercourse anyway if it hasn't been stretched open before. Either way, having intercourse for the first time doesn't protect against pregnancy.

I can't get pregnant if I don't have an orgasm.

The pleasure a woman has during sex has little to do with her chances of getting pregnant. When a woman is sexually excited, certain changes in the body happen. For instance, when sexual arousal is over a woman's cervix dips down into the pool of semen that has been ejaculated into the vagina. This happens whether or not a woman has had an orgasm.

I can't get pregnant if he pulls out.

Not true. Pulling out, also known as withdrawal, means that a man pulls his penis out of the vagina before he "comes" to keep sperm from joining egg. It is only 81 percent-96 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. Pregnancy can happen even if the guy pulls out, if he doesn't ejaculate, or doesn't put his penis all the way in. Here's why: when a guy gets aroused, he produces a fluid called pre-ejaculate ("pre-cum"), which can contain sperm — particularly if he's had sex or masturbated earlier in the last couple of days. When the fluid leaks from the penis before a guy comes, it can cause pregnancy.

Pulling out is not a very reliable method for young people because some guys lack the experience and self-control to pull out in time, or they say they will pull out, and then they get so excited and carried away that they don't. Also, some guys can't tell when they are going to ejaculate.

I can't get pregnant while I have my period.

It's possible to become pregnant from vaginal intercourse at any time in the menstrual cycle.. It's true that with a lot of learning and months of very careful recordkeeping and planning some women can figure out when they're most fertile, which can help if they're trying to get pregnant. But if a woman's trying to avoid pregnancy, there may be safer times for unprotected sex, but there is no guaranteed safe time. Most women's cycles (especially teenagers') are irregular, and some women ovulate — the time when an egg is released and a woman is most fertile — very close to the time that they have their periods. Plus, sperm can live in a woman's body for up to seven days waiting for ovulation to happen. So just because a woman isn't ovulating when she has her period doesn't mean she can't get pregnant.

The only 100 percent effective way of preventing pregnancy is to abstain from vaginal intercourse. But using condoms, the Pill, or another tried-and-true method of birth control can also help to prevent pregnancy. Remember, only latex and female condoms prevent transmission of sexually transmitted infections.

So instead of playing Russian roulette with guessing when you might be fertile, messing around with pulling out, or treating your vagina to ineffective and unhealthy douches, think about preventing pregnancy with birth control that has been proven to be safe and effective before you decide to have sex.

after abortion

What is PASS? Why is it a real syndrome?

There's a lot of controversy about Post Abortion Stress Syndrome. Prolife activists claim PASS is real, and affects every woman who has an abortion. Prochoice activists claim it does not exist, and is a myth made up by prolifers to help in their "fight to make abortion illegal". Prochoice activists claim that PASS is a 'scare tactic' to try and pressure women into not choosing an abortion, and to pressure congress into making abortion illegal."

So what's the 'truth'? To date, there have been conflicting "official" studies on whether PASS exists or not. I believe that PASS does exist as a real syndrome. I am neutral on the issue, yet I have experienced PASS, and I know through my own experiences and the experiences of other women that PASS is real. I feel we need to provide information and support for women before and after an abortion, and if a woman experiences PASS after an abortion, we need to reach out to her and help her through any problems she might have. Of course any woman who's experienced Post Abortion Stress Syndrome doesn't need me or anyone else to convince her it's real. We know, from what we have felt! It's real, and we are now learning by ourselves how to deal with it. When the rest of the world eventually catches up, and recognizes PASS for the serious issue it is, we'll be waiting! In the meantime this site and it's resources will help other women to feel less alone in their struggle with this problem.

Officially, here's the "Webster's Dictionary" definition of a 'syndrome':
1 : a group of signs and symptoms that occur together and characterize a particular abnormality

2 : a set of concurrent things (as emotions or actions) that usually form an identifiable pattern

That's the definition of a "Syndrome", and PASS fits that definition. Much of the mainstream world still does not acknowledge its existence. However, let's remember that abortion has only been legal and widely practiced for twenty-some years. There is no long history of how women react to legal abortion, for people to really know. As recently as fifty years ago, intelligent, educated and experienced professional mental health clinicians were teaching that schizophrenia was caused by poor parenting. Usually they blamed mothers! Today, we know that schizophrenia is caused by a brain chemical disorder, and we have also discovered that some of the other mental health problems that have been blamed on "bad parenting" are also caused by aberrant brain chemical reactions or other physiological problems. At one time, people with clinical depression were only said to have "poor coping skills"! Now today depression as well as other mental illnesses are treated successfully with medication. Note that I am NOT equating Post Abortion Stress Syndrome with these illnesses, or saying that it is caused by a brain chemical disorder. It may have some hormonal components to it, related to the interruption of pregnancy, but we don't know yet. I am just pointing out that one day researchers and doctors tell you that a certain illness is "just in people's mind's", or "Not proven", or a "myth" then later they change their tune, and say "Well, we were wrong, it is an illness, after all". Scientists are people who make judgements based on what they see and can measure, and as a result of tests conducted. If you can't test it and prove it statistically, then to scientists it is 'not real'. If they drop a glass of milk 100 times and it spills out to the left every time, then they are convinced that when you spill a glass of milk, it will "always" spill to the left. That is, until someone spills one to the right. Then all kinds of controversy breaks out, chaos rules, what they "know" to be real has been changed, and some change their mind about the way milk spills. Still others will not believe the findings of the "Right Spill" experiment. And on and on the scientists will go. Scientists at one time said that:


It was impossible to break the sound barrier.
They also said it was impossible for a man to walk on the moon.
They also said cloning of complex animals was impossible.
They laughed at the idea that mold could somehow kill bacteria - until Penicillin.
Louis Pasteur was told his theory of 'germs' was 'ridiculous fiction'.

Science is nothing more than people making assumptions based on the information they have at the time. When that information changes, then so does the opinion of the scientific community.
What do Scientists Like to Study?
Most scientists and researchers are men, and most of them are interested in 'cool' science, spending lots of time, money and effort on abstract things like "measuring the age of the universe". They want to study interesting, high tech, ground-breaking issues. So the issue of 'abortion', and 'how women feel afterwards' is not that type of topic. No matter what type of issue they discover surrounding abortion, either the prolife or Prochoice side will bash them publicly, in an intense media circus. They will be vilified by either side, depending on what they research and report on. Scientists don't want to deal with that, or with politics - so they avoid subjects like abortion, or abortion research. They prefer to stick to the cool, neutral, 'real science' stuff. For example, check out this daily news feed, that discusses what scientists are currently reporting and researching on. You'll find very little about abortion or birth control, but plenty about giant icebergs in Antarctica, fruit fly genetics breeding, cloning, nuclear/radioactive experiments, ect.
Hormonal Trigger?
My personal theory is that PASS within the first few months following an abortion may have a hormonal trigger as part of the reason for the woman's suffering. It's common knowledge that some women experience PMS in such a severe way that they are driven to extreme reactions, and can even be given medication for treatment of PMS. Other women don't have a single symptom of PMS at all. Some women have postpartum depression after the birth of the baby, that can become so severe she must be hospitalized, and/or treated with medication. Other women remain blissfully full of joy from delivery date onward, and don't have one minute of depression after her baby's birth. Some women become extremely sick and nauseated in the first few months of pregnancy, occasionally so severely ill that they must be hospitalized and rehydrated with IV fluids, ect. Other women "glow" in the early months of pregnancy and never even feel queasy. Some women have a severe reaction to hormonal methods of birth control, such as the Pill, Depo-Provera and Norplant. These reactions can be so severe that the women are unable to use hormonal methods of birth control. Other women use hormonal methods with no side effects. What do all these examples have in common? They are triggered by hormones, sensitivities to hormones and fluctuation in hormone levels. So I theorize that women who are sensitive to hormonal fluctuations or hormonal level changes are also very susceptible to PASS. I believe the reason why some women feel suicidal, or severely depressed, or unable to function or cope after an abortion might be hormonal. There is also the emotional aspect, if the woman felt coerced, pressured, or like she had 'no other choice' - these are also definitely contributing factors. I think the hormonal factor is also very important, and has been overlooked by researchers so far. No studies have been done to date (by my knowledge) about the possible hormonal connection with PASS.

For more details on this, and about how the medical community ignores PASS because of the politics involved, see this article PMDD real and PASS Not?? (PMDD - Pre Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder is the new medically approved name for PMS)

The Woman's "Fault"?
Women are usually afraid or embarrassed to even admit to having an abortion, let alone talk to anyone else about problems she might be having. Women are encouraged to think it is 'their fault' if they have trouble after an abortion, and that the abortion itself had nothing to do with how she feels, and that PASS is just some 'anti-choice myth'. It's interesting how if a man goes off to a war, and comes back with "PTSD" (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), we don't 'blame the man', and 'protect' the war, we admit it was the war that caused his PTSD. We don't refuse to help the man, and belittle him or invalidate his pain by saying he had 'previous psychological problems', or other issues in his life that caused the PTSD - we admit it was the whole stress and experience of war, and we help him, support him, allow him a name for his experience and treat him. Yet when a woman has an abortion, and is traumatized by the whole experience, and develops "PASS" (Post Abortion Stress Syndrome), people are quick to 'blame the woman', and "protect abortion", and claim there's no way the abortion could have caused this, the woman must have had pre-existing problems, and it's 'her fault' she is suffering. And the woman is left alone to suffer, with no help, treatment, support or a name for her experience. The fierce war between people who have differing views on the legality of abortion has turned into a war that is hurting women, as people go out of their way to minimize women's problems after an abortion, and "blame the woman" for any trouble she is having. I am in the middle with my views, as I believe that abortion should remain legal and safe, and that every woman has the right to make her own choices concerning her body and her life. However, women and their families need to know that Post Abortion Stress Syndrome is a real problem, and can be a serious complication after an abortion.


Consider this:

Majority of doctors and researchers = Men
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder = main sufferers almost exclusively men
Men's Diagnosis for Men? = A real and serious problem for men, that needs a name, a listing in medical books, and real treatment and help.

Post Abortion Stress Syndrome = main sufferers exclusively women
Men's diagnosis for Women? = Well, just like PMS used to be thought of, these silly women just exaggerate something - it's all in their heads. No such thing as Post Abortion Stress Syndrome.
Male Doctors and Researchers say "it's not real - after all it's 'their choice', how could they be upset about it? How could a woman who chooses to go have an abortion feel upset about it afterwards? Why would women regret or have problems after a surgical/medical procedure they chose to have? This is not 'logical' to male doctors/researchers, and they don't have any 'scientific evidence' to say otherwise, so they assume PASS must be something made up by prolifers, or 'antichoicers', or the women must have had 'previous psychological problems' to be upset by an abortion." Again, let's blame the victim, let's blame the woman, and discourage any help or treatment for them. Even if the women DID have "previous psychological problems", shouldn't they be doing everything they could to help these women? Shouldn't clinics be screening for them before an abortion, and providing extra support and help for these women after an abortion? Yes, they should! But they don't. I have also found this attitude to be rampant in women who have not had abortions themselves, yet are perfectly sure about how women feel after an abortion, and list reasons why an abortion would never affect women in the manner we claim. I tell them of the multitude of women I have spoken with, who before they ever had an abortion, felt the same way. Yet after their abortion, they understood PASS completely, and were just amazed at how little press is being given to this real and serious syndrome. I have told many of these women that after they have personally experienced an abortion, they may change their mind. They assure me "They would never have any problems of any type after an abortion". It still doesn't get through to the others. They refuse to believe that a woman who chooses an abortion could have problems afterwards.

Male doctors and researchers don't understand PASS or even believe in it's existence, and I think it is difficult for them. It took years to convince them that PMS was real, and I think that only came about after there were enough women doctors to convince them! This quote from Criss provides a good explanation of why men don't understand PASS.
"Men and women experience the world in such totally different ways. Men tend to intellectualize things, and women, although we too will intellectualize things, tend to experience things in a more emotional and spiritual way. I think that this is due to the fact that women's identities and experience are very rooted in their physical bodies, whereas men's identities tend to be tied up in their accomplishments. I think that this is both natural and cultural. Women experience menstruation, hormones, ovulation, pregnancy, birth, breast feeding, menopause, etc.., etc.. Outside of career, success, providing, protecting, etc.., men do not really experience life through their bodies. Even though women have many of the same life experiences that men have, we have the added element of physical influence. I guess it is for this reason that I do not think that men can truly understand, nor have a basis for understanding PASS." I think that a woman who has not had an abortion at least has some basis to relate on some level, but then again I do not think that even they can understand PASS fully. It is a unique experience, and so far I have found that only PASS women can read a post from another PASS woman and say "YES!! I know exactly how that feels!!"

Let me tell you a little more on my opinion on 'studies and research' in general. As you probably know, the way they are conducted is that subjects get a phone call or postcard, and if they CHOOSE to respond, they can give their input and their opinion on how well they assimilated the experience. And when I was called for one such study about abortion a few years ago, I said "NO!!!" and immediately hung up the phone, because it was an upsetting topic to me. I did not want to think about it or discuss it at all. I became paranoid wondering how they had got my name to even call and ask me such a thing! Just getting that phone call gave me stomachaches for a week afterwards! I was in no way ready to deal with my feelings surrounding abortion yet. Also women who are in hospitals because of complications surrounding their abortion, or ones who have left their partner, or quit their job and moved, you won't find those women either to participate in the surveys. On the same subject, you wouldn't believe how many women (who had elective abortions not for medical reasons) tell me they lie to their doctors, their families, and their psychiatrists, simply never even mentioning they've had an abortion, or saying 'they had a miscarriage' or they 'lost the baby', or implied there was a medical problem or something else that they had no control over. The actual amount of women who tell the truth about their abortions is apparently very small. Shoot, I had five abortions, and I never told any of my doctors until after the fifth one! So you only get the responses of women who are "doing good" and "feel good with their decision". Again, I am not saying that everyone gets PASS from an abortion. There are some women who have an abortion, and for them it works exactly as it's 'supposed' to, and they never have regrets, or complications, or any other problems, and for them it was a good thing. They feel nothing but relief, and go on to have a happy, wonderful life, and never have one moment of regret, and have absolutely no complications. That's fine! I am very happy for these women. But for many more, their abortion was a coerced experience, forced by parents, forced by partners, forced by circumstances or finances, and these women usually have many more problems with PASS afterwards. We should not discriminate against women who do get PASS, just because some women DON'T get it. The real studies are not being done, the real numbers are not known. That's why I started my site, because I couldn't believe that I was the only one feeling the way I did - and all that research and the APA (American Psychiatric Association) proclamations sounded so directly contrary to what I had experienced in my own life. Once the site was up and running, I found my suspicions were correct - there were thousands of other women out there like me, suffering and silent, because they were afraid to speak up. Now with the anonymity of cyberspace, women are becoming free to talk about this issue, and find help and healing for it.

People have asked me "Why are you trying to make a disease out of something that is just normal feelings of guilt and/or grief? My answer is that PASS is NOT just normal feelings of guilt and grief, it is a group of signs and symptoms that occur together and characterize this particular illness, and there is a set of concurrent emotions or actions that usually form an identifiable pattern for these women. This meets the criteria for calling something a "Syndrome". What I ask is why are people so prejudiced against women who've had abortions, and why are they so eager to discount a problem associated with abortion? PMS only affects 3-5% of women of child-bearing age - yet it is currently recognized as a 'syndrome'. It bothers me that male doctors and researchers, women who've never had abortions themselves, and prochoice majority in general can belittle us and brush PASS off as "women making it up" or just women having "previous psychological problems". Blame the woman, protect abortion. It's the 'holy grail' of women's reproductive rights, and any attempts to discuss PASS is not being studied or investigated, because of the highly controversial nature of this illness. Most research is funded by companies that can have a dollar return on the bottom line study, and no company wants to touch the political suicide that this topic is. Women suffer in silence, afraid to talk about what they are feeling, and what is happening, and they don't tell anyone about what is going on with them, so doctors, researchers and the public at large thinks there is no such thing as PASS.

I can say Post Abortion Stress Syndrome is a 'real' illness, because of my own experiences, and from all the input I have had from other women. A regular, identifiable pattern of feelings, emotions and stages for PASS has emerged.

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Stages
Here are the stages that I have identified for Post Abortion Stress Syndrome. They are listed in the order that I consider 'normal'. However, women can start with different stages, can skip stages, can start with one stage, progress, and then go back to another stage! There is no set 'time' that a woman spends in these stages. Some stages may last a few days, or weeks, and some may last years! There is also varying levels of 'intensity' that women will experience with these stages. While stage 3 might be mildly upsetting for one woman, another woman may become seriously suicidal in that part. As more studies are done, we will be able to refine this better. I recommend that any woman experiencing PASS, in ANY stage, should seek professional help to help her deal with this. For help on finding a counselor or depression therapy, see the Counseling Help Page

content from http://afterabortion.com/faq.html

Post Abortion Stress Syndrome

What is PASS?

PASS is an acronym for Post Abortion Stress Syndrome. PASS is an unofficial name, because it is not officially recognized by the medical community yet. Some sections believe in PASS, others do not. Until enough studies have been done to confirm it's 'existence', the syndrome is still 'unofficial'. This does not mean it does not exist! For more details on PASS, and why it's not "officially recognized" yet, see the following sections:

Stages, Symptoms & FAQs about PASS

PMDD and PPD 'real' and PASS not? "It's the money and politics, stupid!"

After an abortion, how do you recover? How do you deal with the intense feelings of sadness and grief that some women feel? What do you do if you have even more serious complications after an abortion? You're not alone, and help is available! Post Abortion Stress Syndrome (PASS) is the name for a condition that can affect women after an abortion. Not every woman who has an abortion is affected by it. Some women who have abortions feel peaceful about their decision beforehand, relieved afterwards, and then live the rest of their lives with no regrets. Other women may have a different experience, and may have a more difficult time recovering after an abortion. When a woman has an abortion, it's possible that the woman will have some normal feelings of grief, guilt and loss. If the feelings become severe, or persist for a long period of time, she may be suffering from Post Abortion Stress Syndrome (PASS). "PASS" is different from 'normal feelings' of loss and depression immediately following an abortion. How is it different? When is it PASS and not just 'normal feelings'?
When the reactions and feelings in the first 3 months following an abortion are severe, causing such problems as:

Self-harm, strong suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts
Increase in dangerous and/or unhealthy activities (alcohol/drug abuse, anorexia/bulimia, compulsive over-eating, cutting, casual and indifferent sex and other inappropriate risk-taking behaviors)
Depression that is stronger than just 'a little sadness or the blues'
Inability to perform normal self-care activities
Inability to function normally in her job or in school
Inability to take care of or relate to her existing children or function normally in her other relationships (i.e. with a spouse, partner, other family member or friends)
A desire to immediately get pregnant and 'replace' the baby that was aborted, even when all the circumstances that led her to 'choose abortion' the first time are still in place.
So having a severe reaction immediately after an abortion can be classified as "PASS" and not just 'normal feelings'. What can also be described as PASS is when a woman has the problems listed above, and they continue after the abortion for months, and sometimes years.
Other PASS problems could include short and/or long term problems with:

emotions, and dealing with emotional issues
struggles with depression
continued suicidal thoughts or attempts
anxiety and panic disorder
addictions of all kinds
difficulty sleeping and sleeping problems
disturbing dreams and/or nightmares
problems with phobias, or increase in severity of existing phobias
eating disorders
"replacement baby" syndrome
repeated unplanned pregnancies with additional abortions
repeated unplanned pregnancies carried to term
"atonement marriage", where the woman marries the partner from the abortion, to help justify the abortion
trouble with relationships and dealing with partners
distress at the sight of other pregnant women, other people's babies and children
inability to deal with or socialize with other pregnant women, other people's babies and children
codependence and inability to make decisions easily
problems with severe and disproportionate anger
work and school problems (unable to function normally)
problems bonding with and caring for existing children or new babies
distress and problems with later pregnancy
added emotional issues and problems when dealing with future infertility or other physical complications resulting from the abortion.
unhealthy obsession with excelling at work or school, to justify the abortion
For more details about PASS, see:
The PASS Quiz
Frequently asked questions about PASS (includes stages and symptoms)
My "PMDD real and PASS not?" article
Some PASS problems can be severely disruptive to a woman's life, and PASS can trouble her for months and even years after her abortion. The good news is that women can recover from PASS, can learn to heal from their abortion, and can go on to have happy, healthy productive lives. Women are usually afraid or embarrassed to even admit to having an abortion, let alone talk to anyone else about problems she might be having. Women are encouraged to think it is 'their fault' if they have trouble after an abortion, and that the abortion itself had nothing to do with how she feels, and that PASS is just some 'anti-choice myth'.
It's interesting how if a man goes off to a war, and comes back with "PTSS" (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome), we don't 'blame the man', and 'protect' the war, we admit it was the war that caused PTSS. We don't refuse to help the man, and belittle him or invalidate his pain by saying he had 'previous psychological problems', or other issues in his life that caused the PTSS, and we don't tell him that what he is struggling with "doesn't exist" - we admit it was the whole stress and experience of war, and we help him, support him, allow him a name for his experience and treat him to help him recover. Yet when a woman has an abortion, and is traumatized by the whole experience, and develops "PASS" (Post Abortion Stress Syndrome), people are quick to 'blame the woman', and "protect abortion", and claim there's no way the abortion could have caused this, the woman must have had pre-existing problems, and it's 'her fault' she is suffering. And the woman is left alone to suffer, with no help, treatment, support or a name for her experience. The fierce war between people who have differing views on the legality of abortion has turned into a war that is hurting women, as people go out of their way to minimize women's problems after an abortion, and "blame the woman" for any trouble she is having. I am in the middle with my views, as I believe that abortion should remain legal and safe, and that every woman has the right to make her own choices concerning her body and her life. However, people need to know that Post Abortion Stress Syndrome is a real medical issue, and can cause serious emotional or physical complications after an abortion.