Women

Type        Description                                     Cost            Effect.        Advantages            Disadvantages   

None        unprotected random intercourse        $0              11%                                            89% get pregnant each year

Condom    Latex tube to cover penis during      $6-$10        88%        Will block AIDS virus        Must be applied during  intercourse                                                                                            Nonoxyl-9 may inhibit      love-making   some                                                                                                                             AIDS virus                        decrease male  sensitivity

Cream, Jelly    Inserted in vagina up to 1 hr       $12            79%        May inhibit AIDS virus        Possible  irritation
Foam               before intercourse

Condom &    Use of 2 barrier methods together                   99%        Very effective       
Foam/Jelly

Vaginal     Small suppository inserted in the    $7        75%        May inhibit AIDS virus        Requires insertion during love-
Insert        vagina 10-15 before intercourse                                                                                  making, irritation

Sponge        2 inch round sponge with removal    $5.50        70-82%        May inhibit AIDS virus        Cannot provide good barrier
strap impregnated w/ nonoyl-9                        may leave in for 24 hrs        after pregnancy, irritation

Diaphragm    Palm-sized , Frisbee-shaped, flex-    $20 + jelly    82%-90%    May insert  6hrs before        Increased tendency to urinary
ible rubber - Apply 1 tsp. jelly/cream                    leave in until am/cream        infection/replace yearly/must        insert more in vagina                            may inhibit AIDS virus        use cream w/ each use

Cervical Cap    Heavier rubber, smaller cup covering    $100-$150    82%-90%    Lasts 10 years/May leave    2nd pap after 3 months to rule
cervix only/jelly or cream optional                    in 3-7 days            out cervical irritation/appl. &
removal requires practice/cap                                                             alone will not stop AIDS virus

Birth Control    Estrogen & progesterone taken  to    $20 month    99%        Easy, regular routine        Does not stop AIDS virus
Pills        prevent  ovulation/Or progesterone                                    Edema, nausea, wt. gain,
taken every day to prevent implantation                                    blood clots/Increased heart
attack risks if smoke

IUD        Small metal, plastic wire some impreg-    varies        94%        Should be changed yearly    Does not stop AIDS virus/
nated w/ cooper, progesterone inserted                                    uterine perforation pelvic
in uterus to prevent implant                                        inflammatory disease

Progesterone    2 inch stick implanted in inner upper    varies        high        Lasts 5 years            Must be removed when
Implant        arm under local anesthetic                                        finished/possible infection,
irritation

Rhythm        Using abstinence or birth control    $0        80%        Approved by Catholic Church    Requires discipline &
during day 10-20 of cycle                    & others if abstain during     cooperation
fertility

Fertility         Determination of female fertile time    $0    95%        May bring couple closer        Best learned in a class
Awareness    using AM temperature & mucus I                Increase awareness of body    requires cooperation of
inspection/Use abstinence or birth                cycles                partner/Daily temp & inspect.
control during fertility                                        required

Breastfeeding Suggestions & Benefits

Establishing Breastfeeding:

•  Find a comfortable position away from stress to nurse.  This allows easy let-down.
•  Bring the baby to the breast rather than the other way around.  This avoids pulling on the nipple which creates poor suction and nipple soreness.
•  Allow the baby to develop their own patterns; attempts to schedule increases parental anxiety and imposes stress on the baby.  Allow time for adjustment to the outer world.  A pattern will develop between you and your baby.
•  Babies will feed between 8 to 18 times a day.  Some learn the skill of suckling more quickly than others.  Allow for your baby's uniqueness.

Read more: Breastfeeding

CANDIDA: TREATMENT GUIDELINES FOR INTESTINAL OVERGROWTH

Candida albicans is a strain of yeast commonly found in the intestinal tract. Its numbers are usually kept under control by the friendly bacteria cohabiting with the yeast and the body’s defense systems. These friendly bacteria, known as a group by the name Lactobacilli, compete with the candida yeast. Occasionally, however, the yeast will be allowed to overgrow and can then lead to significant states of disease. C. albicans overgrowth is believed to cause a wide variety of symptoms in virtually every system of the body with the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, endocrine, nervous and immune systems being the most susceptible. For simplicity, the following protocol chiefly addresses the gastrointestinal system.

C. albicans overgrowth or enteric candidiasis, is most often associated with chronic use of antibiotics. Other drugs such as corticosteroids (cortisone, prednisone, etc.), anti-ulcer drugs (Zantac, Tagamet, etc.) and oral contraceptives (birth control pills) can precipitate yeast imbalance, as does a lack of digestive secretions and having too much sugar in the diet. To know if you have enteric candidiasis, your clinician may elect to check the stool for C. albicans or test the blood for antibodies against the fungus.

Please be patient and persistent with treatment. C. albicans is a tenacious microbe. Successful treatment includes reducing the predisposing factors to overgrowth, strengthening the body’s ability to fight overgrowth and administering agents that directly arrest the overgrowth.

Read more: Candida Protocols

FERTILITY AWARENESS GUIDELINES

The Fertility Awareness Method can be used to avoid pregnancy or to conceive.  This summary is oreiented toward birth control.  The FAM requireds observation of basal body temperature and cervical mucus.

Primary Fertility Signs:
•    cervical mucus changes:  clear, wet, stretchy, stringy, like egg-white.
•    basal body temperature:  around time of ovulation bbt increases 0.3 - 1.0 degree F.
•    cervix changes:  deeper in vagina, softer texture, is open wider.

Read more: Fertility Awareness