#getting the 10 year iud Monday

[agrownupgeekgirl]

4 days after my 18th birthday I had my daughter. I asked at the time for a permanent birth control option, a tubal ligation. I was told no. I was too young. I would regret the decision.

No.

3 weeks before I turned 20 I had my son. I asked for a permanent birth control option. I hadn't changed my mind since the first time. I was told no. I was too young. I would change my mind. What if "god forbid" something happened to one of my kids? 

No.

So with no other options I went with an IUD. At the time it would be good for 10 years. Then maybe they would consider giving me a tubal.

10 years later my periods were so bad, because of the IUD, that I would bleed through a tampon and a pad in the night and wake up with stained sheets. I went to the Dr and said "Can I please have the tubal now? I've not changed my mind since I was 18."

Problem. At the time I lived in Miles City, Montana and the only hospital was a Catholic St. Vincent's and because they were a Catholic hospital they would not do a tubal because it was birth control. So at the clinic in town they could do an ablation on my uterus to stop my periods and at the same time put implants in my tubes that would act like a ligation. Those blocks were Essure Tubal Blocks. They were a "safe" permanent alternative to the tubal I had been asking for since I was 18. So I said yes.

Yes.

14 years later I start bleeding. Cramping. I go to the Dr. Apparently ablations done before a woman is 40 can actually heal so I needed an ultrasound to see if that's what was happening. 

In the ultrasound the nurse said that my uterus was fine, no regrowth but asked if I had a coil? I said not anymore, that it had been removed when they did the ablation and put in the Essure blocks. The blocks are actually very small coils as well, and it turns out one of mine is missing and the other is moving out of the tube towards my uterus.

I looked it up and found this:

Essure Tubal Blocks Lawsuits

The ultrasound was Friday. They said that I'd need an X-ray to see if they could find the missing coil.

Sunday I started bleeding again, so Monday morning I went back to the Dr. He said he'd order an urgent xray, then called last night to say I could go into the hospital as a walk in to get the X-ray. So I went today but they said it wasn't put in as a walk in so I'd have to wait until I got a letter with an appointment.

Wait.

I'm so tired and so overwhelmed and so angry. 

26 years ago if they had done what I asked this wouldn't be happening. 

24 years ago if they had done what I asked this wouldn't be happening.

14 years ago if they had done what I wanted this wouldn't be happening.

If I had ever had any say over my own fucking body, if I had ever been more than just a body that could give birth, this wouldn't be fucking happening!

Im scared and I'm tired. I wish I had been a person.

[datingintampafails]

Chapter 24 Jake* Part Two

First Date and Another Week

Finally, he arrived at my place to pick me up for our first date, what normally was a five minute drive became twenty five minutes due to traffic. I hop in his car and I’m excited. While we are driving, I look at his center console and see a book regarding Emmanuel Kant, a philosopher. We talk briefly about philosophers, this one in my opinion tells me a lot about him, though he says he doesn’t think Kant’s ideals are sustainable and rather just interesting to think about. Jake* did not have high degrees from college, but is intelligent and well read, there’s more to this book than just the cover.

I had made reservations for my favorite restaurant, Maggiano’s. At the restaurant, it feels like we’ve been together forever, I’m discussing with the waitress that he’s allergic to cheese and making sure that certain items on the menu are okay for him. I order my food and get a glass of wine. Dinner is the opposite of awkward, we are engaged in conversation without a dull moment and happy to be together. 

My best friend got word that we were going to our favorite place, so I ask him if it’s okay if we bring her some leftovers of cheesy garlic bread. He’s completely cool about it, so on the way, we stop by my friend’s apartment to give her the food. She meets us outside and meets him briefly. He is a little quiet but otherwise friendly and we chat for a couple minutes before driving off to my place, a few minutes down the street.

We get back to my place to continue hanging out. My dog goes crazy for him, but after a bit, she relaxed so we could focus on each other. I couldn’t tell you what we were watching, we were just cuddling. We kissed not that much, as his beard’s length scratched my face and I told him it was uncomfortable on my face, but that I definitely wanted to kiss him. I at one point brought my dog outside, and upon returning inside I said I didn’t feel good. My Apple Watch said my heart rate was at 160 bpm, insanely high for me, and I laid back down on the couch. Again, a caring man to the rescue. He tells me to relax there and he will get anything I need and not get up. He gets my dog and brings her back inside, he brings me a drink, I’m waited on hand and foot. I feel better with him around. We spoke about a lot that night of course, but I remember him telling me about him having deleted Hinge and I was the only one he was talking to. Although things so far had felt pretty deep, I was still super surprised he had dropped everything, seemingly, to be with me. I of course had done the same, but for my own reasons. I had talked about Jake* to my best friend and in talking with her I made a deal that if things with him didn’t work out, I would cease dating around until a vaccine comes out/COVID is more or less over.

Meanwhile, outside of my head, he touches my leg and I admit that I have become rather *excited* by being with him in person, our chemistry is just as good in person. He starts to finger me, I tell him to be careful because I wouldn’t want my heart rate to increase again. Strangely, I let him continue and my heart rate goes down. Upon taking a break, this man takes his hand and puts his fingers in his mouth, tasting it. I laugh at him and call him a freak but he laughs too. He too is turned on and he asks me if I want to touch him. I say that I am afraid his claims of being a shrimp are true. Curiosity gets the best of me and over his pants, I touch him and say “oh okay.” I know enough that he is not small. Besides that, nothing happens, as due to my heart issues, I have told him that I want to wait until I’ve seen a cardiologist and make sure it is safe for me to be participating in “cardio.” I ask him if he wants to sleep over, because I want to spend time with him now that I can, and because sexually I am tempted and almost want to just see what happens. He says no. We stop fooling around and just hang out together for another bit of time before he starts to get a headache and becomes really tired. It is then time to leave and agree that we will both have to masturbate later tonight due to our forbidden sex. 

The next day, I am off to test drive a potential new car. We text during my experience there while I’m waiting and I share my news of the new car and the not so great experience at another dealership trying to take care of my old car. He talks about how he felt off due to his headache/tiredness and is seeing a doctor Monday:

We talk about what happened too with the lack of a sleepover: 

I remind him of the activities we DID do, and that obviously I definitely was feeling it. It’s bizarre to me that he still holds uncertainty for my growing feelings of him. 

He is talking about me to his family, I know because he mentions his mother “keeps asking” about me, “will I get to meet this one?” He jokes about telling her I’m 10 years older than him. I say “yeah we just had our first date last night so I should meet your mom tomorrow.” “Exactly.” He now claims he is bored, I ask if he’s bored or if he just wishes I was there. Again, an “exactly.” I get real again.

He decides to take a nap before watching football with his family. He says he is coming back after dinner and asks to come over. I say absolutely and he sends an emoji surrounded by hearts. More or less, he appears at my door maybe 45 minutes later. I did not notice at first, but he had shaved so that his beard was more like stubble. He called me out for not noticing, but upon kissing him and touching his face I told him it was a lot better and I could actually kiss him now without hurting myself.

I do not really remember much about that night or what we did as much as our first date, besides what I am about to describe. Again, he played with me, I touched him, and it got to a point where I finally said, “ok let’s have sex now,” caught by surprise he said “what?” I reiterated I wanted to have sex with him and go to my bedroom. He said he didn’t have condoms, I told him I did. That was that. Shrimp definitely was NOT a shrimp, when we were actually at the point of penetration, it felt a lot bigger. I did not climax but enjoyed myself, and he was attentive, gentle, and communicative. As a joke, he said “good girl” to me, referencing my story to him regarding Dan*. I laughed and playfully nudged him. Similar to Ethan*, compatible sex can only grow feelings. We cuddle, re-clothe, and return to the couch for a while. When he leaves I verify he’s reached home safely before passing out.

In the morning we text each other our good mornings and I tell him I’m glad we didn’t wait. He mentions how great it was and that he’s turned on by thinking about it. I tell him the options of masturbation, bringing “that dick over here,” or a cold shower. Jokingly he says the latter before sending a follow up “just kidding.” He is taking a shower before coming over. I too am going to take a shower, so I let him know the door is unlocked. I hear the front door opening as I am finishing up my shower. I yell out to him that I’m in the shower and he comes to my room. More or less since I’m already naked, we go straight to business. He ate me out, as that is something that he really enjoys doing before having sex. We spend more time together before I more or less kick him out since a plumber is supposed to come by and I am getting my hair done.

Later on, we have a conversation about condoms, he expresses it’s difficult to stay erect with them and I let him know that later down the line we don’t have to use it because of my IUD. He says “Look we’ll stop using them when YOU want to.” I describe to him I am not a fan of them necessarily but the pros and cons. We have more sex talk then immediately segue to sports. I joke that he had better luck with his sports bets before we started having sex. He claims no sex until the end of football season, with another quick “jk.” I am told I wouldn’t make it, I respond that he wouldn’t make it. At this point, we have seen each other three days in a row. I express to him again that I like him.

Monday comes along and both of our appointments go well more or less. They’ve found an abscess in his tooth and he was about to get a root canal to clean it out that day. He mentions he’s driving by my work. For some reason he didn’t think I was there, so missed the opportunity for him to have stopped by. Later that day, I finally feel confident enough to start showing off his Instagram to my co-workers and show them this guy I’ve been talking to. Upon showing one coworker his photo, she says “wait…. I know him!” Turns out she went to middle school and high school with him; they were friends in middle school before he started being a bad boy in high school. My other coworker keeps yelling as a joke that she and I are Eskimo sisters.

We make a plan Tuesday for him to help me swap out my cars, a very nice gesture I appreciate. Consistently he let me know his head is bothering him, an ailment that plagues him constantly. At this point, I don’t have his address, despite him having had mine for a while. I pick him up and we take care of the swap. After the swap, we go back to my place and I flip flop about what we are gonna eat for dinner. Finally, decide on Outback Steakhouse. I insist on paying to thank him for helping me today, something he has never had a girl do for him.

Not much in between, we spend Wednesday night together again and have a sleepover scheduled for Thursday. Wednesday he says something about seeing me in 11 business days, which for whatever reason rubs me kind of the wrong way. When Thursday comes, he, unfortunately, bails since he isn’t feeling good. Friday I made a joke about seeing him for 11 business days. I had promised to give him Hulu logins and a profile, I just needed to get to his place. I mention I am watching the new episode of The Boys on Amazon Prime, we have inside jokes about it, quoting lines like “lazer my tits” and later, “Fuck Fresca.” He gets “upset” that I watched it without him (I did not know we were supposed to watch things together). I asked “was I supposed to wait for you lol,” he says he thought that we would watch it together while eating lunch together. Also didn’t know we were getting lunch together. I came over, watched the episode again, and then we went to McAllister’s for lunch. When we are at his place, we get into sexcapades, with sex brain logic, I decide now is good enough to no longer use condoms. Not to be sketchy at all, and he mentions he feels bad shooing me away after sex, but he has to pack and get ready to stay at his parents’ for the weekend. He plans on Sunday that he is gonna come back after a 1pm football game, and wants to make me dinner at my place. He used to be a sous chef and is quite a talent at that, so out of everything and anything that I could want or have from a real chef, all I want is sloppy joes. We go back and forth on different real dishes he could make, risotto, chicken marsala with pasta, but in the end, I end with sloppy joes. I don’t expect really to hear much of him since he is hanging out with his family for the weekend before Sunday. But I am wrong.

[chimaeracabra]

I am having some trouble focusing right now. I wanna do this assignment that is due next Tuesday so I can ask my professor questions about it during class tomorrow. I feel sad about my loved ones. Neither of my sisters are happy, and Nick is struggling. He called me almost three hours ago. It was the first I've heard from him since he went into the ED on Monday night. He sounded really out of it. He is somewhere safer than where I worked when I was in psychiatric care, which I'm glad for. He also said they let you keep your cell phone on the unit where he is. He told me that today he had images of skinning himself. I can't imagine what it's like to have these constant and sudden malevolent thoughts of self-harm 24/7. I wish he had never had TBI as a teen (he was mugged twice). Perhaps he wouldn't be having this problem now. He told me he saw the psychiatrist for the first time today and they recommended therapy. He has expressed before that he doesn't like therapy and doesn't really want to do it, unless it's CBT or DBT (he recently bought a bunch of psych books and a book about healthy coping skills. I wish he had brought that one with him to the hospital). I think he is preventing himself from even having a chance of improvement with his automatic negative thoughts. So, I hope when he gets out of the hospital, he will actually do therapy and stick with it. A few weeks ago, I felt like something bad was going to happen. I knew it was just a matter of time...

I have been having insomnia for a few days now. Probably because I am just worried about Nick and I'm worried about my twin. Fitbit says I slept for 4 hours and 54 minutes last night. And that was with Benadryl. Maybe tonight I will take Benadryl and my trazodone. I don't really like trazodone too much. I think it increases my chances of having an episode of sleep paralysis, which I really don't enjoy. But I seriously think some of the reason I constantly have so much foot pain is because I don't sleep at a normal hour, or long enough for my body to experience restorative sleep.

I woke up around 8:40AM today and was going to go straight to the gym but felt like crap, so I went back to sleep until 10:46AM. I would love to be on a schedule where I am asleep no later than 12:30AM and waking up around 8:30AM. I have been needing to reset my biological clock basically since I was in high school. Some days it is far worse. For a while, 2AM was my regular bedtime, but I am finding myself awake at 4:30AM, sometimes longer than that. Tuesday, I logged 3 hours and 44 minutes of sleep from 2:02-10:22am. Fuck all.

This morning, the gynecologist who inserted my first IUD back in January called me back about the ultrasound I had on Friday. Apparently, I have a 0.9cm polyp in my uterus that the IUD may be rubbing against. And she said that probably explains the breakthrough bleeding I sometimes have. I am annoyed as FUCK about it, because now I have to go in for her to take out my second IUD and biopsy the friggen polyp to try and remove it all. And if she can't get it all blind in the office with me on painkillers, I might require surgery. I'm a little worried, but she said she does not think it's cancerous. She also said my IUD is tilted somewhat diagonally, so I should use condoms until we can sort this shit out.

I'll be really upset if I can't use this form of birth control. If the copper IUD is in the right place, it's at least 99% effective. Nick and I can't stand how expensive our favorite condoms are (I cannot fuckin' do latex because it burns me), and I was looking forward to never having to worry about condoms.

The only thing I have done today that has made me happy so far was work out. I finally got back in my gym. Now that I'm a few weeks out from full vaccination, I feel a little less worried about contracting COVID-19. I only ran for about 23 minutes. First I did weights. I did the pull-down machine I like. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I can still pull down more than half my weight. I have been doing at-home strength training 3-5 days a week with all my dumb bells. I want to get my middle skinnier again, like it was about 3-4 years ago when I was running a shit ton. But I also don't want to lose my ass. I really see and feel how I have put muscle mass onto my butt, hips, and legs in general. I did my ankle weights after I came home.

I need to try and do at least some work. Then I want to write a story and I will try to have Benadryl and traz tonight and sleep before it's 2AM.

My mom is going on a date on the weekend, and I will finally be able to join her to go to NH to look at a place for my twin to stay during her residency. I also plan to make a batch of basil soap so I can send more to my mentor and my friends. Which reminds me, my dear friend Rueben is getting married soon. I got the formal invitation in the mail today. I was there when he met his fiancée (Rue and I were at the Museum of Fine Arts for an event, just trying to be social, and they struck up a conversation). I'm genuinely happy for him. We don't talk much these days, but he has been such a good friend to me over the past 7 or so years.

I hold the people I care about in such high esteem, and close to my heart. I just want everyone I love to be happy. The past 6 months with Nick have been some of the absolute happiest of my life so far. I hope that things can just keep getting better from here on out...

[crazy-little-cool-cat]

Hand in Glove - Chapter 26 | Ben Hardy x OFC

A/N: I am having a very, very hard time wrapping my head around the fact that there are only four (4) more chapters left for the story. It literally gives me anxiety. 

Warnings: Smut ahead with a sprinkle of melodrama. 

Word Count: ~2.9K. Not that bad, if I dare say so myself!

Chapter 1, Chapter 2,  Chapter 3,  Chapter 4,  Chapter 5,  Chapter 6,  Chapter 7,  Chapter 8,  Chapter 9,  Chapter 10,  Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14 , Chapter 15 , Chapter 16 , Chapter 17 , Chapter 18 , Chapter 19 , Chapter 20 , Chapter 21 , Chapter 22 , Chapter 23 , Chapter 24, Chapter 25

Ben opened the front door as quietly as he could, hoping to surprise Annie. The hall light was on for Frankie, but the rest of the house was pitch black. His shoulders slumped as he dropped his bag to the floor. 

The noise woke Frankie up from her slumber, and she came bolting out the living room, barking bloody murder. Her barks quickly turned into happy whines and yelps when she saw Ben standing at the hall. She rolled over on her back, her whole body swinging from side to side as she wagged her tail while he kicked off his shoes. 

“Oh, my baby!” Ben scratched her belly and dropped to sit on the floor next to her. “Daddy missed you!” 

He heard Annie and Rory approach the door and turned to face it. He could hear Annie’s muffled voice coming up the walkway and up the stairs, a jingle of keys. Rory banging on the door. The scream that came out of Rory as soon as she saw her dad sitting on the floor was deafening. She writhed and wriggled, forcing Annie to put her on the floor. 

Rory crawled at lightning speed towards Ben. He spread his arms and legs open, inviting her in for a cuddle. When she reached him, she braced her hands on his torso and pulled herself up to stand. 

“Clever girl!!!” Ben’s smile could have lit up the entire neighbourhood. “What a clever girl you are!” He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a gentle squeeze. “Come on, up we go!” he said, standing up carefully. 

Annie stood in the doorway still, looking rather sheepish. Ben walked over to her and gave her a lingering kiss, while Rory smacked his cheeks impatiently. 

“When did you get home?” Annie asked as they broke the kiss off. “Could’ve picked you up!” 

“I just got home a couple of minutes before you did, actually.” He bounced Rory on his hip. “Are you ready to take a bath and go to Auntie Clara’s?” Ben asked. 

“Ben, she just got home!” Annie laughed and took off her shoes. “Leave her be.” 

“I just missed your mum so bad!” Ben explained to Rory, moving his face out of her reach as she made grabby hands at his nose. “No, baby. That’s attached and you know it.” 

###

“Another one?” Ben asked, referring to the show they were binge-watching on Netflix together. “Hey, hey. Stay with me here.” 

Annie rubbed her cheek against Ben’s white t-shirt, listening to his heart beat. She moved her face to look at him, resting her chin on the back of her hands, right in the middle of his chest. She was so tired, and he felt so cozy, wrapped around her and keeping her warm and safe. It was just the two of them - Clara offered to take Frankie in for the night, as well. 

“C’mere…” Ben grunted and pulled Annie up on his body so they could look at each other properly. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for the chicken pox crisis.”

“I’m sorry I called you a tosser.” Annie whispered back. She smiled when Ben took a lock of her hair and twirled it around his finger. Just like Rory did when she was tired or moody. “I’m just tired. Worn out. Alone.” 

“You’re never alone.” Ben’s eyes locked on Annie’s. “Ever. You have me.” 

“Not when you’re not here.” 

“Annie, if I could quit working and never leave your side…” 

“I’m not asking you to do that.” Annie bent her knees to get more comfortable. “I’m asking you to maybe take jobs that are closer to home?” 

“I’ll try to stay closer next time.” Ben took Annie’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “Or… you could come with me. Bring Rory and Frankie…” 

“Now you’re just nonsensical.” Annie rolled her eyes and entwined her fingers with his. “I still have Greensleeves.”

“When it ends, then.” 

“Ben, really.”

“Just… just let me fantasise.” Ben bit his bottom lip.

“Is reality so horrible, Jones?” Annie sat up and felt a familiar bump under her. “When you said fantasise -”

“Not what I meant, but you’re not wearing any pants and I haven’t seen you in weeks.” His hands caressed their way over to her hips. “Can I ask you something?” 

“Sure.”

“Do you love me?” Ben asked.

“What?”

“Answer the question.” 

“Of course I love you. Are you having a stroke?” 

“Do you love me?” 

“What, you mean am I in love with you?” Annie raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah.” 

“Are you seriously asking this?” 

“Yeah.” 

“Ben, what’s this -”

“Just answer the question. Are you in love with me?” 

“Yes.” Annie breathed out. “Yes. Of course.” 

“That’s all I wanted to hear.” Ben smiled, the tip of his tongue poking through his teeth. “Was afraid you might not be anymore. For leaving you.” 

“Fiercely and forever, Jones.” Annie leaned forward to kiss him. “You’re stuck with me.”

“Fiercely and forever.” 

###

“Ben, harder.” 

“I’ll - ah, shit - I’ll break your pelvis if I go any harder!” 

Skin slapping skin. Ben and Annie were drenched in sweat, their muscles were shaking, their bodies exerted. Ben shifted the angle a bit and started thrusting again. Annie turned to jello. Her body collapsed forward, her back arching like it never did before. Ben licked his lips and grabbed onto her hips, picking up pace. 

“Yeah?” He asked, “like that?”

“Hm.” 

“Yeah. That’s a good girl.” He slapped Annie’s bum. “Such a good fucking girl.” 

“Ben, I -” Annie was panting, swivelling her hips and bucking back against Ben. She tried to brace herself up on her elbows. 

“No, no, no.” He lunged forward, his chest pressed against her back. “You stay down. That’s a good girl. Right there. Go lower. That’s it.”

He was just about to lean up when Annie let out a muffled ‘no’. She needed him to crush her. She needed to feel him. Snaking an arm under her, he rolled them over on their sides, realigned their hips, and rolled them back the way they were. 

“Spread your legs for me - hm!” Ben could feel the tingling sensations at the tips of his fingers and toes, indicating he was getting close. “Listen to me. Are you listening?” 

“Uh-huh.” 

“I want you to cum on my cock.” 

That’s all the encouragement Annie needed. Clenching around him, she let herself go, moaning. 

“Fuck yeah.” Ben reached around. He rubbed her clit, making her legs shake under him. “Did you just cum? Did you just fucking cum on my cock?” 

“Mhm.” 

“Fuck. Are you ready?” Ben’s voice was like a low growl in her ears. “Answer me.” 

“Yes. Yes.” Annie nodded as best as she could, feeling another wave about to wash over her. “Don’t stop. Don’t fucking stop.” 

“Fuck, fuck, fuckfuckfuckfuck.” Ben’s low moans were like music to Annie’s ears, and then his body relaxed on top of hers, crushing her into the mattress. “I am so fucking in love with you. Fuck. What fucking time is it?”

“How would I know?” Annie mumbled. 

“Christ.” Ben leaned up and looked at the clock on the nightstand next to Annie’s side of the bed. 11PM. “You hungry?” 

“Crusty.” Annie said and started laughing. “So crusty.” 

“Let’s go get cleaned up, then.”

###

“No more talkin’…” Annie mumbled, her lids heavy. “Need sleep.” 

“Fuck that.” Ben kissed the top of her head. “I missed you too much to let you sleep.” 

“Ben, please.” 

“Tell me about your plans for the next week.” 

“No!” Annie whined. 

“Please?” 

“Fine. Work Monday. Then OB-GYN check up Tuesday. Work the rest of the week.” Annie recited her weekly agenda monotonously. “Happy?” 

“OB-GYN? Something the matter?” Ben’s nerves immediately kicked in. 

“No, whacko.” Annie snuggled up to him. “Just a regular check up to see everything’s in place.” 

“Huh.” 

“Yeah.” 

“What if we don’t want it to be in place anymore?” 

“What?” 

“Just take the damn thing out.” 

“And then what? Go back to using condoms?” 

“No.” 

“That’s how babies happen…” Annie murmured and drifted off to sleep.

###

Annie woke up with a jolt. Ben wasn’t in bed with her. It was still dark outside, and Frankie was nowhere in sight. She thought she heard Ben say something just as she drifted off to sleep, but she wasn’t sure if she heard right. Once her tired mind caught up with Ben’s words and processed them, she was already away in Dreamland. 

Until she wasn’t. 

Reaching over to Ben’s side, she felt the sheets. Still warm. He hasn’t been gone very long. Chalking it up to jet lag, Annie sighed and grabbed his pillow, hugging it as she curled up on her side. Not long after, Ben came back, smelling like cigarettes.

“Where’d you go?” She asked, startling him. 

“Jesus bloody Christ!” Ben turned around. “You’re awake?” 

“Just woke up a few minutes ago.” 

“Something wrong?” 

“Did you really tell me to ask Dr. McCarthy to take the IUD out?” Annie sat up. “Or was that just my brain being weird?” 

“I did.” 

“You did?”

“I did, yes.” 

“Have you gone mad?” Annie’s voice was oddly calm. “Ben, if she takes it out -”

“We’ll have a baby.” 

Annie blinked at her boyfriend as if he grew a tail out of his forehead. 

“Am I asleep right now?” Annie finally asked. 

“No.” Ben said as he rolled back into bed and curled up on his side, facing her. 

“Did you just imply that you want another baby?” 

“Don’t you?”

“Someday, maybe, I…” Annie rolled over onto her back. “Rory’s not even a year old yet.” 

“I’m aware of that.” 

“You’re not even around -”

“I’ll be back, y’know.” Ben chuckled. 

“Ben, I can hardly manage one by myself.”

“Just think about it.” He said, putting his hand on top of hers. “That’s all I’m asking.” 

“I…” Annie clasped her fingers around his. “Ben, this is -” 

“If you’re going to pull an Annie, at least tell me where you’re going.” 

“Jamie’s.” 

“Damn it. Fine.”

###

“Do you realise the time -” Jamie started bleating, but stopped when he saw the look on Annie’s face as she stood at his door. “What’s wrong?” 

“Are you alone?” 

“Yeah, yeah.” Jamie stepped aside, inviting Annie in. “Annie, what’s wrong?” 

“Ben wants another baby.” 

“I figured he would.” Jamie put his hands on his hips, his sweats hanging low on his hip bones, chest bare. “Why are you here?” 

“I… don’t know.” Annie confessed. “I just needed to -”

“Pull an Annie?” 

“He knows where I am, though.” She said, her face expressionless.

“Annie, you’re starting to scare me.” Jamie stepped closer to her. “Are you alright?” 

“I don’t know.” 

“Why are you here?” 

“I don’t know…” 

“I’m this -” he held up his thumb and finger, millimetres apart from one another, “ -close to slapping you right now.”

“Jamie, I’m terrified.”

“Of what? Knowing what you want, finally?”

###

“You did not.” Clara’s blue eyes shot daggers at Ben. “You did not tell her that. No way.” 

“I did, and she had that face again.” Ben nodded and bounced Rory on his hip. “Like the one she made when she found out she was pregnant.” 

“Ben, did America turn you into an utter moron?” Clara sat down on her sofa, staring up at her best friend’s boyfriend and child. “What on earth possessed you to tell her you want another baby?!” 

“Well, wanting another baby.” 

“I don’t understand.” 

“It’s not that complicated, really.” Ben shrugged. “I love her. She loves me. We’re going to spend the rest of our lives together -” 

“Says who?” Clara scoffed. “Just because you made this one -”

“Says me.” Ben moved Rory over to his other hip. “I know we’ll spend the rest of our lives together.” 

“Not offence, Jones,” Clara’s awestruck expression remained, “but I think you might have ruined your chances there.” 

“How would you know?” 

“Where’s Annie?” 

“At Jamie’s, what does that have to do with anything?” 

“Oh, Ben.” Clara slapped both hands over her mouth. “Start praying.”

“For what, exactly?” 

“For yourself. For your relationship.” Clara shook her head in disbelief. “What have you done?”

###

“Why are you so freaked out, again?” Jamie yawned. 

“Because this isn’t me.” Annie sighed. “I’m not the kid-loving, mum-type. I’m not wife material. I’m hardly -”

“Right, listen to me very carefully.” Jamie sat up, propping his elbows on his thighs to lean closer to Annie, “you are definitely wife material. You’re an amazing mum.” 

“That! Right there!” Annie almost whined. “That’s the part I’m freaked out about!” 

“Explain.” 

“When I found out I was pregnant with Rory,” Annie picked at a loose string on Jamie’s sofa, “I gave Ben a whole speech about not wanting to be the wife waiting at home and raising kids alone while he’s off and -”

“And you are.” 

“Exactly!” 

“You love him.” Jamie stated. 

“I -” Annie opened and closed her mouth a couple of times. “Yes. Yes, and it’s terrifying, Jamie.” 

“He clearly loves you.” 

“He does.” Annie nodded. 

“You’re just -” Jamie scoffed. “You’re such an idiot, Annie. You two were made for each other. What are you so scared of!?” 

“What if this doesn’t work out?” Annie’s voice was almost a whisper. “What if it’s not meant to work out? What if I say no and it’ll break his heart and -” 

“What if pigs could fly?” Jamie asked. “What if aliens exist? What if we’re all living in a simulator and there’s someone - something - controlling our every move?” 

“What?” Annie’s face contorted in confusion. “What are you talking about?” 

“Annie, you need to talk to Ben about this. Not me.” Jamie shrugged. “I can’t help you.”

###

Ben was just walking down the stairs after putting Rory down for a nap when Annie opened the front door. He froze, foot still in the air, and held his breath. They locked eyes and just stood there, frozen in time. Each waiting for the other to make the first move. Say the first word. 

Annie was the first one to snap back to reality. She closed the door behind her and placed the keys in the bowl by the door. Seeing her move seemed to defrost Ben. He stomped down the stairs and walked up to her. Almost in a daze, she walked towards him and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him as tight as she could. 

“You alright?” Ben asked after kissing the top of her head. He felt her shake her head against his chest. “Okay.” 

They stood in the hall for nearly ten minutes, hugging quietly. Ben felt his shirt getting damp right where Annie’s face was, and tears started pricking his own eyes. He couldn’t stand it when she cried. It was even worse knowing he was the reason she’s crying. Clara’s words repeated in his head like a mantra. Start praying. For yourself. For your relationship. 

“What have I done?” he thought out loud and felt Annie’s body shake as a muffled sob tore through her. “Annie, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. What have I done?” 

Annie couldn’t speak. She didn’t trust her voice to work right. She could barely breathe. 

“Please say something.” Ben sniffled. “Please. At least look at me.” 

Annie’s tear-stained face looked up at him, her bottom lip quivering even more at the sight of Ben’s face.

“It’s over, isn’t it?” Ben whispered.

“Kill Jamie.” Annie’s voice was almost a croak. “Fuck Joe,” she continued, making Ben frown with confusion. “Marry Ben.”

“What?” Ben wiped her tears away with his thumbs. 

“Fuck-Marry-Kill.” Annie licked her salty lips. “Kill Jamie, fuck Joe, marry Ben.”

“Annie, you’re not making any sense.” Ben searched Annie’s face for an explanation, a clarification. A sign that she hasn’t lost her marbles. “Kill Jamie, fuck Joe, marry me?” 

“I’m not ready for another baby.” A fresh wave of tears came streaming down her face. “Not now…” 

“That’s alright.” Ben’s thumbs were like windshield wipers. Wiping away Annie’s tears, unrelenting. “That’s alright.” 

“I…” Annie started and stopped, trying to find the right words. “I’m scared.” 

“Of what?” 

“You.” Annie’s voice broke again and she cleared her throat. “I just can’t -” 

“No. No, no.” Ben’s knees buckled and he dropped to the floor, grasping Annie’s hands in his. “This isn’t happening.” 

“I love you and -” Annie bit her bottom lip and looked up at the ceiling, “ -and I’m terrified. I never wanted to…” 

“Annie, I’m begging you.” Ben tugged on her hands. “You have nothing to be scared of. I won’t hurt you. I’ll quit acting and stay home and do whatever you want.” His eyes seemed to stare into her soul. “Annie. Please.” 

“Ben, I -” he looked down at the floor, feeling defeated. “ -Look at me. I need you to promise.” 

“Anything.” 

“Are we really fiercely and forever?” Annie asked. Ben nodded furiously. “Do you understand what I’m saying or are you forcing the words out of me even though you know how much I -”

Ben’s brows knotted as he processed what Annie said. 

“Kill Jamie,” he parroted, “fuck Joe, marry me?” 

“That’s what I said and you told me I make no -”

“Kill Jamie, fuck Joe,” Ben looked up at Annie, still kneeling on the floor, and a smile started to tug at the corners of his mouth. “Marry me.”

Annie nodded, tightening her grip on his hands. 

“You’re not ending this.” Ben stated. 

Annie shook her head. 

“You’re not ending this…” Ben repeated. “You’re not ending this!” 

Annie shook her head faster, a smile creeping up on her lips. 

“One last time, to see if I got it right.” Ben bothered his bottom lip with his teeth as he inhaled deeply. “Kill Jamie. Fuck Joe.” Ben grinned as realisation dawned him. “Marry me?” 

“Yeah.” Annie nodded and yelped when Ben pulled her down to the floor to sit in his lap. “Fiercely and forever, Jones.”

###

TAGLIST:  @ramibaby @xgoingdownx @qweenly @violetpond @sweeterthancheese @drummerqueenrmt @westansstuff @justgivemethekeys  @blondecarfucker @cheeseedreams47 @deacy-dearest @pinkmarvel @onceuponadetectivedemigod

[foodb4doodz]

People keep asking where I've been. What I've been doing. And that's a very long, very hard story.

In July of this year (2019) I was at my mother's when I randomly started lactating. I called my fiance up at work and had him buy some pregnancy tests. We found out I was pregnant on his lunch break. Pregnancy had been something my partner and I talked about a lot, for a little over a year at this point, and wanted very much but we weren't making any plans yet. In fact we were using 2 "forms" of birth control. I had an IUD as well as tracking my cycle and ovulation and abstaining on my fertile days. I even had a period that month, ending just a day prior to finding out. But I was pregnant.

We were excited and scared. We knew with the IUD there were inherent risks such as an increased risk of ectopic pregnancies. I made some calls and talked to my OB, they told me I needed to get to a hospital to have labs and an ultrasound done to rule out ectopic pregnancy.

I went to work that day and went to the ER in the next town over that night. The did an hCG test, had me pee in a cup, and got me an ultrasound. There was nothing to see. I was only maybe 2 weeks along. Too soon to see anything. The ER doctor told me I was "barely pregnant" and needed to see the hospital OBGYN to get Methotrexate and terminate my pregnancy because she believed it to be ectopic. I left an hour later with a diagnosis of pregnancy with IUD and number to the suicide hotline because that was my treatment for this.

I didn't like those answers. If I was going to terminate a pregnancy I wanted I was going to have to have something more concrete than a maybe it's ectopic. I spoke with my OB and they understood. For 3 weeks we did quantitative hCG testing as well as ultrasounds. On week 3 of my pregnancy we removed my IUD. On week 4 we saw a gestational sac in my uterus, yay it's not ectopic! However my hCG was not rising at an appropriate rate. It was rising, just not fast enough/high enough. On Monday of week 5 I had experienced some pain. I thought it was gas but couldn't help but worry that somehow my pregnancy was still ectopic. I went to my OB and they found that I had a few ovarian cysts that had burst. That was the cause of my pain. They had me do one more round of hCG testing and I was sent on my way. Later that afternoon I had extreme pain and discomfort that I can only compare to labor pain.

The next day, Tuesday, I got a call from my OB. My hCG levels had dropped. That was indicative of a miscarriage. They set me an appointment for the next day, Wednesday, for my last ultrasound and to speak with my doctor about my options.

I go in Wednesday with my fiance. My abdomen is severely bloated. I'm in pain physically and emotionally. I'm seen for my ultrasound. We see my gestational sac. It hasn't grown. There is no heart beat or baby. They tell me that my uterus is full of blood. They ultrasound my abdomen. It's full of fluid. I have no ovarian cysts, they had all "popped". That's why I was in so much pain I'm told. I speak with my doctor. We talk about what the best options for me are. I decided to go with a D&C. We set the appointment for that Friday, officially day 1 of my 6th week.

I go in Friday and I'm prepped for surgery. I'm told it should take 20 to 30 minutes it's a simple procedure. I wake up hours later, covered in bandages and stitches. My doctor had found internal bleeding and had to operate. They performed a laparoscopic surgery. They made 3 incisions; one on each side of my hip and one in my belly button. They found a ruptured fallopian tube. I apparently had an ectopic pregnancy that ruptured. It was undetected on ultrasound. I was told its incredibly rare to have a gestational sac in the uterus and a pregnancy in the fallopian tube but it does happen.

It took me two weeks to recover from the surgery. I spoke with my doctor about trying for a baby this time. I was cleared after a few more weeks. I had been trying for about 2 months. I felt like I was pregnant but every test I took came back negative. I took two in one week and they were negative, then I decided to take a third one a couple days later. It came back positive. I went and bought more tests all positive.

I was terrified. Even without the IUD now I'm at an increased risk of developing an ectopic pregnancy. We repeated the same process of ultrasounds and testing. My hCG was rising normally. That was the first good sign. Then we saw a gestational sac in my uterus. Another good sign but not good enough. Then we saw it and heard it. We had a heartbeat, in the uterus. This is a normal and healthy embryo. However I have a hemorrhage in my uterus. It's not deadly but it is there. We are waiting for it to heal. I'm on iron in the mean time. On top of that I have hyper emesis which is just fancy for I can't keep any food down. Throwing up on average 3 or more times a day. I'm on 2 anti emetics, they just aren't cutting it. I've been hospitalized twice. I've been having a rough time physically and emotionally. But I am currently 10 weeks and 2 days along. We officially have a fetus and in 3 more weeks I'll be in the second trimester.

It's been a very long and hard process. I've been gone because I've been sick and heart broken and scared. I wanted to be able to mourn in peace and have time to enjoy my pregnancy while I have it because I was scared I wasn't going to stay pregnant. I'm still scared. I'm worried every day. I've been gone trying to take care of myself and my family.

[colorfulanchorkryptonite-blog]

Xenith Advanced Fertility Centre | Elawoman

Xenith Advanced Fertility Centre

Xenith Advanced Fertility Centre is a Gynecology and Fertility clinic located in Wakad, Pune. The clinic was established in the year 2000. Various range of medical services provided by the center include Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI), In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), Blastocyst Transfer, Egg and Embryo Donation, Sperm and Embryo Freezing, Fertility Preservation, Fertility enhancing surgeries, Male Infertility treatments. 

The center is well equipped with the latest diagnostic and therapeutic equipment and is committed to helping the couples facing the issues of infertility. Dr. Mamta Dighe, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist visits the clinic. She has specialization in In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI), ICSI (Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection), Gyne Laparoscopy and has more than two decades of experience in this field. Click on the link to get the directions to reach Xenith Advanced Fertility Centre.

IVF Centres in Pune

Fertility stories are always filled with emotions, uncertainty, and controversies. Childless couples who would make great parents look for the best IVF centres in Pune that can help them conceive a healthy baby. Due to the rise in infertility cases in Pune, provisions for personalized care and treatment for Infertility management have improved in almost all IVF centres in Pune.

The patient care and counseling staff's high morale and positive energy can be felt as soon as you first walk inside any infertility treatment centres in Pune. They understand that for parents, the issue of infertility is a sensitive one so they treat every patient specifically according to the individual’s problems. Apart from offering highly successful treatment, In Vitro Fertilization hospitals in Pune also strive to make every patient physically and emotionally comfortable throughout the entire process.

The IVF centres in Pune are highly maintained to provide enough space for couples along with convenient parking services and friendly approach. The warm, clean and inviting atmosphere of these centres with experienced doctors make them most sought after destination for infertile couples.

1. Pearl Womens Hospital and Yash IVF

Pearl Womens Hospital and Yash IVF is a Multispeciality centre placed in Deccan Gymkhana, Pune. It became established within the year 2003. The sanatorium is also called a Center of Excellence for Gynecology Surgeries with minimal invasion and Safe Motherhood. The services provided at the sanatorium encompass Infertility assessment, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Laparoscopy, Ultrasonography, and Testicular biopsy, and Gynecology Ultrasonography approaches.

It is likewise guided and visited by using Dr. Chaitanya Ganapule who is an infertility expert and endoscopic physician. He focuses on In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Gynecology Laparoscopy, and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) treatment, Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (MESA), and Endoscopic Surgery procedures. Click at the map to reach Pearl Women's Hospital and Yash IVF hospital readily.

By combining amazing care with a modern-day facility we try to offer you with quality fitness care. We thanks on your hobby in our services and the believe you have got placed in us.

Pearl Women's Hospital & Yash-IVF is thought for housing skilled Dentists. Dr. Ashwini Ganapule, a nicely-reputed Dentist, practices in Pune. Visit this scientific fitness centre for Dentists recommended by 106 patients.

Services:-  IVF,IUI,IVF,MESA

Location:- Deccan Gymkhana, Pune

Timing:-    Monday - Saturday, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Rating :- 4.4 / 5

2. Pune Fertility Centre

Pune Fertility Centre is an IVF and Surrogacy Centre positioned in Shivaji Nagar, Pune. The center is capacitated in offering a wide kind of treatments starting from primary infertility care to the most superior infertility treatments. Some fertility treatment rendered by means of the medical institution include In Vitro fertilization (IVF), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), PCOS, Male and Female infertility treatment, Endometriosis, Egg freezing, Semen Freezing, Sperm Donor Program, Laparoscopic Surgery, Ovulation Disorders treatments.

The sanatorium is guided and visited through Dr. Bharati Dhorepatil, Gynaecologist and Obstetrician with over three many years of experience. She has specialization in Normal Vaginal Delivery, Gynecology Laparoscopy, Natural Cycle IVF, Egg Donor, In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) approaches. Click at the map to get the directions to reach Pune Fertility Centre.

Pune Fertility Center is an Infertility Clinic in Shivaji Nagar, Pune. The health facility is visited through doctors like Dr. Bharati Dhorepatil. Some of the offerings provided by means of the Clinic are: Egg Donor,In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF),Embryo Donor Program,Endoscopic Surgery and Ultrasonography - Pelvic and so forth. Click on map to discover guidelines to attain Pune Fertility Center.

Services:-  IVF,IUI,IVF, Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

Location:- Shivaji Nagar, Pune

Timing:-    Monday - Saturday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Rating :-  4.3 / 5

3. Ssmile IVF

Ssmile IVF is an IVF centre positioned in Nagar Road, Aga Khan Palace, Pune. The centre was started out under the steerage of Dr. Bharati Dhorepatil. It went on to flourish and emerge as a famous Test Tube Baby Centre in Pune. The treatment services presented at the centre consist of Infertility evaluation, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Laparoscopic Surgery, Embryo donor applications, Gynecology troubles treatment, Normal and Cesarean delivery strategies. 

The centre is affected person targeted and the entire group works at a constant tempo to provide tremendous effects to the patients. Dr. Bharati Dhorepatil is one of the the top infertility specialists and endoscopic surgeons practising at Ssmile IVF. Click on the link to discover the distinctive direction to reach Ssmile IVF.

At Ssmile our clients can be served with the fine steerage with the aid of our team of expert medical doctors, clinical workforce and advanced medical centers. Initially whilst you go to Ssmile IVF health center you will get to fulfill our Fertility Specialist for fertility session who will manual with the great feasible procedures to clear up your fertility related trouble.

In your first appointment with Ssmile's fertility experts, our physician will evaluation your complete medical history, examine your standard health, and arrange preliminary checks and investigations to your unique trouble. These checks and investigations could be done as in keeping with the doctor's referral at Smile.

For girl's, relying on testings accomplished in advance, the fertility expert may further order pathology assessments. For adult males, blood check for hepatitis B and C, HIV and evaluation of semen are all frequently performed inside the procedure of Fertility Treatment.

Pre-pregnancy screening is also available for a few genetic conditions including cystic fibrosis and can be discussed in element with our specialist.

Services:-  IVF,IUI,IVF

Location:- Nagar Road, Aga Khan Palace, Pune

Timing:-    Monday - Saturday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Rating :-  4.3 / 5

4. Orion Hospital

Orion Hospital is a Multispeciality centre placed in Wakad, Pune. The clinic includes a crew, committed to the venture of presenting excessive pleasant and safe healthcare to its sufferers. The services supplied inside the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology consist of Infertility assessment, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), Post Natal Program, Pregnancy Problems, Contraception recommendation, IUD insertion and elimination techniques, Normal and High Risk Pregnancy, and Maternal ICU.

Dr. Parag Hitnalikar is an infertility expert specializing in In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) approaches. He has almost two many years of revel in within the subject of infertility treatment. The hospital serves its sufferers from Mon to Sun: nine:30 AM - 10:00 PM. Click on the map to discover the proper route to reach Orion health center.

Orion Hospital is a multispecialty health center with facilities available for commonplace contamination in addition to for complex sicknesses. It is placed in heart of the Wakad, Pune. It has got state-of-the-art treatment inclusive of IVF ( Test Tube Baby), Joint Replacement, Arthroscopies, Digital X-Ray beneath one roof. The second biggest gain of this center is its affordability as they've packages appropriate for any magnificence of patient.

Services:-  IVF,IUI,IVF, Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

Location:- Wakad, Pune

Timing:-    Monday - Saturday, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Rating :-  4.3 / 5

For more information, Call Us :  +91 – 7899912611

Visit Website  : www.elawoman.com  

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[goosegoblin]

Hi Jess! could you give some advice about birthcontrol? from what i get different kinds fit different women but how fast can you tell? how should you ask your doctor for a change if needed? anything else a first time user should know? hope all is well, xoxo

Hello love!

First of all, it depends what country you’re in. If you’re in the USA, head over to Planned Parenthood- the ladies there are wonderful and can talk you through your options for free, I believe. If you’re in the UK, you can talk to your GP or visit a GUM clinic- you can google to find them in your area, and they’re NHS run and free. If you’re in another country, I’m less sure who you should speak to, but I’m guessing your standard doctor would be a good start!

It’s important to note that birth control won’t protect you from STIs. You need a barrier method (condom, female condom, dental dam) for that. 

So, birth control. You’re right in that it varies a lot between women, and there’s no real way to know what will work best for you- it can be something of a trial-and-error situation. I got lucky in that the first BC pill I went on works very well for me (though the first week was hellish, not gonna lie. That was my own fault for taking the morning after pill on Saturday and starting birth control on Monday...)

There are a few different options here. There’s pills, implants and IUDs. I’d say most people start with a combined birth control pill.

Note: no method of contraceptive is 100% effective. If you’re having sex, make sure you have a plan about what you’d do if you got pregnant. Please note also that the morning after pill loses effectiveness the longer you wait to take it, and is less effective for overweight or obese women. 

-----

Pills: 

These can be combined (meaning they contain oestrogen and progesterone) or progesterone-only (also called the mini pill). Synthetic oestrogen stops ovulation from occurring and stops the uterine lining from breaking down to prevent bleeding; synthetic progesterone stops ovulation, makes it harder for sperm to travel and makes it harder for an egg to be fertilised or implant. 

The combined pill is more effective, but not everyone can take it. Synthetic oestrogen can increase your blood pressure, so if you already have hypertension it might not be a good idea. It’s also not recommended for women who get migraines, are over thirty five, smoke, are significantly overweight, have a history heart or liver disease, or who are more likely to get blood clots. The mini-pill is better if that’s your situation, but you need to be more careful about taking it at the same time every day. The levels of hormones in the mini pill are lower, so you don’t have as much leeway.

Possible side-effects include mood swings, spotting (bleeding when you’re not meant to) and headaches. Like with many meds, these often improve as time goes on- I don’t have any side-effects from my pill, except for the rather odd and incredible side-effect of basically curing my IBS. Hormonal contraceptives like the pill can also affect your sex drive- it can be embarrassing to talk to your doctor about this, but it’s important that you do if you’re allosexual/ want to have sex. They can work with you to find an option that won’t kill your libido.

I take my pill every morning and tend to have a period every 6-8 weeks. Some packs just tell you to stop taking the pills for a week; other brands come with a week of sugar pills. These are just placebo pills. Some people prefer this because it means they remain in the habit of taking a pill every day. My periods are much lighter & nicer since starting contraceptives, and that’s the case for many women. You can basically pick and choose when to have periods when on the pill, which is lovely, but if you miss too many periods in a row (it’s about two for me) you’ll start getting breakthrough bleeding/ spotting, where your uterus is like ‘fuck you, we’re bleeding anyway’.

There is some evidence linking the pill to an increased risk of certain types of cancer and blood clots, but the increase is very small and the chance is still very low. Your doctor will go over your family history with you, so make sure you’re honest about cancer/clots etc in your family.

There are a few different brands of each type, so if one combined pill doesn’t work for you that doesn’t mean you have to swear off them forever.

Final notes- some antibiotics decrease their efficiency, but this is rare (and your doctor will tell you if that’s the case). If you throw up or have bad diarrhoea within a few hours of taking the pill, you may not be protected against pregnancy. Take another one, but if you’re sick/have diarrhoea again, you need to also use barrier methods until you’re better (and then maybe a couple days after). You also need to use barrier methods for a week if you miss two or more combined pills in a row, or one mini-pill.

Pros: easy, simple, can make periods lighter

Cons: bad side-effects for some women, gotta remember to take pills every day, not suitable for everyone

There’s also a contraceptive patch which releases the same hormones in the same way. You change it weekly and it’s still effective even if you’re sick. However, there’s evidence that it may not work for women over 90kg, or those who smoke. There’s also always the risk of it falling off, which may or may not outweigh the annoyance of taking a daily pill.

A similar alternative is the contraceptive ring, which releases oestrogen and progesterone and is inserted into your vagina. You put it in, wait twenty one days, remove it, wait a week and put a new one in, similar to with pills. Again, it protects even if you’re sick, but there is a risk it might come out on its own and need washing & reinserting.

------

Implant

The implant is a thin tube put in your arm that releases progesterone slowly. It can stay there for years and is pretty good at preventing pregnancy. It can cause your periods to stop altogether, but it can also cause them to become erratic or unpredictable (especially in the first year). They can also cause similar side-effects to the mini pill- mood swings, acne, nausea. There’s also a small risk your implant site could become infected. Again, it might not be suitable for women at high risk of migraines, clotting or cancer. However, you can breastfeed with the implant in, it won’t effect fertility in the long-term, and you can have it removed at any time.

There’s also an injection which works very similarly and lasts for 8-12 weeks.

Pros: long-term, don’t have to remember pills, can stop periods altogether 

Cons: risk of periods becoming worse/ more erratic, small risk of infection, not suitable for everyone

-----

IUD/ IUS

IUD stands for ‘intrauterine device’, also known as the coil. It’s non-hormonal, so there’s no progesterone or oestrogen going on. It releases copper instead, which changes the environment in the fallopian tubes and means sperm + eggs cannot survive. IUDs can last for 5-10 years and can actually be put in as a form of emergency contraception, meaning you don’t have to take the morning after pill. 

Having the IUD put in can be painful, and there’s a very small risk it may become infected. Your periods might be erratic for a few months, but should calm down. If you get pregnant with an IUD in you need to see a doctor quickly, as the risk of ectopic pregnancy (implantation in the fallopian tubes) is higher. However, this is still very rare, because pregnancy in general with an IUD is very rare. Most women can use IUDs, and medication won’t affect them. 

The main reason most women stop using IUDs is vaginal bleeding and pain. There’s no risk of the standard hormonal side-effects like mood swings/ nausea etc, however.

Pros: non-hormonal, can be used by most people, very long-term

Cons: might hurt when it’s put in, small risk of infection or IUD coming out/ moving out of place, increased risk of vaginal bleeding

The IUS is similar, but hormonal (progesterone is released). It’s very effective and can stop periods/ make heavy periods much lighter. The hormonal effects are similar to those for other hormonal methods listed above.

-----

My advice (I AM NOT A DOCTOR)

Obviously listen to your doctor and be honest with them. If you don’t have a family history of breast cancer, clotting, bad migraines etc, you’ll likely start on a combined pill. Give it at least two weeks before you make any decisions. The side effects will likely settle down. Try taking it with food if nausea is a problem. I

I don’t think long-term options are a good first choice- try some more temporary/ shorter lasting ones first so you have the chance to change back quickly if wanted. Don’t get me wrong, IUDs and implants are awesome, but maybe give pills a go first. 

If you don’t like what’s happening and want to change, that’s all you gotta tell your doctor. “I am having these symptoms {XYZ} and would like to try a different method of birth control”. You deserve to find a method that works well for you.

Best of luck xxx

[joyinpractice]

THE THIRD WEEK

Published August 10, 2018

[Pink Sakura Blossoms, photo taken in London]

We have two type of rotations during clinical year - ones where you spend five weeks in the same setting ("One Setting") and ones where you rotate in a different setting each week ("Multiple Settings"). I've come to learn that I definitely prefer the former over the latter!

My rotations in Surgery, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Orthopedics, Geriatrics and Family Medicine were structured as "One Setting" rotations. What I like about this structure is that in the span of 5 weeks, you are able to track your progress and perform significantly better during Week 5 compared to Week 1. Not only do you understand the medicine better, but you have a more developed map of the site, better relations with staff members, build more trust and rapport with your team, and you begin to understand what life could look like as a PA in that specific discipline.

For example, I just finished Week 3 in my Family Medicine rotation and I find myself extremely comfortable with anyone who comes into my room! The first week, I was extremely frustrated by the chaos. The second week, I developed systems to make my experience better and more organized. And third week, I don't need to think about the extra - I have my note format, Epocrates/Merck Manuals/Uptodate tabs are all open on my browser, and I'm seeing patients every 20-30 minutes on my own. It's FUN!

In rotations such as Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and OB/GYN, which were structured across "multiple settings," it was much more difficult to develop a sense of place or expertise. With psychiatry, it wasn't too bad because we had 3 weeks in acute care before spending two weeks on the inpatient service. With Pediatrics and OB/GYN, I found that I did really like the medicine but the chaos of switching settings or leaving a setting after spending countless hours building connections was just difficult to work with. However, I definitely understand why these two specialties use the multiple setting model. By rotating in multiple settings, you get to see pediatric/OBGYN medicine not only in the inpatient setting, but also the clinic, and the OR, and the emergency room!

In OB/GYN for example, I absolutely LOVED my last week of my rotation in clinic where I got to work with a physician on Monday, a Midwife on Tuesday, and a PA on Wednesday! They all provided care in the EXACT same room (Room 8!) but the patients they saw and their scope of practice was so different. The physician saw a lot of IUD insertion patients. The midwife saw ALL of the second and third trimester patients. The PA saw everything with a new patient every 15 minutes! So it became really fun to just not know what to expect and think quickly on my feet and adapt.

All in all, I can't believe I have only TWO MORE WEEKS OF CLINICAL ROTATIONS. For the Fall semester - "Research Semester" - we currently only have classes scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday. I am honestly not excited to be pulled out of rotations to sit in lectures but I know that the Fall will be my time to get good with the literature. ANKI was truly amazing for my OB/GYN rotation and there wasn't a single patient presentation that stumped me - there were definitely times I was teaching providers about the more up to date guidelines, or next steps in the work-up - and I don't have enough time to make decks for Family Medicine right now. But the Fall - that will be ideal ANKI time!

[emedhelp]

Colorado abortion rates keep declining. Free IUDs and easier access to the pill are the reason.

Abortion rates have dropped again in Colorado, and health authorities are crediting increased access to birth control statewide.

Pharmacists have written thousands of prescriptions for the birth control pill since 2017, when Colorado became only the third state in the nation to allow women to get prescriptions for oral contraceptives at the pharmacy instead of only from a doctor. 

State and federal dollars are funding free and low-cost IUDs — intrauterine devices that prevent pregnancy for five years or more — for low-income women and teens who visit community health clinics across the state. 

Another contributing factor: the so-called morning-after pill has been available over the counter at Colorado pharmacies since 2013. 

“The goal has always been access,” said Gina Moore, assistant dean for clinical and professional affairs at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy. “We are just really pleased.” 

Does this kind of in-depth journalism matter to you? Make more of it possible with a Colorado Sun membership, starting at just $5 a month.

Nationwide, the number and rate of abortions have declined to the lowest levels since abortion became legal in 1973, according to the latest report from the Guttmacher Institute, which tracks abortion across the country. In Colorado, there were 12,390 abortions in 2017, the most recent year included in the report released this fall. That compares with 14,710 abortions in 2011. 

Not all of those abortions were for Colorado women. An unknown number of women traveled from other states to have abortions here. Regardless, there was a 10% drop in the abortion rate for Colorado from 2014 to 2017 — that is 12.1 abortions per 1,000 women in 2014, compared with 10.9 abortions per 1,000 women in 2017. 

It’s impossible to parse how much Colorado’s birth control protocol, which allows pharmacists to prescribe oral contraceptives, has affected abortion rates. But public health officials are thrilled with how pharmacies have put the 2016 state law to use. 

The state health department isn’t keeping a tally, but it’s clear pharmacists have written thousands of prescriptions for birth control pills. King Soopers pharmacists alone have written more than 1,500 prescriptions since 2017. The Wardenburg Health Center on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder has written close to 400. 

Albertsons and Safeway stores also allow their pharmacists to write the prescriptions, as do dozens of smaller pharmacies across Colorado, Moore said. (Walgreens does not participate.)

In Oregon, the first state to allow pharmacists to write birth control prescriptions, researchers found that the law averted more than 50 unintended pregnancies in its first two years and saved the state $1.6 million in public costs associated with medical care. 

To write birth-control prescriptions, Colorado pharmacists must complete a four-hour, online training program. Women can obtain the pills within 10 or 15 minutes after walking into a pharmacy and filling out a one-page questionnaire, which asks whether they could be pregnant and their history of migraine headaches, strokes or high blood pressure. 

A package of the birth control drug Microgestin. (The Colorado Sun)

For many college students, especially those who have moved away from home and their regular doctor, visiting a pharmacy to get the pill is far less daunting than making a doctor’s appointment for a pelvic exam. 

At the health clinic at CU Boulder, young women who come in for the morning-after pill or birth control are offered several options, including an IUD in the center’s clinic. The IUD can prevent pregnancy up to 10 years. The pill is less reliable, since a woman must take it daily for it to work effectively. 

The range of options has improved access for young women, said Sue Mead, pharmacy director at Wardenburg Health Center at the university. “It allows them more ease to obtain any birth control method,” she said. “There is no pressure.” 

The clinic’s pharmacy sells about 70 morning-after pill packets per year, or up to about 15 per month in some school months, Mead said. The busiest day of sale is Monday, she said. The pill — a popular brand name is Plan B — prevents ovulation or fertilization of an egg. It works best within 24 hours of unprotected sex.

Moore, the pharmacy school dean, for a few years picked up holiday shifts at a pharmacy chain and found New Year’s Day was by far the busiest day for morning-after pill sales. “New Year’s Day was a banner day,”  she said, recalling a line in the drive-thru first thing in the morning. “It would be crazy.”

Read more health stories from The Colorado Sun.

Perhaps even more than oral contraceptives, IUDs have contributed to the decline in abortions and unwanted pregnancies, public health officials said.

A landmark report from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment two years ago credited IUDs, which are T-shaped pieces of plastic inserted into the uterus, for a major decrease in unwanted pregnancies among teenagers. 

The birth rate for girls ages 15 to 19 in Colorado dropped by more than half in an eight-year period, falling 59% from 2009 to 2017. The abortion rate among Colorado teens fell by 60% during those eight years.

Colorado spent $28 million in grant funds during those years to supply IUDs to 75 public health clinics in Colorado, including several inside high schools. Women and teens received 43,714 free IUDs from 2009 to 2016, thanks to a grant from billionaire Warren Buffett’s family. 

The grant ended, but the state has maintained the program through state and federal funds, as well as the expansion of Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act. There are 29 contractors who work in 78 clinics throughout Colorado providing free and low-cost IUDs, said Jody Camp, manager of the family planning unit at the state health department. 

The Guttmacher Institute report counted 32 facilities in Colorado that provided abortions in 2017. That was a drop from 36 in 2014. 

Nationwide, 89% of counties had no clinics that provided abortions. In Colorado, 50 out of 64 counties do not have a facility that provides abortions, according to the institute.

This reporting is made possible by our members. You can directly support independent watchdog journalism in Colorado for as little as $5 a month. Start here:

[katsawersome]

IUD insertion.

I knew/know I don’t want anymore kids. I had a decision to make. Did I want to tie my tubes or have a 7 year IUD? I went back and forth. Getting your tubes tied doesn’t stop your period and ultimately that’s what I’m looking for especially postpartum. Everyone told me dealing with a period and a new baby is not easy and I knew it wouldn’t be since my cycles are not fun to begin with. An IUD has a good chance at stopping your cycle. My OBGYN told me several times how she recommended the IUD so I don’t have to worry about a period and how I’m perfect for it. So I decided on the IUD.

It took two of the most painful, traumatic, appointments to get it (Mirena) inserted. Apparently, my cervix opening is directly UP and no one thought about telling me how weird or difficult it would be to get to. The first appointment was the worst experience of my life. After 30 minutes of scraping and proding and plenty of “I’m so sorry hon. Are you okay?” a nurse and a SECOND OBGYN they admitted defeat and decided to reschedule for “a bigger room and I’ll be much more prepared. I know what we’re working with now so I’m sure we can do it!” Oh also during the procedure I began to bleed and she had to sit there and make sure it was “just a little bleed”. I cried the entire car ride home. I had cramping and some bleeding for around 3 or 4 days after. They scheduled the next appointment almost a full MONTH after the first with nothing else open. So unfortunately a week and a half before the second appointment, I had my first excruciating cycle. Something I was trying to avoid all together. Ladies, when someone tells you that you don’t want to have to deal with a new baby and a period YOU REALLY FUCKING DON’T. It’s hard enough having postpartum bleeding. At least you don’t cramp like this. It makes it really fucking difficult to take care of a new baby when you’re old friend from over 10 months prior comes back with a vengeance. Especially if that old friend already had you layed up in bed with a heating pad in tears because of the pain. I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done if I didn’t have help. So my cycle stops and 3 days later I had my second appointment. It’s a much bigger room and this time she takes her time getting ready. Making sure she has everything she might need inside this room so no one would have to run and get anything. (Which ended up happening anyway.) While I was on the table she realized it was the wrong one and she wanted the other table, but someone was using it. So we used the table I was already on. My ENITRE ASS is hanging off the table before she tells me this should be a good position. She says she needs to be pretty much under me to even see my cervix. Did I mention I have really bad sciatic nerve pain? Oh yeah. Not only was I feeling her scrape around for 20 minutes but my back was in so much pain I was almost in tears. She tells me “You tell me when you’ve had enough and we’ll regroup.” Bitch, this IS the regroup. I say “you’re already in there. I’m not gonna stop you. Just get it in.” I could hear her whispering trying to figure out how she was going to do it. Mumbling something about “she’s gonna be so uncomfortable if I do that.” Too late for that amirite? Like, you’re already causing so much pain and you know it. Just fucking get in there and do what needs to be done. If trying to save me from a little pain is taking longer than just fucking doing it and it hurting a little more JUST DO IT. Aaaaaaand she finally gets it. IUD inserted. We’re golden. This was last Friday. Today is Wednesday. Bleeding and cramps were expected. The cramps stopped Sunday, but I kept spotting. On Monday I thought it might be getting worse but then it stopped. Today I can confidently say this is a fucking period. Again. Cramps and all. Only this time the cramps are much worse. Do IUDs push you into a period? I’ll have to check the googles.

I’m so glad today is my husbands Friday at work. I’m gonna go die now.

[littled123]

Life getting you down? Same.

(Mostly just tying out my feelings, didn’t know it was going to be this long but if you actually read it all, welcome to my rant)

I want so badly to have my life together but I feel like I’m always so busy. Which honestly being busy isn’t even the real issue, at least for me. It’s my damn health. Like I can’t go a day or even less without running into some problem that’s all my body’s fault. It’s usually a bad headache or migraine but sometimes its something else or both. And then mental health too. I know when I get anxious or super depressed, it makes me feel physically worse in some way. But also I get to feeling those kinds of ways, when I’m physically ill, and its messing up my life and routine, so then I end up feeling all emotional about it. It’s a never ending cycle I’m trying to break but its hard.

I know i can handle busy on its own, because when I’m going through a real good time, I take my day to day crazy schedule like a champ. And i feel like i could easily handle the health issues, if I was like a millionaire that could just lay around when I felt shitty, get what i need to help instantly, and do what I want when I’m good. But having to work through all my pain just to survive really puts a damper on your progress as a whole. I’m actually in the process of trying to fix my migraine issue now. I’ve had every test run on me to figure out why I get them and nothing is wrong, so my old doc just tried meds and physical therapy but didn’t make any progress, its just been getting worse (probably because my life/stress is just getting worse but it still doesn’t explain why I started getting daily headaches in 4th grade). But now I’m with a new doc that is trying different, better meds all while going the medical Botox to try to stop them all together. Let’s see how that goes but its a slow moving way to go, but it has to be that way.

I think I’ve been thinking more about this now, even though i think about it always, is just because its almost the new year and i really want to start it off good, not saying that would make the whole year good, but I definitely feel starting anything with a shitty tone just isn’t good for motivation. But I’ve been thinking about re-joining the gym again, because I do really like going, its just I always seemed to quit (if i happened to quit that year) is always in the spring/summer, because that’s when I’m pet sitting the most and work is even more crazy, so i just feel like I don’t have the time or energy to keep going to make it worth the money (plus I have a very active job and like taking my dog on walks when my days off are nice) so i don’t feel too bad. Then I seemed to join sometimes once fall starts (and schools go back into session) or at the new year depending if my thanksgiving/Xmas is going to be too crazy as well. And also with working out, just eating better, which I have recently been doing a lot better with anyways, but I want more. I feel like I’ve had no time to really cook what I want just because I only have so much time outside of work, and most of it is either filled with pet sitting or being at home dying with a migraine.

I just feel like I’m mad at my body for not letting me do what I want. Like, when I have the day off or just after work even, and I’m feeling good, the busy doesn’t really get in my way so bad. I feel like I’m a very organized, clean person that loves reminders/sticky notes/planners/the works! But when I’m feeling so horrible, its hard to do so. For example, recently I’ve been getting such bad headaches when I’m not working, and the last time I didn’t, was I think the past Monday afternoon, but i used all that time to take my final for school. Every other time I wasn’t working and didn’t have a “planned” obligation, its just been pain. Plus i slammed my dominant hand thumb in a car door kinda early in my day on my last day off, so I haven’t been able to do anything that well no matter what. And another thing on top of that, I got an IUD put in on 10/31, and the completely normal effects from it have just been hitting really hard, and I’m hoping its just in the beginning, because I don’t know if I can deal with all this for 3 years till I have to change it out.

And I don’t want to sound like I’m the only one in the world with problems, because I know I’m not, and i know there are much more serious things out there. But I also saw a post or a few in different ways of saying that everyone shouldn’t compare their issues with others because everyone is different and there is no real way of knowing what someone is going through, unless you lived the exact same situation, but even then people handle the same things different as well. So, for me, my headaches/health are at one of the worst places its been so far, so for me, its bad.

Even though this is not the worst I’ve ever been, ever, so I’m thankful for that. High school was probably the worst time, and i think that’s just because all the emotions were obviously a lot higher then they are now. And I did the stupidest things to myself trying to “handle” it all, and I haven’t been low enough since to get back to that point. I started taking the pill form of birth control somewhere in the middle of all that too, and the best thing I ever did was stop taking it in July of this year (2018). I’ve read all the metal health/emotional side effects people could get, and I felt like I might of been dealing with that, especially starting it in a still developmental point in life. So that got me thinking about changing it, and then I did see a YouTuber I love tell her story of stopping, which made me do some more research, that led me to stopping. After i was off of it for a bit, I realized it caused so much trouble in my life, not only mentally, but physically.

The worst thing the pill ever did for me, was react poorly with my migraine meds and make me nauseous and dizzy all the time, almost always vomiting and sometimes to the point of almost fainting. I didn’t know it was the combination that did that, since I was on the pill way longer than my meds, so I didn’t have the issue before and I assumed it was just my meds making me feel that way (because its a common symptom with most anyways but also my doc changed up the meds, dosages, and times to take them frequently to battle the nausea, which helped sometimes so there was no correlation). But that all stopped for the most part. I still get dizzy/nauseous with a bad headache/migraine but that’s a usual symptom and I did experience that some what before.

But I’m really hoping the IUD doesn’t get me back to a point that I can’t have that either. It has a smaller amount of horomones in it, and its in the location where they are needed, so has a less of a chance causing the same issues as an oral type (or even the implant because that’s still kinda far but also m=not going through your stomach at the same time so who knows, I’ve never had that). I wanted the non-hormonal one, but that one’s side effects where not that great and it was too big for me anyways. So far its been kinda shitty physically, but I’m hoping its just my body adjusting. I haven’t had (that i can say definitely) any worse metal issues because of it. But my follow up for it is this week, and I can tell them all I’m experiencing to see if they have any quick fixes till they go away.

Well I did not know I’d type this much but I guess i just needed it off my chest. I have some people I can talk to about this, and some I have told in parts, but its kinda nice to just say it all at once without any judgement till its over!! I guess its just really hard not having my mom around anymore to vent to, because she always had experience to help me with life no matter the situation. And I feel like some things in the last 2 years have been really big and I just wish I had her here.

[oselatra]

Judge restores right to medication abortion

For more than two weeks, all women in Arkansas, and Arkansas alone, were denied access to a two-pill regimen to end an early pregnancy in the privacy of their homes. But Monday, U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker issued a temporary restraining order against enforcement of the law, Act 577 of 2015, and Arkansas women once again had access to a method of abortion available nationwide.

For more than two weeks, all women in Arkansas, and Arkansas alone, were denied access to a two-pill regimen to end an early pregnancy in the privacy of their homes. The three clinics in Arkansas that provided the pills were forced to stop May 29 after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal by Planned Parenthood of a lower court's ruling that halted an injunction against a state law.

But on Monday, U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker issued a temporary restraining order against enforcement of the law, Act 577 of 2015, and Arkansas women once again had access to a method of abortion available nationwide. Planned Parenthood clinics in Little Rock and Fayetteville, which had had to cancel 40 medication abortion appointments because of the Supreme Court's ruling, have resumed scheduling them.

The state law, passed in 2015, required providers of the pills — mifepristone (Mifiprex) and misoprostol — to contract with physicians with hospital privileges. It was a requirement legislators knew the providers could not meet, given the threats by anti-abortion activists that doctors face, and it left women with one option to end a pregnancy: surgery. Planned Parenthood Great Plains filed suit in federal court, and Baker granted a temporary restraining order in December 2015 and a preliminary injunction against the law in March 2016.

In granting a new temporary restraining order Monday, Baker said Planned Parenthood had demonstrated a likelihood to succeed with its argument that the law presents an undue burden to women's legal access to abortions and did little to advance the state's interest in protecting their health. "In regard to burdens," Baker wrote, "considered cumulatively, the record evidence at this stage of the litigation demonstrates that the contracted physician requirement, given plaintiffs' inability to comply with it, significantly burdens a large fraction of women in Arkansas seeking medication abortions." 

The temporary restraining order is in force for 14 days, through July 2. In the meantime, Planned Parenthood Great Plains will file for a permanent injunction.

Here are the facts:

A. The drugs — mifepristone and misoprostol — are not dangerous, as 18 years of clinical evidence has shown. The complication rate is less than 1 percent. A National Institutes of Health study published in 2015 put the rate of infection requiring hospitalization at 0.01 percent. They are safer than Tylenol or Viagra, the latter drug you will never see restricted by the legislature. The chance of fatality from the drugs is less than the chance of being hit by lightning. Planned Parenthood has a detailed protocol for dealing with complications.

B. Because of the drugs' safety record, the lawmakers who wrote the legislation did not do so out of concern for women's health. It was part of their ongoing campaign to strip women of the right to abortion granted by the U.S. Supreme Court under Roe v. Wade. For some it is ideological. For others it is political.

C. During the two weeks the law was enforced, the patients of Planned Parenthood's family health and reproductive health care clinic in Fayetteville had to make two round trips, each longer than five hours, to Little Rock for consultation and surgery — or seek care in other states.

D. During the two weeks the law was enforced, women who'd been the victims of sexual abuse and trauma and did not want to undergo a procedure that would require the insertion of instruments into the vagina — well, it was their tough luck.

E. The law meant that women for whom medication abortion was medically indicated because of uterine abnormalities had to choose a procedure their doctor wouldn't recommend. ***

The reason Arkansas women found themselves in this predicament is because of two startling court decisions. In response to the state's appeal of Judge Baker's preliminary injunction, a three-judge panel of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the injunction in July 2017, and sent the case back to district court. The 8th Circuit said the district court hadn't provided numbers to show that a "large fraction of women seeking medication abortions" would be unduly burdened by the state law.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is one of the most conservative in the country, with 10 of its 11 judges appointed by Republicans.

Before the 8th Circuit's ruling, however, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Whole Women's Health v. Hellerstadt that a similar Texas law requiring admitting privileges was unconstitutional.

Planned Parenthood asked for a rehearing by the whole court; that was denied in September 2017. The appeals court agreed in October 2017 to stay its ruling while Planned Parenthood petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its case against the 8th Circuit's ruling, so the law, which the legislature intended to go into effect Jan. 1, 2016, was still enjoined.

Planned Parenthood petitioned the Supreme Court in December 2017 to vacate the 8th Circuit ruling.

Unexpectedly, given the ruling in Whole Women's Health, the Supreme Court declined, without comment, to intervene. Because the liberal wing of the court did not dissent, court watchers have suggested that they may have held back for tactical reasons, perhaps because of the preliminary state of the case. That meant Arkansas's law could be enacted.

Planned Parenthood immediately went to Judge Baker seeking another temporary restraining order, saying there were numbers that would prove that the law was an undue burden. Baker held a hearing on the TRO on Friday, June 8, and instructed Planned Parenthood and state defendants to file briefs on how Baker should proceed, which they did on Wednesday, June 13.

***

The state of Arkansas has argued that Roe v. Wade did not grant women the right to a particular method of abortion.

In their brief submitted to Baker last Wednesday, lawyers for the state cited a June 11 ruling in district court in Missouri. There, a federal judge agreed that while the contract physician rule had "virtually no benefit," the court would not grant a preliminary injunction because women could get medication abortions in Kansas City and St. Louis. Planned Parenthood is discussing its next step in that case; it cost rural Missouri women the same loss of access.

In the Arkansas case, the appellate court has sought proof that a "large fraction" of women would be burdened. So what's a large fraction?

That number, as estimated by Planned Parenthood, is 25 percent of women who wish to obtain a medication abortion: Planned Parenthood says the law would force them to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term.

Hundreds of Arkansas women would be affected by the law: In 2017, Planned Parenthood's clinics in Little Rock and Fayetteville performed 843 medication abortions. Of those, 653 were in Fayetteville. If medication abortion were again illegal, something approximating that number of women would have to make two trips to Little Rock to exercise a constitutional right.

In the eyes of women wanting to end a pregnancy at home by using drugs and not on a surgical table, the burden is 100 percent.

Planned Parenthood noted in its court filings that the state's lawyers have not pointed to a single case in which a contract physician would have made a difference in the woman's treatment.

***

To the state's argument that there was no irreparable harm from enforcing the law, Baker noted that Planned Parenthood and Dr. Stephanie Ho, also a plaintiff, said the clinics were unable to comply with the law.

As Dr. Ho explained in a filing in federal court, she and other Planned Parenthood staff members in 2015 and 2016 contacted every OB/GYN they could identify from medical board records in Arkansas, asking if they would contract to provide the back-up care. None agreed. In 2017, they wrote again and followed up with phone calls, explaining the law and offering compensation. None agreed.

"Some physicians or group practices informed us that they do not support a woman's right to access abortion and would not help us," Ho's filing said. "Others stated that they simply could not work with us, and at some group practices, the front desk staff was so hostile once they heard we were calling from Planned Parenthood that they would not even let us speak to the physicians and refused to take messages," the filing said.

Lawyers for the state argued during Baker's June 8 TRO hearing that doctors may have refused to contract with clinics because the clinics' letters didn't specify compensation and it could have been interpreted as only the minimum wage. Baker, however, rejected that: "[D]octors face threats to their livelihoods and physical safety if they attempt to provide abortions or act as contracted physicians to abortion providers. The Court is skeptical that the compensation offered by plaintiffs would be enough to overcome these obstacles. These obstacles very likely keep even those doctors in Arkansas who may not have a moral or ethical opposition to abortion from providing abortions or serving as contracted physicians."

***

The two-week enforcement of the law prohibiting medication abortions caused women considerable distress, health professionals at Planned Parenthood's clinics said.

Soon after the Supreme Court's order, a patient who'd become pregnant because her IUD (an intrauterine contraceptive) had failed came to Dr. Ho at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Fayetteville for a medication abortion. The woman couldn't believe her ears when Ho told her she couldn't provide the care she needed, and in fact no one in Arkansas could. "She was, 'Wait, all of Arkansas?' " Ho said, and started to tear up. The patient, who'd been using contraception and did not want to have a baby, also did not want a surgical abortion. "We had to send one of our own patients out of state" to get a medical abortion, Ho said.

Surgical abortion, like medication abortion, "is incredibly safe," Ho said, calling that the "good news." But just because surgical abortion is safe, that does not justify making it the only option, she said. There are reasons — in addition to having to spend days of travel back and forth to Little Rock, arranging child care, time off work and shouldering that expense — why women choose medical over surgical.

Survivors of sexual abuse, for example, "prefer medication over surgical because metal instruments in the vagina are invasive and can invoke symptoms of PTSD," post-traumatic stress disorder, Ho said. Before the new TRO, all survivors of sexual assault in Arkansas had to "have a procedure that may worsen their emotional well-being," she said.

There are physical reasons why, if a woman can use a medication abortion, she should: abnormalities of the uterine cavity. Previous C-sections that have thickened the uterine wall. Uterine fibroids. These are patients, Lori Williams of Little Rock Family Planning said, that "are medically indicated" to receive medication abortions.

Another patient of Ho's during the two-week ban was a Spanish speaker who the clinic could not reach by phone to cancel her appointment. When she arrived and found out Planned Parenthood could no longer provide the medicine, she "burst into tears," Ho said. "She wanted things to get back to normal for her," and knew that abortion "was the right thing to do for herself and her family." But she was afraid of surgery. "She did not seem completely comfortable that there would be instruments going in and out of her vagina," Ho said, and she feared the procedure meant she would be cut open. The clinic, which has a Spanish speaker, let her know she would not be cut open, that the procedure was safe, and helped calm her fears and worked with the Little Rock clinic, which has no translator, to help her. The surgery went well. But, Ho said, "The fact of the matter is the state of Arkansas took away her right to choose the health care that's best for her."

***

The day after the Supreme Court's ruling, 60 people showed up at Planned Parenthood to don pink T-shirts and hold up signs at the corner of University Avenue and 12th Street to show their support for the clinic.

They heard from Planned Parenthood organizer Christina Mullinax and clinic manager Holly Salem how heartbreaking it was to call women to cancel their appointments. They heard from the leader of the Arkansas Abortion Support Network that the organization gets 10 calls a week from women seeking financial help getting an abortion.

Mullinax took it hard. "As soon as I learned" about the Supreme Court's ruling, she told the Times later, "it was like a gut punch."

Mullinax said patients began calling the Little Rock clinic after the court's order fearful the clinic would have to close and they would lose the services the clinic offers. "Our doors are open," Mullinax assured them. Planned Parenthood provides much more than medication abortion: It offers the full range of reproductive health care services, from primary care to contraception to testing for sexually transmitted diseases. The clinic also has a new specialty transgender clinic, where OB/GYN Dr. Janet Cathey, who instituted a transgender clinic at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, sees patients.

Planned Parenthood is "doing everything within our power to fight" in the courts bad legislation that impacts women's health, Mullinax said last week.

"In 2015, we asked our supporters to contact the legislature and governor" to stop the medication abortion restriction, Mullinax said. "There was no precedent for what the 8th Circuit did and what the Supreme Court did in not hearing" Planned Parenthood's request for a hearing. "We're in uncharted territory in Arkansas."

***

If people doubt that Arkansas legislators' anti-abortion measures are more to bring an end to a practice they abhor than to protect the health of women, they have only to look at what the laws would do.

For example: The same law that requires the physician contracts also would have required that the drugs be administered at dosages recommended by the FDA. That doesn't sound bad until you know that physicians, with two decades of experience administering the oral abortifacients, knew a lower dose was just as effective and caused less cramping, and thus less pain. But pain was the legislators' goal and the law insisted on the higher dosage. Fortunately, after the law passed, the FDA, acknowledging the body of evidence that the dosage was unnecessarily high, lowered it, thus defanging that portion of the law.

Act 383, the work of Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R-Elm Springs) and Sen. Scott Flippo (R-Bull Shoals), professed to benefit women's health by subjecting clinics that provide abortions to stricter inspections. After it passed, the state Department of Health threatened to pull the Little Rock Planned Parenthood's license because it did not provide patients the phone number of the Red Cross as an emergency contact. Why that was ever part of the law is unclear because there is nothing the Red Cross could do in a health emergency.

At any rate, the clinic was inspected frequently before the passage of the law and continues to be. In 2016, it was cited for having discolored ceiling tiles. Some of the complaints come from anti-abortion picketers who daily seek to intimidate women entering the clinic.

Act 45, sponsored by Rep. Andy Mayberry (R-Hensley) and Sen. David Sanders (R-Little Rock), did not even pretend to address women's well-being. Instead, it theoretically placed the rights of the fetus over the rights of the woman, by prohibiting the safest, and thus most common, type of surgical abortion, dilation and evacuation (D&E), which they likened to slaughter. No exception for rape or incest was made. So while one state law maintains medication abortion is unsafe and requires women wanting to exercise their constitutional right to have surgical abortions, another maintains that surgical abortions are butchery and should also be illegal.

By doing away with D&E abortions, Mayberry, Sanders and supporters would subject women seeking a legal procedure to risky surgical alternatives highly likely to cause pain and sickness.

The federal court in Arkansas has issued a preliminary injunction against the D&E law, which is on appeal before the 8th Circuit.

In 2013, the state banned abortions after 20 weeks' gestation. The law provides exceptions in cases of rape, incest or to save a mother's life, but it does not include lethal fetal anomalies, some of which aren't detected until after 20 weeks. The constitutionality of the 20-week ban has not yet been challenged in court, likely because of the difficulty of finding a plaintiff.

***

Given such corrosive state laws, advocates of a woman's right to make her own health decisions have counted on the federal courts to preserve that right. The Supreme Court's refusal to hear an appeal of the preliminary injunction against Act 577 came as a shock to the many Arkansans who've fought in the courts and protested on the streets the Arkansas legislature's attempts to make abortion illegal. Women have taken it for granted, Mullinax said, "that the courts are going to save us."

At the June 1 rally at the Little Rock clinic, men and women waved their signs of support of Planned Parenthood and women's rights at the rush hour traffic. They got many approving honks. Only one driver, to the amusement of supporters, was rude: The man made a gagging gesture at them. Had he ever been pregnant and not wanting motherhood, he might not have.

***

Those who oppose a woman's right to determine when she should have a baby argue that pregnant women should carry their fetuses to term and then put them up for adoption and hope for the best. Many would even require women to carry to term fetuses so impaired that they will die immediately after birth, despite the physical risk to the mother that delivery presents and the attendant emotional distress.

The Times could find only two women who would discuss their abortions, and neither would do so using their real names for fear of being targeted by people who believed they'd done something immoral.

One, a woman in Northwest Arkansas we'll call Monica, had two medication abortions, both times at the insistence of the father. The father was physically and sexually abusive, she said, and told her if she carried to term he'd take the baby. She was a teenager. "I didn't really understand," Monica said. "I wish I would have had some legal advice."

Nevertheless, she does not regret the abortions. "Had that not been an option, my life would be completely different. I would have been bringing a child into that same abusive lifestyle."

Instead, she got some therapy, had healthy relationships, attended some college classes and has a job teaching yoga.

"I wanted to be a mom since I was little. Having to give up that baby was really difficult. But it seemed like the least selfish thing I could do," Monica said. The baby would have had "a pervert for a father."

Monica said she's "very at peace with the decision" and open to talking to women privately about her experience.

Another woman, who lives in Little Rock, chose abortion after the man who'd impregnated her left her for another woman. The woman, who we'll call Sarah, said she was in a new job, making only $16,000 a year, and neither emotionally or financially willing to bring a child into a broken family. It would have meant the end of her employment. It would have meant poverty for the child, or an adoption that may or may not have taken place in a timely way. Worse, she could have suffered complications giving birth and been unable to have a wanted child in the future.

Sarah said she never had a second thought about the abortion, and she does not believe that sweeping a six-week fetus from her womb made her a monster. She was grateful for the option. She now has a husband and a healthy baby.

Noting she is old enough to remember when abortion was illegal, Sarah said making abortion illegal will not end abortion. "It will only end safe abortion."

Judge restores right to medication abortion

[jaeame-blog]

Jessica Simpson's TV interview with Ellen DeGeneres goes totally off the rails | Jessica Simpson

Former pop icon Jessica Simpson currently has two children and, while addressing rumors that a third could be on the way, assured that it's simply not possible. During her recent appearance at the The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Simpson, 23, shut down the rumours that she is pregnant. "I'm not pregnant. Within 10 seconds of hitting the stage on Monday's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Jessica Simpson announced that she has an IUD and that "nothing's gonna get in that uterus." Well hello to you, too. Jessica also revealed her plans to release new music after she previously teased last year that she was back in the studio. "Mommy, Daddy, and Ace love you with our "holy hearts" #MerMax #MAXIDREW #canyoube5forever".

Jessica Simpson's appearance on The Ellen Show this week is making headlines, due to the sometime singer's bizarre behaviour. Recently, Radar Online reported that they could see a small bump underneath the popstar's dress at a friend's wedding. Former pop- and -reality star Jessica Simpson showed up on Ellen today, and for the second time in two weeks, we're at a loss for words.Jessica Simpson makes it clear she won't be having any more babies with the help of an IUD with her husband, Eric Johnson. Former pop princess Jessica Simpson has proven to the world that she is more than a pretty singer.

[fatbottomedgirl93]

Birth Control is a Bitch

So I’ll be honest. I haven’t been on birth control in probably 2 years now. I was diagnosed with Intracranial Hypertension in 2016 and was told I can’t take hormonal birth control anymore. 

It really hasn’t been an issue. I’ve been with my fiance for 3 years and we are the opposite of careful when it comes to protection. We’ve been lucky in the sense that I haven’t gotten pregnant (though we wouldn’t be upset if I had either) and I’m assuming this is caused by fertility issues in both of us as a result of our weight as we’re both obese. 

THAT BEING SAID. I will not get pregnant right after RnY (I am NOT judging anyone that this happened to at all, it’s just not something I want for myself). So I’ve decided an IUD is the best route to go but they freak me out sooooo much I’ve been putting it off. I want it before surgery... so this week I was like “ok well now it’s time... let me make this happen.” I have called AT LEAST 10 different OBGYN’s in my network and all of them were booked through to the end of July.  WTF? 

I called in today and was lucky enough to get an appointment on Monday due to a cancelation. *Whew* 

Did any of you get an IUD? Experiences? Which one did you get?

[colorfulanchorkryptonite-blog]

Healing Touch Hospital Pimple Saudagar | Elawoman

Healing Touch Hospital Pimple Saudagar

Healing Touch Hospital is a Gynecology and Obstetrics hospital in Pimple Saudagar, Pune. It was established in the year 2011 under the guidance of Dr. Prasad and Dr. Ketaki Bhatlawande with the mission to provide world class services in General Maternity and Surgical fields of medicine. 

The services offered by the Healing Touch Hospital Pimple Saudagar are Infertility assessment, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Semen and Embryo Cryopreservation, Laparoscopic Surgery, Abdominal and Vaginal Hysterectomy, Antenatal care, High-risk pregnancy care, Preconception care, and Normal vaginal delivery procedures.

The facilities present at the hospital include labor room with state of art facilities as well as time to time advice from the medical experts. Every delivery procedure is performed under the guidance of medical experts in obstetrics, gynecology and pediatrics. 

The entire team makes sure that the patients have a positive birthing experience at the hospital. This centre is guided and visited by Dr. Ketaki Bhatlawande, an Infertility Specialist having an experience of more than a decade. If you want to know more about Healing Touch Hospital Pimple Saudagar can contact us at elawoman.com.

Services:-  IVF,IUI, Gynecology and Infertility Hospital

Location:- Pimple Saudagar, Pune

Timing:-    Monday - Saturday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Rating :- 2.5 / 5

IVF Centres in Pune

Fertility stories are always filled with emotions, uncertainty, and controversies. Childless couples who would make great parents look for the best IVF centres in Pune that can help them conceive a healthy baby. Due to the rise in infertility cases in Pune, provisions for personalized care and treatment for Infertility management have improved in almost all IVF centres in Pune.

The patient care and counseling staff's high morale and positive energy can be felt as soon as you first walk inside any infertility treatment centres in Pune. They understand that for parents, the issue of infertility is a sensitive one so they treat every patient specifically according to the individual’s problems. Apart from offering highly successful treatment, In Vitro Fertilization hospitals in Pune also strive to make every patient physically and emotionally comfortable throughout the entire process.

The IVF centres in Pune are highly maintained to provide enough space for couples along with convenient parking services and friendly approach. The warm, clean and inviting atmosphere of these centres with experienced doctors make them most sought after destination for infertile couples.

1. Pearl Womens Hospital and Yash IVF

Pearl Womens Hospital and Yash IVF is a Multispeciality centre placed in Deccan Gymkhana, Pune. It became established within the year 2003. The sanatorium is also called a Center of Excellence for Gynecology Surgeries with minimal invasion and Safe Motherhood. The services provided at the sanatorium encompass Infertility assessment, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Laparoscopy, Ultrasonography, and Testicular biopsy, and Gynecology Ultrasonography approaches.

It is likewise guided and visited by using Dr. Chaitanya Ganapule who is an infertility expert and endoscopic physician. He focuses on In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Gynecology Laparoscopy, and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) treatment, Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (MESA), and Endoscopic Surgery procedures. Click at the map to reach Pearl Women's Hospital and Yash IVF hospital readily.

By combining amazing care with a modern-day facility we try to offer you with quality fitness care. We thanks on your hobby in our services and the believe you have got placed in us.

Pearl Women's Hospital & Yash-IVF is thought for housing skilled Dentists. Dr. Ashwini Ganapule, a nicely-reputed Dentist, practices in Pune. Visit this scientific fitness centre for Dentists recommended by 106 patients.

Services:-  IVF,IUI,IVF,MESA

Location:- Deccan Gymkhana, Pune

Timing:-    Monday - Saturday, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Rating :- 4.4 / 5

2. Pune Fertility Centre

Pune Fertility Centre is an IVF and Surrogacy Centre positioned in Shivaji Nagar, Pune. The center is capacitated in offering a wide kind of treatments starting from primary infertility care to the most superior infertility treatments. Some fertility treatment rendered by means of the medical institution include In Vitro fertilization (IVF), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), PCOS, Male and Female infertility treatment, Endometriosis, Egg freezing, Semen Freezing, Sperm Donor Program, Laparoscopic Surgery, Ovulation Disorders treatments.

The sanatorium is guided and visited through Dr. Bharati Dhorepatil, Gynaecologist and Obstetrician with over three many years of experience. She has specialization in Normal Vaginal Delivery, Gynecology Laparoscopy, Natural Cycle IVF, Egg Donor, In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) approaches. Click at the map to get the directions to reach Pune Fertility Centre.

Pune Fertility Center is an Infertility Clinic in Shivaji Nagar, Pune. The health facility is visited through doctors like Dr. Bharati Dhorepatil. Some of the offerings provided by means of the Clinic are: Egg Donor,In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF),Embryo Donor Program,Endoscopic Surgery and Ultrasonography - Pelvic and so forth. Click on map to discover guidelines to attain Pune Fertility Center.

Services:-  IVF,IUI,IVF, Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

Location:- Shivaji Nagar, Pune

Timing:-    Monday - Saturday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Rating :-  4.3 / 5

3. Ssmile IVF

Ssmile IVF is an IVF centre positioned in Nagar Road, Aga Khan Palace, Pune. The centre was started out under the steerage of Dr. Bharati Dhorepatil. It went on to flourish and emerge as a famous Test Tube Baby Centre in Pune. The treatment services presented at the centre consist of Infertility evaluation, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Laparoscopic Surgery, Embryo donor applications, Gynecology troubles treatment, Normal and Cesarean delivery strategies. 

The centre is affected person targeted and the entire group works at a constant tempo to provide tremendous effects to the patients. Dr. Bharati Dhorepatil is one of the the top infertility specialists and endoscopic surgeons practising at Ssmile IVF. Click on the link to discover the distinctive direction to reach Ssmile IVF.

At Ssmile our clients can be served with the fine steerage with the aid of our team of expert medical doctors, clinical workforce and advanced medical centers. Initially whilst you go to Ssmile IVF health center you will get to fulfill our Fertility Specialist for fertility session who will manual with the great feasible procedures to clear up your fertility related trouble.

In your first appointment with Ssmile's fertility experts, our physician will evaluation your complete medical history, examine your standard health, and arrange preliminary checks and investigations to your unique trouble. These checks and investigations could be done as in keeping with the doctor's referral at Smile.

For girl's, relying on testings accomplished in advance, the fertility expert may further order pathology assessments. For adult males, blood check for hepatitis B and C, HIV and evaluation of semen are all frequently performed inside the procedure of Fertility Treatment.

Pre-pregnancy screening is also available for a few genetic conditions including cystic fibrosis and can be discussed in element with our specialist.

Services:-  IVF,IUI,IVF

Location:- Nagar Road, Aga Khan Palace, Pune

Timing:-    Monday - Saturday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Rating :-  4.3 / 5

4. Orion Hospital

Orion Hospital is a Multispeciality centre placed in Wakad, Pune. The clinic includes a crew, committed to the venture of presenting excessive pleasant and safe healthcare to its sufferers. The services supplied inside the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology consist of Infertility assessment, Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), Post Natal Program, Pregnancy Problems, Contraception recommendation, IUD insertion and elimination techniques, Normal and High Risk Pregnancy, and Maternal ICU.

Dr. Parag Hitnalikar is an infertility expert specializing in In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) approaches. He has almost two many years of revel in within the subject of infertility treatment. The hospital serves its sufferers from Mon to Sun: nine:30 AM - 10:00 PM. Click on the link to discover the proper route to reach Orion health center.

Orion Hospital is a multispecialty health center with facilities available for commonplace contamination in addition to for complex sicknesses. It is placed in heart of the Wakad, Pune. It has got state-of-the-art treatment inclusive of IVF ( Test Tube Baby), Joint Replacement, Arthroscopies, Digital X-Ray beneath one roof. The second biggest gain of this center is its affordability as they've packages appropriate for any magnificence of patient.

Services:-  IVF,IUI,IVF, Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

Location:- Wakad, Pune

Timing:-    Monday - Saturday, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Rating :-  4.3 / 5

For more information, Call Us :  +91 – 7899912611

Visit Website  : www.elawoman.com  

Contact Form : https://www.elawoman.com/contact

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[venusaes]

i been telling everyone abt how great my iud is and i got it Monday and actually one of my friends here let me borrow his heating pad bc u get cramps from it after insertion, and he told me he got the copper iud bc he thought the hormonal ones would get in the way of his hrt and then he found out it woulda been fine and now hes pissed bc he’s stuck w the copper one that causes cramping and heavy bleeding for 10 years :((