Jan 22, 2022 | blog, Sexual Health
Contraceptives are methods you can use to prevent pregnancy and Sexually transmitted infections. There are many contraceptive methods available for women today, so before you decide to settle on any choice, make sure you receive contraceptive counseling from a medical professional. If you are a woman and in need of a contraceptive method, the first thing you need to do is go to the health care center and ask to be counseled about contraceptives.
Why do we need contraceptive counseling? Because currently there are many methods available that can prevent pregnancy. To make a choice that is just the right one for you, you need to be informed about each contraceptive method. Once educated, you can then make an informed choice.
During this counseling session, your healthcare provider will explain each contraceptive method, describe the ways they work, how long each contraceptive method can last, as well as what side effects you can expect. After being provided with this information, you will then decide on which contraceptive agrees best with you.
Out of the many methods available, the condom is the only contraceptive that protects against both STIs and pregnancy. Other than sterilization, the condom is also the only contraceptive method that is available for both sexes.
The condom can be made of several materials. The most common one and heavily available in Ethiopia is the latex condom, but if you are allergic to latex, it’s important to note that there are condoms not made of latex, that will be of use to you. One of the many things that make condoms popular is that they are so easy to use.
If you are an organized person and would remember to take a pill every day, then the Combined oral contraceptive is the best choice for you. The combined oral contraceptive/birth control pill is a contraceptive method that works by affecting your ovulation cycle. But for it to work effectively, it must be taken every day around the same time. Other than its contraceptive benefits, the birth control pill can also be given to women with irregular menstrual cycles to help regulate their periods, and it can also help with acne.
The injectable is a contraceptive method that works much like the birth control pill in that it causes hormonal changes that would affect the ovulation cycle of a woman, but it constitutes going to a health center and getting injections every 3 months. However, it’s not an ideal choice for women who intend to get pregnant immediately after stopping contraceptive use because it can cause a delay that would last about 9-10 months.
The implant is a contraceptive method that gets buried in the arm of a woman and works for up to 3-5 years. The way it works is similar to the birth control pill and the injectable, all three contain hormones and as such might result in side effects like weight changes, acne, mood swings, and menstruation irregularities.
If hormonal imbalances are already a headache for you and you would rather avoid hormonal contraceptives altogether, the copper-bearing IUD is a good choice for you. It contains no hormones and so causes no side effects associated with hormonal contraceptives.
Choosing a contraceptive is all about knowing your body and your preferences, and being well informed about each contraceptive method. This is why a contraceptive counseling session is so important because it sets the platform for a woman to be empowered enough to make her own choices.
One important thing to always bear in mind is that even though many contraceptive methods can prevent pregnancy, Condoms are the only method, other than abstinence, that can protect from pregnancy as well as STIs. Therefore to enjoy a healthy, safe sex life, having open communication with your partner so that you can pick a contraceptive method that works just right for you, is an important part of the process.
Jan 18, 2022 | blog, Sexual Health
Since childhood, most of us are used to getting blisters on our lips. These blisters never stay more than a couple of days and are never that painful, but they can become a nuisance to our looks, much like getting pimples are. Our parents always told us it was because we ate our food in the sun, and we were chastised and told to always seek shelter from the sun while we ate. That was the explanation we were offered and mostly accepted without question. But as some of us got older and started exploring other sources for information, we learned that the cause of these blisters wasn’t actually standing under the sun while eating, but rather an infection that gets easily transmitted from one person to another by direct contact.
Herpes is the name behind the infection that is responsible for these blisters. Most of us often get them around our mouths, and it can pass from one person to another through acts as simple as kissing, sharing a water bottle, a spoon, and other forms of direct contact. A baby can get herpes as soon as it’s born if its brother, who has herpes, kisses the baby on its cheeks. This is how easily this infection is transmitted!
The cold sores/blisters we get around our mouths are never really that troublesome, and they usually disappear without treatment. But herpes has another subtype that can cause these same blisters around the genital area. The two types aren’t exactly the same though – they are caused by the same virus. However, just because someone has a cold sore, it doesn’t mean they also have the genital subtype of the virus.
Herpes virus is capable of staying in our bodies without causing any symptoms for years. Once we have herpes, we have it for life. Since it’s a chronic condition, we can treat it to contain the symptoms but it never fully goes away. It’s kind of like HIV in that way. That’s why we get cold sores and then won’t see them again for years! What usually happens during this period is that the virus lives dormantly inside our body, but we don’t see any symptoms because our immune system is able to contain the infection.
There are certain triggers for the Herpes infection to arise like exposure to the sun, recovering from another unrelated infection, and the likes that can decrease the ability of our immune system and increase the chance of us getting a cold sore. So after all, our parents were right in the sense that they understood the correlation between sun and cold sores. Exposure to the sun can be a trigger for recurrence of cold sores, but as for the misconception that the cold sore resulted because of eating food within direct proximity to the sun; well that misconception so far is still just a misconception and to this day has no basis of facts.
One major thing to be aware of is that if you ever go to the doctor to get tested for STIs, they usually skip the Herpes test (for genital herpes) unless you have an active case because blood tests won’t be able to differentiate between gential herpes and herpes that presents as cold sores. The more you know!
Jan 15, 2022 | blog, Sexual Health
We all know something about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), but there’s so much more than what meets the eye – or meets our reproductive organs, if you may. Here is a collection of some of the most unknown STI facts that could help you before you entangle with a sexual partner.
- While the risk is low, Sexually transmitted infections can also be transmitted through not just penis-vagina sex but through other forms of sexual activities like oral sex and anal sex.
- There are some types of STIs that can live inside your body without showing any kind of symptoms. Even so, you can still transmit these infections to other sexual partners.
This makes STI’s dangerous even more than they already are because people can transmit them without knowing and that can lead to a lot of people being affected, this is why screening for STIs regularly is strongly advised for people who are sexually active.
- STI’s tend to be worse / more severe on women than men. They are also more frequent on women.
In women, sexually transmitted infections tend to not show any symptoms and then later progress to cause complications. This is especially harmful because most women remain in the dark about having sexually transmitted infections until it’s too late.
- Women can also pass down these infections to their babies if they are pregnant while having STI’s.
This transmission can occur while they are pregnant, during birth, or while breastfeeding. All doctors are supposed to test women for STIs during their first prenatal appointment. If they have an STI, they are recommended for treatment. It is important that a pregnant mother notifies her partner so she won’t contract the STI again.
- Some STIs can increase your risk of having cancer in the future.
The human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted infection that can get transmitted through contact with bodily fluids. This virus can increase the chance of a woman acquiring cervical cancer. There is an HPV vaccine in Ethiopia, so we recommend women and men to ask their Doctor for this vaccine to prevent HPV and reduce the risk of cervical cancer in women.
- Because of the similarity of the symptoms they can cause, some STIs can oftentimes be grouped together.
Herpes, syphilis, and chancroid are sexually transmitted infections that all-cause blisters around the genital areas, which would lead to pain and discomfort while peeing or during sexual intercourse. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are sexually transmitted infections that mainly cause discharge from the vagina/penis and therefore, they are grouped together. In order to differentiate the STIs and get proper treatment, a doctor will need to lab test for all STI’s to identify which infection you have.
- If not properly treated, STIs can result in devastating complications.
Some of the most commonly known complications of sexually transmitted infections include infertility, cancer, and even infections that can travel to the brain. Prevention and early treatment are vital to combat these risks.
- If you are sexually active, we can’t stress enough that you need to get screened for sexually transmitted infections every 3 months.
Screening is a process of checking you for sexually transmitted infections through a series of blood tests your doctor orders for you. You can go get screened at any nearby health center, and this process makes it possible for you to have a healthy and enjoyable sex life, free of complications. We also encourage you to ask your partner to get tested before you begin your sexual journey with them.
- The only sure way of protecting oneself against sexually transmitted infections if you are sexually active is to wear condoms during any form of sexual play.
If properly worn, condoms can protect from sexually transmitted infections as well as prevent pregnancy. Other forms of contraceptives can only prevent pregnancy, not STI’s. Wearing condoms to prevent STIs includes vaginal, oral, and anal sex.
- If you have the symptoms commonly associated with sexually transmitted infections, no need to panic! Just go to your nearby health center, and your health care provider will examine you and provide you with the treatment you need.
There is nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to STI’s. It can happen to everyone, and there are doctors who are specifically trained to help you with short and long-term treatment and care.
The most important thing is to be open and honest with your doctor and your partner when it comes to these conversations. If you are nervous to ask your partner about STIs or to get tested, that means you are probably not ready to have sex. Make sure to contact a doctor if you have any concerns, want more information, or just to get tested. We hope this has brought you one step closer to a safe and healthy sexual journey!
Jan 11, 2022 | blog, Sexual Health
The changes each of us go through during puberty can be puzzling to figure out, especially in a country like ours where the information you can get for these kinds of topics is limited.
Parents don’t think it’s the norm to discuss these issues with their kids, it’s not out of malice or anything, it’s just the culture we have can be restrictive in such cases.
This has resulted in confused kids who often get their information through internet sites, and while that can be beneficial, the information you can find on the internet is often unfiltered and can be misleading. This is why as a culture we have to evolve enough to make it a norm to discuss such issues and have a platform that allows us to learn from each other’s experiences.
When we come to the topic at hand, puberty is a normal physiological process our bodies go through when the time comes. Girls are known to go through puberty a bit earlier than boys.
This period can be challenging in a lot of ways; our bodies are going through a lot of changes and these changes are due to hormones called estrogen and progesterone for girls, and lots of testosterone for guys.
These hormones are responsible for all of the changes that occur in our bodies but they also affect our moods and mental status. For guys, these changes have been known to be associated with aggressive mood swings. During this period guys can act out and be difficult to handle for their parents. This is mostly fueled by hormonal changes happening in their bodies.
For most teenagers, puberty is the time where personal development takes place and they start questioning the beliefs they were taught by their parents for their whole lives, a rebellious stage if you will. This is a very sensitive time because the sense of self we develop at this time can follow us through our adult years.
The physical changes that occur during this time can also attribute to the mental changes a teenager goes through. A self-esteem issue can arise because of peer pressure. The changes our bodies go through might come later, or be different than the changes our friends are going through. This can result in teasing, which can affect the way we view ourselves and have an effect on our confidence.
The mental issues/changes puberty causes have remained a mystery for most of us, simply because discussion about these topics is limited. In our culture, parents don’t fully understand the benefits of discussing such issues and that can result in confused children, so as a culture, we need to evolve enough to encourage discussion of such topics. Just remember: mood swings, anger issues, and a loss of sense of self are some things every teenager goes through. It’s our job to be understanding and kind to everyone – we never know what challenges people are facing, especially within themselves.
Jan 8, 2022 | blog, Sexual Health
Puberty is a period of a comprehensive set of physical, emotional and mental changes. It can be a challenging time for children to go through, especially if they aren’t well informed. It occurs because of hormonal changes – the main hormones that come into play during this period are progesterone and estrogen as well as testosterone.
Girls usually experience puberty a little earlier than boys, which is what is expected and maybe also maybe the origin of the saying ‘’ girls mature faster than boys’’. For girls, the average age in which they experience puberty is from 9-12 and for boys it’s between the ages of 10-13.
Girls go through many physical changes during puberty:
- The breasts will grow bigger. In many girls, this is the first sign of puberty.
- Hair grows in the genital area (pubic hair), under the arms, and on the legs. In some girls, pubic hair is the first sign of puberty.
- Girls start to get their monthly periods. Monthly periods usually start within 2 years after the breasts or pubic hair start growing. When a girl first starts getting her period, she might not get one every month. It is normal for a period to skip a month, or come twice in a single month. Some girls feel bloated or have mood changes right before they get their period, often called PMS. Girls can have white or clear vaginal discharge seen in their underwear, this is extremely normal!
- Vaginal discharge is the term doctors use to describe the small amount of fluid that comes out of the vagina during this period. Girls can have white or clear vaginal discharge which is part of the physiological process and it’s only when this discharge has odor or changes in color that it becomes a cause for concern.
As for the guys, the main physical changes that occur are:
- The testicles get bigger. This is usually the first change that happens.
- The penis gets longer and wider.
- Hair grows in the genital area (pubic hair), on the face, and under the arms.
- The voice changes and it becomes deeper.
- Boys can ejaculate a small amount of sperm at night while they sleep. This is sometimes called a “wet dream.”
- The breasts can get slightly bigger. This usually goes away over time and sometimes it doesn’t, which is also perfectly normal.
There are also minor physical changes attributed with puberty for both girls and boys, which include sweating with order, eyesight changes (if a child is going to need glasses, then he/she would start needing them during puberty) as well as skin changes like acne on their face, back, and arms.
When we talk about puberty, we mentioned that the average age for puberty is 9-12 for girls and 10-13 years for guys, but everybody’s experience can be different and unique to their own.
Puberty can come earlier and it could also come later than the average ages listed above, and in most cases this can be normal but there are cases when it’s not normal.
In the medical community the official term given for early puberty is when puberty starts earlier than the age 8 for girls and age 9 for boys, and puberty is medically considered late for girls when it occurs later than 12 and for guys when it’s later than age 14.
Doctors will assess the reasons behind these occurrences and can rule out if there are problems or not so it’s recommended to go get checked out when your puberty is early or late.
Aside from the physical changes, puberty can also be associated with mental changes. For both sexes, this time can be attributed to severe mood swings which can result in behavioral changes. If parents aren’t understanding of their kids during this period, it can lead to a divide between the communication of a parent with his/her child.
Many teenagers go through a hard time during puberty because of all of the mental changes that happen during this process. Depression, anxiety, and self esteem issues all begin to arise around puberty. It’s the first time many of us begin to feel doubt about things we were totally confident about just years ago. The internet is a great place for research at times, but when it comes to the digital age, many teenagers find themselves comparing themselves to people online who only display a fraction of their lives. It can lead to unhealthy habits such as eating disorders and mental issues. It’s important to make sure that teenagers feel like they have a safe space to talk about their emotions, and that starts at home.
For more information on changes during puberty, consult a doctor or psychiatrist for more information and resources. Remember – everyone goes through it, make sure you are taking it one day at a time.
Jan 4, 2022 | blog, Sexual Health
If you are a girl and you have hit puberty, you’ve most likely have been told numerous times by now that your virginity is a sacred matter, and that you should never give it away before marriage. Such tales of caution are usually reserved for girls only. Boys are rarely advised of such things, and in most households, parents think that it’s the girl that needs to be careful, that needs to save herself, that needs to remain ‘pure’.
The myth of the hymen as a sign of virginity goes back decades, if not centuries! There are many cultures to this day that have practices based on this myth. It’s a story as old as time: On her wedding day, a woman must bleed after her first night with her husband. Her husband must then take the sheets she bled upon and show it off to his groomsmen as proof that he married a virgin. This is the way that men verified that their wife is ‘pure’.
These and many other cultural practices have cemented the hymen as a sign of virginity. Parents teach their children this myth, as well as many religious organizations. When we look at the facts, however, the hymen can’t be the end-all sign of virginity. It’s merely tissue that partly covers the opening to the vagina. Actually, it doesn’t even cover enough to make a dent! If it did, menstrual blood would have an extremely difficult time flowing out of the vagina. Which is actually a type of hymen that can be found, it’s called closed hymen and if that’s the type of hymen you have you would need to go get medical help. Because of this and many other reasons, the hymen being considered the all-end sign of virginity is a flawed concept at best and so it’s extremely frustrating that even in today’s times, people still rely on it “breaking” to prove a woman’s first time having sexual intercourse.
It’s unclear when exactly the hymen started being regarded as a sign of virginity, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. The hymen is an elastic piece of tissue that covers the vaginal opening partially and it comes in different shapes and sizes. Your hymen can easily break doing absolutely anything! Most girls (if they even have a hymen, to begin with) can break it during sports or physical exercise, inserting a tampon- the possibilities are endless. For some people, their hymen can break during a form of self-pleasure or sexual act called ‘Fingering’, where a finger is placed into the vaginal canal.
For details on the different types of hymens, we encourage you to look into our anatomical fact sheet here on our website. For a quick rundown:
- Some girls are born without a hymen at all
- Hymens break easily
- If you in fact have a closed hymen, it’s a condition you need to get treated for altogether.
- Some women don’t even bleed when their hymen breaks.
It is true that you could lose your hymen without even knowing it. Some people may report a small amount of bleeding or pain, but most women don’t even feel a thing. A lot of stories have come out over the years about women from various religious backgrounds having to prove their virginity upon marriage. If they don’t their husbands can ‘return’ their wives back to their families. Imagine, you settle down to marry the love of your life, and the first night with your husband, he tells you that he can’t continue this marriage or doesn’t believe you just because you didn’t bleed after having sex.
It’s sad that these myths can ultimately ruin a foundation or trust. In the health community, it is our job to put information out there to break the stigma surrounding hymens and virginity. Our virginity shouldn’t signify our value or importance as women. We are complete – whether we have a hymen or not.
English
Amharic