Skip to main content

Featured

Annie Dillard Was a Real One: The Woman Who Understood That Seeing the World Is Not the Same as Understanding It

Annie Dillard spent her life examining the extraordinary mysteries hiding inside ordinary existence. Her passing reminds me that the greatest writers don't simply teach us how to read the world. They force us to confront how little of it we've actually bothered to see. There is something profoundly unsettling about losing a writer who spent her entire life reminding us that everything was temporary in the first place. It's almost as though death, that arrogant bastard, decided to interrupt a conversation about its own inevitability. And in the case of Annie Dillard, the irony is particularly cruel because few writers understood the strange relationship between life, suffering, beauty, and mortality quite like she did. Annie Dillard died on September 15, 2026, at the age of 81. The world lost a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, an extraordinary essayist, a fearless intellectual, and a woman who possessed the increasingly endangered ability to look at something ordinary and reco...
Post a Comment
Read more
Labels

Your Birth Control Options

There are many forms of birth control available on the market today. Each type of birth control works differently, and they all have different pros and cons. It can be difficult to know which type is best for you. Read on to learn about your options and how to decide which type is best for you.

The Pill

The pill is a widely used form of birth control. The most common type of pill is the combination pill which contains both estrogen and progestin. This pill works by suppressing ovulation and thickening cervical mucous, making it more difficult for sperm to pass through. The pill also thins the lining of the uterus, which would make it difficult for a fertilized egg to implant.

The pill typically comes in a 28-day pack, with 21 hormone pills and 7 placebo pills. You will have your period while taking the 7-day placebo pills.

Another type of pill, the mini-pill, contains only progestin and is typically used by nursing women or women with certain health conditions that do not allow them to take a pill containing estrogen. These pills must be taken at the same time each day, typically within a 3-hour window, to be effective and have a higher risk of accidental pregnancy than the combination pill.

The Patch

The patch works in essentially the same way as the pill. It is a patch that is typically placed on the arm or upper body and replaced every 7 days. The patch released hormones through the skin, which work to prevent ovulation.

The Ring

A vaginal ring is simply placed into the vagina, and similar to the pill and patch, it releases the hormones progestin and estrogen to prevent ovulation.

The Shot

The shot, also commonly referred to as the Depo shot, is a shot of progestin that works to prevent pregnancy. The shot needs to be given every 3 months and must be given on time to prevent pregnancy.

Condoms

Condoms are a common source of birth control, especially those in younger populations. Both male and female condoms are available and, when used correctly, are highly effective. However, there is always a risk of tearing or incorrect usage, which may result in pregnancy.

Natural Family Planning (NFP)

Natural Family Planning is a much different method of preventing pregnancy. With NFP, a woman will use calendars, basal thermometers, and ovulation tests to keep track of her cycle and predict when she will be fertile.

With this method, a couple will minimize the risk of pregnancy by simply avoiding intercourse during the woman’s fertile period.

Sterilization

Sterilization is a permanent form of birth control. Both men and women can be sterilized. When a man undergoes sterilization, it is called a vasectomy. During a vasectomy, minor surgery is done to block sperm from being ejected during intercourse. When a woman undergoes sterilization, her tubes are either cut, burned, clamped, or tied. Recently, it has also become common to have the tubes removed completely, as studies are showing this may help to reduce ovarian cancer.

As you can see, there are many options to choose from when it comes to birth control. What is right for one person may not be right for another. The pros and cons of each form of birth control must be considered. It may take some trial and error, but by researching each type and speaking with your doctor, you will be able to decide which is right for you.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment