The sponge — it’s back!

Remember the Seinfeld episode where Elaine freaked out when she heard her beloved sponge was going off the market? I remember wondering, ‘What the heck is a sponge??” Well, the sponge is back and I’m sure Elaine is dancing somewhere in excitement. (Wait a minute…how old would Elaine be now???) The sponge is a form …

Continue Reading

Diaphragm.

When discussing birth control options with my patients, the diaphragm often comes up. The most important thing to know about using a diaphragm is that it’s most effective at preventing pregnancy ONLY when used with a spermicide. If you have a sensitivity or allergy to spermicide; the diaphragm may not be for you. Also, the …

Continue Reading

Natural family planning.

We have long known that hormonal birth control (pill, ring, or patch) can have an adverse effect on sexual functioning for some women. Hormonal birth control can decrease testosterone levels and increase a protein (SHBG) that binds to testosterone, inhibiting its function. Having sub-optimal testosterone levels can negatively affect sexual functioning. Therefore, we often recommend …

Continue Reading