/oss/taxonomy/term/2214/all en /oss/article/medical-you-asked/period-pain-go-away-come-again-another-day <p>Periods can be painful. They can be inconvenient. They can be exhausting. They can be distracting.</p> <p>Women suffering from irregular or uncomfortable periods have long been prescribed the birth control pill to regulate their monthly cycle. Now, an increasing number of them are avoiding their periods altogether – by skipping the so-called sugar pills at the end of their monthly cycle and continuing directly to their next dose of daily hormones.</p> <p>Is this safe? Are there any downsides?</p> Fri, 16 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +0000 Haleh Cohn 9236 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know-health/weight-gain-birth-control-pills <p>The idea that birth control pills make the user gain weight has been floating around since the first appearance of contraceptive pills on the market in the 1950’s, but hasn’t been true for quite some time. Early contraceptive pills used only estrogen to prevent pregnancy, and they used it in massive quantities- initial pills had 10 mg of estrogen per daily pill.</p> Thu, 11 May 2017 01:46:23 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 2438 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-toxicity/pigeons-pill <p>Only in Hollywood would birds ever be given a form of birth control. According to the Argyle Civic Association, the group leading the contraceptive initiative, the birds are just too numerous. Not only are they considered a nuisance, but apparently, in the words of the group’s president, they “poop” too much. Once again, ladies and gentlemen, only in Hollywood.</p> Mon, 06 Aug 2007 16:09:24 +0000 Emily Shore, B.A 1556 at /oss