This is to inform every one of you that we have 2 fairly new options for birth control that are not ridiculous or outrageously inconvenient for busy people!

I'm talking about Ortho-Evra - "The Patch" and Nuva-Ring - "Vaginal Ring".

Both of these contain estrogen and progesterone, just like the pill. So if you can't take estrogen for any reason, this is not for you. (smoker over age 35 - just STOP and then you too can use this!!)

(wasn't that easy???!!)

Advantages over the pill - Patch - Like a bandaid on the skin, but once a week you replace the patch, instead of taking a pill daily. One patch-free week allows the hormone level to drop, and you get a period. Ring - Place in vagina every 3 weeks, remove for one week to get a period. Keep it in all the time for those 3 weeks - he can't feel it, neither can you.

These new methods eliminate the hormone fluctuations that occur when you take a pill daily or the depoprovera shot every 3 months. Both methods allow for an even and continuous release of hormone into the system. This means these methods are easier to use and therefore probably more effective for birth control and cycle regulation, and have fewer side effects because of the even distribution of hormones.

The amount of hormone is also reduced because of this timed-release mechanism = less nausea, bloating, weight gain, mood swings and breast tenderness side effects many have with daily hormone intake (after the body adjusts - 2-3 cycles). Also, because they are not taken orally, these methods may help increase libido (sex drive).

These are probably great methods also for those of you who travel in different time zones, don't trust yourselves to remember to take a pill every 24 hours, simply want the convenience along with a lower dose of hormone, or who don't do well on depoprovera injections.

Both the ring and the patch - unlike depoprovera - are quickly reversible, should you desire a pregnancy.

Both cost around $35 per month. We don't get many samples to distribute, but I'll be glad to give you a one month trial to help you make up your minds!!

Lynne Fiore, NP