Article of the month
We, the founders of Sisko, were surprised to find out how many different phases the bodies of women and people with vulvas go through during their lives. Having experienced many of these phases, we often realised only afterwards how little knowledge we had of what had happened in our bodies.
Read more “8 Phases in Women’s Lives”
Article of the month
What is a normal length of a menstrual cycle and how much can it fluctuate without giving cause for concern?
For some lucky women and other people with a vulva the length of their menstrual (or hormonal) cycle is exactly the same from month to month, year to year. For others, it can vary a lot. Many people find that the length of their cycle changes with age.
Read more “Studies reveal: actual length of the menstrual cycle”
Menstruation
Period underwear are now available in many clothing stores and many manufacturers of traditional menstrual products are also expanding their range to period panties.
We asked Sisko’s test group how many of them wear period panties and only a few had tried them. So it seems that this relatively new menstrual product has not yet found its place alongside pads, tampons and menstrual cups in the lives of Finnish people with vulvas.
For all those who have not yet adopted period panties, we have compiled a list of reasons why they could become your menstrual product of choice.
Read more “5 reasons to choose period panties“
Menstruation
A super-absorbent tampon, nightpad and menstrual panties combo and your period still leaks through. Sounds like a case of unusually heavy periods. And you’re not alone. In fact, up to 33% of women describe their periods as heavy and more than 20% of women seek medical help for heavy periods.
Read more “Unusually heavy periods“
Menstruation
We asked the Sisko test group what menstrual products they prefer using. We were surprised to find out that the winner was the menstrual cup, leaving behind traditional pads and tampons. The newcomer, period panties, did not yet achieve a high level of popularity.
This survey shows that the use of menstrual cups is widespread among Finns with vulvas. The survey revealed the following benefits of using a menstrual cup:
Article of the month
Menopause means the time when you have your last period. Menopause symptoms can start several years before the end of menstruation. In the below Sisko shares with you all about menopause.
Read more “All About Menopause”
Contraception
Contraception is often necessary throughout the childbearing years. What is the best contraception method in different life stages and how do I know? Can I go back to my previous birth control after having a child? And what is the best form of contraception for people in their 40s who are approaching menopause?
Kia Lampi, Sisko’s specialist in gynaecology and obstetrics, answers frequently asked questions about the choice of birth control methods at different stages of life.
In her work as a doctor, Kia has encountered hundreds of women and other people with vulvas who have started, continued or stopped using contraception in different situations.
A: Young people often choose birth control pills because they are an easy choice to start with. There are several pills, so by testing them, many can find the right option for them.
Young people often feel that they benefit from pills from even other than contraception perspective. With pills, you can greatly reduce and regularize menstrual bleeding and they also treat acne, which can be relevant for many young people.
The flip side is that young people, according to research, more easily forget to take their pills regularly. Therefore, the IUD (intrauterine device) and the capsule are also good options for them. There are no age limits for the use of these forms of contraception, even though it may sometimes be thought so, but they require a doctor’s visit, which can be a threshold for a young person.
In addition, I would also mention the birth control ring, which is less known or talked about. It works the same way as birth control pills. Everyone can put it in the vagina themselves and you only need to remember to change it once a month.
A: In general, you should continue with the contraceptive method that suits you.
The IUD is easy because once it’s placed, you can forget about it. It can stay in place for 3-8 years, so it is suitable for people who are not planning to have children soon.
The capsule has the same ease, you can kind of forget it after it’s been placed.
Of course, it is important to remember that these are good methods of preventing pregnancy, but do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Condom or oral sex protection protect agains STDs.
A: Not very safe. Pearl’s number, which means how many women or people with uterus out of a hundred become pregnant during a year, is 25. So one in four. Of course, this depends on how well you know your cycle and whether it is regular or not.
In addition, you must remember that sperm can live in the uterus for up to a week. If you wish not to get pregnant, then calendar method is not a good contraceptive method.
A: If having children is on your mind or planned soon, the easiest may be e-pills, mini-pills or the birth control ring, which are easy to stop. An IUD or a capsule is then not the easiest method, although these can of course also be used.
If you have used hormonal contraception and stop taking it, the hormones leave the body almost immediately. So, you shouldn’t worry about that. However, it is good to keep in mind that pregnancy often does not happen immediately.
Another thing to consider is that if you have been using hormonal contraception for a long time, you may not feel your own natural menstrual cycle. Menstruation may be irregular for the first couple of months after stopping contraception, but if the irregularity continues for longer, it may be that your periods are just naturally irregular. If you have been taking pills for a long time, for example at the age of 20-30, then at the same time your own fertility has also changed.
A: During the first weeks after pregnancy, good options are contraception with no hormones or only luteinizing hormone, such as an IUD, minipills, or a contraceptive capsule. Combined contraceptives, i.e. birth control pills, patches or rings, are not recommended in Finland during the first six months, as they may slightly reduce milk supply. According to NHS (NHS) it is safe to start with these methods after 6 weeks. If a new pregnancy is not planned soon, then IUD is a good option.
A: At the age of 35, closer attention is paid to the risk factors predisposing to blood clots. These include, for example, smoking, being overweight and migraines. If a person has these risk factors, combined contraceptives are not recommended. If there are no risk factors, you can happily continue with these contraceptives.
Also, the risk or probability of pregnancy usually starts to decrease around the age of 35, which means that younger people especially need to have a more accurate method for contraception.
A: If you already have found the best contraception method for you, continue with it. If there are changes in your health, it is good to talk about the suitability of contraception with your gynaecologist.
If there are bleeding disorders, menopausal symptoms or if you want to start a new method of contraception, I would prefer an IUD. With it, you can add estrogen, for example, as a gel to the skin or with a patch, if menopause symptoms start to appear and you want to treat them with hormone therapy.
Sources: Terveyskirjasto, NHS