Migraine

A migraine is a severe, painful headachethat is often preceded or accompanied by sensory warning signs such as flashes of light, blind spots, tingling in the arms and legs, nausea, vomiting, and increased sensitivity to light and sound. The excruciating pain that migraines bring can last for hours or even days. 

Migraine headaches result from a combination of blood vessel enlargement and the release of chemicals from nerve fibers that coil around these blood vessels. During the headache, an artery enlarges that is located on the outside of the skull just under the skin of the temple (temporal artery). This causes a release of chemicals that cause inflammation, pain, and further enlargement of the artery. 

A migraine headache causes the sympathetic nervous system to respond with feelings of nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. This response also delays the emptying of the stomach into the small intestine (affecting food absorption), decreases blood circulation (leading to cold hands and feet), and increases sensitivity to light and sound. 

More than 28 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches, and females are much more likely to get them than males.

Researchers from the Glia Institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil and the Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA, found that kids with migraines are much more likely to also have behavioral problems, such as attention issues, anxiety, and depression, compared to children who never have migraines.

Brain lesions and migraine link - women who suffer from migraines have a greater risk of having deep white matter hyperintensities (brain lesions) compared to other women, researchers from Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands, reported in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) (November 2012). They added that migraine severity, frequency and how long they had been going on for were not associated with the progression of lesions.

What causes migraines?

Some people who suffer from migraines can clearly identify triggers or factors that cause the headaches, but many cannot. Potential migraine triggers include:

• Allergies and allergic reactions


• Bright lights, loud noises, and certain odors or perfumes


• Physical or emotional stress


• Changes in sleep patterns or irregular sleep


• Smoking or exposure to smoke


• Skipping meals or fasting


• Alcohol


• Menstrual cycle fluctuations, birth control pills, hormone fluctuations during menopauseonset


• Tension headaches


• Foods containing tyramine (red wine, aged cheese, smoked fish, chicken livers, figs, and some beans), monosodium glutamate (MSG), or nitrates (like bacon, hot dogs, and salami)


• Other foods such as chocolate, nuts, peanut butter, avocado, banana, citrus, onions, dairy products, and fermented or pickled foods.

Triggers do not always cause migraines, and avoiding triggers does not always prevent migraines.

What are the symptoms of migraine?

Symptoms of migraine can occur a while before the headache, immediately before the headache, during the headache, and after the headache. Although not all migraines are the same, typical symptoms include:

• Moderate to severe pain, usually confined to one side of the head, but switching in successive migraines
• Pulsing and throbbing head pain
• Increasing pain during physical activity
• Inability to perform regular activities due to pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Increased sensitivity to light and sound

Many people experience migraines with auras just before or during the head pain, but most do not. Auras are perceptual disturbances such as confusing thoughts or experiences and the perception of strange lights, sparkling or flashing lights, lines in the visual field, blind spots, pins and needles in an arm or leg, or unpleasant smells. Researchers from INSERM, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research in Bordeaux, and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, found that women who have migraines with aura have a higher risk of heart attack, while those taking newer contraceptives may have a greater risk of blood clots.

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Migraine sufferers also may have premonitions called prodrome that can occur several hours or a day or so before the headache. These premonitions may consist of feelings of elation or intense energy, cravings for sweets, thirst, drowsiness, irritability, or depression.

How is migraine diagnosed?

Physicians will look at family medical history and check the patient for the symptoms described above in order to diagnose migraine. The International Headache Society recommends the "5, 4, 3, 2, 1 criteria" to diagnose migraines without aura. This stands for:

• 5 or more attacks


• 4 hours to 3 days in duration


• At least 2 of unilateral location, pulsating quality, moderate to severe pain, aggravation by or avoidance of routine physical activity


• At least 1 additional symptom such as nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound.

Tests such as electroencephalography (EEG), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and spinal tap may also be performed that check for:

• Bleeding within the skull
• Blood clot within the membrane that covers the brain
• Stroke
• Dilated blood vessel in the brain
• Too much or too little cerebrospinal fluid
• Inflammation of the membranes of the brain or spinal cord
• Nasal sinus blockage
• Postictal headache (after stroke or seizure)
• Tumors

How is migraine treated and prevented?

Migraine treatment (abortive therapies) and prevention (prophylactic therapies) focus on avoiding triggers, controlling symptoms, and taking medicines. Over-the-counter medications such as naproxen, ibuprofen, acetaminophen (paracetamol), and other analgesics like Excedrin(aspirin with caffeine) are often the first abortive therapies to eliminate the headache or substantially reduce pain. Anti-emetics may also be employed to control symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. 

Serotonin agonists such as sumatriptan may also be prescribed for severe migraines or for migraines that are not responding to the over-the-counter medications. Similarly, some selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) - antidepressants such as tricyclics - are prescribed to reduce migraine symptoms although they are not approved in all countries for this purpose. 

Another class of abortive treatments are called ergots, which are usually effective if administered at the first sign of migraine. Other drugs have also been used to treat migraine such as combinations of barbituates, paracetamol or aspirin, and caffeine (Fioricet or Fiorinal) and combinations of acetaminophen, dichloralphenazone, and isometheptene (Amidrine, Duadrin, and Midrin). If vomiting makes drugs difficult to ingest, anti-emetics will be prescribed. 

Migraine prevention begins with avoiding things that trigger the condition. The main goals of prophylactic therapies are to reduce the frequency, painfulness, and duration of migraine headaches and to increase the effectiveness of abortive therapies. There are several categories of preventive migraine medicine, ranging from diet changes and exercise to prescription drugs. Some of these include:

• Prescription beta blockers, anticonvulsants, and antidepressants


• Botulinum toxin A (Botox)


• Herbs and vitamins such as butterbur, cannabis, coenzyme Q10, feverfew, magnesium citrate, riboflavin, B12, melatonin


• Surgery that severs corrugator supercilii muscle and zygomaticotemporal nerve in the brain


• Spinal cord stimulator implantation


• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy


• Vision correction


• Exercise, sleep, sexual activity


• Visualization and self-hypnosis


• Chiropractic care or acupuncture


• Special diets such as gluten free

It is possible for people to get medication overuse headache (MOH), or rebound headache, when taking too many medications in an attempt to prevent migraine.

What is an STD? What is an STI?

 Sexually transmitted diseases, commonly called STDs, are diseases that are spread by having sex with someone who has an STD. You can get a sexually transmitted disease from sexual activity that involves the mouth, anus, vagina, or penis.

According to the American Social Health Organization, one out of four teens in the United States becomes infected with an STD each year and by the age of 25, half of all sexually active young adults will get an STD.

Recommended Related to Sexual Conditions

Understanding Chlamydia -- Prevention

To reduce your risk of getting infected, use a condom each time you have sex. Limit the numbers of sexual partners, or consider practicing abstinence. If you think you are infected, avoid sexual contact and see a doctor. Most doctors recommend that all people who have more than one sexual partner, especially women, be tested for chlamydia regularly even in the absence of symptoms.

Read the Understanding Chlamydia -- Prevention article > >

STDs are serious illnesses that require treatment. Some STDs, like HIV, cannot be cured and are deadly. By learning more, you can find out ways to protect yourself from the following STDs.

• Genital herpes
• Human papilloma virus/Genital warts
• Hepatitis B
• Chlamydia
• Syphilis
• Gonorrhea ("Clap")

What Are the Symptoms of STDs?

Sometimes, there are no symptoms of STDs. If symptoms are present, they may include one or more of the following:

• Bumps, sores, or warts near the mouth, anus, penis, or vagina.
• Swelling or redness near the penis or vagina.
• Skin rash.
• Painful urination.
• Weight loss, loose stools, night sweats.
• Aches, pains, fever, and chills.
• Yellowing of the skin (jaundice).
• Discharge from the penis or vagina. (Vaginal discharge may have an odor.)
• Bleeding from the vagina other than during a monthly period.
• Painful sex.
• Severe itching near the penis or vagina.

How Do I Know If I Have an STD?

Talk to your doctor. He or she can examine you and perform tests to determine if you have an STD. Treatment can:

• Cure many STDs.
• Lessen the symptoms of STDs.
• Make it less likely that you will spread the disease.
• Help you to get healthy and stay healthy.

How Are STDs Treated?

Many STDs are treated with antibiotics.

If you are given an antibiotic to treat an STD, it's important that you take all of the drug, even if the symptoms go away. Also, never take someone else's medicine to treat your illness. By doing so, you may make it more difficult to diagnose and treat the infection. Likewise, you should not share your medicine with others. Some doctors, however, may provide additional antibiotics to be given to your partner so that you can be treated at the same time.

How Can I Protect Myself From STDs?

Here are some basic steps that you can take to protect yourself from STDs:

• Consider that not having sex or sexual relations (abstinence) is the only sure way to prevent STDs.
• Use a latex condom every time you have sex. (If you use a lubricant, make sure it is water-based.)
• Limit your number of sexual partners. The more partners you have, the more likely you are to catch an STD.
• Practice monogamy. This means having sex with only one person. That person must also have sex with only you to reduce your risk.
• Choose your sex partners with care. Don't have sex with someone whom you suspect may have an STD. However, keep in mind that you can't always tell by looking if your partner has an STD.
• Get checked for STDs. Don't risk giving the infection to someone else.
• Don't use alcohol or drugs before you have sex. You may be less likely to use a condom if you are drunk or high.
• Know the signs and symptoms of STDs. Look for them in yourself and your sex partners.
• Learn about STDs. The more you know, the better you can protect yourself.

• How Can I Avoid Spreading an STD?

  • If you have an STD, stop having sex until you see a doctor and are treated.
  • Follow your doctor's instructions for treatment.
  • Use condoms whenever you have sex, especially with new partners.
  • Don't resume having sex unless your doctor says it's okay.
  • Return to your doctor to get rechecked.
  • Be sure your sex partner or partners also are treated.

G spot

 Woman’s G spot: does it really exist and how do I find it?

There is no ‘prescription’ that helps you find or stimulate the G spot. Even if you know where the G spot is supposed to be located, the only real way to find it is by exploration and touch. (Photo shutterstock)

Most adults have heard of the G spot, an elusive part of the female anatomy said to enhance orgasm pleasure. Despite the popularity of the term and a general acceptance that it does exist, little evidence has ever conclusively pointed to a specific area that could be concretely identified as the legendary G spot.

The most recent research indicating the legend might be true came from Dr. Adam Ostrzenski, a Poland-trained anatomist and physician. According to the Los Angeles Times, Ostrzenski’s research over in Poland allowed him to view cadavers in a more in-depth way than is allowed in the United States.

Using the body of a recently deceased 83-year-old women, Ostrzenski dissected the six layers of vaginal tissue and found what he believes is the real G spot. Hidden between the fifth and sixth vaginal layers, a small cluster of erectile tissue — no bigger than a centimeter — was discovered.

Despite the finding, critics claim Ostrzenski was too quick to call the tissue cluster the G-spot, and claim he did not prove the erectile clusters indeed had nerve endings related to sexual enhancement.

Beverly Whipple, a Rutgers University sexologist who helped bring the phrase “G spot” into popularity, says Ostrzenski’s claims contradict previous studies showing orgasms are a far more complex sequence in women than in men.

There is no universal, magical spot for orgasm, she says.

• What is the G spot, exactly?

How does one find the G Spot? (Photo Shutterstock)

For those who believe in the G spot, it is an area within the vaginal wall considered to be the equivalent to the male prostate. It is approximately the size of a quarter, says Dr. Victoria Zdrok on Ask Men, made up of spongy tissue of the paraurethral gland. Composed of erectile tissue, the area swells during arousal.

The location is said to be on the front vaginal wall (belly side) approximately 2 inches up the vaginal canal.

According to Zdrok, the area is easiest to find when a woman is already aroused, making foreplay an important part of the G spot location process.

• How does one find the G spot?

Not all women will react the same way to G spot stimulation. (Photo/ cafemom)

Even if you know where the G spot is supposed to be located, the only real way to find it is by touch.

Zdrok recommends having the woman lie on her back. Her partner should gently insert the index finger or middle finger into the vagina as far as it will go. Using the fingertip, locate an area on the vaginal wall which feels texturally different than the rest of the area. This is supposed to be the G spot, and it is effectively stimulated with a “come here” motion of the finger.

Not all women will react the same way to G spot stimulation though. Some women need to have external pressure placed above the pubic region; some women prefer a firm tapping motion to a tickling caress.

The key is good communication with the partner to assess when her needs are being met.

• How to stimulate the G spot during intercourse

For many couples, the ideal scenario involves both the man and the woman climaxing during intercourse. (In Stock)

For many couples, the ideal scenario involves both the man and the woman climaxing during intercourse. For some women, however, this isn’t always possible. Being able to stimulate the ‘alleged’ G spot during intercourse can be an important step toward a more satisfying sexual experience.

Sexual position can mean everything in this particular G spot quest. Ask Men recommends the following positions:

• Woman on top: Having the woman on top of the man during intercourse allows her to adjust the tilt of her hips for G spot stimulation.
• From behind: Whether “doggy style” or from a spooning position, intercourse at this angle causes the penis to move against the front wall of the vaginal canal, stimulating the G spot.
• Rotated woman: not for the faint of heart, the rotated woman position is considered a tantric sex move. To start, the woman sit on top of the man, facing his feet. Once the penis has entered the vaginal canal, the woman gently lays down over the man’s legs, grabbing his ankles. This position causes the vaginal canal to tighten, and results in more G spot contact during sex.
• Legs up: This is also a tantric sex position, but one which relies on traditional missionary style intercourse. To achieve G spot stimulation in this manner, the man should place his partner’s feet or legs on his chest. The move elevates the buttocks and allows for deeper penetration and a G spot-stimulating angle.

• Is there a male G spot?

The male G spot is another phrase used for prostate stimulation. While the male and female G spots may share characteristics, the male prostate serves a specific function within the body; it controls whether a man ejaculates or whether he urinates.

Not all men enjoy having their prostate stimulated, and Steady Health states some women may not be able to reach their partner’s prostate. In a common rectal examination at a doctor’s office, the physician often has to push hard and deep to locate the area. For women with short fingers, prostate stimulation may not be an option.

For ladies looking to try, a man should be on his back, and your hand should be facing palm up. Because there is no natural lubrication, the use of a sterile jelly is recommended. You can use the same “come here” finger motion to gently locate the male G spot.

• Fact or fiction?

While the debate about the female G spot still rages, many women vouch for its authenticity. Regardless of the scientific proof, pleasuring a partner means finding the areas of arousal specific to that individual. For some women, breast stimulation or stimulation of the clitoris may be more enjoyable.

Read more: http://www.voxxi.com/what-is-g-spot-find/#ixzz2QS4gH1QY

How Sex Can Make You More Beautiful

Put more sex in your life: It slows aging. A Scottish study found that thrice-weekly action stripped at least four years off participants' faces, and getting busy even boosts immunity and reduces heart disease. There are beauty bonuses, too — sex perks up your appearance instantaneously. Just remember to do it safely.

WRITE OFF WRINKLES Stress hormones and antistress hormones are like a seesaw in your body, and sex — specifically orgasm — gives that seesaw a giant push in the right direction thanks to a trifecta of hormones: beta-endorphin, an opiate and painkiller; prolactin, a relaxation inducer; and oxytocin, which makes you want to cuddle. Endorphins and growth hormones flood the body after orgasm, healing damage from the sun, smoking, and cortisol, which destroy collagen and create wrinkles. In a fun few minutes, sex wipes out the inflammatory molecules that age skin.

SOFTEN SKIN Think of how you look right after sex: dewy cheeks, pink lips, and shining eyes. The bright-eyed look lasts for days, as does sex's other skin-friendly side effect: When you sweat, natural oils, like linoleic acid — a moisturizer also found in safflower and olive oil — are released, lubricating cells and hydrating skin.

LOOK ALIVE Sleep is free cosmetic medicine, and sex is an amazing sleep inducer. Those feel-good chemicals linger after orgasm, helping you fall asleep more quickly. Post-sex sleep is restorative, so you'll wake up refreshed, with reduced under-eye circles and puffiness. Adding sex to your bedtime routine can also help resolve sleep issues.

FEEL THE BURN Even without a climax, sex and kissing work wonders: heart rate and circulation increase, and blood floods your organs and skin. Deep breathing controls stress and sends oxygen throughout your system. Sex burns about as many calories as the same amount of time spent weight training or walking; even a measly smooch stimulates 30 facial muscles. You burn eight to 12 calories per minute of kissing (more than you burn in a minute of walking). That exercise improves everything from cholesterol levels to mood — without your going anywhere near a Spin class.

FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT Orgasm is key to attaining sex's benefits. If you don't have one, you release fewer good-for-you hormones. Single or celibate? Masturbate or exercise — a half hour of vigorous walking, jogging, or weight lifting triggers healing endorphins. A quick downward-dog stretch brings blood from your core to your head for that flushed, pink-cheeked look. Or go the makeup route. Blush is key, and so is moisturizer, mascara, and lip gloss. But nothing beats the real thing.

Read more: Beauty Benefits of Sex - How Sex Can Make You More Beautiful - Marie Claire 

Family planning

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Key facts

• An estimated 222 million women in developing countries would like to delay or stop childbearing but are not using any method of contraception.
• Some family planning methods help prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
• Family planning reduces the need for unsafe abortion.
• Family planning reinforces people’s rights to determine the number and spacing of their children.

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Family planning allows people to attain their desired number of children and determine the spacing of pregnancies. It is achieved through use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of infertility (this fact sheet focuses on contraception).

Benefits of family planning

Promotion of family planning – and ensuring access to preferred contraceptive methods for women and couples – is essential to securing the well-being and autonomy of women, while supporting the health and development of communities.

Preventing pregnancy-related health risks in women

A woman’s ability to choose if and when to become pregnant has a direct impact on her health and well-being. Family planning allows spacing of pregnancies and can delay pregnancies in young women at increased risk of health problems and death from early childbearing, and can prevent pregnancies among older women who also face increased risks. Family planning enables women who wish to limit the size of their families to do so. Evidence suggests that women who have more than four children are at increased risk of maternal mortality.

By reducing rates of unintended pregnancies, family planning also reduces the need for unsafe abortion.

Reducing infant mortality

Family planning can prevent closely spaced and ill-timed pregnancies and births, which contribute to some of the world’s highest infant mortality rates. Infants of mothers who die as a result of giving birth also have a greater risk of death and poor health.

Helping to prevent HIV/AIDS

Family planning reduces the risk of unintended pregnancies among women living with HIV, resulting in fewer infected babies and orphans. In addition, male and female condoms provide dual protection against unintended pregnancies and against STIs including HIV.

Empowering people and enhancing education

Family planning enables people to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health. Family planning represents an opportunity for women for enhanced education and participation in public life, including paid employment in non-family organizations. Additionally, having smaller families allows parents to invest more in each child. Children with fewer siblings tend to stay in school longer than those with many siblings.

Reducing adolescent pregnancies

Pregnant adolescents are more likely to have preterm or low birth-weight babies. Babies born to adolescents have higher rates of neonatal mortality. Many adolescent girls who become pregnant have to leave school. This has long-term implications for them as individuals, their families and communities.

Slowing population growth

Family planning is key to slowing unsustainable population growth and the resulting negative impacts on the economy, environment, and national and regional development efforts.

Contraceptive use

Contraceptive use has increased in many parts of the world, especially in Asia and Latin America, but continues to be low in sub-Saharan Africa. Globally, use of modern contraception has risen slightly, from 54% in 1990 to 57% in 2012. Regionally, the proportion of women aged 15–49 reporting use of a modern contraceptive method has risen minimally or plateaued between 2008 and 2012. In Africa it went from 23% to 24%, in Asia it has remained at 62%, and in Latin America and the Caribbean it rose slightly from 64% to 67%. There is with significant variation among countries in these regions.

Use of contraception by men makes up a relatively small subset of the above prevalence rates. The modern contraceptive methods for men are limited to male condoms and sterilization (vasectomy).

Global unmet need for contraception

An estimated 222 million women in developing countries would like to delay or stop childbearing but are not using any method of contraception. Reasons for this include:

• limited choice of methods;
• limited access to contraception, particularly among young people, poorer segments of populations, or unmarried people;
• fear or experience of side-effects;
• cultural or religious opposition;
• poor quality of available services;
• gender-based barriers.

The unmet need for contraception remains too high. This inequity is fueled by both a growing population, and a shortage of family planning services. In Africa, 53% of women of reproductive age have an unmet need for modern contraception. In Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean – regions with relatively high contraceptive prevalence – the levels of unmet need are 21% and 22%, respectively.

Contraceptive methods

Modern methods

Method	Description	How it works	Effectiveness to prevent pregnancy	Comments
Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) or “the pill”	Contains two hormones (estrogen and progestogen)	Prevents the release of eggs from the ovaries (ovulation)	>99% with correct and consistent use	Reduces risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer; should not be taken while breastfeeding
			92% as commonly used
Progestogen-only pills (POPs) or "the minipill"	Contains only progestogen hormone, not estrogen	Thickens cervical mucous to block sperm and egg from meeting and prevents ovulation	99% with correct and consistent use	Can be used while breastfeeding; must be taken at the same time each day
			90–97% as commonly used
Implants	Small, flexible rods or capsules placed under the skin of the upper arm; contains progestogen hormone only	Same mechanism as POPs	>99%	Health-care provider must insert and remove; can be used for 3–5 years depending on implant; irregular vaginal bleeding common but not harmful
Progestogen only injectables	Injected into the muscle every 2 or 3 months, depending on product	Same mechanism as POPs	>99% with correct and consistent use	Delayed return to fertility (1–4 months) after use; irregular vaginal bleeding common, but not harmful
			97% as commonly used
Monthly injectables or combined injectable contraceptives (CIC)	Injected monthly into the muscle, contains estrogen and progestogen	Same mechanism as COCs	>99% with correct and consistent use	Irregular vaginal bleeding common, but not harmful
			97% as commonly used
Intrauterine device (IUD): copper containing	Small flexible plastic device containing copper sleeves or wire that is inserted into the uterus	Copper component damages sperm and prevents it from meeting the egg	>99%	Longer and heavier periods during first months of use are common but not harmful; can also be used as emergency contraception
Intrauterine device (IUD) levonorgestrel	A T-shaped plastic device inserted into the uterus that steadily releases small amounts of levonorgestrel each day	Suppresses the growth of the lining of uterus (endometrium)	>99%	Reduces menstrual cramps and symptoms of endometriosis; amenorrhea (no menstrual bleeding) in a group of users
Male condoms	Sheaths or coverings that fit over a man's erect penis	Forms a barrier to prevent sperm and egg from meeting	98% with correct and consistent use	Also protects against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV
			85% as commonly used
Female condoms	Sheaths, or linings, that fit loosely inside a woman's vagina, made of thin, transparent, soft plastic film	Forms a barrier to prevent sperm and egg from meeting	90% with correct and consistent use	Also protects against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV
			79% as commonly used
Male sterilization (vasectomy)	Permanent contraception to block or cut the vas deferens tubes that carry sperm from the testicles	Keeps sperm out of ejaculated semen	>99% after 3 months semen evaluation	3 months delay in taking effect while stored sperm is still present; does not affect male sexual performance; voluntary and informed choice is essential
			97–98% with no semen evaluation
Female sterilization (tubal ligation)	Permanent contraception to block or cut the fallopian tubes	Eggs are blocked from meeting sperm	>99%	Voluntary and informed choice is essential
Lactational amenorrhea method (LAM)	Temporary contraception for new mothers whose monthly bleeding has not returned; requires exclusive breastfeeding day and night of an infant less than 6 months old	Prevents the release of eggs from the ovaries (ovulation)	99% with correct and consistent use	A temporary family planning method based on the natural effect of breastfeeding on fertility
			98% as commonly used
Emergency contraception (levonorgestrel 1.5 mg)	Progestogen-only pills taken to prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex	Prevents ovulation	Reduces risk of pregnancy by 60–90%	Does not disrupt an already existing pregnancy

Traditional methods

Method	Description	How it works	Effectiveness to prevent pregnancy	Comments
Withdrawal (coitus interruptus)	Man withdraws his penis from his partner's vagina, and ejaculates outside the vagina, keeping semen away from her external genitalia	Tries to keep sperm out of the woman's body, preventing fertilization	96% with correct and consistent use	One of the least effective methods, because proper timing of withdrawal is often difficult to determine
			73% as commonly used
Fertility awareness methods (natural family planning or periodic abstinence)	Calendar-based methods: monitoring fertile days in menstrual cycle; symptom-based methods: monitoring cervical mucus and body temperature	The couple prevents pregnancy by avoiding unprotected vaginal sex during most fertile days, usually by abstaining or by using condoms	95-97% with correct and consistent use	Can be used to identify fertile days by both women who want to become pregnant and women who want to avoid pregnancy. Correct, consistent use requires partner cooperation.
			75% as commonly used

WHO response

WHO is working to promote family planning by producing evidence-based guidelines on safety and service delivery of contraceptive methods, developing quality standards and providing pre-qualification of contraceptive commodities, and helping countries introduce, adapt and implement these tools to meet their needs. WHO is also developing new contraceptive methods, including male methods, to reduce the unmet need for contraception.