Many women suffer changing emotions after giving birth.  One minute they can feel happy and excited and the next they can feel upset or depressed.  Some women experience sleeping problems and can lose their appetites.  These symptoms can be put down to the hormones present after giving birth and usually disappear within a few days but for some unfortunate women they don’t go away and it is necessary to get medical help.  Many women feel ashamed to admit to having postpartum depression so they will delay seeking medical help. The symptoms of postpartum depression can last for months if left untreated thus harming relationships between mother and child or mother and partner.

Postpartum depression can occur from between one month to one year after the child is born.    Symptoms of postpartum depression include, difficulties sleeping, tearfulness, loss of libido, sadness, guilt, depression and weight loss or gain.  In the worst cases though, the woman can suffer with feelings of paranoia, or wanting to hurt the baby or themselves.  They can find it difficult to bond with the baby and may require hospitalization.

Causes of postpartum depression can include, stress, extreme changes in hormone levels, fatigue, or responsibility involved in the care of the new child.  Postpartum can be treated with antidepressants or with counseling.

Postpartum Depression

Drug allergies are adverse reactions to medication drugs and these reactions can be separated into three groups. First are those not actually related to the drug in question at all, but are coincidental and attributed to other mitigating factors associated with the illness or disease. Second are common predictable reactions like side effects related to taking other medication at the same time, or having an overdose. The third is unpredictable and uncommon reactions of which quite a few are allergic reactions that typically involve the immune system, being either immediate or delayed in reaction.

Allergic reactions can vary greatly from simple, slight rashes to very severe anaphylactic reactions of the immune system. Some drugs that can cause allergic reactions include heart drugs such as ACE inhibitors, antibiotics like penicillin, anesthetic drugs such as muscle relaxants, morphine, aspirin like drugs such as ibuprofen, chemotherapy drugs, antiseptics like iodine, vaccines such as tetanus, and colorings or preservatives in certain medications.

Reactions usually occur within one hour of taking the medication and can involve a measle-like rash that is very itchy. Some life threatening reactions may involve skin blistering with peeling accompanied by fever.

Common Allergic Reactions

Treatments of various drug allergic reactions involve the immediate withdrawal of the offending drug and then the administration of an antihistamine medicine. In severe allergic reactions, adrenaline and steroids may be used to save a life.

A condom is classed as a barrier contraceptive and its job is to block any sperm from fertilizing a female egg. Condoms can be made from latex, lambskin or polyurethane and are known to be approximately 98% effective at preventing pregnancy if used in the correct manner. It has to be pointed out that lambskin condoms have been around for a very, very long time but are still available; they are more expensive than conventionally made condoms and are not as good at preventing STD’s.

For efficient use of condoms, the penis must not touch the vagina before the condom has been applied. The reason for this is because a man does not necessarily need to ejaculate for any sperm to come from his penis; it can happen before as well. The best way to use a condom is to hold the bulb part between the figure and the thumb, ensuring it is the right way round. Make sure there isn’t any air trapped inside and then, while still holding the bulb, place the condom over the erect penis. Then it should be gently rolled down the shaft of the penis (if it doesn’t roll then it has been placed upside down). The condom should be disposed off immediately after ejaculation but before the penis becomes flaccid.

How to Use a Condom

The benefits of condom use include the fact that they are a reliable method to prevent pregnancy, there are very rarely any side effects from wearing one, a lowered chance of an STD transmission, they are easily available and they come in all shapes and sizes (and flavors nowadays).

Disadvantages of condom use include the fact that it can break during sex, they can tear while being taken out of the package and are not compatible with some lubricants.