Best For Existing Prescriptionspandia Health
Why We Chose It: Pandia Health is a hassle-free online prescription and delivery service with a mission to make sure ladies never run out of contraception.
Pros.
Works with most health insurance providers .
Mission-driven viewpoint.
Can just recommend to 13 states .
-$ 20 assessment.
Cofounded by female physician Sophia Yen, Pandia Health is easy to utilize. If you have an vibrant medication, you can supply your present drug store or medical professionals info, and Pandia Health will deliver the medication to your door.
Need a brand-new prescription? Currently, Pandia Health can only recommend contraception to people residing in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, Texas, Washington, or Wyoming . To get the prescription, youll complete a health type, and after that among the Pandia Health doctors will evaluate your details, compose a prescription, and the contraception will be delivered totally free. A speak with expenses about $20.
Pandia Health works with most medical insurance service providers . If your strategy is covered, the medication will be complimentary or the cost of a co-pay.
If you dont have insurance, it will cost roughly $15 per pack. There Pandia Health uses all contraceptive pill, patches, and rings. If you have any questions prior to dedicating, there is a live chat choice with an adviser on the site.
How Should This Medicine Be Used
Valtrex comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken every 8 hours for 7 days to treat shingles. To treat genital herpes it is usually taken twice a day for 5 days. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Valtrex exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Use this medication as soon as possible after symptoms appear.
Continue to take Valtrex even if you feel well. Do not stop taking Valtrex without talking to your doctor.
Where Can I Get Free Birth Control
If you have insurance, birth control could be totally covered by your plan depending on the type and brand you end up using.
If you dont have insurance, you might qualify for Medicaid or other government programs that can help you pay for birth control depending on your income and other eligibility factors . Check your states website and look for a provider that accept Medicaid or offers discounts based on income.
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When To See A Doctor
Though Wisp can be a convenient alternative to in-person appointments, there are some cases where it may be necessary to see a doctor or visit a health clinic instead.
For example, an in-person appointment may be required to diagnose certain conditions, especially in cases where a physical exam, blood test, or other imaging tests are necessary.
Though Wisp professionals can provide refills for existing prescriptions, they cannot do an online diagnosis of conditions like arthritis, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
You may also need to see a doctor for conditions that require more intensive care or if your symptoms dont improve after treatment.
What Are Signs Of Genital Herpes In Women
Women who have the herpes virus may have nooutbreaks or signs of infection. Many do not know theyhave the virus. Once you are infected, the virus staysin your nerve cells for life. When the virus is not active,there is no sign of infection. When the virus becomesactive, a herpes outbreak occurs. Some womenmay not have any outbreaks or may have only oneoutbreak, while others may have multiple outbreaks.
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Whats The Best Way To Prevent Pregnancy
But if youre going to have vaginal sex, the best way to prevent pregnancy is to use a very effective birth control method plus a condom.
Some types of birth control work better than others. The kinds of birth control that work the best to prevent pregnancy are the implant and IUDs theyre also the most convenient to use, and the most foolproof.
Other birth control methods, like the pill, ring, patch, and shot, are also really good at preventing pregnancy if you use them perfectly. But people arent perfect, and these methods are easier to mess up than implants and IUDs.
Its super important to make sure you use your birth control the right way. This means you cant forget to take your pill, change your ring, or get your shot on time or youll be at risk for pregnancy. So the best method of birth control for you is the one youll always use correctly. Take our birth control quiz to find out which methods might be best for you.
No matter what method you choose, you can get extra pregnancy prevention power by using birth control and a condom together.
Do You Have To Go To A Gynecologist For Birth Control
No, a person does not necessarily need to visit a gynecologist. Most online birth control providers require some type of medical consultation, but this tends to involve filling out an online form.
Several online companies, such as Hers and Lemonaid, can provide prescription services in every U.S. state. And in some states, people considered minors can use online services to purchase birth control and get a prescription for it without restrictions. It is important to check local legislation, which a person can do here.
It is a good idea to bring any questions about birth control to a healthcare professional and have . At these, a doctor can provide preventive care and testing to help enhance overall health.
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Support And Advice For Genital Herpes
If you have just found out you have genital herpes, you may feel shocked and may have a lot of questions. It may help you to gather as much information as you can about herpes. This can help you to make fully informed decisions about your treatment, safe sex and preventing further recurrences. Talking to a counsellor about your concerns may also help.
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Dr Ana Lisa Carr Md Mba
Dr. Ana Lisa Carr, MD, MBA is a board-certified Family Medicine Physician with 13+ years of experience. Dr. Carr completed her Medical Degree at SGUSOM and finished her training in NYC. She then completed her residency at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and finished her Chief Residency at WSU-Boonshoft School of Medicine. She earned her MBA and Physicians Executive MBA at Auburn University School of Business and is currently a faculty member at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
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Choose Your Birth Control Method
Nurx offers 50+ birth control formulas, and our medical providers will help you find the right one for your body and your lifestyle.Some birth control brands and methods are expensive without insurance these include the ring and shot, and certain pills like Lo Loestrin, Beyaz and Natazia. If you pay out-of-pocket we can prescribe popular generic birth control pills starting at $15 per month. Get started.
How To Take Aciclovir
You should take Aciclovir as soon as you notice symptoms of herpes infection. If you are taking Aciclovir tablets 400mg, you should take them two to five times per day at regular intervals. For example, if you are taking them three times a day, you could take one dose at 6 am, one at 12 noon, and one at 6 pm.
You can take these tablets with food if you prefer, but its also fine to take them without food.
You should swallow Aciclovir tablets whole with a drink of water. You can also dissolve them in the water – but ensure that you drink all of the liquid.
If you are taking Aciclovir in liquid form, you should have a plastic syringe or measuring spoon that you can use to measure the medicine. Follow the instructions on the packet and drink the required amount. Do not use a teaspoon or tablespoon, as this will not be the required amount. If you do not have a measuring device or have any doubt, speak to your pharmacist.
Aciclovir tablets can affect your kidneys, so it is advisable to drink lots of water throughout the course of taking them.
If you are taking Aciclovir tablets for a viral infection, your course will be 5-10 days. If you are taking them to prevent contracting herpes or another infection, the course length will be determined by a doctor.
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Be Sure To Use A Condom Correctly
Using condoms is an excellent way to decrease the risk of transmitting STIs, but you need to use condoms correctly and consistently to get the most benefit. To use a condom correctly, you need to follow the instructions on the box and/or from a healthcare provider .
For maximum benefit, you need to use a condom every time you have sex, and the condom should be applied correctly before any sexual contact between the genitals takes place.
We have instructions for putting on a condom here.
If a person uses a condom incorrectlyâthere are many reasons, but perhaps they put the condom on the wrong way, or maybe only use condoms with certain partners, or only during certain types of sexâthey are at increased risk of contracting an STI.
Can I Get Birth Control Without My Parents Permission
In the United States, most states allow teenagers to access oral contraception and other birth control options without parental permission. Its best to call your doctor, a local Planned Parenthood center, or your student health center to find out whether youll need a parents permission.
Doctors have to adhere to patient-doctor confidentiality. However, if youre on your parents insurance plan, its possible your parent will receive a statement in the mail that shows what insurance paid for.
If youre concerned about privacy, you might want to pay out of pocket. If you cant afford it, Planned Parenthood might be able to help you cover the cost.
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When Is Treatment Necessary
Herpes can cause blisters to form on or around the mouth or genitals. These blisters then break, forming open, painful sores that may take at least 1 week to heal.
The symptoms may clear up on their own, and they may reappear later, in what some people call outbreaks or flare ups.
Once the virus enters the body, it never completely goes away. Some triggers that can cause herpes symptoms to reappear include:
- friction in the genital area
- a weakened immune system
Doctors may prescribe one of the following antiviral medications to help manage herpes symptoms. A person can also take some steps at home to ease the symptoms, and we describe these later in the article.
Please note, the writer has not tested these products. All information is research-based.
Viral Shedding Continues For More Than A Decade
In a separate study, University of Washington researchers found that even 10 years after being diagnosed with HSV-2, adults continue to shed virus nearly 14% of days, says Paul Auwaerter, MD, of Johns Hopkins.
The study involved 89 otherwise healthy adults with documented HSV-2 infection. As in the Indiana study, most had no symptoms, he says. Auwaerter, who served on the committee that chose which studies to highlight at the meeting, was not involved with the work.
Together, these findings “show why this virus is so successfully spread among the sexually active population,” he tells WebMD.
“Many of these women had no symptoms and hence were unaware they had herpes and hence more likely to spread it. You need to be screened specifically for it,” Auwaerter says.
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The Culprit Behind Genital Herpes Is Changing And This May Actually Be Good News
For those of us hoping for an effective vaccine, the failure of multiple herpes vaccine studies has been heartbreaking. An upside is that one of these studies revealed a surprising shift in the cause of genital herpes in young women. The study found that HSV-1 was twice as likely to cause genital outbreaks as HSV-2. This information backs up another study among college-age women, which demonstrated that nearly 80% of genital herpes outbreaks were caused by HSV-1, not HSV-2.
Although having a genital herpes outbreak isnt fun for anyone, if the outbreak is caused by genital HSV-1, then its more likely to be a one-and-done situation. People who have a genital outbreak caused by HSV-1 are less likely to have multiple outbreaks, less likely to shed virus that could infect others, and actually get some protection against catching HSV-2 in their genitals in the future. Theres your silver lining.
What Are The Types Of Herpes Viruses
Herpes is a group of contagious viruses. All of these viruses cause blisters and sores. Some of the more common herpes viruses include:
- Type 1: HSV-1, or oral herpes, causes cold sores to form on lips, gums, tongue and inside the mouth. It can cause genital herpes in some cases This type usually spreads through saliva when you kiss someone with open herpes sores. You can also get HSV-1 by sharing items like toothbrushes, lipsticks or eating utensils.
- Type 2: HSV-2 causes genital herpes.
- Herpes zoster: This virus causes chickenpox and shingles.
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Spermicides & Microbicides And Stis
The chemical nonoxynol-9 is a spermicide that can be used in gels, suppositories, and as an additive to some condoms . Nonoxynol-9 also has microbicide abilities.
However, the spermicide nonoxynol-9 should not be used by people who have a high risk of contracting HIV. This spermicide may actually increase the risk of HIV transmission by causing trauma and abrasions .
Current research does not support the use of any microbicides , including nonoxynol-9, to prevent HIV and STIs , though there are preliminary studies that show some effect against HIV and HSV-2 . More research is needed to develop microbicides and other ways to prevent spreading STIs .
People not at high-risk of HIV can safely use spermicides alone or in conjunction with another method to reduce the risk of pregnancy, though some people may experience a reaction or irritation .
Hormonal Contraception May Lower The Body’s Natural Defenses
Also at the meeting, researchers reported that the pill and other forms of hormonal contraception may lower a woman’s natural defenses against HSV-2.
Gail Shust, MD, and colleagues at Albert Einstein School of Medicine studied the genital fluid from 16 healthy women aged 18 to 25 who were at low risk of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases. Genital fluid has been shown to have natural antimicrobial activity against HSV-2, Shust says.
Nine of the 16 women were using hormonal contraception: Seven were on the pill, one used injectable Depo-Provera, and one the vaginal ring NuvaRing.
Results showed genital fluid from the women using hormonal contraception had significantly less anti-herpes activity compared with the other women, she tells WebMD.
Shust stresses that the study was small and the findings need confirmation in other research.
Show Sources
48th Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy/ Infectious Diseases Society of America 46th Annual Meeting,Washington D.C., Oct. 25-28, 2008.
Kenneth Fife, MD, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.
Paul Auwaerter, MD, co-chairman, ICAAC/IDSA Program Committee, JohnsHopkins.
Gail Shust, MD, Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y.
CDC: “Genital Herpes-CDC Fact Sheet.”
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Best For Free Shipping: Pandia Health
- Price: from $15, with a $20 prescription fee
This company says that it supplies almost all generic and brand-name birth control pills, patches, and rings. These range in price, starting from $15. Some of these products have insurance coverage.
If a person has an active prescription, they can simply transfer this to the company. If a person does not, they can pay a one-time fee of $20 and fill out a health form, which a doctor at the company reviews before writing a prescription if appropriate.
A persons order is shipped to their address free of charge.
Pros and cons
What Side Effects Can This Medication Cause
Valtrex may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- yellowness of the skin or eyes
- blood in the urine
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone .
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A Study Conducted On Mice Suggested That A Female Sex Hormone Estradiol Exerts Its Protective Effect Against Herpes Virus
According to a recent study, popping contraceptive pills could protect against one of the most common sexually transmitted infections .
The McMaster University study in mice suggested that a female sex hormone, estradiol , exerts its protective effect against herpes virus by shifting the immune response in the vaginal mucosa toward a more effective antiviral one.
Read More
Many studies have shown that injectable contraceptives containing progestins may increase a womans risk of being infected with HIV and with HSV-2 the virus causing genital herpes. On the other hand, estradiol another hormone that is present during the normal menstrual cycle and contained in oral contraceptives has been shown to be protective.
To minimize unintended negative consequences of hormonal contraception, understanding how different hormones affect susceptibility to STI pathogens is important.
The researchers concluded that the study describes a mechanism by which E2 enhances anti-viral protection following vaccination in the genital HSV-2 mouse model. They added, To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating that E2 can directly regulate T-cell mediated adaptive anti-viral immunity in the female genital tract by modulating DC functions.
The study appears in PLOS Pathogens.