Cervical caps are one of the oldest methods used to prevent pregnancy. Early caps were made from beeswax, silver, or copper. The modern cervical cap has been available in Europe for several years and has been approved for use in the United States by the FDA since 1988.
The cervical cap is a small cup made of latex that is designed to fit snugly over the entire cervix. It must be fitted by a practitioner and is designed for use with contraceptive jelly or cream. It is somewhat more difficult to insert than a diaphragm because of its smaller size.
The cap keeps sperm out of the uterus. It is held in place by suction created during application. Insertion may take place anywhere up to two days prior to intercourse and the device must be left in place for six to eight hours after intercourse. The maximum length of time the cap can be left on the cervix is 48 hours. If removed and cleaned, it can be reinserted immediately. The cervical cap may offer protection against STIs but not HIV
Some women report unpleasant vaginal odors after use. Because the device can become dislodged during intercourse, placement must be checked frequently. It cannot be used during the menstrual period or for longer than 48 hours because of the risk of toxic shock syndrome.
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While about 95% percent of the body is water, protein, and tats, the remaining 4 percent is accounted for by minerals. When we think of minerals, the first one that comes to mind is calcium. Others include magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, iodine, potassium, and sodium. Hard skeletal structure is composed primarily of minerals, but we could not survive or reproduce without adequate and balanced amounts of the minerals that form the nuclei of soft tissues such as muscle and nerve cells.

Minerals are responsible for regulating a few crucial functions, such as nerve responses, and for maintaining the acid-base equilibrium that helps in the absorption of minerals and contraction of muscles.

Second in rank after calcium in the amount present in the body, phosphorus has been found to have more functions than any other mineral. About 80 percent of it will combine with calcium to strengthen bone structure, and the remainder nourishes soft tissues and bodily fluids. Among its important functions is to help metabolize fats and carbohydrates and fuel muscle energy metabolism. Unfortunately, many high-phosphorus foods are anathema for the endometriosis sufferer, since they tend to be high in fat and cholesterol. These include egg yolk, red meat, and whole-milk cheeses. Other foods are better bets, such as lean turkey breast and whole-grain cereals. Fruit, which you want to limit during the menstrual cycle and the ten days preceding it, is low in phosphorus, as are most vegetables. (Fruits contain bioflavonoid, which can mimic the effect of estrogen in the body.) If you have enough calcium and protein in your diet, you should be getting enough phosphorus.

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Many women in their fertile years become moody and tense and feel ‘down’ in the week before their menstrual periods. In about 2-8% of women these changes are severe. They may also feel hopeless and angry, may be easily distracted and disinterested in work, friends and hobbies. In addition, their breasts may feel swollen, their heads may ache, their abdomens may feel bloated, and their joints and muscles painful. Difficulties with sleepiness or sleeplessness may also pose problems. Within a few days of starting to menstruate, these difficulties diminish or disappear.

Women for whom these sorts of changes occur at a predictable time in most menstrual cycles may be suffering from premenstrual syndrome. Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle are sometimes blamed for the condition but it seems there is also a strong psychological component. Distress from other sources, such as marriage, parenthood or occupation, may interact with hormonal changes resulting in intermittent negative moods and behaviours.

Patricia, a 35-year-old mother, sought help for severe irritability, uncontrolled anger, confusion, insomnia, fatigue and low libido, which typically appeared two weeks before her period and disappeared about a week after bleeding stopped. With a thirty day menstrual cycle, this meant she experienced only about eight days when she felt well and ‘in control’ of her situation. Doctors occasionally suggest a hysterectomy in such circumstances in a bid to relieve symptoms that are disrupting relationships and generally making life a misery. There is, however, little evidence to support the value of this approach as symptoms often persist after hysterectomy.

Patricia found a coping skills program incorporating anxiety-reduction techniques and responsible assertiveness training to be extremely helpful. Within twelve weeks she was increasingly positive about her relationships in all directions and regarded her premenstrual phase as a time when she felt ‘out of sorts’ but from which she would recover her competence within a day or two.

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Soya

Soya is a very versatile, natural vegetable protein which can make a useful alternative to cow’s milk if you are animal milk intolerant or find that it causes skin problems or sinus trouble. Buy organic to make sure it is not genetically modified and make sure the milk is sugar-free. Soya milk can be used in cooking in the same way as you would use cow’s milk and you will find you then cannot taste the difference between the two.

Tofu which is soya bean curd can be used in stir-fries, soups and also desserts and again buy organic to make sure it is GM free. It is available in most supermarkets and health food shops. Avoid TVP (textured vegetable protein) because of the amount of processing needed to make it into a meat substitute.

Dairy Produce

Buy organic dairy produce, available from most supermarkets, to avoid the harmful effects of growth hormones, antibiotics and chemicals that may have been absorbed from the animal’s foodstuffs. If you have a milk allergy or intolerance, try sheep’s or goat’s milk or a non-animal drink like soya milk or rice milk. Buy live yogurt containing the culture Lactobacillus acidophilus — organic if possible.

Oil/Fat

Use butter (organic if possible) and unhydrogenated margarines (available from health food shops). Look for cold-pressed, unrefined vegetable oils like sesame, sunflower and safflower, and use extra-virgin olive oil for light cooking.

Hot Drinks

As a substitute for coffee, try Caro and Caro Extra, Bambu orYannoh which are grain ‘coffees’ and contain various combinations of ingredients like barley, rye, chicory and acorns. Good alternatives to tea include herb teas, fruit teas, Rooibos (caffeine-free South African tea), decaffeinated tea, or Japanese bancha (twig) tea.

Cold Drinks

Use real unsweetened fruit juice. Watch out for cartons or bottles with ‘fruit drink’ on the label because this means that something else has been added. A recent analysis of fruit drinks showed that many contained only 5 per cent fruit, while the rest was made up with water, sugar and additives.

Also be cautious of the flavoured spring waters. They appear healthy enough but many contain sugar.

Water is the simplest and most natural drink of all. Our bodies are made up of approximately 70 per cent water which is essential for every bodily process. We can survive without food for about five weeks but we can’t go without water for longer than five days.

Try to drink around six glasses of water a day. Use these glasses of water to replace other less healthy drinks you might normally choose. For instance, you could start the day with a cup of hot water and a slice of lemon, a wonderfully refreshing drink and excellent for the liver.

Convenience Foods

Most pre-packaged convenience foods contain high levels of additives and preservatives so they are best avoided. However, even with the best will in the world, I know this is not always possible. So, when you do feel you have to buy convenience foods, check the labels carefully, go for organic options where available, and keep your consumption of such foods to a minimum.

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