Birth control pills prevent ovarian cancer. Tests show that taking birth control pills can prevent ovarian cancer not only for the time period in which they are taken, but for even up to 30 years after taking them. The longer a woman takes the pills the better her protection. Ovarian cancer most commonly occurs when a woman is in her 50’s.

You might be scratching your head remembering that oral contraceptives also increase breast cancer risk. That still holds true. However keep in mind that ovarian cancer is much harder to detect and much more deadly, and the breast cancer risk is applicable only during the time that a woman takes the pills and once she stops that risk diminishes. So, the benefits still outweigh the risks.

The hidden risks of CMV. This topic is one that is recently “near and dear” to me. Last September, my toddler caught the cytomegalovirus (CMV) and passed it to me. While she recovered rather quickly, I ended up sick for the past 4 months due to the related complications that are often associated with this virus (including pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis and pretty much any other “-itis” out there). Three rounds of antibiotics later (which is quite unheard of over here in Europe) I am hopefully in the final stages of recovery.

The one thing that all the doctors have treated me have said is “thank goodness you are not pregnant!” This virus is very harmful in-utero, impacting 1 in 150 pregnant women, and it is the leading infectious cause of birth defects in America.

“A lot of people are really shocked when they hear that there are as many disabled kids from congenital CMV as there are kids with fetal alcohol syndrome or Down syndrome or spina bifida — and people haven’t heard of it,” CDC epidemiologist Michael Cannon said in a telephone interview.

To be honest, I had never been made aware of this and the risks associated with any of my three pregnancies, and having now so easily caught it from my toddler I thought it was important to get the news out - because I know there are a lot of mommies out there pregnant with toddlers.

If you are pregnant with a toddler at home there are things that you can do to minimize your risk of contacting this. The virus is most often passed via body fluids, so make efforts to wash your hands after changing diapers or touching their mucous or saliva, do not kiss your child near the mouth, and be careful not to share cups and eating utensils with your child.