To learn more about how ECPs work and how to get them, ask your health care professional or pharmacist. Or visit the Internet site for emergency contraception operated by the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals and the Office of Population Research at Princeton University ec. Ask yourself the following questions to determine if you should have ECPs on hand or know where to find them:.
Birth control pills provide certain health benefits in addition to preventing pregnancy. Before you start taking oral contraceptives, discuss the health benefits and risks with a health care professional. Like any other medication, birth control pills can cause side effects; they may interact with other medications you may take; or they may not be a good choice for you because of your personal health history.
Some of the main health benefits and risks associated with birth control pills are listed below:. Possible drug interactions Some drugs can reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. Likewise, oral contraceptives can interfere with the effects of some drugs. If you take any medication either on a short- or long-term basis, be sure to ask your health care professional or pharmacist about possible interactions with birth control pills and how you should avoid or manage them.
For example, you may need to use an additional contraceptive such as condoms as a backup contraceptive method or take a higher or lower-dose pill formulation.
Review the following Questions to Ask about birth control pills so you're prepared to discuss this important health issue with your health care professional:. Yes, there are several reasons to consider skipping the pill-free interval. You could actually skip the placebos and take only the hormone pills for these reasons:. For information and support on Birth Control Pills, please see the recommended organizations, books and Spanish-language resources listed below.
Parker , Rachel L. The most lead-contaminated neighborhoods in cities are often the poorest and home to the highest percentage of nonwhite children. Your Health. Your Wellness. Your Care. Real Women, Real Stories. Home contraception.
Birth Control Pills. Medically Reviewed. Overview What Is It? Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle At the beginning of each menstrual cycle, levels of the hormone estrogen begin to rise.
How Birth Control Pills Work Birth control pills are a synthetic form of the hormones progesterone and estrogen. How to Take Birth Control Pills There are a few different ways you can start to take birth control pills.
Discuss the pros and cons of the following methods with your doctor: You can start taking them on the first day of your period, in which case you won't need backup birth control. You can start taking them the Sunday after your period starts, in which case you will need backup birth control for seven days. You can start taking birth control pills on the day they are prescribed, in which case you will need to make sure you're not pregnant and you will need to use backup birth control for the first month.
If you have a negative pregnancy test and it has been at least 10 to 11 days since you last had intercourse, you can be nearly sure you are not pregnant and it is OK to start the pill.
Types of Pills The three most common types of birth control pills are: 1. Usually, the first 21 pills contain hormones, and the last seven pills are placebo pills. During the week when you take the last seven pills, you will get your period. Once you've finished all the pills in your pack, you'll start a new pack of 28 pills.
During these seven days, you will get your period. It may not start until you have taken two or three of the placebo sugar pills. This dose regimen calls for taking a pill at the same time every day for 91 days. The first 84 pills contain hormones, and the last seven are placebo sugar pills or a very low dose of estrogen to help control some period symptoms.
You get your period when you take the sugar pills, so you if you opt for extended-use pills, you only get your period four times a year. But you may have some light bleeding or spotting of blood as your body adjusts to the extended-use pills.
Continuous birth control pills: The FDA has approved continuous-use birth control pills that contain ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel. It is a monophasic pill containing the same levels of estrogen and progestin throughout the entire pill-taking schedule that comes in a or day pack and is designed to be taken continuously, with no break between pill packets. That means you won't have a period. You may have some spotting or breakthrough bleeding, particularly when you first start using continuous birth control pills.
But most women will have no bleeding or hardly any by the end of a year. Advantages of combination pills: reduce risk of ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer prevent ectopic pregnancy pregnancies that occur outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube decrease menstrual blood loss, pain and cramps make premenstrual symptoms less severe help regulate menstrual cycles improve acne prevent bone density loss in women who have attained their peak bone mass generally women over 30 decrease risk of ovarian cysts improve excessive body hair, particularly on the face, a condition called hirsutism improve endometriosis decrease benign breast disease or breast cysts effects are reversible with quick return to fertility treat the emotional and physical symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder PMDD , a severe form of PMS.
Only two combination OCs—Yaz and Beyaz—have been shown to be clinically effective for this use. Both contain the progestin drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, a form of estrogen, and Beyaz contains an added daily dose of folic acid.
If you are at risk for sexually transmitted infections, will you use condoms? Do you need relief from endometriosis, severe menstrual pain or anemia? Do you suffer from PMDD? If you smoke, are you under 35? If breastfeeding, is your baby six months or older? Do you have high blood pressure? Have you done well with combination pills in the past?
Advantage of POPs: decreased menstrual blood loss decreased menstrual cramps and pain can be used by breastfeeding women immediately after delivery an option for women who cannot use estrogen, such as those who are over 35 and still smoke easily reversible Disadvantages: irregular bleeding patterns, spotting or breakthrough bleeding must be taken at the same time every day do not protect against sexually transmitted infections; women at risk must use condoms increased risk of follicular cysts on the ovaries may be slightly less effective than combination oral contraceptives Possible side effects: amenorrhea absence of a monthly period irregular bleeding tender breasts nausea headaches Ask yourself the following questions to determine if POPs are the right choice for you: Are you the type of person who can remember to take a pill at exactly the same time every day?
Will irregular bleeding or spotting bother you or interfere with intimacy? Are you breastfeeding, but feel that you need contraception?
If you are at risk for sexually transmitted infections, will you use condoms for protection? Do you need to avoid taking estrogen? Advantages of ECP: reduces the chance of unintended pregnancy can be obtained easily—Plan B One-Step is available over the counter can be obtained in advance and kept handy in case of an emergency such as condom breakage, missed oral contraceptives, late contraceptive injections or forced sex Disadvantages: timing, because you must take ella within hours of having unprotected sex or Plan B One-Step or Next Choice within 72 hours of having unprotected sex.
The sooner you take emergency contraception after unprotected intercourse, the more effective it is. That's why it's a good idea to have a supply of emergency contraceptive pills available should the need arise. Possible side effects: nausea and vomiting dizziness and fatigue headache an earlier next period, or, in rare instances, a later next period breast tenderness abdominal pain during menstruation Ask yourself the following questions to determine if you should have ECPs on hand or know where to find them: Have you ever made love unexpectedly, without protection?
Have you ever been forced to have sex? Has a partner had a condom break, slip or come off? Have you ever forgotten to take several birth control pills? Has a partner ever told you it was OK to have unprotected sex because he would pull out before ejaculation? Pregnancy is still possible without ejaculation. Has your diaphragm slipped? Some of these side effects improve over the first 3 months on the Pill. When a girl has side effects, a doctor will sometimes prescribe a different brand of the Pill.
The Pill also has some side effects that most girls are happy about. It usually makes periods lighter, reduces cramps, and is often prescribed for women who have menstrual problems. Taking the combination Pill often improves acne, and some doctors prescribe it for this purpose. Combination birth control pills have also been found to protect against some forms of breast disease, anemia , ovarian cysts, and ovarian and endometrial cancers.
Young women who can remember to take a pill each day and who want excellent protection from pregnancy use birth control pills. Not all women can — or should — use the Pill. In some cases, medical or other conditions make the use of the Pill less effective or more risky. For example, it is not recommended for women who have had blood clots, certain types of cancers, or some migraine headaches.
It also might not be recommended for girls who have had unexplained vaginal bleeding bleeding that is not during their periods or who think they might be pregnant. Girls who are interested in learning more about different types of birth control, including the Pill, should talk to their doctors or other health professionals.
A doctor or a nurse practitioner NP must prescribe the Pill. He or she will ask about a girl's health and family medical history, and do a complete physical exam, which might include a pelvic exam. If the doctor or NP prescribes birth control pills, he or she will explain when to begin taking the Pill and what to do if pills are missed. The doctor or NP will usually ask the girl to come back in a few months to have her blood pressure checked and to see if she is having any problems.
After that, girls who are having sex should get routine exams every 6 months to a year, or as recommended. Many health and family planning clinics such as Planned Parenthood sell birth control pills for less. It works by stopping a woman's egg from fully developing each month. The egg can no longer accept a sperm and fertilization is prevented. Although oral contraceptives have other effects that help prevent a pregnancy from occurring, this is the main action. Sometimes a woman's egg can still develop even though the medication is taken once each day, especially when more than 24 hours pass between two doses.
In almost all cases when the medicine was taken properly and an egg develops, fertilization can still be stopped by oral contraceptives. This is because oral contraceptives also thicken cervical mucus at the opening of the uterus. This makes it hard for the partner's sperm to reach the egg. In addition, oral contraceptives change the uterus lining just enough so that an egg will not stop in the uterus to develop.
All of these effects make it difficult to become pregnant when properly taking an oral contraceptive. No contraceptive method is percent effective. Estrogens stimulate the endometrium the lining of the uterus to grow into a thick layer 1. By adding progestins into a formula, the endometrium is prevented from building up too much, which is a risk factor for endometrial cancer If a person has already had a hysterectomy , meaning that they no longer have a uterus, then they can take estrogen therapy without progestins The table below lists the possible types of synthetic estrogen that are available in each birth control in the U.
Check the medically active ingredients on your birth control package to determine which type of estrogen you are taking. Type of estrogen available in different forms of combined hormonal contraceptives in the United States. Choosing to use or discontinue hormonal contraceptives or menopause therapy, with or without synthetic estrogen, is an important and personal choice for every person.
Talk to your healthcare provider to help decide what the best option is for you. Every person is unique, with different goals and risk factors.
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When you subscribe to Clue Plus, you don't only get new features: you also fund important research, support data privacy, Clue Birth Control. Close main menu Homepage Encyclopedia. Menstrual Cycle. Birth Control. About Clue. App Store Play Store. Created by Clue with financial support from Bayer AG. Top things to know: Synthetic estrogens are used in both hormonal birth control and in treatments for menopause symptoms The purpose of estrogen in combined hormonal birth control is to make bleeding predictable.
Without the estrogen, progestin-only methods can cause unpredictable changes in menstrual bleeding Synthetic estrogen containing contraceptives may cause positive and negative side effects, including: breast tenderness, bloating, nausea, acne changes, changes in bleeding pattern, changes in cholesterol levels, and changes in risk to some diseases and cancers First of all: what is estrogen?
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