According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , birth control pills are the most common form of female contraception after sterilization.
Of the birth control options out there, the combination pill is an effective one. Using online birth control services is an accessible and affordable resource for people interested in the pill. However, birth control is not one-size-fits-all.
Many people who menstruate are great candidates for the pill, but there are risks, side effects, and contraindications. To determine if the combination pill is right for you, talk with a doctor. Lacey Bourassa is a health, wellness, and beauty writer based in Southern California. She holds a BA in English. You can keep up with her by visiting her website or her blog. With so many birth control pill brands out there, it can be hard to know where to begin. Learn more about the different birth control pill options.
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However, higher estrogen dosages can counteract the likelihood of breakthrough bleeding , so pill brands that contain higher levels of estrogen can alleviate this side effect. Advantages : May be helpful for women with endometriosis. Disadvantages : Breakthrough bleeding spotting. Examples : Demulen, Kelnor, Zovia. Levonorgestrel is a second-generation progestin and is the most widely prescribed contraceptive progestin worldwide.
It has high progestational and androgenic effects. Levonorgestrel negatively affects serum lipoproteins. Several low-dose estrogen brands containing this progestin are available. The FDA has stated that all combination pills with this progestin are safe and effective for emergency contraception under the Yuzpe method. According to a systematic review , levonorgestrel was associated with the lowest risk of blood clots venous thromboembolism of all combined oral contraceptives.
Certainly, the lowest possible dose of ethinyl estradiol is recommended as well. Advantages : Lowest risk of blood clots of all combined oral contraceptives.
Disadvantages : Negative effect on lipids affects serum lipoproteins ; increased incidence of androgenic side effects such as acne. Norgestrel a second-generation progestin is a mixture of both an inactive and active isomer—dextro-norgestrel inactive and levonorgestrel biologically active.
Norgestrel has high progestational and strong antiestrogen effects while also being high in androgenic activity. Advantages : May be helpful in endometriosis prevention. Disadvantages : Acne; weight gain. Desogestrel is a third-generation progestin with high progestational selectivity, minimizing androgenic effects and estrogenic activity.
It shows a lower negative impact on metabolism, weight gain, acne, and other side effects typical of older progestins. It shows positive effects on lipoproteins as seen by a slight rise of HDL cholesterol.
Clinical trials show a possibly higher risk of non-fatal venous thrombosis blood clots with desogestrel pills versus those with levonorgestrel. Along with drospirenone, desogestrel appears to have a higher risk of blood clots than other options, especially levonorgestrel, with the highest risk of all combination birth control pills being desogestrel combined with 30 to 40 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol see study below under desogestrel.
Advantages : May help with menstrual cramps; Reduced risk of menstrual migraines; positive effects on lipids; Less weight gain. Disadvantages : Higher risk of blood clots. Norgestimate, a third-generation progestin, has high progestational activity while showing slight estrogenic effects and tends to be less androgenic. It also has minimal effect on serum lipoproteins as well as on carbohydrate metabolism. The low androgenic effects of norgestimate have resulted in successful treatment of acne.
In fact, birth control pills that contain norgestimate are the only ones FDA approved to help reduce acne. Ortho Tri-cyclen Lo is a brand that provides norgestimate and a mid-level dose of estrogen, so this pill may be helpful in lowering side effects such as nausea and vomiting while not causing an increased incidence of spotting typically associated with low-estrogen pills.
Disadvantages : May have a higher rate of headaches; Reduced libido. Drospirenone is the only progestin derived from 17a-spironolactone. It helps suppress the secretion of the hormones that regulate the body's water and electrolytes. It also has low androgenic activity. Drospirenone and estrogen seem to lessen symptoms associated with mild PMS increased appetite, negative mood, and water retention.
Drospirenone may cause higher potassium levels, so women with kidney, liver, or adrenal disease should not use it. The brands YAZ and Beyaz have 24 days of active pills and four days of placebo pills. This combination may cause fewer hormone fluctuations than typical pill packs. Drospirenone has been linked to an increased risk of blood clots in several studies. A review looked at 17 studies that found the risk of blood clots ranged from no increase to a 3.
The conclusion was that based on the best studies, the risk is only slightly increased. Looked in another way, however, some of the same researchers looked at the risk of blood clots in first-time users and restarters of oral contraceptives in over 55, women in another study. They found that the risk of blood clots was 3. Women who have other risk factors for blood clots may wish to consider a birth control pill other than those with drospirenone or desogestrel, or another form of birth control altogether.
The combination pill is also linked to reducing the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer. POPs deliver a small amount of progestin every day and your period may be less regular than it would be on a combination contraceptive.
To be effective, it is very important to take the pill at the same time every day, even more so than the combination pill. Mini-pills should be taken daily without any breaks. You may want to consider using other contraceptives if you are not that diligent about taking the pill at the same time every day or if you experience unpleasant side effects.
Still have questions which type is right for you? This blog is provided purely for informational purposes. Written by Nurx.
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