Women use birth control (BC) pills for a number of reasons; some take then for medical concerns, though use BC to prevent pregnancy. With such a wide variety of options now available, it can be difficult to make the right choice for you and your lifestyle. Aside from talking to your doctor, you can educate yourself and learn what oral contraceptives contain what hormones and how these hormones may affect your body.
The Mini Pill
This type of oral contraception received its name because it contains one hormone, progestin, rather than both estrogen and progestin. According to FamilyDoctor.org, this reduces the side effects you may experience.
The mini pill works three ways to prevent pregnancy. First, it stops your ovaries from releasing eggs to be fertilized. It also thickens the cervical mucus, which prevents sperm from making its way to any eggs, and it is responsible for changes in your uterus, often thinning the lining, making pregnancy difficult even if eggs are released.
The most common side effects associated with the mini pill are breast tenderness and increased appetite and weight gain. It takes a full month for the pill to become effective, so the experts at FamilyDoctor.org recommend using a backup form of protection during that time. It should also be taken at the same time each day for maximum efficacy.
Combination Pill
This is the most common type of oral contraceptive and contains both progestin and estrogen. For full efficacy, you take pills every day for three weeks that have hormones, and you take placebo (sugar) pills the last week that contain nothing. This is a signal to your body that it's time to begin your menstrual cycle.
According to the Center for Young Women's Health, the combination pill is slightly more effective than the mini pill, however the side effects may be greater. According to the Mayo Clinic these include nausea, vomiting, headaches, breast tenderness, depression and decreases sex drive. Combination pills are also not recommended for women who smoke, have a history of blood clots, breast, uterine or liver cancer, history of heart disease or are over the age of 35.
Extended Cycle Pills
According to Dr. Rosalina Abboud, an obstetrician and gynecologist at the Mayo Clinic, extended release contraceptives can be used to control, or manipulate, your menstrual cycles. They may be the perfect option for women who experience breast tenderness or mood swings 7 to 10 days before your menstrual cycle begins, heavy or painful periods or women who suffer from conditions such as epilepsy, migraines or anemia that are worsened by their cycle.
You take a pill every day for 12 weeks, followed by a placebo during the thirteenth week; this is when your menstrual cycle will occur. While taking an extended release pill, you should experience only four menstrual cycles a year. Seasonale, Seasonique and Lybrel are all extended release contraceptive pills.
Side effects you may experience while taking these pills include leg cramps, bloating, nausea, weight gain, acne and mood swings, though these occur in only a small number of women, according to Dr. Abboud. Extended release pills can be used by women of any age; however they are not recommended for women over the age of 35 who smoke. This increases your risk of developing blood clots, having a heart attack or suffering from a stroke.
