When you decide you want to begin taking birth control pills, the first thing you'll want to do is talk to your doctor about what type of pill is best for you. While there are dozens of different brands of birth control pills, there really are only three major types. The difference between these brands are the types and amounts of hormones they contain and the duration of time for which the hormones are taken.
Combination Pill
Combination pills are the most common and popular types of oral contraceptives. They are called combination pills because they contain both estrogen and progestin. There are three types of combination pills: monophasic, biphasic and triphasic. Monophasic pills contain 21 active pills and seven inactive or placebo pills. Of these 21 pills, each contains the same dose of hormones. Biphasic pills have 21 active days and seven inactive but they differ in that the pills have two different dosages of estrogen and progestin that change throughout your cycle. Triphasic pills follow the 21 active day, seven inactive day pattern, but their hormones change every seven days, delivering three different doses. Most of the popular brand names are combination pills, like Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Yaz, Alesse and Yasmine.
Mini Pill (Progestin Only)
Mini pills are progestin-only pills. These pills are good for people who are estrogen sensitive. For women who are estrogen sensitive, combination pills can cause side effects like nausea and vomiting that don't go away after their bodies adjust to a new hormonal cycle. Progestin only pills are also often prescribed to women over 35 or women who have a history of smoking. Mini pills have less leeway than combination pills, meaning they have to be taken at exactly the same time each day in order to be effective. Common name brands include Micronor or Ovrette.
Extended-Cycle Pills/Continuous Use Pills
Extended cycle pills are combination pills that you take for long periods of time in order to have fewer periods a year. These are great for women with endometriosis, painful menstrual cycles or active women who wish to have fewer periods. According to Columbia University, having fewer periods per year is completely safe. There are currently three extended cycle pills on the market. Lybrel is a brand of pill that gives you one period per year. You take the active pills for 51 weeks, then take the inactive pills for the final week, during which you'll have your period. Seasonale and Seasonique provide you with a period every three months. You take the active pills for 12 weeks, then have a period the 13th week. It may take a few months of using these pills before your body fully adjusts---spotting is normal.
