What Are The Types Of Birth Control
Before you choose a method, you should discuss birth control with your partner and your healthcare provider. Birth control methods are only effective if you use them properly. Make sure that you understand how to use the method you choose.
Birth control methods include:
- Barrier methods: Barrier methods block sperm from getting into your uterus. You use a barrier method each time you have sex.
- Hormonal medication and devices: These methods use hormones to prevent ovulation or change the conditions in your uterus and cervix. There are some hormonal medications that require daily use and others that your provider inserts into your arm or your uterus .
- Sterilization: Surgery to permanently prevent pregnancy is sterilization. There are male and female sterilization methods.
- Fertility awareness: Fertility awareness uses natural methods to prevent pregnancy. This is also called natural family planning.
- Emergency contraception: Emergency contraception provides protection against pregnancy if your birth control fails. You can think of this like your last safety net against pregnancy.
- Abstinence: Refraining from sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy.
Is Yaz Or Yasmin Better For Acne
The main differences between them may be use and side effects. Yaz is approved to treat PMDD and acne as well as to prevent pregnancy, while Yasmin is only approved to prevent pregnancy. Yaz and Yasmin contain somewhat different amounts of hormones, which could make the amount of side effects differ slightly.
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What Other Information Should I Know
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. You should have a complete physical examination every year, including blood pressure measurements, breast and pelvic exams, and a Pap test. Follow your doctor’s directions for examining your breasts report any lumps immediately.
Before you have any laboratory tests, tell the laboratory personnel that you take oral contraceptives.
If you wish to stop taking oral contraceptives and become pregnant, your doctor may tell you to use another method of birth control until you begin to menstruate regularly again. It may take a long time for you to become pregnant after you stop taking oral contraceptives, especially if you have never had a baby or if you had irregular, infrequent, or complete absence of menstrual periods before taking oral contraceptives. However, it is possible to become pregnant within days of stopping certain oral contraceptives. If you want to stop taking oral contraceptives but do not want to become pregnant, you should begin using another type of birth control as soon as you stop taking oral contraceptives. Discuss any questions that you may have with your doctor.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
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Cardiovascular And Central Nervous Systems
According to the Mayo Clinic, a healthy woman who doesnt smoke is unlikely to experience serious side effects from oral contraceptives. However, for some women, birth control pills and patches can increase their blood pressure. Those extra hormones can also put you at risk for blood clots.
- These risks are even higher if you:
- smoke or are over age 35
Being overweight is also considered a risk factor for high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.
These side effects are uncommon in most women but when they do occur, theyre potentially very serious. Thats why hormonal birth control methods require a prescription and routine monitoring. Seek medical attention if you feel chest pain, cough up blood, or feel faint. Severe headache, difficulty speaking, or weakness and numbness in a limb could be signs of stroke.
Estrogen may aggravate migraines, if you already experience them. Some women also experience mood changes and depression when taking contraceptives.
Since the body works to maintain a hormone balance, its possible that the introduction of hormones creates a disruption, causing changes in mood. But there are few studies on the mental health effects of birth control on women and their well-being. Only recently did a 2017 study look at a small sample of 340 healthy women and find that oral contraceptives significantly reduced overall well-being.
What Is Birth Control
Birth control is how you prevent pregnancy. There are many different types of birth control. Birth control only works when you use it correctly. Take the time to understand how each type of birth control works and how you use it.
If you’re sexually active and don’t want a baby, use birth control. A pregnancy can happen any time you have unprotected sex.
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What Is The Minipill
The minipill is a type of oral contraceptive that contains pills that only have progestin.
None of the pills in the pack have any estrogen. The dose of progestin varies and is dependent on the formulation used in the birth control pill.
A minipill package consists of 28 pills, all of which contain the hormone progestin. It doesnt contain any placebo pills.
To maximize the minipills effectiveness, youll need to take the pill at the same time every day.
If you miss a dose even by as little as 3 hours youll need to use a backup method of birth control for at least 2 days to be on the safe side.
Theres a new FDA-approved progestin-only pill called Slynd. It can be taken within a 24-hour period and still not be considered a missed dose, unlike the current progestin-only pill.
Because this pill is so new, there may currently be limited information and access. To learn more about Slynd, talk to your doctor.
We Love Them We Hate Them We Blame Them For All Sorts Of Things But What Do They Really Do
At the most basic level, a hormone is a chemical made in one part of a living thing that travels around and affects other parts of that thing. Hormones are as old as the hills, and probably evolved when life on Earth was nothing but cells bobbing in the primordial seas. The special organs in human bodies that make hormonesincluding ovaries and testiclescame much later.
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The Iud The Implant The Shot And The Mini
Hormonal IUDs release a small amount of a progestin hormone called levonorgestrel. Levonorgestrel is one of the longest-studied types of progestin, and all the scientific evidence to date shows it is super safe. For example, this chart shows the average amount of levonorgestrel measured in the blood of women who have used Mirena or Skyla for about a year. These are averages, and individual IUD users may have higher or lower amountsthats what the ± means. The amount of levonorgestrel released by these IUDs stays very steady day to day, but declines slowly to even lower levels after the first year. Almost all of the levonorgestrel stays in the uterus the chart below shows how little is in the blood stream.
How does this amount of levonorgestrel impact the body? Most women using Skyla have their usual changes in estrogen and progesterone each cycle, and most release an egg each month. Many women using the Mirena are having their usual hormonal cycles after a year and still releasing an egg. The main way these IUDs work to prevent pregnancy is by keeping cervical mucus thick so sperm cant get through the cervix to meet with an egg.
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the mini-pill , and
These progestin hormones vary in potency, but even the highest levels of progestin in these methods of birth control are lower than the average natural monthly spike of progesterone produced by the female reproductive cycle.
To Hormone Or Not To Hormone It Depends
If youve had a bad experience with one hormonal birth control, other hormonal options may still work for you. You may hate the shot but love the implant, or hate the pill but love the ring. Its not unusual to try multiple methods before finding one that works for youthe important thing is not to give up. Make sure to get help with your search from a health care provider, because certain medical and genetic conditions can impact your birth control choices.
Some people have tried different kinds of hormonal birth control and had bad experiences with all of them. Luckily, there are still options if youve reacted negatively to hormones or just prefer to avoid them. The most effective non-hormonal birth control option is the copper IUD. Condoms, the diaphragm, and fertility awareness methods also offer good protection against pregnancy when used carefully and consistently. These methods dont change your natural hormones at all.
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Starting The Dialogue About Menopause
If you suspect that you may be entering perimenopause, now is a good time to schedule a consultation with a hormone specialist. By testing your hormones and discussing your symptoms, medical history, and treatment goals with your doctor, they can create a personalized plan to help you get back on track.
Hormone replacement therapy is the gold standard of treatment for many menopause symptoms. According to the critical window theory, otherwise known as the timing hypothesis, starting hormone replacement therapy early in the menopausal transition can help you achieve the best outcomes. But its never too late to seek helpHRT can relieve symptoms at any stage.
Talking about menopause can be difficult, but starting the dialogue is the first step toward living the life you want. Finding a caring doctor with expertise in menopause and HRT can ensure you get the guidance you need to understand your options and make this next stage of life as healthy and comfortable as possible.
If you want to know more about the menopause hormone levels chart and how to relieve uncomfortable symptoms, the doctors in the EVEXIAS Health Solutions network can help. Contact us to learn more about our innovative treatment options.
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Although it affects over 1.3 million Americans, rheumatoid arthritis can go undiagnosed in many people for years. For unknown reasons, RA tends to be more common in women but the symptoms are largely the
How To Choose The Best Birth Control Pill For You
Because every woman is different, your body may tolerate some brands of birth control pills better than others.
Here are a couple of steps we suggest you consider when thinking about what birth control is best for you:
What are the side effects? Most doctors recommend staying on a new birth control pill for at least 2-3 months. However, different women experience different side effects, so if you try one and its not the right fit, be sure to tell your doctor so you can try a different pill.
What hormones would work best in my body? Most doctors will probably recommend a combined contraceptive, but if estrogen is a concern , you may want to consider a progestin-only pill.
Is it name-brand or generic? In general, when you are looking at name-brand birth controls, they will be more expensive. Depending on your insurance or budget, you may want to ask about the generic version of birth control
Why do I want to be on birth control? If you are simply looking for a contraception method, the pill you choose may be different from if you are looking for birth control for acne, or PMDD, etc. Be mindful of the fact that the pill does not protect against STDs.
What if Im still not sure? Birth control is different for everybody, if you have any questions you should contact your doctor, or sign up for Pill Club to get in touch with an expert.
Last updated on By Jing J.
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Is There A Link Between Birth Control Pills And Higher Breast Cancer Risk
The need for safe, effective birth control is shared by many women around the world. More than 10 million American women use birth control pills. Besides effectively stopping unwanted pregnancies, birth control pills also help control other conditions, such as acne, PMS, heavy periods, and mood swings. Research also has shown that birth control pills can slightly lower the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer.
Effective, uncomplicated birth control is important for many women. But its also important that birth control be safe. There are concerns that because birth control pills use hormones to block pregnancy they may overstimulate breast cells, which can increase the risk of breast cancer.
The concern is greater if youre at high risk for breast cancer because of:
- a strong family history of the disease
- past breast biopsies showing abnormal cells
- you or someone in your family has an abnormal breast cancer gene
If youve been diagnosed with breast cancer, you SHOULD NOT use contraceptives that use hormones. Thats because theres evidence that these medicines might increase the risk of the cancer coming back .
The study was published in the Aug. 1, 2014 issue of Cancer Research. Read the abstract of Recent Oral Contraceptive Use by Formulation and Breast Cancer Risk among Women 20 to 49 Years of Age.
While these results sound very alarming, its important to know three things:
When Should The Sample Be Collected
If the decision is made to test saliva or blood spot while using synthetic hormones, the sample can be collected at any time during the cycle, except during the “period.” While ZRT doesn’t recommend discontinuing hormonal contraceptives just for the purpose of testing, if cessation is determined for clinical reasons, the appropriate protocol for testing through ZRT is as follows:
With the withdrawal of some contraception methods or in perimenopausal women, this protocol may need to be adjusted due to shortened or lengthened cycles or irregular bleeding. ZRT Customer Service Representatives can provide further information if the situation doesn’t seem to fit the protocol.
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How Pandia Health Can Help
Pandia Healths mission is to make womens lives easier by providing FREE delivery of birth control to all 50 states. Our expert doctors can write you a new prescription if you live in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MI, NV, TX, TN, PA, WA, or WY. We can also help you transfer your current prescription to our pharmacy.
With Pandia Health, its time to say goodbye to pill anxiety in knowing that you will never run out of birth control on our watch. today so you can #SkipTheTrip to the pharmacy and have that #PandiaPeaceOfMind.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article intend to inform and induce conversation. They are the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Pandia Health, and are for informational purposes only, even if and to the extent that this article features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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After A Miscarriage Or Abortion
If you have had a miscarriage or abortion, you can start the pill up to 5 days after this and you will be protected from pregnancy straight away. If you start the pill more than 5 days after the miscarriage or abortion, youll need to use additional contraception until you have taken the pill for 7 days.
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What Is Abstinence
Abstinence is the only birth control that is 100% effective. It means you never have sexual intercourse. Its also the only way to protect yourself from STDs.
Don’t let someone pressure you into having sex if you don’t feel ready. Its an important decision with serious emotional and physical consequences.
How Does It Work
- The patch prevents pregnancy primarily by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg, but it may also thicken the cervical mucus and make the uterine lining thin. Its method of action is very similar to the Pill.
- Each patch is worn on the skin for seven days. One patch is worn each week for 3 weeks. The patch should be changed on the same day each week . The fourth week is patch-free, allowing a period to occur. The patch should never be off for more than seven days. Following the seven patch-free days, a new cycle is started when you apply a new patch on your Patch Change Day.
- The patch can be worn on the buttocks, stomach, back or upper arms, but not on the breasts. It may help to change the location a bit each week. The patch should be applied to clean, dry skin. You should not use any creams or lotions near a patch youre already wearing, or where youll be applying a new one. The patch is very sticky. You can exercise, shower, swim or go in a sauna or hot tub and it still sticks 98% of the time!
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Types And Fluctuation Of Estrogen
Before a female reaches menopause, her body produces four different types of estrogen:
- Estrone : Estrone is made in the ovaries. E1 production decreases during pregnancy and with menopause. It has weak effects on the body, including maintenance of bone health.
- Estradiol : Like E1, estradiol is made in the ovaries. It is the most prevalent estrogen in the body during the reproductive years. Its main job is to mature and maintain the reproductive system.
- Estriol : Estriol is present in small amounts in premenopausal women. It is the main estrogen produced during pregnancy and it is made by the placenta.
- Estetrol : This hormone is made by a growing fetus, and it is only produced during pregnancy.
Estrogen levels can go up and down depending on the stage of life, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause.