How Can I Get Free Or Low
Under the Affordable Care Act , most insurance plans cover FDA-approved prescription birth control for women, such as the pill, IUDs, and female sterilization, at no additional cost to you. This also includes birth control counseling.
- If you have insurance, check with your insurance provider to find out what is included in your plan.
- If you have Medicaid, your insurance covers birth control. This includes birth control prescriptions and visits to your doctor related to birth control. Programs vary between states, so check with your state’s Medicaid program to learn what your benefits are.
- If you don’t have insurance, don’t panic. Family planning clinics may provide some birth control methods for free or at low cost. Call your local clinic or enter your ZIP code in this clinic finder tool to learn more.
For information about other services covered by the Affordable Care Act, visit HealthCare.gov.
What Are The Health Risks For Smokers Who Use Birth Control
If you smoke and are 35 or older, you should not use hormonal birth control. Smoking tobacco and using hormonal birth control raises your risk for blood clots and high blood pressure. Smoking and high blood pressure are risk factors for a heart attack or stroke. The risk for a heart attack or stroke also goes up as you age.
What Else Should I Know About Emergency Contraception
Menstrual irregularities are common after you take emergency contraception. However, if you dont get your period within a few weeks of taking emergency contraception, you should take a pregnancy test. It’s important to use condoms or abstain from intercourse for the next five days after taking emergency contraception, otherwise you can get pregnant. If you find yourself taking emergency contraceptive pills frequently, speak to a healthcare provider about more effective ways to prevent pregnancy. The benefit of using IUDs as a form of emergency contraception is that you are taking proactive steps to protect yourself from future unwanted pregnancies.
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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.
Other Possible Benefits Of Birth Control
Birth control pills have benefits besides contraception. They lower your risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer and can help with acne. But it’s not clear if ultra-low-dose formulas do as good a job of providing these perks.
Birth control isn’t one-size-fits-all, so you should weigh the pros and cons of going extra-low with your doctor.
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Types Of Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills contain man-made versions of hormones, estrogen and one of a dozen different types of progestin. Women naturally produce estrogen and progesterone. There are three main kinds of birth control pills: combined estrogen-progesterone, progestin-only, and continuous or extended cycle pills. There are many varieties of each type of pill, from brand names to generic, with dosing available in 28, 90, or 365-day active pill cycles. Different brands contain the same hormones, they are just given different names by different manufacturers. Which specific pill is best for you depends on your bodys needs, plus the recommendation of your healthcare provider.
Heres a brief explanation of the various types of pills on the market and how they work:
Fertility Awareness Method/natural Family Planning
- Fertility awareness method is also known as Natural Family Planning and is commonly called NFP.
- NFP does not rely on devices or medications to prevent pregnancy.
- NFP is a contraceptive method that uses the natural functions of your body and your menstrual cycle to determine ovulation. This involves recording your basal body temperature and changes in your cervical mucus each day.
- NFP requires periodic abstinence during a womans ovulation window. Some women choose to use a barrier method or withdrawal during this time frame.
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What Is The Difference Between 21
Theonly difference between the 21- and 28-day birth control pills is that the 28-day includes either seven inactive sugar pills or seven iron pills. If youre taking a 21-day birth control pill, youll take the pill for three weeks, and then skip a week before starting a new pack. For 28-day pills, youll start a new pack immediately after finishing your last one.
Insurance Coverage And Financing Of Oral Contraceptives
Private Insurance and the ACA
| Table 2: Policies Expanding Contraceptive Coverage and Availability | |
| State | |
| 18 | 6 |
| 1 Some states require pharmacists to have a collaborative partnership with a physician or advanced practice clinician. States that have given pharmacists only expanded dispensing authority are not included here. NH, OH, UT, and WV permit pharmacists to dispense certain self-administered hormonal contraceptives under a standing prescription drug order or consult agreement with a licensed physician, but not to prescribe them. 2 Insurers may apply cost sharing for drugs or devices that are therapeutically equivalent to another contraceptive drug or device that is already covered under the same policy. Some states require that all contraceptive drugs, devices, and other products be covered, while others require that at least one be covered. Also, some states require the method be prescribed. Many states permit exemptions for employers with religious and/or moral objections to contraception. 3 Effective in 2020, NM will require insurers to cover a 6-month supply of contraceptives. 4 State law does not prohibit cost sharing. 5 Effective in 2020. |
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Which Types Of Birth Control Can I Get Without A Prescription
You can buy these types of birth control over the counter at a drugstore or supermarket:
- Emergency contraception pills. Plan B One-Step® and its generic versions are available in drugstores and some supermarkets to anyone, without a prescription. However you should not use EC as your regular birth control because it does not work as well as regular birth control. EC is meant to be used only when your regular birth control does not work for some unexpected reason.
Would You Prefer Contraception You Do Not Have To Remember Every Day
Not all contraceptives have to be taken every day or each time you have sex.
You do not have to think about some contraceptives for months or years.
These methods need to be inserted by a health professional into your uterus or arm :
The contraceptive injection can be given 1 of 2 ways: either by an intramuscular injection into the buttock, or as a subcutaneous injection into the thigh or abdomen.
This is given every 8 weeks or every 12 weeks, depending on the type.
The subcutaneous injection can be given by a health professional, or you can be shown how to inject it yourself.
Other contraceptives that need to be changed or replaced every month or week are:
Other contraceptives used or inserted just before sex are:
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How Are Combination Pills And Minipills Different
The main difference between combination pills and minipills is that one has estrogen and the other doesnt. Theres also a noticeable difference in how each pill affects your body.
Combination pills prevent pregnancy in three ways. First, the hormones prevent your ovaries from releasing an egg. Without the egg, sperm have nothing to fertilize.
The hormones also cause a buildup of thick, sticky mucus at the opening of your cervix. This makes it harder for sperm to pass through your cervical opening. Some combination birth control pills also thin the lining of your uterus. Without a thick lining, a fertilized egg has a difficult time attaching and developing.
Minipills prevent pregnancy by thickening cervical mucus and thinning your uterine lining. Some minipills can also prevent ovulation, but thats not the primary function of these progestin-only pills.
Many people can use birth control pills safely and without many symptoms or side effects. However, some people will experience these health concerns, especially when they first begin taking the pill.
The side effects of combination birth control pills can include:
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What Is The Cheapest Birth Control Pill Brand
Birth control pill prices can vary based on a variety of factors. The Affordable Care Act requires all insurance and Medicaid plans to cover the full cost of birth control methods, such as the pill. However, some plans can opt out of this coverage due to religious reasons.
A person who does not have insurance may be able to acquire free or reduced-cost pills from local clinics.
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How Do I Know If I Should Switch Birth Control
If youre not satisfied with your current birth control pillfor example, due to side effectsits a good idea to discuss better options with your healthcare provider. Hang in there for the first three months to see how your body will do with your current pill. Its also important to discuss any new health conditions or medication history that might affect your current pills safety and effectiveness.
Who shouldnt take birth control?
You have any of the following risk factors, it is not recommended that you take any combination birth control as it can increase your chance of experiencing blood clots, strokes, and heart attack.
- You are over 35 years of age and smoke.
- You are scheduled to have surgery that will reduce your mobility for extended periods.
- You have a history of heart disease, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism.
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Discouraged By The Cost Of Birth Control We Can Help
We do our best to help you afford the birth control method you choose no matter what your situation is. Whether you have your own health insurance, are on your parents plan, or dont have insurance at all, weve got you covered. Find a health center near you.
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Many insurance plans, including Medicaid, cover Planned Parenthood services.
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Well help you navigate your states health insurance plans. Learn more
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Is health insurance not an option for you? We can get you set up with state or locally funded programs that help cover the cost of your birth control.
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Combination Birth Control Pills
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Combo birth control pills must be taken every day, at the same time. They contain Ethinyl estradiol and one of the following types of progestin: norethindrone, norethindrone acetate, ethynodiol diacetate, levonorgestrel, norgestrel, desogestrel, norgestimate, or drospirenone. Each of these progestins has its own profile based on its progestational, estrogenic, and androgenic effects on your body. There is also a new combination birth control pill called Nataziathis is the only pill that contains estradiol valerate and the progestin, dienogest. Combination birth control pills are also categorized as monophasic, biphasic or triphasicthis is based on how the hormones are distributed over the weeks in each pill pack. There are also extended cycle combination pills.
It Has A High Success Rate
When you use it correctly, hormonal birth control has a high efficacy rate .
The birth control pill is 99% effective when used according to instructions. If you sometimes forget to take a pill, its about 91% effective.
According to the , several other hormonal methods are also over 90% effective with typical use.
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How Does Birth Control Work
Birth control works to prevent pregnancy in different ways, depending upon the type of birth control you choose:
- Female or male sterilization surgery prevents the sperm from reaching the egg by cutting or damaging the tubes that carry sperm or eggs .
- Long-acting reversible contraceptives or “LARC” methods prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs, prevent sperm from getting to the egg, or make implantation of the egg in the uterus unlikely.
- Short-acting hormonal methods, such as the pill, mini-pill, patch, shot, and vaginal ring, prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs or prevent sperm from getting to the egg.
- Barrier methods, such as condoms, diaphragms, sponge, cervical cap, prevent sperm from getting to the egg.
- Natural rhythm methods involve avoiding sex or using other forms of birth control on the days when you are most fertile .
Weighing The Pros And Cons
All forms of hormonal contraception are similarly effective at preventing pregnancy. A womans choice of contraception may depend on how well she tolerates the different kinds, and how she feels about the potential side effects. Another factor is what the contraceptive method involves: Does she mind swallowing a pill every day? Would wearing a patch on her body for several weeks bother her? Can she feel the vaginal ring inside her during sex? Women have to find out for themselves what is most important to them and which method they tolerate the best.
As well as hormonal contraceptives, there are also non-hormonal contraceptives. You can get more information about the different kinds of contraceptives from your doctor or womens health center.
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Are Birth Control Pills Safe
Yes, hormonal birth control methods, such as the pill, are safe for most women. Today’s birth control pills have lower doses of hormones than in the past. This has lowered the risk of side effects and serious health problems.
Today’s birth control pills can have health benefits for some women, such as a lower risk of some kinds of cancer.5 Also, different brands and types of birth control pills can increase your risk for some health problems and side effects. Side effects can include weight gain, headaches, irregular bleeding, breast tenderness, and mood changes.
Talk to your doctor about whether hormonal birth control is right for you.
How Hormonal Contraceptives Like The Pill Work
The hormones in contraceptives dont only prevent ovulation. Some also prevent fertilized eggs from implanting into the womb. Others cause the mucus in the cervix to become thick and sticky, making it harder for the sperm to move and reach the egg cell.
Hormonal contraceptives are only reliable if they are used properly. If, for instance, a woman forgets to take her pill one day, her ovaries may release an egg and she could become pregnant.
The effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives may be reduced by medication such as , blood-pressure-lowering or cholesterol-lowering drugs, antifungal drugs or herbal products like St. Johns wort. Also, if women who take the pill vomit or have diarrhea, the pill may no longer provide enough protection. So they have to use another form of contraception too for instance, a condom.
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What Are Contraceptives
Contraceptives are the name given to medicines and other devices that are used to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Contraceptives may also be referred to as birth control.
Hormonal contraceptives consist of one or more synthetic female sex hormones.
- Hormonal contraceptives that contain both an estrogen and progestin are called combined oral contraceptives .
- Those that contain just progestin are called progestin-only contraceptives .
COCs prevent pregnancy by inhibiting the normal process of ovulation and by altering the lining of the uterus so that it is unable to support a fertilized egg. They also change the viscosity of mucus within the cervix to make it hard for sperm to travel to the uterus.
POPs mainly just change the viscosity of mucus and thin the endometrium however, in some women, they may also prevent ovulation, although this is usually inconsistent.
Hormonal contraceptives are available as pills , injections, implants, intrauterine devices, patches, and vaginal rings.
Nonhormonal contraceptives include condoms, diaphragms, sponges, spermicides, and cervical caps.
Types Of Birth Control
There are two types of hormonal birth control:
Hormonal birth control methods tend to be very popular. You may wish to use hormonal contraception because:
- These methods are reversible . This means that your fertility quickly returns once you stop using them.
- Hormonal birth control is convenient and easy to use.
- Many of these methods have some of the lowest failure rates , so they are very effective.
- Hormone birth control can offer you many non-contraceptive health benefits as well .
Here is a list of all of the available hormonal birth control methods for you to use. The first three are combination methods and the rest of the list are progestin-only hormonal birth control options.
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