Should I Avoid Certain Medications While Taking The Pill
You should always check with your healthcare provider before taking any new medications or herbal supplements. Certain drugs can make the pill less effective and increase your chances of getting pregnant. These products include:
- Antiseizure medications.
- Herbal supplements, such as St. Johns wort.
- Medications used to treat HIV.
How Do You Choose The Best Method
The best method of birth control is one that protects you every time you have sex. And with many types of birth control, that depends on how well you use it. To find a method that will work for you every time, some things to think about include:
If you are using a method now that you are not happy with, talk to your doctor about other choices.
What Drugs Interact With Birth Control And Nuvaring
Birth Control Pills
Estrogens can inhibit the metabolism of cyclosporine, resulting in increased cyclosporine blood levels. Such increased blood levels can result in kidney and/or liver damage. If this combination cannot be avoided, cyclosporine concentrations can be monitored, and the dose of cyclosporine can be adjusted to assure that its blood levels do not become elevated.
Estrogens appear to increase the risk of liver disease in patients receiving dantrolene through an unknown mechanism. Women over 35 years of age and those with a history of liver disease are especially at risk.
Estrogens increase the liver’s ability to manufacture clotting factors. Because of this, patients receiving warfarin need to be monitored for loss of anticoagulant effect if an estrogen is begun.
A number of medications, including some antibiotics and antiseizure medications, can decrease the blood levels of oral contraceptive hormones, but an actual decrease in the effectiveness of the oral contraceptive has not been convincingly proven. Nonetheless, because of this theoretical possibility, some physicians recommend backup contraceptive methods during antibiotic use. Examples of medications that increase the elimination of estrogens include
- certain hepatitis C medicines
- non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
- medicine to treat tuberculosis
- medicine to treat high blood pressure in the vessels of the lung
- medicine to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
- St. Johnâs wort
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What Are The Different Types Of Birth Control Pills
The active ingredients in birth control pills are synthetic versions of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Combination oral contraceptives are birth control pills that contain both ingredients. There are some birth control pills that are progesterone-only pills. Sometimes referred to as “minipills,” progestin-only pills are especially useful for women who cannot take estrogens. They are also suitable for women who are breastfeeding because they don’t interfere with the production of milk.
The various brands of combination birth control pills generally come packaged in blister packs containing 21 or 28 tablets. After finishing the 21 day pack, there is a week without any pills when withdrawal bleeding occurs. This will be like a regular menstrual period but generally lighter. Then a new pack is started on the same day of the week as the start of the previous pack.
In the 28-day pack, typically 21 pills are active pills containing hormones and the other pills are “reminder” pills without hormones. Some reminder pills may contain iron. By taking reminder pills, a woman takes a pill each day, which can help maintain her birth control regimen. The progestin-only pills come in 28-day packs with all the pills being active containing hormone.With pills containing continuous hormone, there isn’t any scheduled time of bleeding, but spotting or unexpected bleeding may occur.
Other medical history items that would prohibitoral contraceptive use include:
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 it’s 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 I’m 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.
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Comparison Of Hormone Levels In Birth Control Pills
Last updated on By Jing J.
If you have to take birth control pills, what would be the best ones to take? Check out the comparison of hormone levels and side effects of various birth control pills.
Recently some of you asked me about birth control pills: If you have to take birth control pills, what would be the best ones to take, i.e., which birth control pill has the least side effects?
First, I think this is a conversation you ought to have with your healthcare provider since he or she would have the most intimate knowledge regarding your health condition and could recommend the best option for you.
That being said, I think it would be helpful to compare the hormone levels in various birth control pills, so you can be educated and ask the right questions when you discuss your options with your doctor.
Which Birth Control Pills Have The Most Estrogen
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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.
What Is The Best Low
The birth control pills available today have lower doses than they did when they first came out, which has really decreased the risk of side effects. In fact, one pill in 1960 is the equivalent of taking one week of pills today!
Because of these changes, most birth control brands today are low-dose pills. The Mayo Clinic says that most combination birth control pills, which combine the hormones progestin and estrogen, have 10–35 micrograms of estrogen. Low-dose pills would then contain estrogen levels at the lower end of this range.
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What Is The Best Birth Control Method Overall
Most women who want to protect themselves from pregnancy get a prescription for the pill. Yet there are other forms of contraception, like the IUD for example, that last longer and are even more effective. The pill is a short-term method that suits many people, though you’d have to remember to take the pill every day.
Ultimately, the best birth control for you depends on many things and could change over time. The Office on Women’s Health says there is no best method of birth control for every woman, but that you should consider things like:
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Whether you want to get pregnant soon or in the next few years
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Possible side effects
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Your overall health
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How comfortable you are with the method, such as having to take a pill everyday
We’ve come a long way from one birth control pill option. The number of brands of pills might be a little overwhelming, but we hope that this article will give you confidence when you talk to your doctor. With so many brands of pills and combinations of different ingredients, there is truly a birth control option out there for almost everybody who’s eligible to take it. The best birth control pill is the pill that works best for you!
Why Is This Medication Prescribed
Oral contraceptives are used to prevent pregnancy. Estrogen and progestin are two female sex hormones. Combinations of estrogen and progestin work by preventing ovulation . They also change the lining of the uterus to prevent pregnancy from developing and change the mucus at the cervix to prevent sperm from entering. Oral contraceptives are a very effective method of birth control, but they do not prevent the spread of human immunodeficiency virus and other sexually transmitted diseases.
Some brands of oral contraceptives are also used to treat acne in certain patients. Oral contraceptives treat acne by decreasing the amounts of certain natural substances that can cause acne.
Some oral contraceptives are also used to relieve the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in women who have chosen to use an oral contraceptive to prevent pregnancy.
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Types Of Birth Control Without Estrogen
Not only are our birth control needs individual, but they also change throughout our fertile lifetimes. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of seven birth control options without the hormone estrogen. Whether you cant or dont want to use estrogen, or are looking to go entirely hormone-free, read on to discover our list of 7 types of birth control without estrogen
How To Choose The Right Birth Control Pill For You
With so many combination birth control pills available, how do you know which to use? Most are equally effective, so the best choice for you will likely come down to which is likely to produce no side effects.
The doctor who prescribes your contraceptive will be your ultimate guide, but it’s always wise to be as informed as possible about any drug you take.
In this guide to making an informed decision about which birth control pill is best for you, you’ll find a review of the differences between the types of pills, the potential side effects of each, and more.
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What Warning Signs Should I Know About
Most people on the pill wont have any problems at all. But just in case, its good to know what the signs of a serious issue are.
See a doctor or nurse right away if you have:
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sudden back/jaw pain along with nausea, sweating, or trouble breathing
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chest pain or discomfort
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achy soreness in your leg
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trouble breathing
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severe pain in your belly or stomach
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sudden, very bad headache
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headaches that are different, worse, or happen more often than usual
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aura
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yellowing of your skin or eyes
You can always call a nurse or doctor, like the ones at your local Planned Parenthood health center, if you have questions or youre worried about any health issues.
What Are Birth Control Pills What Is Nuvaring
Birth control pills are a birth control method used to prevent pregnancy. Birth control pills are hormonal preparations that prevent pregnancy by inhibiting the release of the hormones luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland in the brain. LH and FSH play key roles in the development of the egg and preparation of the lining of the uterus for implantation of the embryo. Progestin also makes the uterine lining that surrounds the egg more difficult for sperm to penetrate which makes it harder for fertilization to take place. Progestin can also inhibit ovulation .
Nuvaring is a vaginal ring containing a combination of the hormones a progestin and an estrogen and is used to prevent pregnancy. Nuvaring works by preventing the release of an egg during the menstrual cycle. It also makes vaginal fluid thicker to help prevent sperm from reaching an egg and changes the lining of the uterus to prevent attachment of a fertilized egg. If a fertilized egg does not attach to the uterus, it passes out of the body. This product does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
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Path To Improved Health
This pill works in three different ways. First, it thickens the mucus between your uterus and your vagina, the tube leading to the uterus. Sperm have a hard time getting through the thick mucus to reach the egg.
Second, like regular birth control pills, the progestin-only pill makes your body think youre pregnant and stops your ovary from releasing an egg. This doesnt happen as often as with combination birth control pills. Forty percent of women taking the progestin-only pill will continue to ovulate.
Third, the mini-pill causes changes in your uterus that make it less likely to let a pregnancy get started, even if an egg is released.
Symptoms Of Hormonal Imbalance
To find out if your birth control pills are contributing to your symptoms, its important to get tested. However, simple standard blood tests will rarely detect this problem. A better option is a 24-hour urine hormone collection, which is the gold standard for looking at all the hormones and their metabolic byproducts. An integrative physician can be helpful in assessing hormone levels, nutrient deficiencies, and other issues related to hormonal birth control.
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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
- have diabetes
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.
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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Choosing A Birth Control Pill
Combination hormonal contraceptives contain a synthetic estrogen and a progestin . Knowing the differences between the progestins and about estrogenic effects, androgenic effects, and progestational selectivity can help you choose a pill with minimal side effects.
To briefly explain how the combination of these activities may cause side effects, let’s look at some specific combination of birth control pills.
Oral contraceptives that tend to have high androgenic effects and low estrogen activity, for example, are more likely to cause unwanted hair growth and acne side effects. Additionally, a progestin with higher androgenic effects may tend to produce less breast tenderness, bloating, and mood changes.
It is important to remember, though, that the majority of people using a pill with this combination do not end up developing acne this side effect is more likely to occur in those who have a tendency toward androgenicity. Birth control pills containing this high androgenic/low estrogenic pattern include:
- Alesse
- Loestrin 1/20 Fe
- Ovral
Since there are different types of progestins, they each have different potency in terms of progestational, estrogenic, and androgenic effects. The result of these effects is dependent on the combination of the type and levels of progestin and estrogen.
Typically, the balance between the estrogen and progestin in a pill brand may play a role in the side effects you are experiencing. Each person may respond differently to these components.