Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills can be purchased under a variety of brand names and offering different chemical makeup and features The two most common types of pills are those that offer a mixed of synthetic estrogen and progestin hormones and those that are progestinbased hormones only The birth control pills that contain both estrogen and progestin prevent ovulation and also thicken the cervical mucus making it more difficult for a mans sperm to travel into the uterus The progestinbased pills work primarily to thicken the cervical mucus The pill creates an artificial period for the week or so that you arent taking any of the hormones
Another interesting feature about the different brands of pills is the number of pills included in a standard supply Birth control pills are normally sold in compacts containing either 21 or 28 pills This is done based on the average womans menstrual cycle which includes 21 days between sevenday periods Whether you purchase a estrogen progestin compact with 21 pills or 28 pills only 21 of those pills will contain the hormones that prevent pregnancy These are taken during the days between your regularly schedule periods The remaining seven pills in the 28pill compact of combined estrogen progestin pills are placebos Many women prefer birth control pill compacts that include 28 pills because it keeps them in the habit of taking a pill every day including during their period During that same sevenday period a woman using a 21day supply of pills would not take a pill
If the prescription is for progestin pills which are sometimes referred to as minipills your entire 28day supply of pills will contain small doses for the hormone and should be taken daily without taking a break A woman taking the minipill may or may not experience a monthly period
You can also purchase birth control pills that decrease the number of menstrual periods to once every three months
The effectiveness is determined by how carefully you take your pills They should be taken daily at approximately the same time Effectivensss also depends on whether you take the pills that contain a mixture of estrogen and progestin or just progestin If you take a estrogen progestin pill every day without missing a day during each 21 day cycle you can expect somewhere between 9598% chance of remaining pregnancyfree Since a progestinbased pill does not normally prevent ovulation your chance of getting pregnant is a bit higher with the minipills
Side Effects
Birth control pills are commonly considered safe but some side effects have been reported including
Blood clots
Weight gain
Mood changes
Irregular menstrual bleeding
Headaches
Dizziness
Breast tenderness
Depression
Jaundice
How To the Pill
You can only get the pill with a prescription from a health care provider or family planning health clinic Your individual health needs will be evaluated for an appropriate method of birth control There are some medical conditions that are counterindicated for birth control pill use Some of these conditions are
Unexplained vaginal bleeding
Pregnancy
An abnormal growth or cancer of the breast
Certain other medical conditions will determine whether your health care provider recommends an estrogen and progestin pill or one that only contains progestin Some conditions will require closer medical supervision while you are on the pill and your health care provider will want to make sure none of your current medications will affect the pills ability to provide adequate protection from pregnancy
In many cases the pill will be covered by your health insurance and will be subject to your normal deductible However if you must pay the cost yourself you can look to spend $20 to $50 a month You can also obtain birth control pills or other family planning methods usually at a reduced rate from a health department family planning clinic or other health clinic such as planned parenthood
It is very important to follow the directions your health care provider gives you for taknig the pill The pill should be taken every day at approximatly the same time and started at the beginning of a cycle when you are having bleeding telling you you are on a period If you miss some pills use a back up method continue the pills and contact your health care provider about how you should make up the pills If you miss some pills you greatly increase your risks of getting pregnant If you are having problems with your pills such as bleeding headaches or anything else that seems serious to you please contact your health care provider for more guidance about what to do
Birth control pills can be purchased under a variety of brand names and offering different chemical makeup and features The two most common types of pills are those that offer a mixed of synthetic estrogen and progestin hormones and those that are progestinbased hormones only The birth control pills that contain both estrogen and progestin prevent ovulation and also thicken the cervical mucus making it more difficult for a mans sperm to travel into the uterus The progestinbased pills work primarily to thicken the cervical mucus The pill creates an artificial period for the week or so that you arent taking any of the hormones
Another interesting feature about the different brands of pills is the number of pills included in a standard supply Birth control pills are normally sold in compacts containing either 21 or 28 pills This is done based on the average womans menstrual cycle which includes 21 days between sevenday periods Whether you purchase a estrogen progestin compact with 21 pills or 28 pills only 21 of those pills will contain the hormones that prevent pregnancy These are taken during the days between your regularly schedule periods The remaining seven pills in the 28pill compact of combined estrogen progestin pills are placebos Many women prefer birth control pill compacts that include 28 pills because it keeps them in the habit of taking a pill every day including during their period During that same sevenday period a woman using a 21day supply of pills would not take a pill
If the prescription is for progestin pills which are sometimes referred to as minipills your entire 28day supply of pills will contain small doses for the hormone and should be taken daily without taking a break A woman taking the minipill may or may not experience a monthly period
You can also purchase birth control pills that decrease the number of menstrual periods to once every three months
The effectiveness is determined by how carefully you take your pills They should be taken daily at approximately the same time Effectivensss also depends on whether you take the pills that contain a mixture of estrogen and progestin or just progestin If you take a estrogen progestin pill every day without missing a day during each 21 day cycle you can expect somewhere between 9598% chance of remaining pregnancyfree Since a progestinbased pill does not normally prevent ovulation your chance of getting pregnant is a bit higher with the minipills
Side Effects
Birth control pills are commonly considered safe but some side effects have been reported including
Blood clots
Weight gain
Mood changes
Irregular menstrual bleeding
Headaches
Dizziness
Breast tenderness
Depression
Jaundice
How To the Pill
You can only get the pill with a prescription from a health care provider or family planning health clinic Your individual health needs will be evaluated for an appropriate method of birth control There are some medical conditions that are counterindicated for birth control pill use Some of these conditions are
Unexplained vaginal bleeding
Pregnancy
An abnormal growth or cancer of the breast
Certain other medical conditions will determine whether your health care provider recommends an estrogen and progestin pill or one that only contains progestin Some conditions will require closer medical supervision while you are on the pill and your health care provider will want to make sure none of your current medications will affect the pills ability to provide adequate protection from pregnancy
In many cases the pill will be covered by your health insurance and will be subject to your normal deductible However if you must pay the cost yourself you can look to spend $20 to $50 a month You can also obtain birth control pills or other family planning methods usually at a reduced rate from a health department family planning clinic or other health clinic such as planned parenthood
It is very important to follow the directions your health care provider gives you for taknig the pill The pill should be taken every day at approximatly the same time and started at the beginning of a cycle when you are having bleeding telling you you are on a period If you miss some pills use a back up method continue the pills and contact your health care provider about how you should make up the pills If you miss some pills you greatly increase your risks of getting pregnant If you are having problems with your pills such as bleeding headaches or anything else that seems serious to you please contact your health care provider for more guidance about what to do
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