Types of Birth Control Pills

Birth controls pills have been in use since 1960 when the US Food and Drug Administration approved it. Today, there are more than 40 different types to choose from which you can get from your local health rep.

Another name for the pill is called oral contraception. There are two types namely combination and progestin pills. Both are made of hormones and before you can buy it, you need to get prescription from your doctor.

Progestin pills were first introduced in the 1970’s. This pill does not contain estrogen so it does not always prevent ovulation. For this to work, the female must take this at a certain time during the day and this must be taken regularly because one missed pill could greatly reduce its effectiveness.

There are advantages using progestin pills. Since it does not contain estrogen, it can be used by nursing mothers as well as those who are suffering from certain health conditions such as migraine headaches, cardiovascular disease or thromboembolism.

The combination pill contains estrogen and progestin and there three types available.

The first is called Monophasic pills and this contains the same amount of estrogen and progestin because the hormone levels are the same. So, users are less likely to experience mood changes that are a direct result from fluctuating hormone levels in the body.

Some examples of these are Alesse, Brevicon, Desogen, Levlite, Loestrin, Modicon, Nelova and Yasmin. The newest among them is Seasonale that was introduced into the market in 2003. Each pack contains 91 tablets and is designed to prevent menstruation for the entire time period. Tests have shown those who take it will experience only 4 periods in one year.

You also have multiphasic pills that were introduced 10 years after progestin was made available to the public. Just like the others, the person has to take them at a specific time. Some say this is an improvement than those which came out in the past because of reduced number of incidents of side effects associated with birth control pills such as amenorrhea, breakthrough bleeding and spotting.

Biphasic pills can change the level of hormones once during the menstrual cycle. Some examples of these include Jenest, Mircette, Necon 10/11, Nelova 10/11 and  Ortho-Novum 10/11.

The third type is called triphasic since it contains three different doses of hormones. Taking them will gradually increase the dose of estrogen and progesterone into your body. Examples of these includes Cyclessa, Ortho-Novum 7/7/7, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Triphasil, Tri-Levlen, Trivora, and Tri-Norinyl.

There are emergency contraceptive pills or ECP but these are not supposed to be used as a contraceptive. It is designed to protect the woman after unprotected sex and so far, only one pill has been approved by the FDA and this is called plan B that contains the progestin called levonorgestrel. The difference between the other birth controls pills to this is one is that you can purchase this over the counter.

What type of birth control pill should you use will depend on what your doctor will recommend after you have undergone your medical evaluation. One thing that you may have to deal with regardless of what you take is the side effects. Until such time that doctors have developed a better pill, this is something you will have to deal with to prevent getting pregnant.

Types of Birth Control

Contraception is a term used to prevent pregnancy. There are different types of them around. Some are used by men while others are for women.

There are two major methods of birth control namely barrier or hormonal. Aside from that, the other types include sterilization otherwise known as surgery, withdrawal, natural family planning and the simplest which is abstinence.

Let’s talk about each of them.

• The first is the barrier method wherein the male or the female uses a condom to prevent the sperm from ever entering the female’s uterus. The male condom comes in many brands, color and flavors and is usually made of latex rubber. This is placed over the penis when it is erect prior to intercourse.

The female condom on the other hand is made of polyurethane and is seven inches long. This allows it to protect the cervix, vaginal canal and the immediate areas surrounding the vagina. It is inserted into the woman’s vagina also prior to intercourse.

• Another barrier is known as spermicides. It is a chemical designed to kill sperm and this is available as foam, jelly, foaming tablet and as a vaginal suppository.

• You also have the diaphragm that is a soft rubber dome which stretches over a flexible ring that contains spermicides in the form or cream or jelly.

This is placed inside the woman’s vagina and placed over the cervix. Women should take note that this should not stay inside for more than 3 hours prior to intercourse.

• The cervical cap is a small cup made of the same material as a condom. It is also filled with spermicidal cream and inserted into the girl’s vagina and placed over the cervix.

• The last is the contraceptive sponge which is a soft saucer shaped device made from the same material as the female condom.

Now that we have discussed the different barriers, it is time to discuss about hormonal birth control methods.

Hormonal devices appear in the form or an implant, patch, pill or shot. They are designed to prevent the woman’s ovaries from releasing an egg monthly, cause the cervical mucus to thicken so the sperm will have a difficult time penetrating the egg or thin the lining of the uterus which reduces the chances of a fertilized egg from ever implanting on the uterus wall.

Some experts believe that they are very effective but they cannot protect you from sexually transmitted diseases or STD’s.

• Birth control pills can be acquired from your health provider. Depo-Provera is an injection that costs a little bit more than the pill and can prevent pregnancy for 3 months. Something similar to Depo-Provera is lunelle but this can only prevent pregnancy for up to one month.

• The Nuva Ring or vaginal ring is a flexible ring that is inserted into the vagina for three weeks before this is removed and replaced with a new one. The ring contains chemicals such as estrogen and progesterone that releases this into the body.

• The birth control patch works like the ring as it releases hormones into the body while the IUD is a small plastic device that contains hormones and copper and changes the cervical mucus to decrease the chances of an egg from fertilizing.

• Withdrawal is simply removing your penis out of the girl’s vagina before ejaculation. Sterilization closes the fallopian tubes permanently and this is better known as tubal ligation. Men can have the same thing and this is called a vasectomy.

• Natural family planning is simply controlling the number of kids that you want to have.

• Abstinence is not engaging in sexual intercourse at all that is perhaps the most effective type of birth control.

The Birth Control Patch

If you don’t like wearing a contraceptive or taking it orally, you can slap it to your skin because there are birth control patches available in the market.

The birth control patch is a thin, beige colored, four and a half centimeter square patch that is applied to the skin. Each patch contains hormones that release chemicals into your bloodstream. 

The chemicals found in the patch are progesterone and estrogen that are designed to prevent ovulation which is the release of an egg from the ovaries during a female’s monthly cycle. When this happens, a girl can have intercourse without the risk of getting pregnant.

The birth control patch also does something else and it thickens the mucus that is produced in the cervix making it difficult for the sperm to ever reach the eggs. Sometimes, the hormones themselves may affect the lining of the uterus so if ever the egg is fertilized, it will have a difficult time attaching itself to the walls of the uterus.

Proper usage of the birth control patch is done based on her monthly menstrual cycle. This will be applied to the skin for 3 weeks in a row and then on the fourth week, she remains patch free so she can have her monthly period.

The patch should be applied to one in four areas of the body namely the abdomen, buttocks, upper arm or torso. The trick is making sure that the patch is placed on the same day each week because this is the only way to make sure that it is effective.

So, if you decide to put on a patch on a Tuesday, this should be replaced on Tuesday the following week. Once you remove the old one, put the new one close to the previous area as this avoids skin irritation. Do not apply the new patch if the skin has a cut, is color red or irritated.

First time users of birth control patches are advised to use an additional form of contraception during the first 7 days of use. This is a failsafe in the event that the birth control patch falls off.

Birth control patches are waterproof and sweat proof so you can continue doing your daily routine. You must never apply soap and other skin products because this may affect its ability to stick on your skin.

Because the birth control patch releases chemicals into the bloodstream, you may experience some side effects. This includes abdominal pain, breast tenderness, fluid retention or raised blood pressure, irregular bleeding, headaches, menstrual cramps and nausea.

Not all women may also use birth control patches. If you are 35 years of age, suffer from blood clots, chest pain, diabetes, high blood pressure, headaches, known or suspected tumor, hepatitis, heart diseases and allergic to patches, it is advised that you find another birth control method.

Some drugs may also complicate the effectiveness of the birth control patch. These include certain antibiotics that are used to treat seizures, migraines and tuberculosis. When you speak to your doctor about birth control methods, it is best to undergo a physical examination and reveal to him or her any other relevant information about your medical condition.

Birth control patches are easy to use. You just have to put it in the same area each week and best of all, it doesn’t cause any interruptions when you are having sex.

The Different Types of Birth Control Pills

There are many different types of birth control pills. Women nowadays have a lot of option when it comes to this subject. That is great news. The only downside of it all is how those pills affect a woman's body to accumulate the pounds and gain weight.

Women's Issues

Gaining weight is not something that most women would want to happen on their bodies, especially when they are on the prime of their lives. This is the reason why there are so many diet tips and tricks available wherever you look, whether online or offline. They are mostly targeted for women.

But the weight gain can also be cured. This may require harder work. But who wouldn't want to work extra hard if it's for a slimmer figure.

So if you think that the pills are taking its toll on your body amass, head on to the gym. Burn those fats and sweat it out.

The Types of Pills

There are many types available in the market. Consult your doctor before deciding on which one will suit you best. They know your body better.

Among those types, three are most widely used. They are the following.

POP stands for Progestin Only Pills. This mini pill has no estrogen. This is best for mothers who are breastfeeding their babies. Why so? Because estrogen has been said to reduce a woman's ability to produce milk. One must take this type at an exact time every day.

This is ideal in lessening the blood loss during menstruation. In doing so, it also alleviates the cramps and other pains that a woman suffers from when they have their menstrual period. But as a side effect, a woman may suffer from spotting every time period.

Combination Pills

The types that fall under this category are oral contraceptives that contain both estrogen and progestin. It can be in the form of Monophasic, Multiphasic and Continuous Use.

This type is said to reduce a woman's risk from having ovarian cancer as well as endometrial cancer. It also helps prevent the case of ectopic pregnancy. This really has many advantages. But one must be cautious in using such because it can cause hypertension. It can make one feel nauseous and may experience vimitting during the first weeks of use.

ECP stands for Emergency Contraceptive Pills. This must not be used on a regular basis. This was actually designed for women to be used after an unprotected sex happened. This is to prevent the woman from conceiving after such act.

This must be taken within 120 hours after being involved in an unprotected sex or else it won't take effect. This is a prescription drug. So it is better to have a stock of it to be taken whenever needed.

This can really prevent pregnancy. But it causes a woman to feel dizzy and fatigued. It also causes abdominal pains as well as tenderness of breasts.

You must remember to take note of the advantages and disadvantages of the pills before you even consider taking them. The different types of birth control pills are your guide for this purpose. These pills can be a woman's best friend but can also be their enemy because of the mere fact that most pills cause weight gain.

The Different Forms of Birth Control

Although there are many different forms of birth control, some women are afraid to take any of each because they are scared of the side effects. The most common that these pills have as an effect relates with the issue of gaining weight.

Ask a woman who is not afraid of getting fat. You will not find so many. But if indeed there is a case wherein a woman chooses to gain more weight for health related issues, they will resort to other means. This is especially true if the person involved is not sexually active and don't have a dependence on birth control pills.

But if the person who wants to gain weight and has also used the pills, she may just continue doing so for the purpose of adding up more pounds. There is nothing wrong with that especially if she is only doing what she thinks is right.

A woman knows her body better than anybody else. But to get a scientific truth to the claims, she may also opt to see a doctor to ask for advice on what pills to take for the purpose of adding more weight. If that is not what she wants to happen, she may also ask for a suitable birth control that will match her body type.

Other Forms of Birth Control

If you don't want to depend on the pills to avoid getting pregnant, there are other types of contraception that you can choose from. For whatever reasons, may it be because you don't want to add on to your weight or whatever else, here are some of the other types that you can choose to avail.

Implant Contraception

Through this method, a rod will be inserted under a woman's skin. This rod will release small amounts of progestin, a type of hormone, into the bloodstream. This is not so popular because it causes heavy bleeding.

Injected Ones

You can also opt to inject that contraception. This method can be done just once in every three months. Most of this type contains only progestin. This will stop a woman from ovulating and will halt the eggs that have been fertilized to be implanted on the uterine lining.

Condom for Women

This can also be called Fermidom or female condom. This can be likened to a loose pouch that is used to line the vagina. This has flexible rings at its two ends. This can be bought without prescription, but isn't really that popular that is why it is hard to find it in stores.

Condom for Men

This is being used by men during the sexual act itself to avoid his discharges from being transferred into his partner that may later cause pregnancy. This will also help prevent transmission of the diseases caused by sex.

The Natural Family Method

This can be done by religiously looking at your calendars. Women must take note when they last had their menstrual period so that they could avoid making love with their partners on those days when they are fertile.

The abovementioned are some of the different forms of birth control. Choose the one that fit you best if you don't want to opt for the pills. That way, you will avoid getting pregnant and you will also not be subjected to the pills' main side effect, that is gaining weight.

Side Effects of Birth Control

Some people are not ready to have kids. Perhaps because they are still in high school and just want to have sex while others are more career-oriented and want to focus on that first before starting a family. Whatever the reason, you should know that there are potential side effects depending on the type you decide to use.

The simplest way to prevent unwanted pregnancies is not to do it at all. This is known as abstaining. But if you two lovebirds want to get physical, you just have to find another way to express your love and if you decide to do it without intercourse, you can do so by playing with each other until you reach orgasm.

Another method which is quite popular is the condom. There are different types out there in the market that cater to both men and women. After intercourse, this should be removed and thrown away. There are also no side effects in using a condom. This should only be opened prior to intercourse and placed in properly to prevent an unwanted pregnancy.

Spermicides are often used with other birth control devices. Some examples of these include the vaginal ring and the diaphragm. They come in creams, films, gels, suppositories and tablets. The danger or side effect of improperly using them includes a burning or itching sensation and TSS or toxic shock syndrome. The user may also be at risk of bladder and urinary tract infections.

Birth control pills have the most number of side effects. These are namely, breast tenderness, headaches, mood changes, nausea, spotting and weight gain. Some women claim that their migraines have increased in severity as a result of taking them. Aside from those mentioned, you may also experience blood clots, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, breast and liver cancer.

There are however newer birth control pills. The latest is called Seasonale that was released in 2003. Studies have shown women who take this have had fewer incidents of blood clots in the legs or lungs, stoppage or rupture of a blood vessel in the heart and other organs, liver tumors and high blood pressure. You may also experience similar symptoms such as breast tenderness, weight gain, vomiting and difficulty wearing contact lenses just like conventional birth control pills.

The birth control patch is another option for women and you apply this onto your skin. One patch is good for seven days and you have to replace it during the same day each week for the next three weeks in the same area so choose whether to stick this in your abdomen, buttocks, upper arm or torso. On the fourth week, the female is patch free.

The side effects of using birth control patches include abdominal pain, breast tenderness, fluid retention or raised blood pressure, irregular bleeding, headaches, menstrual cramps and nausea.

Some people also use injectables and you can go to the doctor monthly for this or every three months. The sides effects of using injectables are irregular periods, weight gain and vomiting. The same side effects may also be experienced if you choose to use implants.

Birth control is the answer for those who don’t want to take on the responsibility of raising a baby. Just so you know, be ready for the side effects which are often experienced by those who have tried it.