Does Birth Control Raise My Risk For Health Problems
It can, depending on your health and the type of birth control you use. Talk to your doctor to find the birth control method that is right for you.
Different forms of birth control have different health risks and side effects. Some birth control methods that increase your risk for health problems include:
- Hormonal birth control. Combination birth control pills and some other forms of hormonal birth control, such as the vaginal ring or skin patch, may raise your risk for blood clots and high blood pressure. Blood clots and high blood pressure can cause a heart attack or stroke. A blood clot in the legs can also go to your lungs, causing serious damage or even death. These are serious side effects of hormonal birth control, but they are rare.
- Spermicides . Spermicides that have nonoxynol-9 can irritate the vagina. This can raise your risk for getting HIV. Use spermicides with nonoxynol-9 only if you are in a monogamous relationship with a man you know is HIV-negative. Also, medicines for vaginal yeast infections may make spermicides less effective.
- Intrauterine devices . IUDs can slightly raise your risk of an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies happen when a fertilized egg implants somewhere outside of the uterus , usually in one of the fallopian tubes. An ectopic pregnancy is a serious medical problem that should be treated as soon as possible. IUDs also have a very rare but serious risk of infection or puncture of the uterus.
How Is The Pill Taken
Most combination pills come in either a 21-day pack or a 28-day pack. One hormone pill is taken each day at about the same time for 21 days. Depending on your pack, you will either stop taking birth control pills for 7 days or you will take a pill that contains no hormones for 7 days . A woman has her period when she stops taking the pills that contain hormones. Some women prefer the 28-day pack because it helps them stay in the habit of taking a pill every day.
There is also a type of combination pill that decreases the frequency of a woman’s period by supplying a hormone pill for 12 weeks and then inactive pills for 7 days. This decreases the number of periods to one every 3 months instead of one every month.
Another kind of pill that may change the number of monthly periods is the low-dose progesterone pill, sometimes called the mini-pill. This type of birth control pill differs from the other pills in that it only contains one type of hormone progesterone rather than a combination of estrogen and progesterone. It works by changing the cervical mucus and the lining of the uterus, and sometimes by affecting ovulation as well. The mini-pill may be slightly less effective at preventing pregnancy than combination pills.
The mini-pill is taken every day without a break. A girl who is taking it might have no period at all or she may have irregular periods. For the minipill to work, it must be taken at the same time every day, without missing any doses.
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How Does An Iud Prevent Pregnancy
The IUD, which stands for intrauterine device, is a form of birth control becoming more and more popular for women in the United States. These devices, made of flexible plastic, are inserted into the uterus by a healthcare professional. Considered one of the most effective forms of birth control available, IUDs can last between three and 12 years, depending on the type. Learn more about IUDs and how to they prevent pregnancy, here:
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What To Do If Your Condom Splits
If your condom splits while you are having sex, you should visit your GP or go to your local sexual health or genitourinary medicine clinic as soon as possible.
Emergency contraception, such as the emergency pill or the intrauterine device can be used to prevent pregnancy. Emergency contraception is available free from contraception clinics, GPs that provide contraception services, Brook clinics, sexual health clinics and some GUM clinics, but not all are able to fit the IUD. The emergency contraceptive pill Levonelle and ellaOne can be bought from most pharmacies and some provide it free to young people.
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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Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- How do I know which method is best for me?
- Do certain birth control options cause cancer or other chronic diseases?
- Are certain forms better based on a womans age?
- Other than a male condom, can any other form of birth control prevent sexually transmitted disease?
- Are certain forms of birth control uncomfortable?
- Can I get free or low-cost birth control?
Getting Contraception During Coronavirus
If you need contraception, call your GP surgery or a sexual health clinic as soon as possible. Only go in person if you’re told to.
It can take longer to get contraception at the moment and some types are not widely available.
You may only be able to get the combined pill if you’ve had your blood pressure and weight checked in the last 12 months.
If you cannot get the combined pill, you may be advised to use the progestogen-only pill or condoms for now.
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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.
Birth Control Methods: From Then To Now
Until modern contraceptives were invented, women relied on all kinds of ancient birth control methods that had inconsistent results. Some were even dangerous, including the use of heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and arsenic, which did prevent conception but also led to organ failure and brain damage.
In the beginning of the 20th century, the first intrauterine device for birth control was introduced. Over the following decades, many other methods of birth control were developed, including sponges, cervical caps, and condoms .
The first birth control pills emerged in the 1950s and were publicly available in the year 1960 in the United States.
With modern medicine, birth control options are regulated and tested for efficiency and safety. Weve come a long way from crocodile dung, and now people can choose from a variety of birth control methods, including:
- Combined hormone pills
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How Do I Make The Pill Work Best For Me
Forgetting pills, losing the pack, not refilling your prescription on time these are the main reasons why people might get pregnant when they use the pill. Its good to plan ahead and think about the best way for you to use the pill correctly. Here are some ways to help you remember to take your pills every day:
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Use our birth control reminder app or set an alarm on your phone.
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Keep your pill pack next to something you use every day .
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Keep your pills in your bag so theyre always with you.
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Be pill buddies with friends or family members who also take medicine every day, and help each other remember.
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Your partner can help remind you.
Do whatever works to help you take your pill on time, all the time. Depending on where you live, you may be able to order and refill your pills online through the Planned Parenthood Direct app.
Want to be super duper sure you dont accidentally get pregnant? You can also use a condom every time you have penis-in-vagina sex. That way youll be protected from STDs too.
How Do I Change To A Different Pill
If you want advice about changing your contraceptive pill, you can visit a GP, contraceptive nurse , or sexual health clinic.
You should not have a break between different packs, so you will usually be advised to start the new pill immediately or wait until the day after you take the last of your old pills.
You may also be advised to use alternative methods of contraception during the changeover, as the new pill may take a short time to take effect.
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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 .
Early Signs Of Pregnancy
If a person is concerned about contraceptive failure and the possibility of being pregnant, they should speak to their doctor. However, there are also some early signs that can indicate pregnancy:
- Bloating. While bloating is often a symptom of premenstrual syndrome, it can sometimes also be a sign of early pregnancy.
- Breast tenderness. Raised levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone can cause breast tenderness early in pregnancy. Some women may also experience symptoms, such as tingling, heaviness, or feelings of breast fullness.
- Light spotting. A small amount of bleeding or spotting can occur when an egg attaches to the uterine lining. If spotting occurs outside of an expected menstrual cycle, it may be an early symptom of pregnancy.
- Unexplained fatigue. Hormonal changes that occur in the body during pregnancy can make a person feel tired, even during the early stages.
- Urinating more often. Hormonal changes can increase a womans need to urinate during early pregnancy.
Anyone who thinks they could be pregnant may wish to take an at-home pregnancy test. These tests have become more sensitive to a persons hormone levels and better at detecting pregnancy in its earliest stages.
However, at-home pregnancy tests still may not reliable if an individual takes it too early or does not follow the instructions correctly. According to the United States
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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.
Birth Control Pills Offer Multiple Layers Of Protection Against Pregnancy
According to the Cleveland Clinic, most birth control pills stop the ovaries from releasing eggs, thereby preventing fertilization. This is not the only way that birth control pills prevent pregnancy, though. In fact, when it comes to progestin-only birth control pills, it is not even a main function, as around 40% of women continue to ovulate, says the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. So what are the other ways that birth control pills prevent pregnancy?
One way is that both combination pills and progestin-only pills thicken the mucus at the cervix, which prevents sperm from getting into the uterus. Just in case the woman ovulates and sperm manages to get through and fertilize an egg, the pill thins the lining of the uterus so that any fertilized egg is unlikely to attach. When you take the pill as designed, all of these functions lead to 99% effectiveness against pregnancy.
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What Are Benefits Of Taking The Pill
Some women take the pill for health purposes. The pill can:
- Regulate or lighten menstruation.
Your doctor will talk to you about your level of risk based on your medical history. Luckily, if an individual is not able to use an estrogen-containing pill, most can still safely take progestin only pills.
Can Natural Birth Control Methods Really Prevent Pregnancy
Natural forms of contraceptionA contraceptive like condoms can be used both for protection against sexually transmitted diseases and to prevent unwanted pregnancy. However, natural forms of birth control can be used only to prevent pregnancy .
Most people tout natural methods because there are no pills or devices and they seem convenient or easy. However, some of these methods involve a lot of effort and may not be very effective.
Before adopting these methods, understand how these traditional methods work so you can make an informed choice.
Natural birth control methods are:
Withdrawal
In this method the man pulls out or withdraws before ejaculation. Withdrawal method depends entirely on the mans ability to withdraw before spilling even a drop and also there is no guarantee that no sperm is present in the pre-ejaculate.
All of the gynaecologists, I have spoken to, do not recommend this method because chances of getting pregnant are high during penetrative intercourse as there is always possibility that the sperm can get inside.
Fertility awareness
A woman needs to keep track of her menstrual cycle so she can predict her most fertile period or when she is most likely to get pregnant each month. People usually track their fertility when they are trying to conceive, however, some like to use contraceptives or abstain only during this period to prevent pregnancy.
Breastfeeding
Abstinence
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Fact Check: Birth Control Prevents Unintended Pregnancies
For Immediate Release:Aug. 26, 2015
Rick Santorum Confused About How Birth Control Works
Washington, DC — GOP Presidential candidate Rick Santorum today made the extreme – and absurd – assertion that access to contraception does not prevent the need for abortion services, ignoring years of studies showing that access to contraception decreases the number of abortions and that birth control unequivocally reduces unintended pregnancy.
Q:Do you have any concerns that cutbacks to Planned Parenthood would affect the birth control part of its offerings and inadvertently lead to an increase in abortions?
Rick Santorum:Well first off, I dont think theres any numbers out there that suggest that access to contraception actually reduces the number of abortions. I think theres pretty good studies out there, pretty compelling studies that show that there is no reall correlation and hasnt been for quite some time.
Statement from Dawn Laguens, Executive Vice President of Planned Parenthood:
FACT: Birth control helps prevent pregnancy.
FACT: Contraception helps prevent unintended pregnancies, and reduces the rate of abortion.
New Republic: Birth control doesnt simply reduce unwanted pregnancies. It also reduces abortions. In the New England Journal study, the mean abortion rate among participants was less than one-fourth the rate for sexually active 14- to 19-year-old women nationally. Thats a pretty massive difference.
Not Starting A New Pack Right Away
It is essential to start a new pack of pills the day after finishing the previous one. However, sometimes a person may not have their new package yet. Missing a few days between packs can make the pill less effective at preventing pregnancy.
According to the , anyone who misses two or more pills in a row should use a backup contraceptive method or avoid sexual intercourse until they have taken the birth control pill for 7 consecutive days.
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Are All Birth Control Pills The Same
Before we can dive into answering the question at hand, there are some important things to know about the pillthe most important being that there are two types of pills.
There are combination birth control pills and progestin-only birth control pills.
Combination pills, as the name implies, contain a combination of the hormones estrogen and progestin. On the other hand, progestin-only pills only contain you guessed it progestin! For this reason, POPs are also often called the mini-pill.
Brands such as Alesse, Yaz, Yasmin, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, and Seasonique are all combination pills. Brands such as Errin, Heather, Jolivette, and Ortho Micronor are POPs.
