Does Birth Control Completely Prevent Pregnancy

Get The Most Out Of That Little Pill

Birth control pills have been around for decades, and they do a lot more than just prevent pregnancy. Millions of women use birth control pills to help manage painful period symptoms and other conditions. And with several formulas available, finding the right contraceptive for you is easier than ever.

Whether youre on the pill and wondering if a different one would be more effective, or this would be your first time, make an appointment with an OB-GYN or certified nurse-midwife to get help selecting the right pill for you.

OB-GYNs and midwives are experts in womens health making them experts in birth control, too. You can also make an appointment with a primary care doctor.

Ready to get on the pill? Were ready to help.

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Does Birth Control Prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Its important to note that birth control methods like the pill, IUDs, and even Essure cannot prevent STDs. The best way to significantly lower your chances of getting or spreading an STD through sexual contact is to use a condom in addition to your long-term or permanent birth control method. Condoms also offer additional protection against pregnancy.

To review your options for nonpermanent and permanent birth control, call Georgia Center for Female Health, or book an appointment online today.

Other Side Effects Of The Pill

Despite all of what has been discussed above, many will argue that taking the pill improves quality of life. It relieves monthly pain and therefore, must be good. However, for some women quality of life may actually be diminished where mood and libido are concerned.

Loss of libido and inability to achieve orgasm, well-known side effects of birth control, have a serious impact on a womans quality of life. This should be discussed with women considering the birth control pill.

There is data supporting a correlation between birth control and depression. Depression, which is a symptom woman have complained about since its adoption in medicine. With a significant increase in the number of Americans currently taking anti-depressants , it should at least give us pause before beginning the birth control pill.

For many women, resolving the underlying cause of their menstrual symptoms is a far more favorable option compared to the considerable impacts birth control would create in their intimate relationships, not to mention their long-term fertility.

The birth control pill isn’t necessarily an upgrade in quality of life for many women. Does birth control stop your period? It can. That seems like an upgrade, but it is important for women to weigh these risks before opting in.

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Male Birth Control Options And Methods

I will define here about the Male Control of birth options and methods.

So read carefully :-

Effective methods of birth control are sterilization through male sterilization and tubal ligation in women, intrauterine devices and implantable contraceptives.

It is adopted by multiple hormonal contraceptives, including oral pills, patches, vaginal rings, and injections.

Some other methods include obstruction such as condoms, diaphragms, and contraceptive sponges, and fertility awareness methods.

Few other effective methods are spermicide and withdrawal before ejaculation.

Although sterilization is highly effective, it is generally not reversible All other methods are reversible, they can be stopped quickly.

Emergency contraception can prevent pregnancy after a few days of unprotected sex.

Barrier Method of Control

As the title suggests, these create a barrier to maintain sperm from reaching an egg. You can get most of them at a pharmacy with no prescription.

Male condoms are dependable and low-cost. Latex condoms are a good selection.

Theyre sturdy and could also be simpler towards sexually transmitted ailments than natural or lambskin condoms.

With typical use, the male condom is about 80% efficient. If used completely each time, it prevents being pregnant 98% of the time.

A female condom is a skinny, versatile, plastic tube that youd partially insert into your vagina, making a barrier.

Female condoms might also assist against STDs. fmale condoms are about 80% efficient.

Other Reasons To Use Birth Control

Not every teen who needs birth control is sexually active. Other reasons can include:

• Hormone-based birth control may reduce the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers and iron deficiency anemia.
• Birth control pills can also lighten heavy periods, reduce severe cramps, and help hormone-related acne.
• In the case of polycystic ovary syndrome , birth control pills are often prescribed to help control hormone levels and regulate erratic menstrual cycles.

If your periods are heavier than normal, you have severe cramping or fatigue, or your cycles are continuously irregular, speak with your healthcare provider about birth control options to help manage symptoms.

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Are You Being Pressured To Have Sex

In a 2019 survey of U.S. high school students, 7% reported that they had been physically forced to have sex when they did not want to. Many more may feel pressured into it. Sex should always be consensual. If anyone is physically forcing, coercing, or pressuring you to have sex with them, seek help from a trusted adult, parent, school counselor, teacher, or healthcare provider. You can also call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE or text “START” to 88788.

What To Expect At The Doctor’s Office

Your doctor or another health care professional will inject medicine to numb your skin on your upper arm, where you’ll get the implant. That may sting a bit.

Then they’ll use a tool that pushes the rod in through a needle. That wonât hurt. It feels like a little bit of tugging. The process may take less than a minute.

Afterward, you should be able to feel the implant under your skin but not see it.

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What Is A Progestin

A progestin-only contraceptive is one kind of birth control pill. It is often called the mini-pill. Regular birth control pills have two female hormones: estrogen and progesterone. The mini-pill has only progesterone in it. Because this pill doesnt contain estrogen, it may not have as many side effects.

What Causes Birth Control To Fail

Certain conditions or behaviors can increase the likelihood that your birth control wont be as effective at preventing pregnancy.

If you cant remember to take your pill at the same time every day, you increase your risk of pregnancy. Birth control pills are designed to maintain a constant level of hormones in your body. If you skip or miss a dose, you hormone levels can drop quickly. Depending on where you are in your cycle, this may cause you to ovulate. Ovulation can increase your chances of becoming pregnant.

Reckless alcohol consumption can also cause birth control failure. While under the influence, some women may forget to take their pill at the correct time. If you vomit too soon after taking your pill, your body may not be able to absorb any of the hormones. This can result in a drop in your hormone levels, which could trigger ovulation.

Taking another medication or supplement at the same time as your birth control pill can also affect the pills effectiveness.

Keep these tips in mind if youre on birth control and want to prevent pregnancy.

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What Your Period Says About Your Health And Why It’s Important

When doctors encourage women to suppress their menstrual cycles, theyre also concealing important symptoms that give us clues about deeper underlying conditions. This is a dangerous game that can raise the risks of women developing even more debilitating conditions in the future.

As a doctor, I ask every woman in my clinical practice about her menstrual cycle as part of her complete health screening. It is truly that important.

Womens periods are not just a monthly nuisance they provide incredible insights about hormones, nutritional status and overall health.

For example, brown discharge at the beginning of menses is a sign of of low progesterone levels and left over blood from the period before. When there are clots in the menstrual blood estrogen levels may be too high. Conversely, low estrogen creates short, scanty periods. As you can see, there is a lot your period can reveal about your health.

Your period provides a great deal of insight about your hormones and the rest of your body. When it is suppressed, we run the risk of missing vital clues about your health.

As an example, menorrhagia, or heavy periods, which are commonly treated with oral contraceptives, can be a sign of iron deficiency anemia.

Sure, some would argue that stopping this patients menses would prevent iron loss and is therefore a treatment. But what if the iron deficiency is due to intestinal malabsorption, which can occur in those with celiac disease?

How Is An Iud Put In

The doctor or nurse practitioner puts the IUD in through the vagina, past the cervix, and into the uterus. This only takes a few minutes from start to finish. People usually feel some cramping during the placement, but it gets better within a few minutes.

Taking it easy for the rest of the day, using a heating pad, and taking over-the-counter pain medicine can help with any discomfort after the IUD is placed.

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What Are The Negative Effects Of The Implant Birth Control

In the first six to twelve months, irregular bleeding is the most common side effect. The majority of people on the implant get lighter periods, or their periods stop completely after they have the implant. In addition to headaches, breast pain, and nausea, there are other possible side effects that are not as common.

Are There Any Side Effects From Implantable Contraception

Contraceptive implants can sometimes cause such side effects as:

Some of these side effects may go away after a few months.

Sometimes there can be irritation, infection, or scarring where the tube was placed.

Implantable contraception increases the risk of blood clots. Blood clots can lead to serious problems with the lungs, heart, and brain. Smoking cigarettes while using the implant can increase the risk of blood clots. Don’t smoke if you use implantable contraception or another form of hormonal birth control.

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Birth Control Pills And Mini

Birth control pills are hormonal contraceptives. They contain either a combination of estrogen and progestin , or just progestin .

Women whose main reason for taking birth control pills is to manage heavy periods often choose to take the mini-pill. The low-dose progestin-only mini-pill is taken every day, without any breaks. This usually causes menstrual bleeding to become irregular, and sometimes women may even stop getting their period.

Combination pills are mainly used as contraceptives. Most women take the combination pill for 21 days per cycle. The bleeding starts during the seven-day break that follows. Low-dose combination pills can be taken continuously too. Then the woman usually stops getting her period completely, and only has light spotting at the most.

But combination pills have not yet been approved for continuous use in Germany. So if they are used in this way it is considered to be off-label use . Its important to discuss the possible consequences of this type of use with your doctor.

The possible side effects of birth control pills include fluid retention, headaches and breast tenderness. The combination pill in particular increases the likelihood of blood clots , so women who have a greater risk of thrombosis are advised not to take it.

What Are The Pros & Cons Of Oral Contraceptives

The Pros of Oral Contraceptives include:

• Low failure rate if used daily as directed
• Does not interrupt foreplay or sexual intercourse
• Research for over 40 years has proven long term safety
• Moderately priced

The Cons of Oral Contraceptives include:

• Requires a prescription
• Potential side effects like nausea and breast tenderness
• Chance of blood clots in legs and lungs
• Must be taken every day at the same time
• No protection against STDs

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How Can You Get Birth Control

You can buy:

• Condoms, sponges, and spermicides in drugstores without a prescription.
• Some forms of emergency contraception in most drugstores and sexual health clinics without a prescription.

You need to see a doctor or other health professional to:

• Get a prescription for birth control pills and other methods that use hormones.
• Have IUD inserted, including the type used for emergency contraception.
• Get a hormone shot.
• Get a prescription for a diaphragm or cervical cap.
• Get a prescription for certain kinds of emergency contraception.

What Are The Benefits Of Taking The Pill

Some women take the pill for health purposes. Can pill:

• Regulate or lighten menstruation.
• Prevent anemia by lightening or shortening periods.
• Reduce menstrual cramps.
• Treat polycystic ovary syndrome .
• Treat endometriosis or uterine fibroids.
• Reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and colon cancer.
• Improve acne.
• Reduce migraine.

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How Do You Know If Your Birth Control Is Causing Your Headaches Or Migraines

If headaches or migraine attacks start or get worse when you start a new birth control method, after an increase in dosage, or improve after a reduction in dosage or stopping the birth control, its quite likely that birth control hormones are to blame.

Its normal to experience an increased frequency and severity of headaches when you first start birth control, but this often improves with time. However, any neurologic symptoms, such as aura symptoms, or severe or debilitating headaches, are not a normal birth control side effect, and you should notify your healthcare professional if you experience them.

Recap: Your Period On Birth Control

We get it: Weve been taught that getting your period is a natural sign of femininity and means that everything is working normally for having babies. But the truth is that having your period on birth control is not the same thing as natural menstruation. Instead, its a different beast altogether.

*Editors Note: If youre having irregular periods or spotting and youre NOT taking birth control, then you should follow up with your doctor.

You should know that:

As always, if you have bothersome irregular bleeding, dont hesitate to ask your doctor. There may be a way to change your method, or they can let you know if its something that will go away anytime soon. Its super helpful to track whats going so you can present that to your doctor. Believe us, they like data, so record the dates its happening and what it looks/feels like. Youve got this!

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Short Acting Hormonal Methods

Prevent pregnancy by interfering with ovulation and possibly fertilization of the egg. If you want to get pregnant, you can stop using them at any time.

Combination Oral ContraceptivesThe Pill

What is it?

• A pill that has two hormones to stop the ovaries from releasing eggs
• It also thickens the cervical mucus, which keeps sperm from getting to the egg.

How do I use it?

• You should swallow the pill at the same time every day, whether or not you have sex.
• If you miss one or more pills, or start a pill pack too late, you may need to use another method of birth control, like a condom and spermicide

How do I get it?

• You need a prescription from a healthcare provider.

Chance of getting pregnant with typical use

• Out of 100 women who use this method, about 9 may get pregnant.

Some Side Effects

• Spotting or bleeding between periods
• Nausea

Less Common Serious Side Effects

• It is not common, but some women who take the pill develop high blood pressure.
• It is rare, but some women will have blood clots, heart attacks, or strokes.

Does it protect me from sexually transmitted infections ? No.

• A pill that has only one hormone, a progestin.
• It thickens the cervical mucus, which keeps sperm from getting to the egg.
• Less often, it stops the ovaries from releasing eggs.

How do I use it?

How do I get it?

• You need a prescription from a healthcare provider.

Chance of getting pregnant with typical use (Number of pregnancies expected per 100 women who use this method for one year

Some Side Effects

How The Pill Works To Prevent Pregnancy

Have you ever wondered how the pill works to prevent pregnancy? After all, the pill is one of the most effective forms of contraception, with 41% of women between the ages of 15 and 24 and 22% of women between 25 and 34 using it, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Here are some facts that can help you decide if the pill is the right option for you.

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Symptoms Of Hormonal Imbalance

• Weight gain

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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