Does Body Weight Affect How Well Emergency Contraception Works For Women
Maybe. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that ECPs may not prevent pregnancy as often for obese women as for women who are not obese.9
Find out your BMI. If your BMI is greater than 30, talk to your doctor or nurse about your risk and your options for emergency contraception.
What Is The Birth Control Implant
Birth control implants are devices that go under a woman’s skin. They release a hormone that prevents pregnancy.
The implant available in the U.S. is Nexplanon. Itâs a newer version of the implant Implanon. You might hear people call them arm bars.
The implant is a plastic rod about the size of a matchstick. It contains a form of the hormone progesterone called etonogestrel.
Where To Get More Information
- Your local doctor
- Womens Welcome Centre Tel: 8345 3037 or 1800 442 007
- Family Planning VictoriaTel: 9257 0116. If you are under 25, you can also call the Action Centre 9660 4700 or 1800 013 952
Information about the contraceptive pill, and other types of contraception, is also available in Arabic, Chinese, Hindi and Vietnamese see section on this page.
Related information
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Take The Placebo Pills
Combination pill packs typically contain three weeks of active pills that contain hormones and one week of inactive, or placebo, pills. Although it isnt medically necessary to take the placebo pills, doing so can help you stay in your routine.
If you choose to skip the placebo pills, theres a chance that you may be late in starting your next pill pack. This can interrupt your bodys expected level of hormones and cause you to ovulate. Ovulation increases your chances of being pregnant.
What Are The Benefits Of Birth Control Pills
Source :
The birth control pills are the most effective, affordable and convenient way to avoid pregnancy. As these pills contain a high amount of artificial hormones, they are also recommended in some other cases.
The combination of a progestin-rich pill can be taken for other reasons too, which offer benefits will like:
- Bone thinning
- Ectopic pregnancy
Once you start taking these medications, you may experience a different type of menstrual cycles. You may start with your periods by the end of the last week of the medication, or you may experience bleeding all through the month or months during which you take the medicine.
But you should start taking these medicines only if you are sure that you are pregnant otherwise it will disturb your entire menstrual cycle and reproductive cycle without any reason.
You should first get sure that you are pregnant, this can be done by using a pregnancy kit by consulting a doctor.
Your doctor will recommend the right contraceptive pill to prevent pregnancy.
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Birth Control Implant Removal
Taking out the implant is quick and simple. Donât try to do it yourself. Your doctor needs to remove it. While youâre in the office theyâll:
- Clean the area to prevent infection
- Give you a shot with medicine to numb the site
- Make a small cut at the top of the implant and remove it
It could take as long as 20 minutes if thereâs a lot of scar tissue in the area. If the doctor canât easily find the implant, they might take an X-ray to locate it.
Your arm might be sore after the implant comes out. Youâll need to:
- Wear a bandage for 48 hours
- Keep the area dry for 24 hours
Dangers And Side Effects
If you get pregnant while taking the minipill, it can cause problems. Youâre more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy. This is when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, such as in a fallopian tube. You wonât be able to continue with your pregnancy, and you may need surgery to remove the fetus.
Possible side effects of the minipill include:
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How Do I Use The Pill To Stop My Period
Skipping your period with the combination pill is safe and super easy. Basically you just take a pill with hormones every day and skip your hormone-free reminder pills. You can do this two ways:
-
You can use a brand of pills that has 3 months of hormone pills in a row, so you only get your period 4 times a year.
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You can skip the hormone-free reminder pills in your pack and jump right to the next pack. You can do this every month, or just whenever you want to skip your period.
You may have some bleeding or spotting when you use the pill to skip your period thats totally normal. If you skip your hormone-free week every month, the spotting should go away after about 6 months.
Theres nothing dangerous or harmful about using the pill to skip your period. And it comes in really handy if you want a special occasion to be period-free.
You can only skip your period with combination pills. If youre using a progestin-only pill , you need to take every pill in your pill pack.
Can I Use Emergency Contraception As My Regular Form Of Birth Control
No. Do not use Plan B One-Step® or ella® as your regular birth control. Most other types of FDA-approved birth control, when used correctly, are much better at preventing pregnancy than emergency contraception pills and usually cost less. Also, while emergency contraception pills are safe for emergency use, they have not been tested as regular birth control and are not approved by the FDA for this purpose.
Women who are sexually active will need to use birth control to prevent pregnancy. What type of regular birth control you can use right away depends on the type of emergency contraception you take.
- If you take ella®, do not use hormonal birth control for at least five days after you take ella. Using them together may cause ella® not to work. Instead, use a condom, diaphragm, sponge, or cervical cap until you get your next period.10
- If you take Plan B One-Step® , you can start right away or continue using a regular form of birth control.
Read more about different types of birth control in our birth control methods fact sheet.
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How Can I Get Birth Control Pills For Free
Theres a good chance you can get low-cost or free birth control pills if you have health insurance. Because of the Affordable Care Act , most insurance plans must cover all methods of birth control at no cost to you, including the pill. However, some plans only cover certain brands of pills or generic versions. Your health insurance provider can tell you which types of birth control they pay for. Your doctor may also be able to help you get the birth control you want covered by health insurance. Learn more about health insurance and affordable birth control.
If you dont have health insurance, youve still got options. Depending on your income and legal status in the U.S., you could qualify for Medicaid or other government programs that can help you pay for birth control and other health care.
Planned Parenthood works to provide services you need, whether or not you have insurance. Most Planned Parenthood health centers accept Medicaid and other health insurance. And many charge less depending on your income. Contact your local Planned Parenthood health center for more information.
Birth Control Pill Is Nutrient Depleting
Many patients are not informed of the numerous studies showing the nutrient depleting effects of oral contraceptives.
In 2013, the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Studies called for all women to be on a multivitamin while taking oral contraceptives due to the known nutrient depletions, most notably magnesium, zinc, selenium, folic acid, vitamins B2, B6, B12, vitamin C and E.
Birth control depletes the body of folic acid, which is vital in many metabolic processes and is absolutely essential should you become pregnant. Folic acid is necessary to prevent neural tube defects in a developing fetus. Unfortunately, the critical window for folic acid in development occurs before the majority of women know they are pregnant in just those first few weeks.
Now imagine if you do become pregnant while suppressing your period youve depleted your nutrients, are oblivious to the early signs of pregnancy, and the damage has taken place before you ever realized you were pregnant.
And yes, pregnancy does occur while taking birth control pill.
It is the doctor’s responsibility to provide a true informed consent and guide women in understanding the pros and cons of the medical decision they are faced with. This is the only way in which women can make the best decision for their body and it is their right to know that while the pill may help relieve symptoms, it may also have unwanted side effects with long term consequences.
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Here’s How Pills Prevent You From Getting Pregnant
Written by Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published : September 27, 2017 2:25 PM IST
Oral contraceptives are the most preferred option to prevent unwanted pregnancy. We all know that oral contraceptives are nothing but hormones that suppress the ovulation. Most women wonder how do these pills exactly work? What happens in the body when you take oral contraceptive pills? How do they prevent pregnancy? Well, to clear all your doubts and explain the action mechanism of OCPs, we have Dr Anagha Karkhanis, Gynecologist, Co-founder of Cocoon Fertility, Thane. Here s everything you need to know about birth control pills effectiveness, side-effects and health risks.
How do OCPs work?
Before knowing about the action mechanism, it is important to know that there are two types of OCPs. These are –
What Is Good About The Pill
- It can be used to skip your period if you want to.
- Periods usually become lighter, more regular, and less painful.
- Acne can improve.
- Chance of getting cancer of the uterus and ovaries decreases.
- It can help with symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis.
- Once stopped your fertility quickly returns to what is normal for you.
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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?
Medications That Interfere With The Pill
Some medications can make the pill less effective. Medications include certain antibiotics, such as rifampicin, and anti-fungal drugs, such as griseofulvin.
A person should use backup contraception while taking these medications and for 48 hours after finishing the course.
Other more long-term medications and supplements may also affect how well birth control pills work. These can include:
- epilepsy drugs, such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, and carbamazepine
- anti-viral medications used to treat HIV
- St. Johns Wort, which is a herbal remedy
Birth control pills are very effective if a person takes them correctly and does not miss any pill days. The following tips can help prevent unintended pregnancies while taking the pill:
- reading the packaging and following the instructions carefully
- taking the pill at the same time every day
- using an app that tracks periods and provides pills reminders, such as one of the apps from our review article
- always getting a new pill pack at least 1 week before the last pill pack is due to run out
- always taking missed pills as soon as possible
- using a backup method of contraception, such as a condom, if a person misses taking two or more pills in a row
If a person is concerned about not being able to take their pills consistently, they should speak to their doctor or gynecologist about other birth control methods. There are several options available that do not require taking a pill daily, such as an intrauterine device, or IUD.
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These Combination Pills Are Of Various Types:
Monophasic pills:
They are there for a single menstrual phase. They are to be taken for a period of 28 days with each tablet contain the same amount of hormone. Usually, during the last week of medication, you will get your period and the pregnancy will be terminated.
Multiphasic pills:
They are taken over a course of a single menstrual cycle. However, the amount of hormone contained in the medicine varies depending upon the number of the day in the cycle in which you are consuming it. By the last day of the cycle, you will get your period.
Extended-cycle pills:
These pills are taken over a course of three menstrual cycles. Yes, this medication is prescribed for 13 weeks. Out of which 12 weeks of dosage are active with hormones, the rest 1 week is the reminder pill. By the end of the last week, you will definitely get your period.
These pills usually come with some reminder pills to let you get into the habit of eating one pill every day. These pills are to be taken in at the same time of the day every day.
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.
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Can I Take The Pill After I Have Had A Baby
If you are breastfeeding the Pill cannot be used until your baby is 6 weeks old. After 6 weeks you can use the Pill but other types of contraception might be more suitable choices.
If you are not breastfeeding the Pill can generally not be used until your baby is 3 weeks old. After 3 weeks you can use the Pill if you do not have any medical risk factors .
To Make That Work Try These Few Tips:
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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
What Lowers The Birth Control Pills Effectiveness
The main thing that makes the pill not work is not taking it every day. But other things, like vomiting or having diarrhea for more than 48 hours may lower how well the pill prevents pregnancy.
These medicines or supplements can also make the pill not work as well:
The antibiotic Rifampin
The antifungal Griseofulvin
Certain HIV medicines
Certain anti-seizure medicines
The herb St. Johns Wort
If you take any of these while youre on the pill, use condoms as a backup method. Switch to a different method of birth control if youll be on them for a long time.
Your nurse or doctor can help you decide if theres any reason the birth control pill wont work well for you.
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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?
