Birth control pills are medications that aid prevent pregnancy. They comprise synthetic hormones — estrogen and progestin or merely progestin.

Several types of nascence control pills are available. Everyone has different health profiles and requirements, so speak with a healthcare professional about which arroyo may be best.

Nascency control pills typically contain progestin, estrogen, or a combination of both.

Keep reading to learn about the unlike nascency control pill options and their advantages and disadvantages.

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Each person who is interested in birth control should hash out the all-time option for them with a healthcare professional.

Combined nativity control pills contain both progestin and estrogen. Different pills can help a person avoid pregnancy by preventing ovulation, thickening the cervical fungus, and thinning the lining of the uterus, which is chosen the endometrium.

For case, progestin-only pills forbid pregnancy by thickening the cervical fungus, making information technology hard for sperm to enter the uterus. They also thin the endometrium. Nearly 40% of females who use progestin-only pills go along to ovulate.

Based on the hormones they contain, nascency control pills carry varying risks and side effects. Discuss any underlying health issues and concerns with a medical professional person before deciding on a nativity control option. This may be especially important for people who smoke.

Some factors to consider when picking a nascency control pill include:

  • The types of hormones: Estrogen is not safe for everyone, as it may increment the risk of blood clots. Likewise, some forms of progestin may increase the run a risk of claret clots and worsen acne.
  • Underlying health conditions: People health bug, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, should speak with a medico about the safest option for them.
  • Insurance coverage: Though most plans have to cover birth command pills, they may but over certain options. "Religious exempt" plans do non need to cover birth control methods at all.

Because everyone reacts differently to medication, a person may try several different nativity command methods earlier finding the 1 that works best for them. A healthcare professional can help straight a person toward the nigh suitable form.

Most commercially available oral nativity control pills comprise a combination of estrogen and progestin.

Each birth control pill brand may contain different dosages of estrogen and different types of progestin. A doctor can assist a person make up one's mind which one is all-time for them.

According to 2015 enquiry, the majority of combination birth control pills contain ethinyl estradiol, an estrogen component, although the dosages between brands varied from 20–35 micrograms (mcg).

Types of progestin in combination pills

Combination birth control pills incorporate unlike types of progestin, and manufacturers limited the dosage in milligrams (mg) or mcg.

Some progestins can cause increased water and common salt retention, which leads to bloating.

And some progestins human activity as androgens, a grouping of hormones that play a part in sexual wellness. High levels of androgens can play a office in acne and backlog hair growth.This may be concerning for someone who wants to apply a birth control pill to assist reduce acne, excess hair growth, or both.

Different types of progestin vary in how androgenic they are. Currently, however, no data indicates that any pill is more effective than another at addressing acne or backlog hair.

Desogestrel

Some people may prefer to use a birth control pill that contains the progestin desogestrel. According express evidence from 2015, it may help reduce excess hair growth and acne somewhat better than other options.

Combination birth control pills that incorporate desogestrel include:

  • Apri (150 mcg desogestrel, xxx mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Azurette (150 mcg desogestrel, twenty mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Kariva (150 mcg desogestrel, xx mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Mircette (150 mcg desogestrel, twenty mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Reclipsen (150 mcg desogestrel, thirty mcg ethinyl estradiol)

Some birth control pills contain the same drugs in the same dosages but accept dissimilar names. For example, a doctor may prescribe Azurette and Kariva, or Reclipsen and Apri interchangeably because they accept the aforementioned contents.

The recommended medication, in this case, may depend on insurance coverage or the availability of a specific brand.

Drospirenone

Some people prefer nascence control pills that contain the progestin drospirenone because it has diuretic properties, which assist prevent bloating.

All the same, co-ordinate to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), drospirenone may increment the take a chance of blood clots. This risk is low, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states.

A 2012 written report found that drospirenone can besides assist treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a severe type of premenstrual syndrome.

Nascence command brands that contain drospirenone include:

  • Gianvi (iii mg drospirenone, xx mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Loryna (3 mg drospirenone, 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Ocella (3 mg drospirenone, 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Syeda (three mg drospirenone, xxx mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Yasmin (3 mg drospirenone, xxx mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Yaz (3 mg drospirenone, xx mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Zarah (3 mg drospirenone, 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol)

As with other combination pills, a physician may prescribe some brands interchangeably when they incorporate the aforementioned hormones in the same dosages, such equally Loryna and Yaz.

Levonorgestrel

Birth control pills that contain levonorgestrel appear to have lower risks of side effects, such as claret clots, compared with pills containing other types of progestin.

Doctors consider pills containing levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol to be a first-line handling, and they are effective if a person takes them correctly.

Pills that incorporate levonorgestrel include:

  • Aviane (100 mcg levonorgestrel, 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Lessina (100 mcg levonorgestrel, 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Levora (150 mcg levonorgestrel, 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Lutera (100 mcg levonorgestrel, 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Portia (150 mcg levonorgestrel, 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Sronyx (100 mcg levonorgestrel, 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol)

A doctor may prescribe these brands interchangeably, providing they incorporate the same ingredients and dosages, as in the case of Aviane, Lessina, and Sronyx.

Norethindrone

Norethindrone is a progestin that derives from testosterone.

People who take nascence control pills containing norethindrone may experience androgenic side furnishings, such as excess hair growth and acne. If this occurs, a md may recommend a birth control pill with less androgenic action.

Birth control pills that incorporate norethindrone include:

  • Balziva (400 mcg norethindrone, 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Junel i/twenty (ane mg norethindrone, twenty mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Junel 1.5/30 (1.5 mg norethindrone, 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Loestrin 1/twenty (1 mg norethindrone, 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Loestrin i.5/30 (one.5 mg norethindrone, 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Microgestin one/20 (1 mg norethindrone, 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Necon (500 mcg norethindrone, 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Nortrel 0.v/35 (500 mcg norethindrone, 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Nortrel one/35 (i mg norethindrone, 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Ortho-Novum one/35 (one mg norethindrone, 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol)

Norgestimate and norgestrel

People who utilize birth command pills containing norgestimate or norgestrel may also feel androgenic side furnishings, such as excess hair growth and acne.

Some brands containing these hormones include:

  • Cryselle (300 mcg norgestrel, 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Ortho Cyclen (250 mcg norgestimate, 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Previfem (250 mcg norgestimate, 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol)
  • Sprintec (250 mcg norgestimate, 35 mcg ethinyl estradiol)

Each packet of these pills, such as Seasonique, contains 12 weeks' worth of combined hormonal birth control. It also contains 1 week of placebo or depression dose ethinyl estradiol.

Some people adopt this approach because information technology means that they only get a menstrual period every 3 months. Anyone wishing to delay their period longer using this method can practise then safely for upwards to 12 months.

Each packet of triphasic nascence control contains 21 days of pills containing unlike dosages of estrogen and progestin each week.

An example of a triphasic pill is Ortho Tri Cyclen. Each pill contains 35 mcg of ethinyl estradiol, but the dosage of norgestimate increases each calendar week.

The aim of triphasic nativity control is to reduce side effects past mimicking the natural fluctuation of hormones throughout the menstrual cycle.

However, healthcare professionals are tending not to prescribe triphasic types of birth control. According to a 2011 study, they practise not appear to be more constructive than standard nativity control pills, which doctors telephone call "monophasic."

Monophasic pills provide the same amounts of hormones for 21 days, followed past i week of placebo.

A person tin can learn more about monophasic nascency command here.

Anyone who cannot tolerate estrogen or prefers to avoid associated side effects may notice progestin-only pills more suitable.

Micronor, which contains norethindrone, and Slynd, which contains drospirenone, are 2 brand-name examples.

Doctors may prescribe pills with lower dosages of ethinyl estradiol to prevent associated side effects.

Every bit the Office of Women's Health (OWH) reports, these are possible side effects of hormonal birth control pills:

  • a headache
  • an upset tummy
  • sore breasts
  • changes in menstruation
  • changes in mood
  • weight proceeds
  • high claret force per unit area
  • spotting or bleeding between periods
  • decreased libido

Taking a pill that contains a form of estrogen tin can increment the take a chance of developing blood clots, though this adventure is typically low. The OWH reports that smoking can increase this risk, nevertheless.

Doctors recommend that people who are at least 35 years former and smoke avoid birth control pills due to an increased gamble of heart attack or stroke.

Another risk concerns pregnancy. It can exist easy to forget to take the pill every day, which can increment the chances of pregnancy. If this happens, speak with a dr. or pharmacist.

Birth command pills cannot prevent the spread of HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. Barrier methods, such every bit a condom or dental dam, can prevent these infections.

Larn more about the side furnishings of birth command pills here.

The table below compares some of the most common types of nascency control pills:

Below are answers to some mutual questions about nascency control pills.

What is the most common birth control pill?

The most common type of pill is the combination pill.

What is the cheapest birth control pill make?

Nascence command pill prices can vary based on a multifariousness of factors. The Affordable Intendance Act requires all insurance and Medicaid plans to cover the full cost of birth control methods, such as the pill. All the same, some plans can opt out of this coverage due to religious reasons.

A person who does not have insurance may be able to larn free or reduced-cost pills from local clinics.

Where tin can I get birth command pills?

First, a person needs a prescription from a medico. And then, they can get the pills:

  • Online: Several retailers offer nativity command pills online with a valid prescription, and some companies have doctors on staff who provide consultations and prescriptions.
  • At pharmacies: Most have some of the more common types of nascence command pills already in stock.
  • Clinics: Several depression- or no-cost clinics offer birth control pills to people without insurance or with insufficient coverage.

Do I need to come across a dr.?

A person needs a prescription for nascency command pills. Anyone with more often than not skillful or stable health might consider an online consultation coordinated by a birth control retailer.

People with medical conditions, allergies to medications, and other concerns should speak with a doctor about the diverse birth control options.

Also, let a physician know nigh any side effects. They tin recommend better alternatives.

There are many types of nascency command pill. The virtually common contains a combination of synthetic estrogen and progestin.

Birth control pills tin cause side effects and increase some health risks. Anyone who experiences whatever side effect should consult a healthcare professional, who can recommend a ameliorate option.

Some people prefer contraceptives that do not contain hormones, such as a copper IUD. A healthcare professional can discuss the benefits and downsides of the many alternatives to the pill.