Birth control pills – advice and different types

Birth control pills are one of the most common and effective contraceptives. They are not only used to prevent unwanted pregnancy, but can also help regulate the menstrual cycle, relieve menstrual pain and treat certain hormonal imbalances. Here you can read about different types of birth control pills, how they work and affect the body, as well as the pros and cons of the different variants.

What are birth control pills and how do they work?

Birth control pills are contraceptives in tablet form that contain synthetic versions of the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. Therefore, they are sometimes also called combined birth control pills. Birth control pills are usually taken once a day and provide very effective protection against pregnancy if used correctly. Birth control pills prevent pregnancy by:

• Inhibited ovulation: The main active ingredients in combined oral contraceptives are synthetic forms of the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones work together to prevent ovulation, meaning no eggs are released from the ovaries. Without ovulation, there is no egg that can be fertilized by sperm, effectively preventing pregnancy.
• Thicker secretions in the cervix: Birth control pills also make the secretions in the cervix thick and tough, making it harder for sperm to penetrate the uterus and reach a possible egg.
• Thinner endometrial lining: The endometrial lining becomes thinner, making it difficult for a fertilized egg to attach.

Different kinds of birth control pills

There are different types of birth control pills and they work in slightly different ways.

Combined birth control pills

Combined oral contraceptives contain both estrogen and progestin (synthetic progesterone). Combined birth control pills are the most common type and often what is meant when talking about birth control pills. Birth control pills are taken once a day at approximately the same time. You choose what time of day you want to take them. To make it easier to remember to take the pills, it is usually recommended that you do it in connection with something else you do at about the same time every day, such as brushing your teeth or eating breakfast.

Birth control pills come in cards with 21 or 28 tablets. If you have a card with 28 tablets, the last seven tablets are placebo pills, so-called sugar pills. Previously, it was recommended to take a break of 7 days, either by eating sugar pills or by not taking any tablets at all. During the break or on the days when you take sugar pills, you will have a period-like bleeding called withdrawal bleeding. To reduce the number of bleeds and make the method safer, it is now recommended that you "eat together" the maps, i.e. go directly to the next map and skip the sugar pills and the break. In this way, you can also use birth control pills to postpone your period.

Mini pills

Minipills only contain progestin and are often an alternative for those who do not want or cannot take estrogen, for example if you have an increased risk of blood clots, have high blood pressure, are severely overweight or usually have migraines with so-called aura. If you are taking minipills, it is important to take them at the same time each day. No more than 27 hours should pass between pills.

Intermediate pills

Intermediate pills contain a slightly higher dose of progestin compared to minipills and are more effective. Interval pills prevent ovulation when taken regularly, effectively preventing pregnancy. Intermediate pills should also be taken every day but are somewhat more flexible than mini pills. However, no more than 36 hours must pass between pills. Both mini-pills and intermediate-pills can cause you to miss your period completely or cause you to have irregular bleeding.

How safe are birth control pills?

Birth control pills are one of the most effective birth control methods available as long as they are used correctly. If you take birth control pills regularly and according to the instructions, without missing any pills, they are more than 99% effective.

If you forget to take a pill, take the pill at different times each day, or have an illness that causes vomiting or diarrhea, effectiveness will be adversely affected. To maximize the effectiveness of the pill, it is therefore important to:

• Take the pill at the same time every day.
• Do not miss any pills.
• Talk to a doctor if you are taking any other medicines, as some medicines can affect how well the pill works.
• Use an alternative protection (such as a condom) if you vomit or have diarrhea shortly after taking a pill, or if you accidentally miss a pill.

It is also important to remember that birth control pills do not provide any protection against sexually transmitted diseases.

Missed pill

If you miss taking a birth control pill, it can affect protection against pregnancy. What you should do depends on the type of pill you are using (combined pill or mini-pill) and when in your cycle you missed the pill. Read the package insert that comes with your birth control pills for specific instructions that apply to your particular type of pill. If you often miss pills, it may be worth considering another form of birth control that fits your lifestyle better.

Benefits of birth control pills

Birth control pills are not only an effective contraceptive method, but can sometimes also be used to treat various types of hormonal problems. Some of the benefits of birth control pills are:

• The hormones in birth control pills can relieve symptoms such as severe menstrual pain, heavy periods and PMS.
• Birth control pills reduce the risk of ovarian cancer and uterine cancer.
• Some birth control pills have a good effect against acne and can therefore be used to treat acne problems.
• With birth control pills, you can easily postpone your period.

Side effects and disadvantages of birth control pills

All hormonal contraceptives affect the body in some way. It is common to experience some side effects before the body gets used to the changed hormone levels, for example:

• Headache
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Weight change
• Sore breasts
• Intermittent bleeding

If you experience persistent discomfort or feel very unwell from your pills, you should talk to a doctor. You can try a different type of birth control pill or switch to another contraceptive that works better.

Other disadvantages of birth control pills are that they involve a certain increased risk of blood clots. Some also find it a disadvantage to have to remember to take the pills every day.

Period in the middle of the map? Breakthrough bleeding and birth control pills

It is not uncommon to experience breakthrough bleeding when using birth control pills, especially in the first few months. Intermittent bleeding is light bleeding or spotting that can occur between periods. A common reason is that the body is adapting to the new hormone levels. This is especially common during the first three to six months of using the pill. Another common cause of breakthrough bleeding is missed pills. Skipping a pill, or not taking the pill at the same time each day, can disrupt the body's hormonal balance and lead to bleeding.

If you have breakthrough bleeding for more than 3 months after starting contraception or if you have no explanation for your bleeding, you should seek medical attention to have it investigated. The doctor can help determine if the bleeding is due to your birth control pills or if there is another cause that should be investigated, such as sexually transmitted diseases or cell changes. In most cases, breakthrough bleeding with birth control pills is harmless and disappears when the body has adapted to the hormones.

Renew prescriptions for birth control pills online

To start using birth control pills, you must go to a doctor or midwife who will write you a prescription. During the visit, you get to answer questions about yourself, your health and whether someone in your family has had a blood clot.

If you already have a prescription and are satisfied with the birth control pill you are taking, you can quickly and easily get help renewing the Recetas Medicas with us at Recetas Medicas. Fill out our health form and you will have the prescription renewed by a doctor within 15 minutes.