Are you looking for a suitable birth control method? First, congratulations on deciding to protect yourself from unwanted and untimely pregnancies. There are various channels that you can use to do this. While there are many options, most women prefer birth control pills due to their effectiveness and non-invasive nature. There are also many in the market, and you should select based on your body, needs, and lifestyle. Here is how you can choose the right birth control pill.
Understanding the Available Types of Birth Control Pills
Contraceptive pills come in various forms or types. Your selection depends on a few factors, such as cost and ease of use. In this section, we will help you understand more about the available types of birth control pills. We will expound on the two major varieties; combination pills and minipills. Let’s further explore your options.
Combination Birth Control Pills
These are the pills that contain both estrogen and progestin. These pills have a wide range that you can choose from depending on how often you prefer to have your periods, as well as the doses of hormones that are most suitable for your body. The types include:
- Conventional Pills: These are the most common type of combination birth control pills available. Packs usually contain 21 active pills and seven inactive pills. Another option is the 24 active pills and four inactive birth control pills. While taking the inactive pills, you will experience bleeding similar to your normal menstrual period.
- Extended Cycle Pills: This option mostly favors those who desire fewer periods. Commonly known as a continuous-dose birth control pill, it usually contains 84 active pills and seven inactive pills. With this pill, you will only experience four menstrual periods in a year.
- Low-Dose Pills: The option mostly suits women with hormone sensitivity. Furthermore, they are a great option if you have just begun taking birth control. They are low-dose pills with less than 50mg of estrogen. These pills are further categorized into two types:
- Monophasic pills: As the name suggests, these pills only contain one level of working hormones. The good thing with this pill is that the hormonal level stays the same regardless of the time of the month.
- Multiphasic pills: Unlike monophasic pills, multiphasic pills have a varied level of hormones. The amount depends on the time of the cycle.
The Minipills
The other alternative to combination pills is the minipills, which only contain progestin. They are a perfect contraceptive for women who have particular medical conditions or are allergic to estrogen.
Every pill has the same amount of progestin hormone and is always lower than the combination pills.
The Better Option between Combination Birth Control Pills and Minipills
Are you still wondering the best ones to take? The major difference between the two is the content. The combination pills have estrogen and progestin, while the minipills only have progestin. You should always talk to your doctor and know the best option based on your body’s biology.
How to Choose the Correct Birth Control Pill
- Check the cost of the pills and whether your insurance covers it
- Consider the safety of the pills for your body
- Your timelines for having children
- Ease of use and whether you need a prescription
- Carefully assess the efficacy of the contraceptive
- Think of the side effects
- Talk to your doctor before taking the pills
Conclusion
We can all agree that there are many birth control pills that you can take to protect yourself from unwanted pregnancies. However, it is worth noting that not all of them are suitable for you as each body functions differently. As such, you cannot just use a birth control pill without consulting your doctor. Whatever method you choose, you need to closely work with your doctor in identifying the contraceptive pill that works best for your body.