Clear Up Skin And Prevent Unwanted Hair Growth
Birth control pills can improve acne and hair growth in the midline of your body by reducing the levels of male hormones your ovaries make. If you have higher than normal levels of these hormones, or if youâre sensitive to them, you may start to grow hair above your lip, under your chin, between your breasts, between your belly button and pubic bone, or down your inner thigh. You should see less unwanted hair within 6 months.
The hormones in birth control pills can also help stop acne from forming, but it may take several months to see a difference.
What Are The Side Effects Of Stopping Birth Control
Some possible side effects you might experience include slight bleeding/spotting, cramps, or irregular periods for a few months. After a few months, these symptoms should go away on their own. Its important to remember that once you stop taking birth control, you can get pregnant. Using a barrier method such as condoms can help prevent pregnancy.
How Much Does It Cost To Get A Copper Iud
The cost of getting a copper IUD inserted can vary depending on your health insurance. Some insurance companies cover the entire costs of copper IUDs, and others provide only partial coverage. If youre not sure whether youre covered, you can contact your insurance company, or your doctor may be able to do this for you.
Thats everything you need to know about copper IUDs. If you still have questions about different birth control options or copper IUDs in particular, your doctor can give you advice for your specific situation.
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How Birth Control Can Help
Hormonal birth control pills can reduce cramping during your period by:
- Suppressing ovulation.
- Reducing the amount of uterine lining your body must shed, resulting in a lighter period.
- Reducing prostaglandin production.
Forms of birth control that reduce the number of periods you have or allow you to skip your period altogether also prevent the uterine lining from shedding and its associated cramps. These types of birth control include:
- Hormonal intrauterine devices.
These birth control methods help lighten and shorten periods to the point some women stop getting them.
Help With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome , a common condition among teen girls and young women, is a hormone imbalance in which the ovaries make extra amounts of testosterone. It can cause irregular periods, unwanted hair growth, and acne. Taking birth control pills can improve these symptoms by balancing your hormones, lowering the level of testosterone, and regulating your period.
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Are There Any Serious Side Effects From The Pill
Most young women who take birth control pills have few or no problems. However, birth control pills with estrogen cause a slight increase in the risk of developing blood clots in the legs, eyes, and lungs. If your daughter develops any of the following problems, call her health care provider right away or take her to the closest emergency room:
- Abdominal or stomach pain
- Chest pain , cough, shortness of breath
- Headache , dizziness, weakness, or numbness
- Eye problems , speech problems
- Severe leg pain
Remember: ACHES
Ive Been Thinking About Going On The Pill To Help With The Cramps
If youre already on birth control, you probably already know how fuss-free and effective it is in preventing pregnancy. But what about its other non-contraceptive benefits?
Hormonal birth control is one treatment method used to ease menstrual cramps. Primarily, oral birth control pills contain hormones such as estrogen and progestin which deter ovulation and the production of prostaglandins, thus lowering the severity of period pain.
A randomised controlled trial conducted in 2012 revealed the effectiveness of taking combination birth control pills cyclically and those taken continually. The latter involves the continuous administration of active pills during all 28 days, without any placebo at all. As continuous OCP means that users only take the hormone pills and skip the inactive pills, they forgo the monthly bleeding altogether. Both methods were successful in treating primary dysmenorrhea.
Alternatively, other birth control methods such as patches, the ring, intrauterine devices and implants are also able to alleviate cramps, and even cause periods to become lighter and more predictable.
By using these prescribed birth control methods, you can also safely skip your periods altogether. To postpone or skip your period, you should immediately start on a new pack of active pills right away without taking the sugar pills .
Its best to speak with a doctor before trying any new birth control methods or making major adjustments.
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Menstrual Cramps At A Glance
- Menstrual cramps can start before a womans period and last for several days. Cramps are caused by an increased production of hormones during a womans menstrual cycle, including prostaglandin, which causes the uterus to contract and shed the monthly lining.
- Dysmenorrhea can either be primary or secondary. Primary dysmenorrhea is used to describe painful cramping with no recognized cause while secondary dysmenorrhea is usually due to cramping by a physical problem other than menstruation.
- Most women have painful cramps from their periods from time to time
- Cramps can often be relieved with at-home remedies, over-the-counter medications and hormonal therapy
Q: Are There Better And Worse Types Of Birth Control To Manage Cramps
Cramps. UGH. Weve all been there and its NOT pretty. The good news is, though, that some types of birth control can help manage cramps and alleviate the pain, bloating, and all-around suckiness that comes with it.
Non-hormonal methods, like condoms and the copper IUD, will do nothing to manage cramps, Baltimore OB/GYN Dr. Lindsay Appel told HelloGiggles. However, estrogen-progesterone birth control and progesterone-only birth control can alleviate the pain associated with periods. But which method is better?
Neither option is necessarily better than the other, but the methods have different side effects which may be more desirable for certain people, Appel said. For example, estrogen-progesterone methods like birth control pills and the NuvaRing not only can help with cramping but also provide a predictable menstrual cycle with monthly periods. This may be useful for people who have irregular cycles or prefer to have a monthly period.
You heard the doctor: Next time your cramps have got you down, grab a heating pad and treat yoself.
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But Im Worried Will There Be Any Side Effects
For first-timers on the pill, dont worry! Its natural for your body to take time to adapt to the hormonal changes.
Some women may still temporarily experience discomfort and period-like symptoms at the start. Symptoms such as cramping and spotting may arise if you forget to take your birth control pill.
The Pill Is Convenient
Taking the birth control pill is easy, but remembering to take it every day can be hard. Luckily, pill packs are small about the size of a cell phone so you can carry your pills with you wherever you go. You can use our birth control app to remind you to take your pills everyday.
The pill is birth control you dont have to think about during sex. If you take the pill correctly, youre protected from pregnancy all day, every day. Many people say the pill makes their sex lives better because they dont have to interrupt sex or worry about pregnancy.
You need a prescription from a nurse or doctor to get birth control pills. But you may be able to pick up many packs at once or have them mailed to you. Depending on where you live, you can even get birth control pills online.
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How The Pill Works On Symptoms
Because the pill delivers everything in steady doses, it can make your hormone levels more predictable and your period symptoms less unpleasant.
Taking the birth control pill can get rid of many unpleasant symptoms, including:
Irregular periods. Many women donât have regular cycles. If you arenât producing enough progesterone, for example, your cycle could be a few days longer. With the pill, thereâs no more guessing when your period might start. Itâll be the same day every month.
Heavy periods. The progesterone in the pill thins out the uterine lining, making your periods lighter.
Cramps. This is the most common menstrual symptom. Cramps are caused by too much of the hormone prostaglandin, which makes the uterus contract. The pill can get rid of this issue.
Endometriosis. The birth control pills help control estrogen, which causes the buildup of endometrial tissue each month. Itâs the pillâs exact dose of progesterone that helps reduce or even eliminate endometriosis, and the pain that comes with it.
Acne. Pimples that appear with your menstrual cycle are caused by androgens . Again, the pill can get rid of this problem.
Mood swings, anxiety, and depression. Doctors arenât quite sure how it happens, but the steady hormones in the pill can also lessen the emotional symptoms of PMS in some women.
Other Options And Risks
Sometimes skipping your period means enjoying your best friends wedding or your COVID-19-friendly vacation that much more. Plus, if you have painful symptoms or excessive menstrual bleeding that interferes with daily life every month, you might like a break from it for a while.
Some people may not like the thought of having to take a pill every day. Another option is using a vaginal ring contraceptive to skip periods. Normally, you would place the ring in your vagina and wear it for three weeks and then take it out for seven days to have a period. Then you would insert a new ring. But if you immediately insert a new ring after the three weeks end, youll avoid your period. Fertility is also promptly restored after discontinuing the use of either methods.
The only real risk to using birth control to miss your periods is that theres a small chance of breakthrough bleeding, which is any vaginal bleeding that occurs mid-cycle or when using hormonal methods to avoid your period, explains Dr. Bradley. Because of this, you might want to carry some pads or tampons with you just in case.
Be aware that any medication can cause side effects, so be sure to ask your doctor if birth control is right for you and if you should use any backup contraceptives, such as condoms. Condoms can also help prevent sexually transmitted infections.
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Other Causes Of Menstrual Cramps
Cramping may also be the result of an underlying medical condition. Conditions that cause painful menstrual cramping include:
- Endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition in which the lining of the uterus implants outside the uterus. Learn more about it here.
- Fibroids. Fibroids are noncancerous growths in the uterine wall.
- Adenomyosis. In this condition, the lining of the uterus grows into the uterine muscle wall.
When Should I See My Doctor About Irregular Bleeding
Since every womans body reacts differently to these birth control methods, it can be hard to know when irregular bleeding is abnormal. You should see your doctor if you experience abnormal bleeding:
- And are pregnant
- And have a lot of pain during your period
- After intercourse
- And you have been using the same method of birth control for more than three months
- That is unexpected
- And you are younger than 8 years old or have no other signs of puberty and have vaginal bleeding
You should also see your doctor if you are taking a combined contraceptive pill and your periods have stopped completely during the week of placebo pills, although in many cases this can be normal.
There are treatments available for irregular bleeding that can help, or your doctor may recommend changes to your birth control method.
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What Can You Do About Birth Control Side Effects
Before you blame the Pill for everything, take a more holistic look at your sex life and relationship. How do you feel about your body? How is the relationship with your partner? Is work, family, etc., stressing you out big time? Are you bored?
Libido in people with uteruses is such a complex issue. Its never about only one factor, but the interplay of many. Its easy to blame a medication rather than look at what else is happening.
And also, sometimes, it really is the meds! If you arent happy with your birth control for any reason, explore other methods. That could mean switching pills, looking into long-acting reversible contraception, or exploring a fertility awareness method. No single method is right for everyone!
You know your body and life best. The best way to avoid or manage birth control side effects? Inform yourself about all of the options and choose the one thats best for you, knowing that you can always change your mind or switch to another method. Dont let a healthcare provider tell you whats best for your life and preferences.
Kait xo
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How Long Do I Have To Take Birth Control To Regulate My Period
When you stop taking the pill, it can take some time for your body to start producing these hormones again. Menstrual periods typically resume within three months after you stop taking the pill. But if you took the pill to regulate your menstrual cycles, it may take several months before your period comes back.
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Is There Any Way My Daughter Can Lower Her Risk Of Getting Blood Clots While Taking The Pill
Make sure you let your daughter know if any of her blood relatives have had blood clots, especially when they were young . There are other factors that can contribute to the likelihood of whether a teen or adult woman develops blood clots such as a diagnosis of Factor V Leiden, trauma, or surgery, being overweight and smoking.
If your daughter smokes, encourage her to quit. If she is planning a flight or long car ride , remind her to get up and walk around and drink lots of fluids to lessen the risk of blood clots. If she is having surgery , talk to her health care provider about whether she should go off the Pill 3-4 weeks before the surgery.
Choosing Among Hormonal Contraceptives
A variety of hormonal contraceptive options are available by prescription. These differ in how often theyre administered and the ways they deliver hormones into the body. These include:
- Hormonal pills. A pill is taken orally each day.
- Vaginal ring. This small flexible device is inserted into the vagina once a month.
- Hormone-releasing Intrauterine device . This tiny, T-shaped piece of plastic is inserted into the uterus. It can stay in place for three to seven years, depending on the type of IUD.
- Birth control patch. This is a sticker that delivers hormones through the skin. Its worn on the belly, upper outer arm, buttocks or back and is changed once a week.
- Depo-Provera shot. This shot is given as an injection into the muscle every three months. It generally requires a visit to a healthcare provider, who administers the shot.
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