Birth Control Pills: A Comprehensive Guide to Types, Dosages, and Administration

What is a Birth Control Pill?

Birth control pill is a form of oral conception; the synthetic hormones in the drugs prevent any unwanted pregnancy. They work by preventing the body from ovulation or releasing mature eggs from the ovary. Its results are very effective (approximately 99%) if taken correctly. It is also helpful in regulating irregular and heavy periods. They are available in combination with estrogen and progesterone (also known as combined oral contraceptives) or as progestin-only (synthetic progesterone). Birth control pills are generally available in 28 28-day packs, of which one pill is to be taken daily. When stopped, the cycle returns to normal, and one can conceive again if one wishes to.

Types of Birth Control Pills

Birth control pills come in 2 forms: Progestin-only pills and combination pills. To know more about them in detail, please have a look below.

Progestin-only Pills:

These pills contain (synthetic progesterone) and are also known as “ mini pills.” These pills are beneficial for females who experience heavy bleeding during periods, as they minimize bleeding. Progestin-only pills are a better choice for women who react adversely to estrogen or who have cardiovascular disease, migraine, and DVT (deep vein thrombosis). Women who are more than 35 years old and smoke should omit taking estrogen tablets, as it makes them prone to blood clotting.

Benefits of Progestin-only Pills

Progestin-only birth control pills are preferred by those who:

• Have an inability to deal with estrogen due to certain conditions.

• Smoke

• Have a history of blood clots

• Are breastfeeding Mothers

Combination Pills:

These pills contain the hormones estrogen and progesterone in synthetic form. Estrogen is effective in controlling periods, whereas a high level of progesterone prevents ovulation, thereby minimizing the chances of pregnancy. Combination pills are available in 28-day pack sizes, out of which 21 pills contain synthetic hormones and are considered to be active. At the same time, the remaining pills are inactive or placebo and do not contain the hormones. Combination pills are of various types, a few of which are listed below:

• Monophasic Pills: These are types of oral contraceptives in which estrogen and progestin are present in the same proportion in each pill. They come in 21-day and 28-day packs. The 21-day pack has all active pills, which are to be taken for 21 days, followed by a week without pills. The 28-day pack has 21 active pills and seven pills containing no hormones. Even if you don’t take the pills in the last week, you will get your period.

• Biphasic pills: Such birth control pills contain the same amount of estrogen for 21 days. However, the progestin amount varies throughout the cycle. The 1st half of the cycle has a lower ratio of progestin, while the latter has a higher amount.

• Triphasic Pills: In such types of birth control pills, the estrogen level could either remain constant or keep varying. However, the progestin level could fluctuate throughout the cycle.

• Extended-cycle pills: These birth control pills are allocated in a 13-week cycle. The active pills are to be taken for 12 weeks, and it’s not mandatory to take the inactive pills in the last week. While on such pills, you get to experience periods only 3 to 4 times a year instead of 13.

Benefits of Combination Pills

Other than contraception, combination pills may also be helpful for specific conditions. A few of those are listed below:

• Heavy Periods

• Acne

• Non-cancerous breast growth

• Menstrual Cramps

• Ovarian Cancer

Dosage and how birth control pills are administered?

The dosage of birth control pills may vary depending upon the type of pills one chooses for contraception.

For Progestin-only pills:

These pills come in packs of 28, and you are to take one pill each day. Progestin-only pills tend to work faster as compared to combination pills; they protect from pregnancy after two consecutive days of taking pills. During these 2 days, one must use a condom while indulging in sexual activity.

In Combination pills:

These come in packs such as 21-day pack, 24-day pack, and 28-day pack. Extended-cycle pills are available in 91-day packs. For all these packs, one pill is to be taken daily around the same time for better results. If one starts taking these pills in the 1st five days from when the period begins, they are secured from unwanted pregnancy. However, if one starts at any other time, they need to take pills for seven days in succession before they are secured of pregnancy. It is advised to use barrier protection (such as a condom) during this phase if they want to exercise intimacy.

What happens when you miss a pill?

There could be scenarios when one might forget to take the pill at the assigned time of the day; this is called taking a late pill. If a woman fails to take the pill in a day, it is known as a missed pill. Also, there is a chance that a woman might forget to start the next pack for a few days due to miscalculations.

Incorrect administration of birth control pills may cause unwanted pregnancy. If a woman misses to take birth control pills for two consecutive days, it may result in contraception failure. It is a general understanding that, keeping aside the missed pills, you may continue with the current day’s dosage. One must not forget to use other forms of contraception (like condoms) during this phase. Talk to your doctor if you have had intercourse before missing the pill.

Side- effects of Birth Control Pills

Some of the common side effects of birth control pills are mentioned below:

• Headache

• Nausea

• Weight Gain

• Breast tenderness

• Mood swings

• Vaginal Bleeding

The side effects mentioned above effects are not severe and would gradually subside as the body gets accustomed to the drug.

On rare occasions, birth control pills may cause side effects such as:

• Blood Clots

• Stroke

• Heart attack, and

• High blood pressure

There could be other side effects other than those listed above from birth control pills. Seek immediate consultation with the doctor if you experience any adverse reaction from the medication.

Conclusion

Birth control pills bestow women with an alternative to avoid pregnancy; they are also beneficial in regulating periods and heavy bleeding. It is essential to inform your doctor before you buy birth control drugs online since the choice of birth control pills could vary depending on individual health conditions. Your doctor will conduct appropriate counseling and advise you about the risks and benefits of birth control pills.