ﺑﺎﺯﮔﺸﺖ ﺑﻪ ﺻﻔﺤﻪ ﻗﺒﻠﯽ
خرید پکیج
تعداد آیتم قابل مشاهده باقیمانده : 3 مورد
نسخه الکترونیک
medimedia.ir

Patient education: Hormonal birth control (The Basics)

Patient education: Hormonal birth control (The Basics)

What is hormonal birth control? — Hormonal birth control is any pill, injection, device, or treatment that uses hormones to prevent pregnancy. There are a few different kinds of hormonal birth control. Some contain the hormones estrogen and progestin. Others contain only progestin.

While no birth control works 100 percent perfectly all of the time, hormonal methods work very well to prevent pregnancy. The methods differ in how easy they are to use and their side effects (table 1):

Pills – If you choose to take birth control pills, you will need to take a pill every day. Skipping pills can increase the chance of getting pregnant. Birth control pill packets usually include 4 to 7 days of hormone-free pills each month. It is during these hormone-free days that you get your period. If you prefer not to get a period, you can skip the hormone-free pills and take a hormone pill every day instead. This is called "continuous dosing." Most birth control pills contain estrogen and progestin but some contain only progestin.

Skin patches – There are a few different patches available (brand names: Xulane, Xafemy, Twirla). You can wear the patch on your shoulder, back, belly, or hip (figure 1). Some can also be worn on the upper arm. The patch must be changed once a week, and you put it in a new place each time. You typically wear a new patch each week for 3 weeks and then leave the patch off during week 4. Week 4 is when you have your period. Skin patches for birth control contain both estrogen and progestin.

Vaginal rings – This is a flexible ring that you put in your vagina (sample brand names: Annovera, NuvaRing) (figure 2). The ring releases the hormones estrogen and progestin.

The ring should not be removed when you have sex. You will need to check before and after sex to make sure it is in place. If the ring does come out, make sure you know how quickly you need to put it back in. This will depend on which brand of ring you have. In general, if it comes out for more than a few hours, you will need to use another form of birth control to prevent pregnancy.

You typically keep the ring in for 3 weeks. Then, depending on which ring you have, you either throw it away or clean it and store it to put back in later. You do not use the ring during week 4, which is when you have your period.

If you choose, you can continue using a ring for longer than 3 weeks. If you do this you will not have a regular period, although you might have some light bleeding or "spotting."

Injections – If you use hormone injections, you will get a shot in the arm or butt every 3 months. Injections for birth control (brand name: Depo-Provera) contain only progestin.

Implants – A birth control implant is a tiny rod that releases hormones in the arm (figure 3). It must be implanted by a doctor or nurse and can stay in the arm for up to 3 years. Implants for birth control (brand name: Nexplanon) contain only progestin.

Hormone-containing IUD – IUD stands for "intrauterine device." This is a device that is placed inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy (figure 4). Some IUDs work by releasing hormones into the body (brand names: Mirena, Liletta, Kyleena, Skyla). Depending on which hormone-releasing IUD you get and your age, it can stay in place for 3 to 8 years. The hormone-releasing IUDs contain the hormone levonorgestrel, which is a progestin.

Hormonal birth control is a safe and reliable way to prevent pregnancy for most people. But it does not protect you from infections that spread through sex (called "sexually transmitted infections" or "sexually transmitted diseases").

Why else might a person use hormonal birth control? — Hormonal birth control has other benefits besides preventing pregnancy. It can make your periods lighter or more regular. For this reason, it is also often used in the treatment of certain health conditions, including:

Heavy, irregular, or painful periods – Different things can affect your monthly period. Some people also get painful cramps or other symptoms.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – This is a condition that can cause irregular periods, acne, extra facial hair, or hair loss from the head.

Menstrual migraines – These are migraine headaches that are triggered by hormone changes around the monthly period. Hormonal birth control might be an option for treatment, as long as you do not get migraines with "aura." An aura is a symptom or feeling that happens before or during the headache. For example, some people see flashing lights, bright spots, or zig-zag lines, or lose part of their vision.

If you have any of these conditions, your doctor or nurse might suggest the pill or another form of hormonal birth control. Do not try using birth control to treat a health condition without talking to your doctor or nurse first.

How do I choose the right hormonal birth control for me? — Work with your doctor or nurse to choose the best option for you. As you think about your decision, think about how likely you are to use each method the right way. Can you remember to take a pill every day? Can you remember to change a patch once a week? Long-acting methods (IUD, implant) are the most convenient because they work for 3 to 10 years, depending on the method. The injection, which works for 3 months, might be more convenient than the pill, patch, or ring. Also, ask your doctor how the method you are thinking about will affect your period. The table has a list of side effects and risks for each of the different forms (table 1).

Is hormonal birth control safe for everyone? — No. Some people should not use estrogen-containing hormonal birth control. This includes those who:

Are age 35 or older and smoke cigarettes – These things increase your risk for heart attacks and strokes.

Could possibly be pregnant – Before prescribing hormonal birth control, your doctor or nurse will ask questions to make sure that you are not pregnant. You might need to take a pregnancy test to confirm this.

Have had blood clots or a stroke in the past

Are being treated for breast cancer, or have had breast cancer before

Have some types of liver disease – Hormonal birth control can make some types of liver disease worse.

Have some types of heart disease

Get the type of migraine headaches that cause vision or hearing problems

If you have high blood pressure, you can still use hormonal birth control. But your blood pressure needs to be well controlled and regularly checked by a doctor.

Many people who can't take estrogen-containing hormonal birth control can take other kinds of hormonal birth control that contain only progestin. Or they can use methods that do not contain hormones.

What if I take medicines besides birth control? — Some medicines can affect how well hormonal birth control works. These include:

Some medicines used to prevent seizures (called "anticonvulsants")

Certain antibiotics used to treat tuberculosis (rifampin and rifabutin)

St. John's Wort (an herbal medicine for depression)

If you take any of these medicines, talk to your doctor about how to handle birth control. Also, if you already take hormonal birth control, mention it to any doctor or nurse who might be prescribing medicines for you.

What if I forget to use my hormonal birth control? — If you have sex and forgot to use your birth control, you can take emergency contraception to reduce your risk of pregnancy. Some forms of emergency contraception require a prescription, but others you can buy in a pharmacy. The IUD is the most effective method of emergency contraception, but requires a doctor or nurse to insert it. If you need to use emergency contraception, do it as soon as possible after sex.

More on this topic

Patient education: Choosing birth control (The Basics)
Patient education: Emergency contraception (The Basics)
Patient education: Vasectomy (The Basics)
Patient education: Long-acting methods of birth control (The Basics)
Patient education: Intrauterine devices (IUDs) (The Basics)
Patient education: IUD insertion (The Basics)
Patient education: IUD removal (The Basics)
Patient education: Barrier methods of birth control (The Basics)
Patient education: Heavy periods (The Basics)
Patient education: Painful periods (The Basics)
Patient education: Absent or irregular periods (The Basics)
Patient education: Polycystic ovary syndrome (The Basics)
Patient education: Migraines in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use vaginal medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use a skin patch (The Basics)

Patient education: Birth control; which method is right for me? (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Hormonal methods of birth control (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Long-acting methods of birth control (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Barrier and pericoital methods of birth control (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Emergency contraception (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Abnormal uterine bleeding (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Painful menstrual periods (dysmenorrhea) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Migraines in adults (Beyond the Basics)

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Feb 02, 2024.
Disclaimer: This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider's examination and assessment of a patient's specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms. 2024© UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved.
Topic 16162 Version 20.0

آیا می خواهید مدیلیب را به صفحه اصلی خود اضافه کنید؟