An unwanted pregnancy can really change your life, in more ways than one, so contraception is essential if you are sexually active, and do not want to bring a child into this world. There are many ways to do this, and by far the most popular is the birth control pill.
There are different types of contraceptive pills, so you need to ask the question, what is the best contraceptive pill for me? All types of oral contraception are equally effective, and the first step is to consult with a doctor. There are more than 25 types of birth control pill on the market in the UK today, and they can be divided into two main groups, the common pill and the mini pill.
The common pill
This is the most popular type and it is a combination of two female hormones, oestrogen and progestogen. According to statistics, more than 100 million women worldwide take the common pill. The reasons for this are several,
v 99% effective
v Lessens period pains
v Reduces the risk of ovarian, womb, and colon cancer
v Reduces the risk of non-cancerous breast disease
Usually the common pill comes in a 21-day, or 28-day pack. With the 21-day pack, all the pills are active, so you don’t take any for the last 7 days of your menstrual cycle, which means you must remember when to start taking them again. Whereas the 28-day pack contains seven placebo tablets, which you take during the last week of your cycle. Some women suffer side effects such as nausea, tender breasts, and mood swings, but changing the type of pill should relieve this.
The mini pill
The other alternative contains only the hormone progestogen, and while there are less side effects, it is not quite as efficient as the combined pill, with a 90-96% effectivity. The mini pill is the right choice if you,
v Suffer from high blood pressure
v Are over 40 years old
v Are a heavy smoker
v Suffer from migraines
v Are breastfeeding
The mini pill was designed for women who cannot take oestrogen, and the mini pill can also make your periods irregular, or stop completely for a short time.
The right balance of hormones
Sometimes it takes a while before you find the birth control pill that suits you best. There are variations in the hormonal strengths, so if you suffer with side effects, your doctor can make adjustments, which should lead to a more settled experience. When consulting a doctor about which pill to use, he or she will ask you questions about your lifestyle, check your medical history, and take your weight and blood pressure. Only then will your GP make a recommendation regarding which type and strength of contraceptive pill you should take. The pill is the most popular form of contraception because it offers a high level of protection without causing you to make any drastic changes to your lifestyle, and with the right choice, you can have peace of mind regarding your health and well-being.
