Why Should I Take Birth Control
The obvious reason for taking birth control is to prevent pregnancy, but there are some women who are looking for ways to increase their breast size. Due to the estrogen in the pill, some women will definitely see an increase in the size of their breasts. Keep in mind that not every birth control pill contains estrogen. There is something called the mini pill which only contains progestin. So if youre wondering does the mini pill make your breasts bigger the answer is no, due to the lack of estrogen inside. Although birth control alone wont significantly increase the size of your breasts, adding a supplement that increases estrogen will certainly give it a boost. Bust Bunny helps to increase estrogen levels to give your bust the boost youve been needing! Use coupon code birthcontrol for 10% off or to have your coupon instantly applied.
Most of the time, the changes in your breast size is due to fluid retention which is caused by the increase in hormones. Keep in mind, once off the pill it is likely that your breast size will go back to the size you started out with. Unless you are combining the pill with another supplement you may notice your breast size to no longer be as full as when you were active on the pill.
Here are a few other possible side effects to keep a lookout for while taking birth control:
How Do You Get It
A doctor or a nurse practitioner must prescribe the Pill. They’ll ask about a girl’s health and family medical history, and will do an exam, which may include a pelvic exam. If the doctor or NP prescribes birth control pills, they’ll explain when to begin taking the Pill and what to do if pills are missed.
The doctor or NP might want to do a blood pressure check a few months later and make sure there are no other problems. After that, girls who are having sex should get routine exams every 6 months to a year, or as recommended.
Testosterone And Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
Testosterone is found as either bound or unbound in the body. Unbound testosterone is considered Free Testosterone. Testosterone that is bound to albumin, a transport protein, is also considered free since it is a relatively weak bind. Surprisingly, only about 3% of testosterone in the body is completely free, or unbound, and about 30-35% if bound to albumin. The remaining 70% is bound to sex hormone binding globulin, SHBG.1
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How Do You Choose The Best Method
The best method of birth control is one that protects you every time you have sex. And with many types of birth control, that depends on how well you use it. To find a method that will work for you every time, some things to think about include:
If you are using a method now that you are not happy with, talk to your doctor about other choices.
Uses For Estrogen And Progestin Oral Contraceptives
Oral contraceptives are known also as the Pill, OCs, BCs, BC tablets, or birth control pills. Estrogen and progestin oral contraceptives usually contains two types of hormones, estrogens and progestins and, when taken properly, prevents pregnancy. It works by stopping a woman’s egg from fully developing each month. The egg can no longer accept a sperm and fertilization is prevented. Although oral contraceptives have other effects that help prevent a pregnancy from occurring, this is the main action.
Sometimes a woman’s egg can still develop even though the medication is taken once each day, especially when more than 24 hours pass between two doses. In almost all cases when the medicine was taken properly and an egg develops, fertilization can still be stopped by oral contraceptives. This is because oral contraceptives also thicken cervical mucus at the opening of the uterus. This makes it hard for the partner’s sperm to reach the egg. In addition, oral contraceptives change the uterus lining just enough so that an egg will not stop in the uterus to develop. All of these effects make it difficult to become pregnant when properly taking an oral contraceptive.
Sometimes these preparations can be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Oral contraceptives are available only with your doctor’s prescription.
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How Are Very Low
Very-low-dose birth control pills are usually started on the first Sunday after your period starts. If you’re perimenopausal but you aren’t having regular periods, you can probably take a hormone called medroxyprogesterone acetate to start your period. These pills are taken for 21 days in a row and then not taken for seven days. During the seven days without medicine, your period will start. Seven days later , you’ll start taking the very-low-dose oral contraceptives for another cycle .
How To Take The Progestogen
There are 2 different types of progestogen-only pill:
- 3-hour progestogen-only pill must be taken within 3 hours of the same time each day
- 12-hour progestogen-only pill must be taken within 12 hours of the same time each day
Follow the instructions that come with your pill packet missing pills or taking the pill alongside other medicines can reduce its effectiveness.
There are 28 pills in a pack of progestogen-only pills. You need to take 1 pill every day within either 3 or 12 hours of the same time each day, depending on which type you’re taking.
There’s no break between packs of pills when you finish a pack, you start the next one the next day.
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Can I Take The Pill If Im Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding mothers should avoid the estrogen in combined hormonal birth control as it may reduce milk supply. Birth control options for breastfeeding women include:
- Swelling or pain in the legs
- Chest pain, heart attack, blood clots, stroke
Other warnings and side effects exist for birth control pills. It is important to review the specific consumer information for the birth control of your choice and discuss any questions or concerns with your healthcare provider. Generic options of birth control pills may be available check with your pharmacist for cost-savings.
Tell your healthcare provider about all other medications you take, including prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin and herbal supplements. Certain medications may make your birth control less effective. Be sure you have complete drug interaction review each time you start a new medication.
Frequently Asked Questions Expand All
Combined hormonal methods are safe for most women, but they are associated with a small increased risk of deep vein thrombosis , heart attack, and stroke. The risk is higher in some women, including women older than 35 years who smoke more than 15 cigarettes a day or women who have multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes a history of stroke, heart attack, or DVT or a history of migraine headaches with aura.
You should not use combined hormonal methods during the first 3 weeks after delivery because the risk of DVT is higher in the weeks after childbirth. If you have additional risk factors for DVT, you should wait to use combined hormonal methods until after the first 46 weeks following delivery.
The risk of DVT also may be slightly higher in women taking pills containing a progestin called drospirenone and in women using the patch. However, the risk of DVT is higher during pregnancy and in the weeks after childbirth than when taking drospirenone-containing pills or using the patch.
If you are breastfeeding, estrogen may affect your milk supply. It is recommended that you wait until the fifth week after delivery to start using these methods, when breastfeeding has been well established.
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How Birth Control Pills Work
The hormones estrogen and progesterone signal your body to produce eggs and prepare for pregnancy.
If a sperm doesnt fertilize the egg, the levels of these hormones fall steeply. In response, your uterus sheds the lining that had built up. This lining is shed during your period.
Birth control pills contain either a combination of synthetic estrogen and synthetic progesterone or synthetic progesterone alone. This manmade version of progesterone is also known as progestin.
Estrogen and progestin work in different ways to prevent pregnancy. Both work to prevent the pituitary gland from producing hormones that trigger ovulation.
Progestin also thickens your cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to reach any released eggs. Progestin thins the uterine lining as well. This makes it harder for an egg to implant there if the sperm fertilizes it.
Common brands of low-dose birth control pills include:
Lo Loestrin Fe is actually considered an ultra-low-dose pill, as it only contains 10 mcg of estrogen.
There are multiple benefits of taking a low-dose combination pill:
- Your periods are likely to be more regular.
- Your periods may be lighter.
- Any menstrual cramping you have may be less severe.
How Do I Change To A Different Pill
If you want advice about changing your contraceptive pill, you can visit your GP, contraceptive nurse , sexual health clinic or pharmacist.
You should not have a break between different packs, so you will usually be advised to start the new pill immediately or wait until the day after you take the last of your old pills.
You may also be advised to use alternative methods of contraception during the changeover, as the new pill may take a short time to take effect.
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Monophasic Birth Control Pills
Monophasic birth control pills have the same amount of estrogen and progestin in each active pill in the pill pack. The hormone levels in each pill stay consistent, so monophasic birth control pills may be less likely to cause side effects that could result from fluctuating hormones.
Monophasic birth control pills are classified by their estrogen level:
- Low dose pills have the least amount of estrogenusually 20 micrograms. But there is the birth control pill brand Lo Loestrin Fe. This is the only birth control pill that contains just 10 micrograms of estrogen, so it is quietly becoming very popular.
- Regular dose pills contain 30 to 35 micrograms of estrogen.
- High-dose pills have about 50 micrograms of estrogen.
Monophasic birth control pills work just as well as multiphasic pills. Low estrogen, monophasic pills may cause less bloating or breast tenderness but they may result in more spotting. Most people find that a monophasic birth control pill brand tends to be a good first choice.
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How To Start Taking The Minipill
Before starting the minipill, talk to your doctor about what day to begin.
You can start using this pill on any day of your menstrual cycle, but depending on where you are in your cycle, you may have to use a backup birth control method for a few days.
If you start taking the minipill during the first 5 days of your period, you should be fully protected, and you wont need any additional contraception.
If you start on any other day, youll need to use an extra method of protection for at least 2 days.
If your period has a short cycle, you should use additional birth control until youve been on the minipill for at least 2 days.
All oral contraceptives have potential side effects, and they vary in intensity from person to person.
The Cleveland Clinic reports these side effects from the progestin-only minipill:
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There Are Two More Things I Want You To Know About When It Comes To Depression Anxiety And The Pill
Birth control pills are also known for disrupting Tryptophan metabolism. Tryptophan is a very important amino acid because Tryptophan
is needed to make two very important chemicals that Im sure you have heard of.
- #1 Serotonin and the other
When you feel sad or depressed, anxious, when you cant think straight, irritable, cant focus- one of the main neurotransmitters that is associated with these feelings is serotonin.
When you cant sleep at night, perhaps you reach for your melatonin supplements. Remember, both are made from Tryptophan and when you use birth control pills, the pill can disrupt your feel good chemicals and the chemicals that regulate your sleep cycle.
This illustration that you see here, shows how Serotonin and Melatonin are made from Tryptophan.
Is Femodette A Good Pill
Femodette® They are one of the most reliable reversible methods of contraception if used correctly. They slightly increase the risk of having a blood clot in the veins and arteries, especially in the first year or when restarting a combined hormonal contraceptive following a break of 4 or more weeks.
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How To Get Your Mojo Back
If youâre feeling a little less in the mood lately, there are some lifestyle changes you can make that can help get the train back on track:
Learn to love plants.Saturated fatâ the stuff that oozes out of your burger â can raise your cholesterol. The higher it is, the lower your sex drive. Choose plant-based proteins like nuts and beans, or lean chicken and fish.
Kiss junk food goodbye. Loaded with sugar and bad fats, junk food makes you sleepy and bloated. Thatâs not how you want to look and feel in the bedroom.
Think zinc. This mineral boosts testosterone for men and women. Look for it in:
Embrace dark chocolate. Itâs better for you than other sweets. Make sure itâs at least 70% dark chocolate and low in sugar.
How Does The Progestin
This contraceptive does three things. First, like regular birth control pills, the progestin-only pill makes your body think that you are pregnant and stops your ovary from releasing an egg. Second, the mini-pill causes changes in your uterus. Because of the changes caused by progestin, your uterus is less likely to let a pregnancy get started even if an egg is released.
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What You Need To Know About Estrogen
Like progesterone, estrogen is a sex hormone naturally produced in the body and is responsible for developing female sexual characteristics. For example, during puberty, estrogen contributes to the development of mammary ducts. During pregnancy, it supports functions that secrete breast milk.
Estrogen is commonly found in birth control products, such as oral contraceptives and vaginal rings. It is also found in products that treat symptoms during menopause, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and itching.
Some side effects of taking estrogen products include nausea, cramps, headaches, weight gain, and abnormal uterine bleeding.
If youre experiencing any adverse side effects when taking oral contraceptives, make sure to talk to your doctor.
Estrogen And Postmenopausal Depression
At menopause, estrogen levels fall to very low levels. Interestingly, taking oral estrogen does not improve depression in women after menopause. In large trials evaluating hormone replacement therapy, women taking estrogen reported the same mental health as women taking placebo. After menopause, womens rates of depression fall, becoming similar to men of the same age.
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Can Birth Control Impact Migraines
Since around 1966, research has suggested that low-dose estrogen birth control pills can prevent migraines, while higher dose pills can sometimes make them worse. Every woman is different and will respond differently to hormonal contraceptives. Furthermore, it is important to consult a doctor about any history of migraines before trying a new hormonal contraceptive. Some migraine sufferers experience visual disturbances during an attack. This is referred to as a migraine aura. For women with a history of this type of migraine, birth control may not be recommended, as it could lead to stroke.
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What Types Of Birth Control Stimulate Appetite
Some birth control pills can cause women to feel hungrier than usual, which can lead to excess calorie consumption and weight gain. Unlike water retention, this type of weight gain is much harder to get rid of and is more permanent. It can be incredibly hard to make smart diet choices when a person is experiencing cravings for calorie-dense foods thanks to hormones.
Certain birth control pills increase insulin levels. High levels of insulin cause any calories obtained from carbohydrates to be converted into fat cells. Women who already have abnormal glucose metabolism are at high-risk of experiencing this side effect.
The types of hormonal birth control that are the biggest culprits for appetite stimulation are, again, pills with higher levels of estrogen. Low dose estrogen pills do not cause significant increases in appetite and insulin levels. For women who do experience weight gain on the pill, the average weight gained is 4.4 pounds within 12 months on a progestin-only pill.
Also, if a woman experiences significant weight gain after taking the pill, the birth control isnt necessarily to blame. Its possible that another health issue is causing weight gain, and its crucial that women speak to their doctor if this happens. Cushings Syndrome, thyroid disorders, and diabetes can cause sudden, unexplained weight gain.
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What Are Birth Control Pills And What Are They Made Of
Birth control pills are a type of hormone replacement therapy that contain man-made, synthetic hormones. They are intended to stop ovulation, disrupting the natural hormonal cycle. Birth control pills work by tricking the body into thinking its pregnant to prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg.
There are two types of birth control pills: Combination pills that contain synthetic forms of estrogen and progestin , and progestin-only pills.