Understanding Hormone Based Birth Control

I have been on birth control since I was 15 years old. At that point I nor my mom knew very much about the different types of birth control. She knew about the pill and I knew only what she knew. So I ended up taking the pill and not that I had a super active sex life, but it had been fine until some time after Bean's birth.

Once TP and I were ready to be sexually active again, I went back to what I knew: the pill. Only this time my body was different. When they say a woman's body changes after she has a baby, they are telling the truth. I no longer felt the same on the pill and though I tried different types, we weren't happy with it. Probably my number one complaint about the pill was my low sex drive, (though I know no one can believe that since we are on #2, ha!).

So this time around I am doing my research on hormone based birth control. It's probably the longest post I've ever compiled but it's nice to have all the research in one place. Information was provided by Planned Parenthood.




Birth Control Shot.

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  How Does the Birth Control Shot Work?

  The birth control shot releases a hormone — progestin — into the body.

  The hormone also thins the lining of the uterus. In theory, this could prevent pregnancy by keeping a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus.
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  How Effective Is the Birth Control Shot?

  • Less than 1 out of 100 women will get pregnant each year if they always use the birth control shot as directed.
  • About 6 out of 100 women will get pregnant each year if they don't always use the birth control shot as directed.

  Each shot of Depo-Provera will protect you from pregnancy for 12 weeks. So you will need to go to your health care provider every 12 weeks for a shot. 

• How Safe Is the Birth Control Shot?

  You should not use the shot if you

  • are taking medicine for Cushing's syndrome
  • are pregnant
  • have breast cancer
  • have a blood clot in a vein or artery and are not taking medicine for it
  • have had fragility bone fractures (breaks)

• What Are the Disadvantages of the Birth Control Shot?

  Some women may have undesirable side effects while using the birth control shot. But many women adjust to it with few or no problems. Serious problems do not occur often.

  Irregular bleeding is the most common side effect, especially in the first 6 to 12 months of use.
  

  • For most women, periods become fewer and lighter. After one year, half of the women who use the birth control shot will stop having periods completely. 
  • Some women have longer, heavier periods.
  • Some women have increased spotting and light bleeding between periods.

  There are also some less common side effects:
  

  • change in sex drive
  • change in appetite or weight gain
  • depression
  • hair loss or increased hair on the face or body
  • headache
  • nausea
  • sore breasts

  Because the birth control shot is long lasting, it can take a long time to get pregnant after getting your last shot — anywhere from nine months to more than a year. So, Depo-Provera is not a good birth control method for you if you’re thinking of getting pregnant soon.

  Although Depo-Provera is highly effective in preventing pregnancy, in the very rare cases where pregnancy does occur, it is more likely to be an ectopic pregnancy, which can be life threatening.

  Women who use the birth control shot may have temporary bone thinning. It increases the longer they use it. Bone growth begins again when women stop using the shot. 

Vaginal Ring.

• What Is the Vaginal Ring?

  The vaginal ring is a small, flexible ring a woman inserts into her vagina once a month to prevent pregnancy. It is left in place for three weeks and taken out for the remaining week each month. The vaginal ring is commonly called NuvaRing, its brand name.
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  How Does the Vaginal Ring Work?

  The hormones in NuvaRing are the same hormones as in the birth control pill — estrogen and progestin.

  The hormones also thin the lining of the uterus. In theory, this could prevent pregnancy by keeping a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus.

• How Effective Is the Vaginal Ring?

  • Less than 1 out of 100 women will get pregnant each year if they always use NuvaRing as directed.
  • About 9 out of 100 women will get pregnant each year if they don’t always use NuvaRing as directed.

  Certain medicines and supplements may make NuvaRing less effective. These include

  • the antibiotic rifampin — other antibiotics do not make the ring less effective
  • certain medicines that are taken by mouth for yeast infections
  • certain HIV medicines
  • certain anti-seizure medicines
  • St. John's wort
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  How Safe Is the Vaginal Ring?

  
  You should not use the vaginal ring during prolonged bed rest or if you
  
  • are pregnant
  • get migraine headaches with aura
  • have certain inherited blood-clotting disorders
  • have had blood clots or vein inflammation
  • have had breast or liver cancer
  • have had a heart attack, stroke, or angina
  • have had serious heart valve problems
  • have lupus with certain conditions
  • have serious liver disease
  • have uncontrolled high blood pressure
  • have very bad diabetes
  • have weak pelvic floor muscles
  • smoke and are 35 or older
  • smoke and have high blood pressure

• What Are the Disadvantages of the Vaginal Ring?

  Because NuvaRing works like the pill, it probably carries the same possible disadvantages.  

  Some of the most common side effects usually clear up after two or three months. They include

  • bleeding between periods
  • breast tenderness
  • nausea and vomiting

  NuvaRing may also cause more long-lasting side effects. It may cause increased vaginal discharge, vaginal irritation, or infection. The hormones in NuvaRing may change a woman’s sexual desire.
  
  After ring use is stopped, it usually takes one or two months for a woman’s periods to return to the cycle she had before using it. Once in a while, a woman may have irregular or absent periods. This may go on for as long as six months after stopping. This is more likely if her periods were irregular before using the ring.
  
  
  Serious Side Effects of the Vaginal Ring

  Women who use birth control with estrogen — like NuvaRing —have a slightly greater chance of certain serious problems than nonusers. The most serious — in very rare cases — may be fatal. These include heart attack, stroke, or having a blood clot in the legs, lungs, heart, or brain.
  
  Other rare risks include developing high blood pressure, liver tumors, gallstones, or yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice). The risk for these problems increases if you

  • are age 35 or older
  • are very overweight
  • have certain inherited blood-clotting disorders
  • have diabetes
  • have high blood pressure
  • have high cholesterol
  • need prolonged bed rest
  • smoke

  
  

  The Vaginal Ring and Breast Cancer You may have heard claims linking the hormones in the vaginal ring to breast cancer. The most recent literature suggests that the use of these hormones in birth control has little, if any, effect on the risk of developing breast cancer.

Birth Control Implant.

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• What Is Implanon?

  Implanon is a thin, flexible plastic implant about the size of a cardboard matchstick. It is inserted under the skin of the upper arm. It protects against pregnancy for up to three years.






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  How Does Implanon Work?

  Implanon releases a hormone — progestin. Hormones are chemicals made in our bodies. They control how different parts of our bodies work.

  The progestin in Implanon works by keeping a woman's ovaries from releasing eggs — ovulation.

  The hormone also thins the lining of the uterus. In theory, this could prevent pregnancy by keeping a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus.






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  How Effective Is Implanon?

  Less than 1 out of 100 women a year will become pregnant using Implanon. It lasts up to three years.

  Certain medicines and supplements may make Implanon less effective. These include

  • the antibiotic rifampin — other antibiotics do not make Implanon less effective
  • certain medicines that are taken by mouth for yeast infections
  • certain HIV medicines
  • certain anti-seizure medicines
  • St. John's wort






• What Are the Disadvantages of Implanon?

  Irregular bleeding is the most common side effect, especially in the first 6–12 months of use.

  • For most women, periods become fewer and lighter. After one year, 1 out of 3 women who use Implanon will stop having periods completely.
  • Some women have longer, heavier periods.
  • Some women have increased spotting and light bleeding between periods.

  These side effects are completely normal. Some woman may worry that they are pregnant if they do not have a regular period. But when Implanon is used correctly, it is very effective. 

  Less common side effects of Implanon include

  • change in sex drive
  • discoloring or scarring of the skin over the implant
  • headache
  • nausea
  • pain at the insertion site
  • sore breasts







• How Is Implanon Inserted and Removed?

  After taking your medical history and giving you a physical exam, your health care provider will numb a small area of your arm with a painkiller. Implanon is inserted under the skin. Insertion takes only a few minutes.

  After insertion, be sure to tell any health care provider you may see that you are using Implanon.

  The implant is effective for three years after it is inserted. After that, it should be removed. Even though it stops working, it may interfere with your period.

  Implanon can be removed at any time. Your health care provider will numb the area with a painkiller and will usually make one small cut to remove the implant. Removal usually takes just a few minutes, but it generally takes longer than insertion. A new implant may be inserted at this time. Pregnancy can happen anytime after the implant is removed.

  If you get the implant during the first five days of your period, you are protected against pregnancy immediately. Otherwise, you need to use some form of backup birth control — like a condom, female condom, diaphragm, sponge, or emergency contraception (morning after pill) — for the first week after getting the implant.







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  How Do I Get Implanon? How Much Does Implanon Cost?

  You need to see a health care provider to get Implanon. 

  The cost of the exam, Implanon, and insertion ranges from $400–$800. Removal costs between $100 and $300. The total cost pays for pregnancy protection that can last for three years.