Birth Control Pill

Recently Answered

• QDo birth control pills (BCPs) interact with any other medications?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Dr. Daniel R. Spogen, MD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine

  Birth control pills (BCPs) can interact with other medications. For example, if taken with certain types of medications, such as seizure medications and antibiotics, birth control pills can be less effective. Women should discuss specific interactions with a doctor before any new medications are started. 

• QWhat are the side benefits of birth-control pills?

  3 Answers

  A

  

  A Los Robles Regional Medical Center answered

  The pill works primarily through influencing estrogen and progesterone, the hormones that cycle in women naturally. Beyond controlling reproductive cycles, there are other benefits to the pill. These include:

  • the potential to slow excess hair growth and acne because they suppress production of the male hormone
  • prevention of menstrual migraines
  • improving bone mineral density
  • normalizing irregular periods
  • allowing women to avoid having their period at inconvenient times, such as during a business trip, vacation or honeymoon

  See All 3 Answers
• QWill I have periods if I'm on the pill?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Henrico Doctors' Hospital - HCA Virginia answered

  In the development of the contraceptive pill, a hormone-free week was built into each month in order to provide the women with reassurance that she was not pregnant. During this week, a woman may take placebo pills or no pills at all. Typically, she will bleed during this week. Some women will mistake this for a period, but it is not. The hormones in the pill prevented ovulation and stabilized the lining of the uterus; the bleeding that may occur is merely the uterus responding to the withdrawal of the hormones.

• QIs it safe to take active contraceptive pills continuously?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Henrico Doctors' Hospital - HCA Virginia answered

  Doctors are often asked about the safety of continuous dosing of active contraceptive pills—avoiding the week of inactive pills built into a typical four-week pill pack. Historically, that week of bleeding was considered normal, but continuous dosing is very safe and is an excellent option for many women. Some of the newest versions of combined pills are designed to minimize bleeding, representing a shift toward recognizing not only the safety of continuous use, but the importance of giving women more control over their cycles.

• QWhat are common side effects of using birth control pills?

  3 Answers

  A

  

  A Medical City Alliance answered

  Common side effects of using birth control include headaches and nausea. The estrogen component in birth control may increase the risk of thrombus formation, or blood clots. Also, because estrogen is metabolized by the liver, there could be some adverse issues in people with gallbladder disease and hepatitis.

  See All 3 Answers
• QHow effective are birth control pills?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Dr. Daniel R. Spogen, MD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine

  Birth control pills are up to 99.9 percent effective when taken correctly. Birth control pills are a method of hormonal contraception that women take by mouth to prevent pregnancy.

• QDo birth control pills increase the risk of cancer?

  2 Answers

  A

  

  A Stacy Wiegman, PharmD , Pharmacy, answered

  Researchers believe birth control pills like LoSeasonique do not cause breast cancer. If you have breast cancer, or have a history of breast cancer, the hormones in LoSeasonique may affect hormone-sensitive breast cancer and use of this medication is not recommended. Some research has shown a slightly higher risk of cervical cancer in women who use birth control pills, but the reason could be a higher number of sexual partners for those using oral contraception.

  See All 2 Answers
• QWhat are the types of birth control pills (BCPs)?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Dr. Eva B. Cwynar, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Most birth-control pills today contain 21 to 24 active pills and 4 to 7 placebo pills. The active pills are made up of a combination of estrogen and progestin (there is a “minipill” that contains only progesterone, which is designed for women who are breastfeeding or who have conditions that prevent them from taking estrogen). There are basically three types of combination birth-control pills available by prescription today:
  

  • Monophasic: these pills (including brand names such as Brevicon, Loestrin, and Norinyl) contain equal amounts of estrogen and progestin in each pill.
  • Biphasic: these pills (including brand names such as Kariva, Mircette, and Ortho-Novum 10/11) contain two different levels of estrogen and progestin.
  • Triphasic: these pills (including brand names such as Ortho-Novum 7/7/7, Tri-Levlen, and Tri-Norinyl) contain three different concentrations of estrogen and progestin that vary throughout the menstrual cycle.

  A relatively new addition to the birth-control-pill family is the extended-cycle pill, with brand names including Seasonale and Seasonique. They, too, are combination pills containing both estrogen and progestin. However, you take these pills for extended periods of time, which means you get your period once every three or four months.
• QWhich foods and drugs interact with oral contraceptives?

  1 Answer

  A

  

  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  In the following list, you'll find the most common and easily avoided sources of adverse drug reactions concerning oral contraceptives. Keep this list handy and review it whenever you bring home a new prescription for an oral contraceptive—even after your doctor and pharmacist have vetted it with you.
  
  

  • Oral contraceptives interact with antibiotics such as penicillin and tetracycline and may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.
  • Oral contraceptives interact with St. John's wort. May reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.
  • Oral contraceptives interact with ginseng and may increase the potency of estrogen in oral contraceptives, causing estrogen-related side effects such as weight gain or breast cancer (if long term).