Zak asked
I'm a 38year old mother of five, my youngest is 2 and a half month (80days) old baby. I'd like to take some birth control pills but am worried about all the side affects. Here is a bit of family history, both grandfathers are diabetic, my maternal grandfather has high blood pressure, had a heart bypass and is a survivor of colon cancer; my maternal grandmother is a survivor of breast cancer, it should be known that she took birth control pills for over 10 years straight at some point in her life. Now my question is, what type of pills can I take that will have minimum side effects, keeping in mind that I'm breast feeding and that I'm a little over weight and I don't want anything that will make me gain more. Please provide me with a few recommendations if possible explaining the difference and how best to use them. Thank you in advance.
Answer
There are two types of oral birth control pills:
- Combined hormone pills, which contain both an estrogen and a progestin.
- Progestin only pills, also known as "mini-pills".
Progestin only pills are more likely than combined hormone pills to have less side effects and be better tolerated, since you are omitting the extra doses of estrogen. In fact, progestin only pills are more commonly recommended in woman older than 35 years old as this patient population is at a greater risk of side effects such as blood clots (i.e. thrombosis) when taking birth control pills that contain estrogen.
In addition to a lower risk of blood clots when compared to combined estrogen/progestin birth control pills, progestin only pills also have a lower risk of (in most cases):
- Nausea
- Breast tenderness
- Increased blood pressure
- Headache
Nevertheless, certain progestin pill products are associated with a higher risk of certain cancers, such as breast cancer. However, norethindrone, the progestin contained in "mini-pills", doesn't have conclusive evidence that the risk is increased.
The potential downside of progestin only pills, when compared to estrogen/progestin pills, include:
- They must be taken consistently in order for them to be effective in preventing pregnancy. Missing your usual dose time by as little as 3 hours can reduce the contraceptive efficacy of the pills.
- They are not as effective in treating menstrual problems such as breakthrough bleeding, spotting and vasomotor symptoms (e.g. hot flashes).
Progestin only pill products include:
- Camila
- Errin
- Heather
- Jencycla
- Jolivette
- Lyza
- Nora-BE
- Norethindrone
- Norlyda
- Ortho Micronor
- Sharobel
As everyone's medical situation and needs are different, it is important you speak with your doctor regarding the best birth control product for you.
