• Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Shop ModernMom
  • Become An Insider

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • ModernMom Monday Videos
  • Cooking
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Lifestyle
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
    • Brooke Burke
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Must Have
  • Contests
  • Entertainment

Which Is the Best Birth Control Pill?

May 27, 2010 by ModernMom Staff Leave a Comment

Advertising on television, in magazines and in your doctor’s office claims nearly every birth control pill is the best. In truth, the best birth control pill is the one with the fewest negative side effects when you are using it. From an effectiveness perspective, combination pills are much the same, but hormone dosages and even the types of hormones can vary dramatically changing how you feel on the pill. Go in armed with information and, with help from your doctor, you can choose the best birth control pill for your body and needs.

Combination Birth Control Pills

Most women take a combination birth control pill in either a monophasic or multiphasic dosing. A monophasic pill uses one hormone dose throughout the cycle, while a multiphasic pill may have two or three different hormone doses through the cycle. Typically, these pills use both estrogen and progesterone to prevent pregnancy. Lower dose pills have 30mcg or less of ethinyl estradiol and can be a lower risk choice with fewer side effects. A low-dose combination birth control pill is the best choice for most women, offering regular menstrual cycles, lighter periods and reliable birth control. You may need to consider a lower or higher dose pill to find the best birth control pill for your needs if side effects are a problem. Smokers or those at high risk of blood clots and strokes should not take a combination pill.

Continuous Birth Control Pills

Continuous birth control pills do not include the four to seven days of spacers or placebo pills included in a typical combination birth control pill pack. Contraceptive pills designed for continuous use are a monophasic combination pill using both estrogen and progesterone. These pills offer women the contraceptive benefits of birth control pills without periods. For women with painful periods or a busy lifestyle, these can be the best choice for birth control. There may be more breakthrough bleeding when taking pills continuously.

Progesterone-Only Pills

The progesterone only pill or the mini-pill is slightly less reliable than the combination pill. It is important that the mini-pill be taken at the same time each day, and that you use a back-up birth control method if you miss a pill. Breakthrough bleeding and irregular periods are more common; however, there is no risk of blood clot or stroke with the progesterone-only pill. This pill is the best choice for smokers, those at risk of blood clots or breastfeeding mothers. It is typically not the best birth control pill for those who can take an estrogen and progesterone combination pill.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Pregnancy

About ModernMom Staff

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Tell a friend

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Search

ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

Featured

10 Things I Want My Daughter To Know

The other day one of my teenage daughters told me she was … [Read More...] about 10 Things I Want My Daughter To Know

Must Have

ToniBox

Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

If you are looking for something to occupy your children … [Read More...] about Meet Toniebox – A Loveable Storytime Friend For Your Kids

Did you know?

How to Take Wrinkles Out of Polyester With Steam

back pain during first trimester pregnancy

Back Pain During First Trimester Pregnancy

How to Bake Thin Sliced Turkey Cutlets

Causes of Lethargy in Toddlers

Negative Effects of Single Parent Homes

The Negative Effects of Single Parent Homes on Children

cold sore and fever blister remedies

Cold Sore and Fever Blister Remedies

toddlers and frequent urination

Toddlers and Frequent Urination

Footer

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contributors

Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. All Rights Reserved.

Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc.

The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.