Our U.S. licensed medical providers can help devise a personalized treatment plan that includes FDA approved prescription treatments which may include commonly prescribed medications for Birth Control and Contraceptives:
- LoJaimiess
- (Generic Lo-Seasonique®)
- Junel Fe 24
- (Generic Loestrin Fe 24®)
- Volnea
- (Generic Mircette®)
- Portia
- (Generic Nordette®)
- Sprintec monophasic pack
- (Generic Ortho-Cyclen®)
- Norethindrone
- (Generic Ortho Micronor®)
- Tri-Estarylla Triphasic Pack
- (Generic Ortho Tri-Cyclen®)
- Tri-Lo-Sprintec
- (Generic Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo®)
- Levonorgestrel-Ethinyl Estradiol
- (Generic Seasonale®)
- Drospirenone-Ethinyl Estradiol
- (Generic Yasmin®)
- Nikki
- (Generic Yaz®)
- Xulane® Transdermal Birth Control Patch
- (Generic Ortho Evra®)
Types of Birth Control
There are five main types of hormonal birth control available: pill, patch, vaginal ring, injection and implant. Each of these options delivers one or both of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Birth Control Pills
The levels of hormones in each birth control pill varies by brand. Progesterone is the hormone that prevents pregnancy, and the estrogen component controls menstrual bleeding. Birth control pills are taken daily and come in three main forms:
- Combination pills with estrogen and progesterone.
- Progesterone only. Sometimes referred to as the mini pill.
- Extended use pills that help have fewer periods.
Birth Control Patches
There are two brands of birth control patches available in the U.S.: Xulane (Ortho Evra®) and Twirla. Each transdermal patch is applied once per week and puts estrogen and progesterone into the blood stream.
Birth Control Vaginal Ring
There are two hormonal vaginal rings approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Ethinyl estradiol; etonogestrel (NuvaRing®) and segesterone acetate; ethinyl estradiol (Annovera®). Both are worn for 21 days and then removed for seven days.
With NuvaRing, you discard the ring after 21 days and put in a new one for the next cycle. Annovera is designed to last a year before it needs to be replaced. The ring is still removed for seven days each month and then placed back into the vagina until the year is up.
Birth Control Injection
Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera®), sometimes referred to as the depo shot, birth control injection is administered once every three months by a medical provider.
Birth Control Implant
The contraceptive implant (Nexplanon®) is a small, flexible rod-like device that a provider inserts under the skin in the inner, upper arm. It releases a steady dose of progestin into your bloodstream to prevent pregnancy for three years.
Does Effectiveness vary by type of birth control
Hormonal birth control is around 99% effective if used perfectly. Adjusting for human error, effectiveness is around 91%. Effectiveness only changes among types of hormonal birth control if the individual user has a better time sticking to the schedule, whether that is a daily pill, a weekly patch, a monthly ring, a three-month injection or a three-year implant.
What are the pros and cons of using birth control patches vs birth control pills
- Birth control patches and birth control pills are both hormonal forms of birth control. The pros of a patch versus a pill include:
- The patch only needs to be applied once a week. The pill is daily.
- Its presence can be verified by sight for proof of birth control use.
- The cons of using a birth control patch versus the pill include:
- Potential skin irritation.
- Estrogen hormone levels are higher in the patch than in other hormonal birth control.
Are there uses for birth control other than contraception
- Birth control does have treatments outside of contraception. Hormonal birth control has been found clinically effective at treating, preventing or delaying onset of the following conditions:
- Menstrual bleeding disorders and menstrual-related pain symptoms.
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
- Seborrheic dermatitis.
- Acne.
- Alopecia.
- Follicular cysts.
- Endometriosis.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Menstrual migraine.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Endometrial, ovarian and colon cancers.
