Hormonal Methods of Birth Control

1. Hormonal Methods of Birth Control The hormonal methods come in several forms. • The oral birth control pill- “The Pill” • EVRA transdermal patch- “The Patch” • NuvaRing vaginal contraception ring- “The Ring” • Depo Provera, the birth control injection- “The Shot”

2. What is a Hormonal Method of Birth Control? • A hormonal method of birth control contains one or two synthetic hormones (Estrogen and Progestin) – similar to a women’s natural hormones.

3. How Do They Work? • The hormones stop a woman’s body from releasing an egg each month. • A woman cannot get pregnant if her body does not release an egg. • The hormones also increase production of cervical mucus; mucus slows the mobility of the sperm.

4. Hormonal Methods of Birth Control • Birth Control Pill • Patch • Vaginal Contraceptive Ring • Birth Control Injection (Depo Provera)

5. Combined Estrogen and Progestin HormonalMethods: Birth Control Pill Birth Control Patch Vaginal Contraceptive Ring

6. How Effective are Combined Hormonal Methods? The pill, patch and vaginal contraceptive ring are highly effective methods of reversible birth control.

7. Benefits of Combined Hormonal Methods • Prevents pregnancy • Regulates a female’s period • May decrease: • Pre menstrual symptoms, • Menstrual cramps, • Length and amount of menstrual flow, • Acne. • Decreases risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers.

8. Risks of Combined Hormonal Methods • In rare cases women taking the pill may develop a blood clot in the vein. This risk is 1 per 10,000 women using the pill in one year. • Women taking high dose estrogen pills maybe at increased risk of heart attack and stroke. • It is unclear if there is an increased risk of breast cancer.

9. Important Things About Hormonal Methods • There is a small chance that a female may experience the following in the first three months of using hormonal birth control methods: • Spotting or bleeding between periods, • Upset stomach (nausea), • Mild headaches, breast tenderness, • Moodiness or bloating, • Slight weight gain or loss. In most cases, changes in weight are not related to use of the hormonal method, • If using the patch there may be a skin irritation, • If using the ring there may increased vaginal discharge or irritation.

10. How to Use the Birth Control Pill How does a woman take the pill? • She takes a pill by mouth around the same time every day. There are 21 hormone pills and 7 hormone free pills in this package. • She will have her period while the 7 hormone free pills are taken.

11. How to Use the Patch How does a woman use the patch? • A thin beige bandage that has hormones on the sticky side. • A new patch is applied every week for 3 weeks. • During the 4th week she leaves the patch off - the woman will have her period during this week.

12. How to Use the Ring How does a woman use the ring? • A flexible 2” diameter clearplastic ring • The hormones are absorbedthrough the vaginal wall. • Inserted vaginally for 3weeks

13. Progestin Only Hormonal Methods: Birth Control Injection (Depo-Provera) Oral Pill (Micronor)

14. What is a Progestin Only Method of BirthControl? • A progestin only hormonal method of birth control contains one synthetic hormone (progestin) - similar to a woman’s natural hormone • It is available in injectable (needle) form or pill form • The injectable form is called Depo-Provera • The pill form is called Micronor

15. How Effective is Depo-Provera? With perfect use, the Depo-Provera injection is 99.7% effective inpreventing pregnancy.

16. Who Should Use Depo-Provera? • It is most suitable for women that require an estrogen free birth control method: • women with a known sensitivity (allergic) to estrogen • women over the age of 35 years who smoke • women with migraine headaches • women who are breastfeeding • women who have endometriosis • women who have sickle cell disease • women taking anti-convulsant (for seizures) medication

17. Benefits of Depo-Provera • Reliable method of birth control. • Reduced risk of endometrial cancer and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). • Reduced symptoms of endometriosis, PMS and chronic pelvic pain, • Decreased incidence of seizures. • Possible decreased number of sickle cell crisis. • Periods may disappear after 9 to 12 months on Depo-Provera. • Only need to get injection every 12 weeks.

18. Risks of Depo-Provera • It may be harder to become pregnant for up to 1 to 2 years after you stop using Depo-Provera. • Increased risk of developing osteoporosis (weak, porous bones). This may lead to bones that break easily in later life.

19. Important Things to Know About Depo-Provera • Unpredictable menstrual bleeding, especially in the first 6 to 12 months. • May include headache, acne, decreased libido (sex drive), hair loss, nausea, and breast tenderness. • Possibility of a change in weight - 56% of users reported weight gain. • Mood changes - some reported depression.

20. How to Use Depo-Provera • Contact a health care provider or birth control centre. • A woman will start the Depo- Provera injection in the first 5 days of her period. • The next injection will be in 12 weeks.

21. Progestin Only Pill (P.O.P) • Micronor

22. What are Progestin Only Pills? • It is a pill you take daily to prevent pregnancy. • It contains one hormone – Progestin. • Often prescribed to women who are breastfeeding. • May be prescribed for women who cannot take the estrogen in combined birth control pills:

23. How does POP work? The POP can work in 3 ways: • Makes the mucous in the vagina and uterus thicker, • May stop the release of an egg each month, • May make the lining of the uterus thinner.

24. How Effective is the POP? • With perfect use the POP can be 99% effective.

25. Benefits of the Progestin Only Pill • POPs have no estrogen side effects. • POPs do not decrease breast milk production. • A woman’s periods may be lighter, shorter and have less cramping. • POPs may be used by women: • Who are breastfeeding • Over 35 years who smoke • Have a history of blood clots in the veins • Have migraine headaches • Have a higher risk of heart attack or stroke

26. Risks of the Progestin Only Pill • A woman needs to take a POP each day. • The POP must be taken at the same time each day. • The woman’s periods may be irregular with spotting. • POP is less effective if the woman if taking an anti-seizure (anticonvulsant) medicine.

27. How to Use the Progestin Only Pill • Contact a health care provider or birth control centre to obtain the POP. • A woman would start taking the POP on the first day of her next period or on the advice of her health care provider. • She would take one pill each day.

28. Hormonal Methods Remember: hormonal methods will prevent pregnancy, but will NOT protect against sexually transmitted infections (STI). ALWAYS USE A CONDOM!!