If taken incorrectly, low dose birth control pills may be less effective and have fewer adverse effects than older, larger-dose ones, although some populations may still be at higher risk for health problems.
Pros and drawbacks of low dose combination birth control pills
Both advantages and disadvantages can result from low-dose combination birth control pills.
Potential advantages of oral contraceptives that contain estrogen include Verified Source:
less frequent and lighter intervals
fewer uncomfortable menstruation cramps
reduction in acne
decreased chance of iron-deficiency anemia, noncancerous ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) Risk of ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, colorectal cancer, and ovarian cysts from a Reliable Source
Additional adverse consequences could be:
. Headache
. nausea
. vomiting
. painful breasts
. weight shift
. anxiety
. sadness
The following are some potential drawbacks of using birth control that contains estrogen:
. A higher chance of having a heart attack
. a higher chance of stroke
. a higher chance of blood clots
. decreased milk production, which is why doctors advise against taking this medication while nursing, and a marginally elevated Any type of oral contraception that contains estrogen increases the risk of breast and cervical cancer, according to a reliable source.
Birth control pills: how do they work?
Your body prepares for pregnancy by producing eggs in response to signals from the hormones progesterone and estrogen.
These hormone levels sharply decline if a sperm fails to fertilize the egg. Your uterus responds by shedding the accumulated lining. Your period causes this lining to shed.
Either synthetic progesterone or a combination of synthetic estrogen and progesterone is present in birth control pills. Progestin is another name for this synthetic form of progesterone.
In addition to preventing the pituitary gland from producing hormones that cause ovulation, progestin thickens cervical mucus, which makes it more difficult for sperm to reach any released eggs, and thins the uterine lining, which makes it more difficult for an egg to implant there in the event that the sperm fertilizes it. These two methods of preventing pregnancy are distinct.
Concerns about the safety of birth control tablets that contain estrogen
Taking birth control tablets that include estrogen may put certain groups of people at higher risk for negative health effects. Even low-dose birth control medications that include estrogen may be discouraged by a doctor if you:
have high blood pressure
even if it is managed with medication
are pregnant
smoke have a history of heart disease stroke, or blood clots; are presently suffering from or have previously experienced breast cancer; have migraines with auras;
If you are not comfortable taking birth control tablets that include estrogen, you may want to think about other birth control options.
Combination birth control tablets at low doses
Combination birth control pills are 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when taken at the same time every day; however, the failure rate is typically listed between 7% and 9% when used as prescribed, such as skipping a few doses or not taking the pill at the same time every day. Common brands of low dose birth control pills include:
. Desogestrel with ethinyl estradiol in apri
. Levonorgestrel, ethinyl estradiol, and aviane
. Levonorgestrel plus ethinyl estradiol, or Levlen 21
. Levora, which contains ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel
. Ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone acetate make up Lo Loestrin Fe.
. Nogestrel with ethinyl estradiol, or Lo/Ovral
. Ortho-Novum, which contains ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone Yasmin, which contains ethinyl estradiol and dopamine,
. Drospirenone plus ethinyl estradiol, or Yaz
Because Lo Loestrin Fe only contains 10 mcg of estrogen, it is actually regarded as an ultra-low-dose pill.