Being a modern woman living in a modern world means being in control of your own life, and this includes your reproductive life as well. Though by now there are various birth control methods, oral contraceptive pills remain by far as the most popular choice, even with options like hormonal implants and IUDs (intrauterine devices).
One of the reasons behind this is that using birth control pills is simple and highly effective. These are meds that emit natural hormones in synthetic form, in the example of progestin and estrogen, which stop ovulation entirely, making it impossible for the sperm to fertilise the eggs.
Another reason is that this method is rather safe because you’re not taking anything OTC. Plus, it’s easy to find oral contraceptives. These are pills that are prescribed and can be ordered online if you want more discretion.
What’s more, using contraceptive pills isn’t that complicated. You only need to take them during a specific time interval, which after a while becomes a habit. And you can stop the use whenever you want without the need to consult a doctor. This isn’t to say about certain contraceptive methods, including more-long term methods like the intrauterine devices that require the help of a healthcare professional both with the application and removal.
Why Order Your Contraceptive Pills Online?
I can sum it up in one word: convenience! Think about it, you can have your own supply of effective birth control without leaving the comfort of your home. Such a thing has become important especially in times like the pandemic of COVID-19 we’re faced with this year, with lockdowns and curfews when getting out of the house is limited.
Sure, I’m not denying it can be risky, and you might fall for a scam. But this can easily be prevented if you take your time to find a reliable pharmacy online, with plenty of positive reviews. This way, you’d get online prescriptions of meds with the peace of mind you’re buying quality. Plus, some great chemists offer you the chance to get quick and easy refills as they safely keep your repeats on file and then securely deliver them to you via mail.
Types of Contraceptive Pills
If you’re new to oral birth control, you might be confused when buying the pills given all the options available at the trusted pharmacy. What you should know primarily is there are two types of these pills that are prescribed: combination and minipill.
Combination
These pills got their name because they consist of both of the hormones (progestin and estrogen) and they’re available in a wide range of versions (i.e. combinations called multiphasic pills) based on the dose most suitable for you. Some famous brand names you’re going to find are Brenda, Chelsea, Diane, Femme ED, Lenest, Levlen, Loette, Madeline, Marvelon, Microgynon, Monofeme, Petibelle, Trifeme, Valette, Yasmin and Yaz.
Minipill
As opposed to the previous, however, these contain only progestin which happens to be in a lower dose than that in the combination pills. Thanks to this, they’re the recommended option for women who have bad habits like smoking, are 35 or older, have migraines, heart diseases, high blood pressure or even a history of blood clots.
Also, there are women who are allergic or sensitive to estrogen and might even get side effects from the pills in the example of mood swings, breast tenderness and nausea. Some of the most popular minipill brands are Camila, Errin, Jencycla, Nor-QD and Ortho Micronor.
Length of Protection
Depending on how long you want to be safe from unwanted pregnancies, and when you want to have your period, you can choose from the 21-day pack, 28-day pack, and 91-day pack. As you might guess, the numbers indicate how many pills you have, i.e. how many days you’d have the protection – three weeks, four weeks and three months respectively.
Taking this into consideration, the prescription drugs fall into two additional categories: conventional and extended cycle. The conventional are the 28-day packs, with 21 active and seven inactive pills, or 24 active with four inactive, the inactive being placebo as they don’t contain hormones and are only used to keep you in the habit of taking the pills.
With the extended cycle, there are 84 active with seven inactive. Though, there are also packs without the placebos if you want to skip the bleeding which occurs once you stop taking the active.
How to Ensure the Birth Control Pills Are Effective?
Time is Everything
There’s no doubt that these pills are effective, up to 99% in fact. However, this is only so as long as you get in the habit of taking them regularly which translates to every day at the same time. If you want to avoid a pregnancy scare, the easiest way to remember is to introduce the pill in your daily routine.
For instance, it could be the first thing you take in the morning, or right after your breakfast. A word of caution, however, in case you tend to sleep longer during weekends, perhaps mornings might not be the ideal time for you, so have this in mind before you set the routine. Nowadays, you can also count on technology to remind you, as there are some helpful and easy-to-use birth control apps.
Still, if you’re pretty old school, you could give it a shot writing down in a notebook. It would also serve to remind you when you should order or receive your pills that are prescribed.
Mind the Other Pills
Besides getting in the habit, it’s important to consider what else you’re taking while being on the pill. Certain medications could disrupt the effectiveness. Some antibiotics, as in the example of rifampin treating tuberculosis, are known to have an impact on the period and even with a pill you could still risk getting pregnant.
Anti-seizure drugs like phenytoin, topiramate, carbamazepine, and felbamate have the same effect, as well as anti-fungal medications such as griseofulvin and ketoconazole. Furthermore, HIV drugs like efavirenz, lopinavir, and nevirapine are known for their interference, along with modafinil often prescribed to treat sleep apnea.
Don’t think you’re safe with herbal medicines either! As it happens, certain options (e.g. alfalfa, garlic pills, and flaxseed included) may give you a pregnancy scare despite being on the pill. If you’re taking any of these, or you aren’t sure whether or not other pills and conditions could have that effect, be sure to talk to a doctor on the ideal option of contraceptive prescription medications for you.
Also, make sure to do your research before starting a new medication while you’re already on the pill. For instance, before you order medications online, make sure to read their description thoroughly and see whether they can interact with the birth control pills in any way.
Are There Non-Contraceptive Benefits?
It’s not only women trying to control their reproductive life who can benefit from this type of oral contraception. In fact, women who tend to bleed heavily as well as those prone to painful periods can use the pill to their advantage and control when and how often they get their period, while avoiding the cramps and menstrual pain.
Since you can suppress the menstrual cycle with it, it’s needless to say the pill is a key solution when treating endometriosis too. Moreover, acne can be an issue that not only affects the appearance but the self-confidence too which is also where the birth control method can come in handy. Most often, Brenda and Diane are the pills prescribed for this purpose. Whatever your issue, consult your doctor to find the best solution.
