Introduction:
Birth control oral contraceptive pills are medications to prevent the entry of sperm into the ovaries. These are considered safe for most people. But there is some limit to using birth control methods. Birth control methods include vaginal rings, condoms, intrauterine devices (IUD), and oral contraceptive pills. Long-term use of birth control methods may provide benefits or side effects in different people. For example, the intrauterine device can stay in place for several years to prevent pregnancy. Birth control pills were first approved in 1960 due to significant breakthroughs in pregnancy prevention. These are designed to decrease the hormone level of estrogen and progesterone or progesterone alone. These are designed to shorten or delay the monthly periods, lower the frequency of bleeding, or eliminate the periods. The different types of extended-use of contraceptive pills are available in the market, drug stores, and pharmacies. The article discusses extended-use birth control pills, how they work, how to take these, benefits, and side effects.
What Are the Types of Birth Control Pills?
The two types of birth control pills are available, including continuous and extended-use tablets. Continuous birth control pills are when a woman takes these pills without a break for more than one year resulting in no periods. Extended-use birth control pills are being taken for more than 21 days. These pills are designed to lower the levels of hormones, either estrogen and progesterone or progesterone alone. Different types of continuous and extended-use birth control pills are available.
Why Do People Choose Extended-Use Birth Control Pills?
Some females can choose hormonal therapy in the form of pills for fewer or no periods. Others may select the medications to avoid painful, heavy, or irregular bleeding, eliminate or limit the ovarian cysts and pelvic pain, and treat the medical condition that worsens when a female is on their period.
How Does a Female Take Extended-Use Birth Control Pills?
Several pills are available to prevent periods with continuous or extended-use birth control pills. In addition, several medications with different plans are available. People can buy drugs based on their preferences, cost, and effectiveness. People can purchase extended-use pills, including.
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Amenthia, Camrese, and Simpesse: A person may take active pills continuously for 84 days, followed by one week of inactive pills containing a low dose of estrogen. The periods will start for 13 weeks. This will help with bloating and side effects associated with medicine containing no hormones.
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Jolessa: A female can take the pill for 84 days, followed by seven days of inactive pills containing no hormones. The period will occur during week 13.
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Rivelsa: A female may take the pill for 84 days. Each tablet contains an equal amount of progestin. The dose of estrogen increases for 84 days, starting with the first 20 micrograms, moving to 25, and then to 30 micrograms. Then, inactive pills containing low estrogen doses will be taken for one week. The periods may occur during the 13th week.
How Do Extended-Use Birth Control Pills Work?
The extended pills are used to delay the periods. The levels of hormones change during the placebo pills. The hormones present in the uterus lining fluctuate and may lead to shedding the lining of the uterus and bleeding. If the breaks between the medications are stopped, the hormone's stability may lead to no bleeding.
For a 28-day pill cycle, the active form of the tablets is taken for 21 days, and the levels of progesterone fluctuate during this period. The follicular stimulating hormones (FSH) are not suppressed, and the ovaries produce estradiol. It can lead to endometrial growth. The extended-use birth control pills inhibit the development of the endometrial lining and prevent bleeding.
Is It Safe to Take Extended-Use Birth Control Pills to Delay Periods?
Many people take these hormonal pills for several years to delay their periods for a special occasion or vacation. It can cause several problems associated with age, health status, and medical history. But unfortunately, issues like anemia and endometriosis (uterus lining outside the uterus) can worsen menstruation. Others include headaches, breast tenderness, bloating, and mood swings. So people may visit the doctor for the right pill. The pills are less effective if the female periods come four times a year, and it is challenging to know if the lady is pregnant. The doctor may prescribe progesterone only for birth control pills in case of a history of blood clots.
What Are the Benefits of Extended-Use Birth Control Pills?
Extended-use birth control pills are highly effective in delaying periods and preventing pregnancy. However, it is more effective if taken correctly. It offers the same benefits as other contraceptive pills. The benefits include the following:
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It may help with painful or heavy bleeding.
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To treat long or frequent periods.
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Provide relief from breast tenderness, mood swings, and bloating related to menstruation.
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The disability makes it difficult for a person to use tampons or pads.
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Treating the medical conditions that make the situation worsen.
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Treating premenstrual syndrome.
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Cost-effective.
What Are the Risks or Side Effects of Extended-Use Birth Control Pills?
Extended use of birth control pills has short and long-term side effects. However, not all people experience side effects. Birth control pills are safe for healthy people. However, it can cause risk to those people having blood clots, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and deep vein thrombosis. The main complaint with birth control pills is bleeding. It can cause the situation to worsen for those females who smoke. The short-term side effects include nausea, headache, weight gain, mood swings, breast tenderness, and bleeding or spotting between periods.
In some cases, birth control pills can cause long-term effects. For example, it may cause an increased risk of breast, cervical, colorectal, endometrial, and ovarian cancer.
What Are the Alternative Options for Long-Term Contraception?
There are many long-term contraception options. It consists of birth control shots, implants, vaginal rings, contraceptive patches, intrauterine devices, and condoms.
Conclusion:
Birth control pills are used to delay periods or to prevent pregnancy. These are considered safe if taken correctly. However, certain health conditions are not regarded as safe with these pills. These medications are available in combination with estrogen or progesterone. Healthcare providers, including doctors or nurses, may tell people about the benefits and side effects of the extended use of birth control pills. However, people must take these medications under the healthcare provider's guidance.
