Low-dose birth control reduces unpleasant side effects while being just as effective as high-dose options. It can come in pill, patch, or ring form and should be taken as directed. It does not protect against sexually transmitted infections and should not be used during pregnancy.
Low-dose birth control is a form of hormonal birth control with a dosage that is on the low end, reducing the unpleasant side effects associated with hormonal birth control. It is no less effective than “high-dose” birth control pills, as long as it is used correctly, and many women prefer the lower-dose versions due to the reduction in side effects. Low-dose birth control also has many of the benefits associated with hormonal birth control, such as control of a woman’s menstrual cycle and a reduction in cramping, spotting, and PMS.
When hormonal birth control was first introduced, the dosage was very high, because doctors were not yet sure of the correct dosage. As a result, many women have developed unpleasant side effects. The problem was compounded by the type of estrogen used in early hormonal birth control. As more information was learned about estrogen and hormonal birth control, doctors were able to reduce the dosage and switch to a different form of estrogen.
A typical low-dose contraceptive product provides less than 35 micrograms of estrogen with each dosage. Many are in pill form, although you can also find a low-dose contraceptive patch, which releases hormones through the skin, and a low-dose contraceptive ring, which is inserted into the vagina, where it provides a slow supply of hormones to prevent pregnancy. Ultra-low-dose birth control has less than 20 micrograms per dose.
Some examples of low-dose contraceptive products include Nordette®, Yasmin® and Cyclessa®, among others. A doctor can start a woman on a low-dose product, switching to an ultra-low-dose form of birth control if she experiences side effects from the hormones. Higher-dose products that provide up to 50 micrograms per day can be used in women who experience heavy periods, as the higher dose makes periods much lighter and reduces spotting between periods. Dosages may also need to be adjusted for larger women.
Low-dose birth control (or any form of hormonal birth control) should not be used during pregnancy. It is most effective when taken as directed, and in the case of oral birth control, it is vital that you take your pill every day, ideally at the same times. Furthermore, hormonal birth control does not prevent sexually transmitted infections such as herpes, AIDS and gonorrhea and is not 100% reliable, leading many doctors to recommend the use of a barrier method such as a condom in addition to the hormonal birth control. After abstinence and intrauterine devices (IUDs), hormonal birth control is the most effective form of birth control, with a failure rate of about 2%.
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