Pregnancy tests work by measuring a specific pregnancy-related hormone — human chorionic gonadotropin HCG — in your blood or urine. The active ingredients in birth control pills don't affect how a pregnancy test measures the level of HCG in your system.
Don't worry if you kept taking your birth control pill because you didn't know you were pregnant. Despite years of this accident happening, there's very little evidence that exposure to the hormones in birth control pills causes birth defects. Once you learn that you're pregnant, stop taking the birth control pill. It's possible to use standard estrogen-progestin birth control pills for emergency contraception, but check with your doctor for the proper dose and timing of the pills.
Certain types of pills are specifically designed to keep you from becoming pregnant if you've had unprotected sex. These medications are sometimes referred to as the morning-after pill. Levonorgestrel pills are available over-the-counter to anyone of any age. Levonorgestrel pills work best when used as soon as possible — and within three days — after unprotected sex. Ulipristal acetate is a nonhormonal medication available only by prescription. This medication is taken as a single dose within five days after unprotected sex.
A copper intrauterine device IUD or an IUD containing 52 milligrams of levonorgestrel may also be used for emergency contraception. Ideally, these IUDs should be placed by your doctor within five days of unprotected intercourse. If you are considered obese with a body mass index BMI of 30 or more, emergency contraception may not be as effective — especially if you use levonorgestrel. You could still become pregnant after using levonorgestrel for emergency contraception.
BMI is not as much of a concern when using ulipristal. Use of an IUD for emergency birth control is not affected by body weight. In terms of your overall health, it makes little difference when you stop taking the pill. When you finally do stop the pill, you can expect some bleeding, which may change the rhythm of your menstrual cycle. But you can stop at any time. Taking the inactive pills doesn't put you at higher risk of unintended pregnancy. But if you miss a pill — or several pills — during a cycle, you might be at higher risk of unintended pregnancy during that cycle.
To be safe, use a backup form of contraception, such as a condom, especially if you miss several pills during a cycle. This is a common thought. But studies have shown that the effect of the birth control pill on weight is small — if it exists at all. Instead, you may be retaining more fluid, which can make you feel as if you've put on weight, particularly in your breasts, hips and thighs. The estrogen in birth control pills does affect fat adipose cells, making them larger but not more numerous.
Scientific evidence suggests using birth control pills for longer periods of time increases your risk of some cancers, such as cervical cancer, but the risk declines after stopping use of birth control pills. Regarding breast cancer risk, the results are mixed. Some studies show a link between birth control pill use and a slight increase in breast cancer risk, but the risk is very low.
Other studies have shown no significant increase in breast cancer risk. Risk appears to decrease over time after discontinuing birth control pills. If you have a family history of breast cancer, birth control use does not appear to increase the risk.
The birth control pill may decrease your risk of other types of cancer, including ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer and colon cancer — and this benefit may persist for years after you stop the pill.
Birth control pills can affect your cholesterol levels. How much of an effect depends on the type of pill you're taking and what concentration of estrogen or progestin it contains.
Birth control pills with more estrogen can have a slightly beneficial overall effect on your cholesterol levels. Your doctor can recommend the best pill schedule for you, but generally, you skip the inactive pills in your pill pack and start right away on a new pack.
However, there are also several types of birth control pills designed specifically to lengthen the time between your periods. Among those currently available in the U. Like combined estrogen-progestin birth control pills, it's possible to delay or prevent your period with extended or continuous use of the contraceptive vaginal ring. An intrauterine device IUD is a form of long-term birth control.
After your doctor inserts the device into your uterus, it continuously releases a type of progestin into your body and can remain in place for up to five years. Hormonal IUDs are available in varying doses. Over time, all hormonal IUDs reduce the frequency and duration of menstrual bleeding. However, a higher dose IUD 52 mg of levonorgestrel appears to be more effective at stopping periods entirely. Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate DMPA is a type of progestin that you receive by injection every 90 days.
It is a form of long-term birth control and also reduces or eliminates monthly bleeding. The longer you use DMPA , the more likely it is to stop your periods. Delaying your period can help you manage various menstrual symptoms. It might be worth considering if you have:. In addition, menstrual bleeding is sometimes simply inconvenient. You may want to postpone your period until after an important exam, athletic event, vacation or special occasion, such as your wedding or honeymoon.
If your doctor says it's OK for you to take hormonal birth control, it's probably safe to use it to delay your period. Delaying menstruation remains controversial, however.
Even physicians who support the option may not mention it unless you bring up the topic. If you want to try delaying your period, ask your doctor which option might work for you. Breakthrough bleeding — bleeding or spotting between periods — is common when you use hormonal birth control to delay or prevent periods, especially during the first few months.
Breakthrough bleeding typically decreases over time, however, as your body adjusts to the new regimen. Another drawback of routinely delaying your period is that it may be more difficult to tell if you're pregnant. If you have morning sickness, breast tenderness or unusual fatigue, take a home pregnancy test or consult your doctor. Breakthrough bleeding usually decreases with time, but there are some things you can do in the meantime:.
Many different types of birth control that can stop or delay a person from having a period. Some of these methods may only make the period lighter. A person should always discuss the options with their doctor before using any birth control method to stop periods. Spotting is light bleeding. It may signal the start of a period or pregnancy, but it can also result from stress or a health problem. Learn more here…. Spotting is a type of light vaginal bleeding that occurs between menstrual periods.
We examine what causes spotting and when a person should contact a…. A person can take different combinations of hormones to help to prevent pregnancy.
Learn more about the the different types of birth control pills…. Some people may wish to delay their period. We look at medications and natural remedies for delaying periods and discuss the possible side effects. Periods often occur at inconvenient times, and people may sometimes want to speed up or stop their period once it has started. There is no foolproof…. Types of birth control that stop periods. Medically reviewed by Stacy A. Is it possible? Share on Pinterest. Can birth control stop a period?
How to choose a birth control method. Home Common health questions Travel health Back to Travel health. How can I delay my period? Taking 2 packets of the combined pill back-to-back If you take a combined contraceptive pill , you can delay your period by taking 2 packets back-to-back.
How you do this will depend on which pill you take. Examples are: monophasic day pills, such as Microgynon and Cilest — you take a combined pill for 21 days, followed by 7 days without pills, when you have a bleed period.
To delay your period, start a new packet of pills straight after you finish the last pill and miss out the 7-day break. The first 21 pills are active pills and the next 7 pills are inactive or dummy pills, when you have your period.
To delay your period, miss out and throw away the dummy pills, and start the active pills in a new packet straight away. You need to take these pills in the correct order to have effective contraception.
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