How exactly does birth control work? Also, should I consider switching from Yaz?!


Question: How exactly does birth control work? Also, should I consider switching from Yaz?
So for awhile I thought the "period" you get on birth control was your normal period (as I'm sure most girls do). Come to find out, it's not actually your period, but rather a "scheduled bleeding" so to speak while not taking the hormone? Is this correct? Also, if this is true, does that mean if you become pregnant while on the pill, would you still get your "period" since it isn't really your period? Or because your uterus is still bleeding, would this kill any chance for an egg to survive?

And part 2 of my question: I'm currently taking Yaz (well, actually, the generic brand Gianvi, which gave me some nausea in the beginning) and the more I read, the more concerned I get about the serious side effects. I really loved how it helped with my acne, and I didn't really have any severe side effects, so I'm kind of nervous about the idea of switching. Yaz/Gianvi is the only pill I've ever taken, and I've been on it for almost 2 years, but the idea of increased risk of blood clots really makes me nervous. However, I have no idea where to even begin with looking for a new pill! Does anyone have any recommendations? Also, has anyone switched off of Yaz and noticed an increase in acne?

If you only want to answer one of these, that's fine! These two questions have both just been on my mind for awhile, and I think I could really use an outside opinion. Thanks in advance!

Answers:

Part One:
The period you get while taking birth control is caused by hormone withdrawal. But the period you get naturally is also caused by hormone withdrawal.

During the menstrual cycle, your body produces the hormone progesterone until after you have ovulated. Post-ovulation, if the egg is not fertilized, your body stops producing progesterone, which causes you to get your period.

Birth control pills contain the hormone progesterone. When you take the inactive pills, it causes you to get your period, through the same mechanism you would naturally get it; progesterone withdrawal.

Now, if you do ovulate (most birth control pills prevent ovulation), and you do get pregnant, the embryo and placenta start producing progesterone. So your progesterone levels would never drop, and you wouldn't get your period.

Birth control pills work by preventing ovulation and/or thickening the cervical mucus so that sperm can't get into the uterus to fertilize an egg.

A side effect of birth control pills is that they change the texture of the endometrium, which is where an embryo would implant and what would shed during your period. This is why many women find that their period is lighter on the Pill.

It is theorized that if you ovulate and sperm manages to pass through the cervix, despite taking the Pill, that the changed endometrium could prevent the embryo from implanting, causing it to die. Women who believe that life begins at conception may have a problem with this possibility.

If embryo does implant, and you stop the Pill as soon as you find out, there is no evidence that the baby will have any problems.

Part Two:
All birth control pills that contain estrogen carry the risk of causing blood clots. There are progestin-only forms of contraception available that do not carry that risk. (Progestin is the synthetic form of progesterone.) Progestin-only contraceptives have weight gain, moodiness/depression, and irregular periods as common side effects. There are progestin-only pills available. They need to be taken at the exact same time every day, unlike Yaz.

There is also a progestin IUD, called Mirena, a progestin shot, called Depo Provera, and a rod that is implanted under the skin on your arm, called Implanon. There is also an IUD that does not contain any hormones, called Paragard, but it can cause heavier periods. IUDs generally aren't recommended for women who haven't had children. Depo Provera has been linked to early osteoporosis.

The risk of blood clots is small in young women who have no history of heart problems and who don't smoke. To reduce your risk while taking combined oral contraceptives (those that contain both estrogen and progestin, like Yaz), you should take one with a low dose (20 micrograms) of estrogen.

Yaz contains a low dose of estrogen, but much of the controversy surrounding Yaz comes from the new type of progestin used in Yaz, called drospirenone. Drospirenone is a diuretic, which will keep you from bloating, but can cause things like kidney problems because certain minerals may become over-concentrated in your blood.

The progestin that is considered the safest is called levonorgestrel. Combined with a low dose of estrogen, it produces what is probably the safest combined pill on the market. In the US, its brand name is Alesse.

You might notice an increase in acne if you switch. Drospirenone is better at controlling acne than levonorgestrel. Switching to a pill with a higher dose of estrogen may help your acne as well as Yaz does, but you'd have an increased risk of blood clots there.



I'm not sure if they will answer your question with the information you are telling us. You could explain some more so that people can answer with more confidence. Just a thought! :-D

Curiosity



Yes, the "period" you get while on the pill is just withdrawal bleeding. It's because you're body is used to the pill, so when you stop taking it for a few days, the hormones in the pill diminish and cause bleeding. If you were to get pregnant on the pill, it really depends. My mom got pregnant with me on the pill, still bled, and here I am 19 years later. There haven't really been many studies on it due to the ethics of it all.

I'm taking Yasmin right now, and I've been on it for 2 years. I have no blood clots or any of the dangerous side effects. If anything, you should talk to your doctor or a family planning clinic (Planned Parenthood, for example) about your other options. Before I took Yasmin, I was on Ortho-cyclen, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo, and Ortho-Cyclen Lo. With all of them, I had horrible acne after I started taking them. Yasmin was really the only one that I had no issues with.

When it comes down to it, everyone's body is different. You have to try pills to see what works for you. I know people who have no issue with the Ortho brand of pills that I mentioned above, but I had almost every side effect in the book from them.

Good luck!

Nursing student.



In essence, birth control pills work by tricking your body into thinking it's pregnant. That "scheduled bleeding" is more akin to a miscarriage than a real period, as far as your body is concerned. They ALL carry some increased risk of blood clots, which can vary depending on the specific hormones used. I'd recommend talking to a pharmacist you trust if you're considering switching brands because of this, as they often know more specifics than many doctors when it comes to medications and such.

Sorry I can't take birth control myself and don't have a clue as far as the acne question.




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