{"id":31455,"date":"2021-05-21T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-21T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=31455"},"modified":"2024-05-20T14:37:38","modified_gmt":"2024-05-20T18:37:38","slug":"progestin-only-birth-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/progestin-only-birth-control\/","title":{"rendered":"Could progestin-only birth control be right for you?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When it comes to birth control, every option seems to come with a caveat. Fortunately, there are more options for birth control than there were several years ago including something called progestin-only birth control.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What is progestin?<\/span><\/h2>\n

A female steroid hormone called progesterone is one of the most important to the process of fertility. It\u2019s released during the second half of the menstrual cycle during ovulation. And in order to maintain a pregnancy, you need the right amount of progesterone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cProgestin is a synthetic progesterone used as a hormonal contraceptive and menopause treatment,\u201d says Christina Madison, Pharm.D., an associate professor of pharmacy practice at the <\/span>Roseman University of Health Sciences \u2013 College of Pharmacy<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, by disrupting the amount of progesterone in your body with progestin, you can control your fertility. As with any hormonal birth control method, progestin-only birth control does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In birth control, progestin prevents pregnancy by hindering ovulation and making your cervical mucus less attractive to sperm. Progestin also thins the lining of the uterus, and as a result the uterus is less likely to welcome an implanted egg.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Progestin-only birth control<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are several reasons progestin-only birth control, often called the mini-pill, might be better than other methods. It is most commonly prescribed postpartum. \u201cHormonal contraceptives either contain progestin or a combination of progestin and another hormone called estrogen,\u201d says Queen Buyalos, R.Ph., creator of <\/span>Mommy Queendom<\/span><\/a>. \u201cEstrogen reduces breast milk production.\u201d\u00a0 Because of that, some breastfeeding mothers will want to avoid birth control containing estrogen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even in people who are not postpartum, progestin-only contraception is seen as an alternative to those containing estrogen but with the same format, usually a pill but sometimes an implant, IUD, or shot. Estrogen has been known to have some side effects. Estrogen can cause weight gain, bloating, and increased blood pressure, Buyalos says. \u201cTherefore, if you did not want some of the estrogen side effects, it would make sense to choose progestin-only pills,\u201d she says. Progestin has a much lower instance of side effects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are also serious health considerations when it comes to estrogen. \u201cProgestin-only birth control is typically used in individuals who are unable to take estrogen therapy due to contraindications from medical conditions to pose an unacceptable risk,\u201d Dr. Madison says. There is <\/span>a long list <\/span><\/a>of contraindications for estrogen use including migraine with aura, smoking and over the age of 35, high blood pressure, history of blood clots, cancer risk or past cancer, especially breast cancer or undiagnosed masses, uncontrolled diabetes, and other conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Side effects<\/span><\/h2>\n

Progestin-only birth control side effects are less common among other birth control options, but you may still get some common side effects such as:<\/span><\/p>\n