Today’s birth control pills have been designed to contain much lower doses of synthetic hormones than they did in the 1960s, when ‘The PILL’ (with 50 micrograms of estrogen) first hit the market. The reason for this is to reduce the side effects of hormonal contraceptives. “That still hasn’t helped me much,” you may be saying, but here is some information on low-dose birth control pills that can help you have a productive (no pun intended!) Discussion with your doctor if you are unhappy with your current morning-after pill. Different types of pills are worth trying and making mistakes, considering that oral contraceptives are still not the perfect method of birth control for everyone. If you are taking the “right birth control pill” that works for your body, you should feel exactly the same as normal, if not a little better.

Some women cannot tolerate estrogen in low combination pills, so progestin-only pills are prescribed. Estrogen appeared to be the main culprit for the side effects, so “low-dose birth control pills” were developed to minimize them. Pills containing 0.02mg – 0.035mg of estrogen are classified as “low dose” pills.

Here are some brands of “low-dose” birth control pills:

LoOvral contains 0.03 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.3 mg of nogestrel

Nordette contains 0.03 mg of ethinylestradiol and 0.15 mg of levognorgestrel.

Ortho-Cept (Reclipsen, Solia) contains 0.03 mg of ethinylestradiol and 0.15 mg of desogestrel.

Desogen contains 0.03 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg of desogestrel.

Levlen21 contains 0.03 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 0.15 mg of levonorgestrel.

Seasonale / Seasonique contain 0.03 mg of ethinylestradiol and 0.15 mg of levonorgestrel

YASMIN and YAZ are two more low-dose birth control pills that contain 0.03 mg and 0.02 mg respectively of estrogen, but have a different type of progestin from the other pills called drospirenone (3.0 mg). Other over-the-counter pain relievers, potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium supplements, or specific medications, so you MUST check with a doctor first.

Changes in hormone levels within your body can result in side effects that vary for each individual. Keeping hormones at a constant level in your body is the job of oral contraceptives so that you don’t ovulate, the lining of the uterus thins, and the cervical mucosa thickens. These three events work together to prevent pregnancy.

Pills like ALESSE and MIRCETTE are called ‘ultra-low dose’ pills as they contain only 0.02 mg of estrogen. These oral contraceptives are effective in preventing pregnancy, but some women find that they have more spotting and breakthrough bleeding with them than with pills containing 0.03 mg or 0.035 mg. (considered the norm today) of estrogen. Spotting and breakthrough bleeding often go away after a few months with a low-dose birth control pill.

0.02 mg of estrogen is sufficient for contraception, but spotting and breakthrough bleeding side effects are more common with these types of ultra-low-dose birth control pills than with low-dose birth control pills that contain 0.030 mg or 0.035 mg of estrogen. Women who prefer ALESSE ((Aviane, Lessina, Lutera, Sronyx) and MIRCETTE say they reduce headaches, mood swings, breast tenderness and swelling. These two brands may also be better for ‘female users. from pills for the first time ‘as a’ low estrogen start ‘to introducing synthetic hormones into their bodies.

You’ve probably heard of progestin-only pills or ‘mini pills’

These oral contraceptives are 90-95% effective in preventing pregnancy compared to the 99% effective rate of combined pills. However, they do not cause the common side effects of estrogen pills, such as nausea, breast tenderness, and cramps. The risk of developing deep vein thrombosis and cardiovascular disease is lower with progestin-only pills. Breastfeeding mothers can use progestin pills for only a few weeks after delivery, as progestin does not affect milk supply the way estrogen does.

The ‘mini-pills’ should be taken every day at the same time without interruption. If you miss a single pill or take it more than three hours after the usual time, you must use backup birth control for 48 hours after taking the late pill. The downside to the ‘minipill’, in addition to irregular spotting and breakthrough bleeding, is that it can increase the risk of ovarian cysts and ectopic pregnancy.

Last update

Low-dose birth control pills can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke, especially in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or metabolic disorder. However, this risk disappears when you stop taking the low-dose birth control pill (according to a Virginia Commonwealth University study published in the July issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism). PCOS is a condition that can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle, fertility, hormones, insulin production, heart, blood vessels, and appearance. “Despite the doubling of risk associated with the pill, the absolute risk of a cardiovascular event in an individual woman taking the pill is low: women using the pill are not automatically going to have a heart attack,“ states John Nestler, MD, professor and chair of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the VCU School of Medicine. “However, our findings raise the question of whether oral contraceptives are an optimal therapy for certain groups of women who are at initial risk or who take the pill for a longer time, such as women with PCOS.”

Fountain: Medical News Today

So if you don’t have PCOS and you think a low-dose birth control pill may be more suitable for you, read more about ALESSE and Mircette before asking your doctor which brand ‘fits’ your own medical history. Be sure to tell him what other medications you are also taking. The online providers I have recommended are reputable and also offer the best prices Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Elizabeth Silverman, OB-GYN at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla. Dr. Pamela Deak, an OB-GYN at the University of California San Diego Medical Center.