Treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) generally uses hormonal contraception such as birth control pills. These medications can help correct imbalanced hormone levels. So, find out which birth control pills for PCOS are safe and effective.
PCOS is a reproductive hormone imbalance that can make it difficult for women to get pregnant. This can cause irregular menstrual cycles. This means your period may be late, take longer than usual, or not come at all.
So far, there is no cure for PCOS. A person with PCOS may use certain medications and adopt certain lifestyle recommendations for long-term management of their symptoms.
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Although there is currently no cure for PCOS, mothers can use hormonal birth control to help manage symptoms and enjoy other health benefits associated with its use.
Choice of birth control pills for PCOS
Peter Weiss, MD, Obstetrician-Gynecologist, said that hormonal contraception plays a role in treating PCOS. However, finding suitable birth control pills can be a challenge for PCOS sufferers.
There are three main functions of using birth control pills for PCOS treatment:
Helps reduce excessive levels of male hormones (androgens) in the blood, especially testosterone. By doing this, symptoms of acne, androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness), and hirsutism (unwanted facial and body hair) can be reduced or prevented. Protects the uterus by ensuring regular ovulation: Failure to ovulate regularly can increase the buildup of uterine tissue called endometrial hyperplasia, which can increase the risk of uterine cancer. It protects against unwanted pregnancy in people whose ovulation cycles are often difficult to track.
“With combined contraception, progestin works against estrogen to prevent hyperplasia (excess cell growth),” said Weiss as reported by Very Well Health.
According to Weiss, combined hormonal contraception, which contains estrogen and progestin, is considered the first line of treatment for women who experience irregular menstruation or androgen levels due to PCOS.
“Because there are few quality studies comparing the use of one type of combined oral contraceptive with another type of combined oral contraceptive for PCOS, it is up to you and your healthcare provider to decide which is most appropriate,” added Weiss
There are several forms of hormonal oral contraceptives, each of which has a different mode of action and ingredient details. These contraceptives can be classified as:
Monophasic: Hormone levels remain consistent. Biphasic: Progestin increases mid-cycle. Triphasic: Three different doses of progestin and estrogen changed every seven days.
Oral contraceptives can be further classified based on the amount of estrogen contained in each pill.
The low-dose formulation contains 20 micrograms (mcg) of estrogen along with progestin. Regular dose contraceptives contain 30 mcg to 35 mcg of estrogen. The high dose formulation contains 50 mcg. Low or very low estrogen is associated with a risk of heavy bleeding, which may cause some women to stop taking it.
Mothers also need to note that the lowest dose of estrogen can be effective in preventing pregnancy and is less likely to cause side effects such as bloating, weight gain and mood swings.
On the other hand, high doses actually increase the risk of irregular menstruation, not reduce it.
A person with PCOS should consult a doctor about the appropriate amount of estrogen based on symptoms and other risk factors.
If you experience abnormal menstruation, but there are no androgenic symptoms of PCOS, your doctor may offer progestin-only contraception as an alternative.
For birth control pills with progestin levels, it is important to determine the type of progestin used in the birth control pill. Some of them have high androgenic activity which can worsen acne or facial hair growth, thereby reducing their usefulness in the treatment of PCOS.
Low androgen combination pills include:
Desogen (desogestrel/etinil estradiol) Nor-QD (norethindrone) Ortho Micronor (norethindrone) Ortho-Cept (desogestrel/etinil estradiol) Ortho-Cyclen (etinil estradiol/norgestimate) Ortho-Novum 7/7/7 (etinil estradiol/norethindrone) Ortho Tri-Cyclen (ethinil estradiol/norgestimate) Ovcon-35 (ethinil estradiol/norethindrone) Tri-Norinil (ethinil estradiol/norethindrone)
Because these pills may have other side effects, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of each pill.
Conditions for not using birth control pills for PCOS
Using contraception to treat PCOS can be risky if you have certain conditions or lifestyle factors. Your doctor may not want to prescribe contraception if you experience any of the following conditions:
Suffer from diabetes Smoker over 35 years old Suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure) Have had major surgery followed by a prolonged period of immobilization Have a history of heart disease Have had a stroke
Birth control pills for PCOS
Reported by the Healthline page, experts recognize combination pills as first-line treatment and are very effective for PCOS symptoms. Some popular combination pill brand names include:
Mircette Yaz Estrostep Velivet Natazia Orto-Novum Lybrel Estrostep Fe Yasmin TriNessa
However, not everyone can take combination pills safely. Hormonal birth control pills are safe, but they have several risks, including:
Greater risk of diabetes: This is a consideration for PCOS sufferers who are already at risk of developing diabetes. Risk of cardiovascular problems: This includes dangerous blood clots in the legs. PCOS sufferers who are obese may be at higher risk. If you smoke, the risk increases. Weight gain: Some evidence suggests that birth control pills can cause weight gain, but other studies disagree. People who are already obese may be reluctant to take birth control pills. Weight gain can worsen PCOS symptoms.
Combined contraceptives are one of the most effective drugs to help relieve PCOS symptoms. However, you should discuss your options with your doctor to determine the best treatment method for her.
For some people, a pill called a minipill may be a better choice. The minipill contains only one hormone, progestin. In some cases, doctors recommend that people try the minipill first.
Women who smoke, have a history of cardiovascular problems, are overweight, or are diabetic may experience fewer side effects if they use progestin-only pills.
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