Advantages and disadvantages of hormonal birth control
The following table lists the advantages and disadvantages of using hormonal birth control methods.
Deciding about hormonal birth control methods Consideration Combination pills, skin patch, or vaginal ring (estrogen plus progestin) Progestin-only pills Advantages
- No interruption of foreplay or intercourse
- Reduced bleeding and cramping with periods, which lowers the risk of anemia
- Reduced pain during ovulation
- Reduced fibrocystic breast changes
- Reduced risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Reduced risk of ectopic pregnancy
- May reduce acne
- May reduce ovarian cysts
- May reduce symptoms of endometriosis
- May reduce bone density loss
- May protect against ovarian and endometrial cancer
- Can be used after an abortion
- Do not contain estrogen, so do not cause any of the health risks related to estrogen use
- Reduced bleeding and cramping with periods
Disadvantages
- Pills must be taken every day.
- Patches may not fully protect you from pregnancy if they are exposed to direct sun or high heat. This can release a high dose of hormone from the patch, which leaves less for the patch to release later in the week.
- May not be as effective when taken with certain medications
- May delay return of normal cycles
- May cost more than other methods if used for many years
- Does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases or HIV
- Patches deliver more estrogen than low-dose birth control pills do. Some research has found that women using the patch are more likely to get dangerous blood clots in the legs and lungs. The risk may be higher if you smoke or have certain health problems. Health Canada suggests that you talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of using the patch.
- Must be taken at the same time each day
- Are less effective than combination pills
- Make diabetes more likely if you have had gestational diabetes during pregnancy.1, 2 (Combination estrogen-progestin birth control does not appear to increase this diabetes risk.)3
- Cause more irregular periods or spotting between periods
- May delay return of normal cycles
- Do not reduce risk of ovarian cysts or ectopic pregnancy
- May not be as effective when taken with certain medications
- May cost more than other methods if used for many years
- Do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases or HIV
| Author: | Merrill Hayden Carrie Henley | Last Updated: August 16, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology Femi Olatunbosun, MB, FRCSC - Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine | |
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