Routine Gynecologic Care

Hormonal contraceptioncan both positively and negatively affect your menstrual health. As such, it is essential to have an open discussion with your gynecologist when considering hormonal birth control options.

This will allow you to make an informed decision based on your medical history, preferences, and goals.

Types of Hormonal Contraception

Several categories of hormonal contraception are available, and the type you choose will depend on a wide range of factors, including your lifestyle preferences, reproductive health goals, and your medical history.

It is a topic you should certainly discuss with your gynecologists, but it’s good to be aware of what is available in advance. Therefore, the different types of hormonal contraception include:

• Combined oral contraceptives or COCs: Also referred to as “the pill,” COCs include estrogen and progestin. They are taken in pill form on a daily or continuous basis.
• Progestin-only pills (POPs): Unlike COCs, POPs only feature progestin with no estrogen. They may be an option if estrogen is contraindicated.
• Intrauterine devices (IUDs): IUDs are small devices that are inserted into the uterus and release either progestin or copper. The Mirena IUD releases progestin, while the Paragard IUD releases copper without hormones.
• Contraceptive implants: These are small plastic rods placed under the skin of the upper arm. They release progestin slowly over several years. The Nexplanon implant lasts up to 3 years.
• Contraceptive injections: Also known as depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) or Depo-Provera, these injections contain progestin and are administered every 12 weeks.
• Vaginal rings: The NuvaRing is a flexible ring placed in the vagina for three weeks per month. It discharges estrogen and progestin, similar to COCs.
• Transdermal patches: Patches such as Xulane stick to the skin and release estrogen and progestin transdermally. A new patch is applied weekly for three weeks out of the month.

Discussing Your Medical History

Hormonal contraception may have some risks, depending on what your medical history is, which is why you should tell your OB/GYN about any of the following:

Personal or Family History of Blood Clots

Estrogen found in COCs, patches, and vaginal rings may slightly increase clotting risk. If you have a blood clot history or if it runs in the family, you should use progestin-only methods instead.

History of Migraines with Aura

Migraines with neurological aura symptoms can increase your risk of stroke on combination hormonal birth control. Progestin-only options are considered safer.

Smoking Habits

Smokers over the age of 35 face higher clotting and heart disease risks on COCs; they should avoid estrogen-containing contraception.

Obesity

People with a BMI over 30 kg/m2 may experience lower efficacy and higher health risks on some forms of hormonal birth control.

Other Medications and Supplements

Some medications can interact with hormonal contraception, reducing its effectiveness. Always disclose any medications or supplements you take.

Addressing Menstrual Health Concerns

Hormonal contraception often leads to changes in menstruation. You should inform your gynecologist about any bothersome symptoms. Common concerns include:

• Changes in menstrual flow and duration: It is common to experience lighter, predictable periods on hormonal birth control. Heavier or prolonged bleeding may indicate an underlying problem.
• Irregular bleeding or spotting: Breakthrough bleeding and spotting are common when first starting hormonal contraception. If it lasts longer than three months or is heavy, consult your gynecologist.
• Amenorrhea (absence of periods): Missing periods can occur as a side effect of contraceptive shots, implants, IUDs, and sometimes pills. Rule out pregnancy and inform your doctor of any amenorrhea.
• Dysmenorrhea (painful cramps): Hormonal birth control often reduces menstrual cramps but may worsen pain in some cases. Pelvic exams help identify the causes of persistent cramping.
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS): Mood swings, breast tenderness, bloating, and other PMS symptoms may improve or persist on hormonal birth control. Track your symptoms.

Potential Menstrual Health Benefits

When used properly, hormonal contraception can:

• Regulate irregular menstrual cycles
• Lessen heavy bleeding and cramping
• Treat gynecological conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Improve symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

For those with painful, heavy periods or irregular cycles, the menstrual regulation from hormonal birth control can vastly improve their quality of life.

Possible Side Effects and Risks

While many tolerate hormonal contraception well, potential side effects include:

• Nausea, headaches, breast tenderness
• Increased or decreased libido
• Weight gain or loss
• Mood changes
• Breakthrough bleeding

In rare cases, serious complications may occur, such as blood clots, stroke, or liver tumors. Cigarette smoking combined with estrogen use significantly increases these major health risks.

Long-Term Considerations

When used over many years, hormonal contraception may impact:

• Bone mineral density: Some evidence suggests DMPA injections may decrease bone mineral density or BMD, leading to osteoporosis risk. Estrogen-containing contraceptive methods maintain BMD.
• Return to fertility: Most people regain normal fertility within months after discontinuing hormonal birth control. It may take longer with DMPA injections.
• Cancer risks and benefits: There is mixed evidence regarding breast cancer risk, which appears slightly elevated on COCs. However, hormonal contraception reduces endometrial, ovarian, and colorectal cancer risks.

Monitoring and Follow-Up

While using hormonal birth control, it is essential to:

• Get regular pelvic exams, Pap tests, and blood pressure checks
• Report any persistent side effects or warning signs
• Discuss alternative options if problems arise

Get Personalized Hormonal Contraceptive Care from Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness

With many hormonal contraception options available, the best choice is dependent on your specific health profile and preferences.

Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness’ caring providers offer personalized consultations to find the right solution for your needs and lifestyle.

Contact us today at (919) 636-6670 or schedule an online consultation for individualized care and compassionate understanding as you navigate contraception options and menstrual wellness.

Almost half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are accidental. This highlights the importance of contraceptive care in giving women the ability to manage their reproductive health.

Correct and consistent usage of contraception is key to reducing the risk of unplanned pregnancy. However, contraceptive care offers many more benefits beyond pregnancy prevention.

Here are five key ways that contraceptive care can empower you to take the reins of your reproductive health:

1. Prevent Unintended Pregnancy

Typically, the risk of pregnancy is high – around 85% over a one-year period – for women who use no contraceptive method. Access to contraceptive care significantly lowers your chances of having an accidental pregnancy.

The full range of contraceptive methods, when used properly and with consistency, work very well at preventing pregnancy.

Long-acting reversible contraceptives or LARCs, such as IUDs and implants, have failure rates of less than 1% with perfect use.

Even shorter-acting methods such as the pill, patch, ring, and shot are over 90% effective with perfect use. And permanent methods such as tubal ligation provide virtually foolproof protection.

Unintended pregnancy can have significant health, social, and economic consequences. It increases risks associated with delayed prenatal care, premature birth, low baby weight, maternal depression, and poor maternal bonding with the newborn.

Unintended pregnancies may prevent women from achieving their educational and career goals. Contraceptive care enables women to prevent unplanned pregnancies so they can avoid these adverse outcomes and have children when the time is right.

2. Space Pregnancies

Health experts recommend that women space their pregnancies at least 18 to 24 months apart. Short intervals between pregnancies negatively impact mom and baby.

For mothers, closely spaced pregnancies increase risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, preeclampsia, and prenatal depression.

For babies, short pregnancy spacing raises risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, and small gestational size – all associated with infant mortality and chronic disease later in life.

By planning pregnancy spacing, contraceptive care promotes optimal health. It empowers women to use birth control to plan the timing between pregnancies.

This enables the body to completely recover and return to pre-pregnancy health before conceiving again. Proper spacing also allows mothers to replenish important nutrients, such as folic acid, that are depleted during pregnancy.

3. Treat Medical Conditions

In addition to spacing births, contraceptive care offers non-contraceptive health benefits. Hormonal birth control methods can treat several conditions unrelated to pregnancy prevention.

For example, combined oral contraceptives (estrogen plus progestin pills) are often prescribed to alleviate menstrual disorders such as heavy or painful periods, irregular cycles, and endometriosis.

The hormones that birth control pills contain can help regulate your periods and reduce symptoms.

Other conditions that can be treated with hormonal contraceptives include polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Contraceptives may also be used alongside other medications to treat acne, hirsutism, amenorrhea, menstrual migraines, and uterine fibroids.

This demonstrates the range of gynecological conditions that can be managed through contraceptive care when other treatment options prove ineffective.

4. Avoid Dangers of Pregnancy

For women with certain medical conditions, pregnancy can be risky or even life-threatening. Contraceptives allow women to avoid these dangers by preventing pregnancy altogether.

Conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and breast cancer can seriously endanger the health of the mother and baby during pregnancy.

The health risks may simply be too high for pregnancy to be advisable. Women with these conditions require highly effective contraceptive options.

Contraceptive methods such as sterilization, LARCs, pills, patches, rings, and shots provide the level of protection needed. This gives women control over protecting their health by avoiding pregnancy through contraceptive care.

5. Plan Pregnancies

Contraception enables women the time needed to plan and prepare for pregnancy mentally, physically, and financially. It allows women to achieve educational and career goals before having children.

They can plan to conceive when they have a supportive partner and feel emotionally ready. A planned pregnancy leads to improved nutrition and healthcare, such as folic acid intake and stopping smoking or alcohol use before conceiving.

Contraceptive care puts women in control of the timing of pregnancies so they align with personal circumstances.

Women can thoughtfully plan childbearing for when they have the resources and maturity needed for successful parenting. This leads to positive outcomes for both mother and baby.

Seek Expert Contraceptive Care at Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness

Contraceptive care offers women empowerment over their reproductive health. It enables women to prevent unintended pregnancies, space births appropriately, treat gynecological disorders, avoid pregnancy complications, and thoughtfully plan pregnancies.

Each contraceptive method has its benefits when it comes to improving women’s health and well-being. Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness offers patient-centered contraceptive counseling and care.

We work with you to select the contraceptive method that is in line with your goals for your reproductive health and medical needs.

Contact us today at (919) 636-6670 or schedule an online consultation to take control of your reproductive health through personalized contraceptive care.

Birth control patches containing the same hormones as birth control pills release a daily dose of estrogen and progestogen to the bloodstream via the skin. Proper application of birth control patch treatment prevents pregnancy in women by preventing ovulation, much like a birth control pill.

In addition to providing birth control, there are some of the health advantages associated with patch use including the reduced incidence of risk for cancer of the bowels, ovaries, and womb.

For maximum benefits, the patch must be placed correctly on the body. Read on for more about birth control patch administration and physician recommendations for use.

5 Areas to Avoid When Placing a Patch

The patch is intended for dermal use only and should be placed onto an area of your skin that is clean and dry. One disadvantage of birth control patch application is that visibility may occur unless placed properly in a discrete area; however, placement of a birth control patch under tight clothing may rub it off. The three main places to avoid when placing a patch are:

1. Cranium

The most obvious part of the body to avoid when placing a patch is the head or cranial area. Some users complain of mild or temporary migraine side effects at the outset of treatment. Place the patch somewhere below the cranial area to limit headaches and nausea during use.

2. Neck

The neck supports the cranium and carries synopsis to the spinal cord for motor function, holds the esophagus for swallowing transmission of food, drink, and medication ingestion, and serves as a secondary corridor for breathing.

In addition, hair growth and maintenance at the back of the neck makes it a poor location for adhesive application. Placement of a patch on the neck is not advised.

3. Chest

Do not place a birth control contraceptive patch on the chest. Not only will the patch be unsightly while wearing a blouse or top that is open at the neck, release of extra hormones to the chest can lead to heart attack or other arterial health problems.

4. Breasts

The hormonally sensitive breast area of the body should also not be subject to birth control patch administration. Do not place a patch under a bra or other undergarment touching the breasts.

5. Sore Skin Areas

Any area of the body experiencing temporary or long-term irritation or injury soreness is a poor location for patch placement. Do not apply a patch to sensitive skin or where hair can be pulled or interfere with its transmission.

Proper Birth Control Patch Placement

Placement of a birth control patch should be based on comfort, discretion, and adhesive resilience. When using a patch for the first time, select a location on the body that will not be abraded by clothing, visible to others while dressed, or fall off from perspiration or sexual activity. The most common areas for birth control patch placement are the lower abdomen, hips, buttocks, side of the torso, and upper arms.

Changing the location of a birth control patch once it has been placed is not recommended, unless causing a health issue or soreness of skin. If a patch is causing discomfort, or becomes exposed while wearing clothing, or requires replacement during the cycle of use, select a new placement location so that the new patch will be less noticeable, likely to rub off, or cause discomfort.

Physician recommended prescription for use of birth control patches is a new patch each week for a 3-week period following menstruation, and 1-week without patch administration. A new birth control patch should be applied at the beginning of the subsequent 4-week cycle regardless of menstrual cycle.

Medical Risks of Patch Use

Chronic or recent illnesses, an operation, or other pharmaceutical prescriptions taken simultaneously, are all issues that should be discussed with a physician in advance. Patch use is not advisable if pregnant or breastfeeding an infant under the age of 6 weeks old or if you have been diagnosed as being obese.

Uncontrolled hypertension, heart disease and a personal or family history of blood clotting disorders are also contraindications to use of the patch. If you are 35 years of age or older and are smoking or ceased smoking less than 1-year ago, birth control patch use is also not recommended.

Raleigh Contraceptive Care Options

Contraceptive care specialists acknowledge birth control patch use may not be a suitable method of pregnancy prevention for you depending on your own and family member’s medical histories.

If weekly patch replacement is an obstacle for preventive treatment, other contraceptive options such as birth control implant or intrauterine device (IUD) insertion may be an option. Other drawbacks are that birth control patches do not protect against STIs. Condoms are recommended for use with a patch for enhanced contraceptive protection.

Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness is Raleigh, North Carolina’s women’s health practice specializing in contraceptive care. Speak to a physician about birth control patch prescription and other contraceptive care options by scheduling an appointment with Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness.

Family planning can help couples to have the number of children they desire at times that work for them, and contraceptive care plays a crucial role in avoiding unwanted pregnancies. According to the US Department of Health & Human Services Office of Population Affairs, 45 percent of all pregnancies that occur in the nation are unintended.

Access to contraception is cited by the agency as playing a crucial role in both reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies and helping people achieve healthy spacing between births. Therefore, they recommend for women to have access to a variety of contraception methods.

Here is a look at the top reasons that contraceptive care is beneficial.

Contraceptive Care Gives People Control Over When to Start a Family

Contraceptive care is essential for planning when couples have children and how many they wish to have. It also helps them avoid pregnancy when they have decided that they wish to stop having children. This is a basic human right under the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

There are many reasons that partners may wish to delay or space apart births, including being able to follow career or educational goals that could otherwise be interrupted by having babies, which can increase their earnings ability. For some families, having fewer children means they are able to invest more time and money in the children they do have.

It Can Reduce the Incidence of Teenage Pregnancies

Another benefit of contraceptive care is its ability to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies that occur. Having a baby can negatively impact their ambitions and relationships, particularly for younger teenagers who lack the maturity and financial means to support a family.

Moreover, pregnancy in young people can lead to health problems for the baby and the mother, with babies born to teenagers having a greater likelihood of being underweight or succumbing to neonatal mortality.

It Can Decrease Pregnancy-Related Risks

Women with certain health conditions or other circumstances may be at serious risk should they become pregnant or give birth. Contraceptive care allows these women to avoid pregnancy until their bodies are able to support it. Contraceptive care can also help older people who would face high-risk pregnancies to avoid becoming pregnant.

It May Reduce the Need for Abortion

Abortion may be a controversial subject, but contraceptive care can reduce the need for abortions by preventing unwanted pregnancies from occurring. This also reduces the number of unsafe abortions that are performed, a leading cause of maternal death around the world.

What Does Proper Contraceptive Care Entail?

Here is a look at the components of effective contraceptive care.

Education and Counseling

Knowing which options are available is important when planning a family. There are many different approaches to birth control, and each comes with its own considerations. For example, certain types of hormonal birth control pills are not suitable for women who smoke and those with high blood pressure due to the risk of blood clots, while some women may not be able to afford more expensive options such as intrauterine devices.

Therefore, women should talk with their physician to find the right solution for their medical and financial situations. Another important consideration is future family planning goals. Some birth control measures are easily reversible, while others may require a doctor’s visit and a waiting period before the woman’s normal level of fertility is restored.

The main factors that should be considered when selecting a birth control method include how it is taken and how often, its efficacy, the potential for human error, side effects, impact on future fertility, and effects on menstrual regularity and flow.

Distribution and Follow-ups

Another important aspect of proper contraceptive care is the distribution of birth control. While condoms may be easy to dispense, men and women should learn how to use them first to avoid an unexpected pregnancy.

Birth control pills generally require a prescription, and many physicians will want to monitor patients’s blood pressure at follow-up appointments. Intrauterine devices and birth control implants, meanwhile, require a doctor’s visit for insertion as well as follow-ups.

For some women, there may be trial and error involved. If the first chosen method proves to be problematic or unsustainable, they may need to try different approaches until they find something that works for them.

Reach Out to the Contraceptive Care Team at Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness

If you are sexually active and wish to avoid pregnancy, effective birth control methods and/or devices are available and can help. Reach out to the experienced contraceptive care team at Raleigh Gynecology & Wellness today to discuss your options or schedule an appointment.