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Birth control remains one of the best methods of medicine to prevent pregnancy. Women can choose the best birth control for PCOS from the various types of birth control methods available, as some of them work better than others.
However, you should know that there is no overall best birth control method for every woman. The most suitable birth control method for you and your partner depends on different factors and may change over time.
The birth control method you choose should depend on your health and desire to have children. In this case, it may depend on your need to prevent hormonal conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Let’s find out more about the best birth control for PCOS.
What is PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition that affects hormones in women who are of childbearing age. Its name comes from the little cysts or sacs that may appear on the ovaries of women who have PCOS.
If you have PCOS, your ovaries produce an unusual amount of hormones called androgens, causing an imbalance. This hormonal imbalance may cause changes such as irregular or missing periods, skin darkening, weight gain, headaches, and hair growth in unlikely places.
PCOS usually begins during adolescence, but symptoms may vary from one person to another. PCOS is a major cause of infertility in women. This is because irregular periods and a lack of ovulation can make it difficult to become pregnant. The little, fluid-filled sacs may prevent the release of eggs from your ovaries.
Luckily, it is possible to improve these symptoms using certain lifestyle changes, hormone balance supplements, and some of the best birth control pills for PCOS.
How Birth Control Can Help with PCOS
One of the first treatments medical professionals will suggest for managing PCOS is hormonal birth control. This may be a great option for people with PCOS who are not ready to get pregnant soon.
The various types of birth control available may include pills, patches, control rings, implants, and hormonal intrauterine devices.
The best birth control for PCOS, especially those with synthetic hormones like estrogen and progestin can:
- Control the menstrual cycle
- Reduce male sex hormone production, which controls acne, excess facial and body hair, baldness, and other symptoms as a result of high androgen levels in the body
- Lower the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer, a condition that is most likely to occur in people with PCOS
Best Birth Control for PCOS
Some of the best oral birth control for PCOS to keep your hormones in balance include:
Combined Oral Contraceptives
Combined oral contraceptives are a very effective option for managing PCOS symptoms. They contain both estrogen and progestin or progestin-only pills. People who use oral contraceptives may also experience the following health benefits:
- Lighter menstrual flow
- Less menstrual migraines
- Reduced risk of pelvic inflammatory symptoms
- Lower risk of ectopic pregnancies
- Reduced premenstrual syndrome symptoms
- Lower risk of osteoporosis
Another benefit to note is that the right amount of oral contraceptives helps to prevent unplanned pregnancies. However, there are side effects, including nausea, headache, breast tenderness, possible weight loss or gain, abnormal uterine bleeding, and a mild rise in blood pressure.
Some research may suggest that oral contraceptives may worsen PCOS symptoms. For this reason, oral contraceptives should only be recommended as an alternative treatment option for PCOS.
Progestin-only Pills (POP)
A progestin-only pill (POP), or a mini pill, is one of the best birth control pills for PCOS, containing progestin but no estrogen. It helps to manage hormonal imbalances in women with PCOS and has other benefits to offer.
Your doctor may recommend taking this pill daily, putting a pause on your menstrual flow. However, your flow will resume when you stop taking the pill. It may serve as a better alternative to combination contraceptives.
Vaginal Ring
A vaginal or control ring is a soft and transparent plastic ring that you can insert into your vagina. It is also effective in treating PCOS symptoms. You can wear it for 2 to 3 weeks, remove it for a week for menstrual flow, and reinsert after the flow.
The vaginal ring contains estrogen and progestin and releases 15 mcg and 120 mcg, respectively, of each hormone into the body.
Research shows that women who smoke may increase their risk of heart and blood vessel conditions when using hormonal contraceptives. It is therefore advisable to avoid using a vaginal ring if you smoke.
Pills for painful periods
Women who use combination pills to ease menstrual pain but continue to experience heavy flow may want to switch to a pill that reduces the frequency of their flow.
Some of the pills that cause less frequent menstrual flow are Seasonale, Seasonique, and Lybrel. They are Ethinylestradiol / Levonorgestrel combination pills.
Non-pill options for PCOS
Not everyone loves to take pills every day, especially if they are birth control pills. Luckily, there are effective non-pill combination options for PCOS that contain progestin and estrogen.
With perfect use, most non-pill treatment options can be very effective with no or fewer side effects. Examples of non-pill alternatives to birth control pills for PCOS include birth control patches, injections, implants, and intrauterine devices.
How to Choose the Best Birth Control for PCOS
If you want to choose the best birth control for PCOS, consider the following:
Side effects
Ease of use
Combination or single hormone pill
Cost
Side effects
Generally, pills and medications have side effects. Some of them include changes in period length and heaviness, weight gain, and breast tenderness.
Ease of use
- No matter what you may be trying to treat, you need to find birth control that is very convenient and easy to use. Some people may prefer to take non-pill options every day over other birth control methods.
Combination or single hormone pill
- There are various hormones with different effects on PCOS symptoms. To get the one that best suits you, talk to a healthcare professional about your symptoms and choices. Ask for a different birth control method if you are not comfortable with the doctor’s prescription.
Cost
Having an insurance plan has its advantages here. Confirm with your insurance company to know if any of the birth control methods are covered. This will help you know how much more you will spend out of your pocket. Feel free to speak with a doctor about patient assistance programs if you don’t have insurance.
Where Can I Get Birth Control for PCOS?
If you want to know more or purchase the best birth control for PCOS and breastfeeding, reach out to any of the health providers below:
- SimpleHealth: This service provider prescribes oral contraceptive pills, skin patches, and vaginal rings to manage PCOS symptoms. Here, the consultation fee is $20 and you can be a part of their automatic refill program for $15 monthly.
- Nurx: To get birth control from them, you will have to pay an initial $15 fee, which covers an online consultation with a licensed doctor and unlimited access to a doctor for a year.
- Pendia Health: Online registration here requires a $20 fee, giving you unlimited access to a specialist doctor for your health concerns.
- Lemonaid: This birth control service provider offers a consultation fee of $25 and gives you year-long access to a healthcare professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
The general knowledge is that birth control cannot directly help with PCOS weight loss. However, weight loss can improve insulin sensitivity, reducing your risk of PCOS complications. The best birth control for PCOS weight loss is one that combats insulin resistance. It is always best to talk to a doctor about exploring your options.
Some healthcare professionals may agree that combination birth control pills containing estrogen and progestin are effective for treating PCOS symptoms. Examples of combination pill brand names include Yaz, Mircette, Velivet, Estrostep, Lybrel, and Natazia.
You can also look out for evidence-based PCOS natural treatments for a good start.
Only a professional healthcare provider can appropriately suggest how long you can take a birth control pill. If your hormone levels are unstable or your symptoms do not improve, your doctor may check your hormone levels for better birth control options.
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