How to Know If You Need to Change Birth Control Pills

One of the most popular forms of birth control is the pill. Some women have trouble adapting to the amount of hormones in a specific type of birth control pill, so it's important to pay attention to the changes in your body, and notify your gynecologist or doctor if you have negative side effects like bleeding or mood swings. Changing your birth control pills could provide a remedy.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Take notice of any changes in your menstrual cycle or the amount of blood during your period. If you notice major changes, such as excessive clotting or spotting, it may be time to change pills.

2. Keep a journal of your moods throughout the month. Birth control pills regulate the hormones, so you are less likely to experience severe PMS than if you were not taking the pills. If you notice a change in moods, or experience more mood swings than normal, you may be due to change birth control pills.

3. Visit your doctor and discuss the changes you notice in your body and mood. This will help her ascertain if you need to change birth control pills, or if there is another factor at hand. If she agrees you need to change birth control pills, she will guide you in the direction of a suitable substitute for the pill you currently take.

4. Find out what type of pill you currently take, which will affect how you go about switching to another pill. For example, if you currently take a pill containing progestin and estrogen, and are switching to the same type of pill, you can start the new pack after you finish your current pack. If you change from a progestin/estrogen pill to a progestin-only pill, you will start the new pills as soon as your current active pills are finished. If you change from a progestin-only pill to a progestin/estrogen pill, you should take the first active new pill on the first day of your next period.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a secondary form of birth control while you are transitioning between birth control pills. When you switch, the new pill may not take effect until you are fully through the first pack. Therefore, you will need to use condoms or another barrier method until the birth control pills take effect.
• Birth control pills come in monophasic or biphasic pills. Monophasic pills have the same amount of hormones in each active pill, and no hormones in the placebos. Biphasic pills have estrogen and progestin, but the progestin fluctuates during the cycle; the placebos have no hormones.
• Don't change pills in the middle of a cycle. You need to wait until you reach the end of your current pack before changing to the new pill.

References

• Planned Parenthood
• How Do Birth Control Pills Work?

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