Birth control - slow release methods: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P Certain birth control methods contain man-made forms of hormones. These hormones are normally made in a woman's ovaries. These hormones are called estrogen and progestin.
P Both of these hormones prevent a woman's ovaries from releasing an egg. Releasing egg during menstrual cycle is called ovulation. They do this by changing the levels of the natural hormones the body makes.
P Progestin also helps prevent sperm from entering the uterus. The hormone makes the mucous around a woman's cervix thick and sticky.
P Birth control pills are one way of receiving these hormones. However, you must remember to take the pills every day.
P These are other methods to prevent pregnancy. You can use the same hormones, but these hormones are released slowly over time.

T Information
P PROGESTIN IMPLANTS
P A progestin implant is a small rod that is implanted under the skin. This is usually on the upper arm. The rod releases a small amount of the hormone progestin into the bloodstream.
P It takes about a minute to insert the rod. The procedure is done using a numbing medicine in a doctor's office. The rod can stay in place for 3 years. However, it can be removed at any time. Removal usually takes only a few minutes.
P After the implant has been inserted:
- You may have some bruising around the site for a week or more.
- You should be protected from getting pregnant within 1 week.
- You can use these implants while breastfeeding.
P Progestin implants work better than birth control pills to prevent pregnancy. Very few women who use these implants are likely to get pregnant.
P Your regular menstrual cycles should return within 3 to 4 weeks after these implants are removed.
P PROGESTIN INJECTIONS
P Injections or shots that contain the hormone progestin also work to prevent pregnancy. A single shot works for up to 90 days. These injections are given into the muscles of the upper arm or buttocks.
P Side effects that may occur include:
- Changes in menstrual cycles or extra bleeding or spotting. Around half of women who use these injections have no menstrual cycles
- Breast tenderness, weight gain, headaches, or depression
P Progestin injections work better than birth control pills to prevent pregnancy. Very few women who use progestin injections is likely to get pregnant.
P Sometimes the effects of these hormone shots last longer than 90 days. If you are planning to become pregnant in the near future, you might want to consider a different birth control method.
P SKIN PATCH
P The skin patch is placed on your shoulder, buttocks, or another area of your body. A new patch is applied once a week for 3 weeks. Then you go 1 week without a patch.
P Estrogen levels are higher with the patch than with birth control pills or the vaginal ring. Because of this, there may be an increased risk of blood clots in the legs or lungs with this method. The FDA has issued a warning about the patch and the higher risk of a blood clot traveling to a lung.
P The patch slowly releases both estrogen and progestin into your blood. Your health care provider will prescribe this method for you.
P The patch works better than birth control pills to prevent pregnancy. Very few women who use the patch is likely to get pregnant.
P The skin patch contains estrogen. Along with the higher risk of blood clots, there is a rare risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. Smoking increases these risks even more.
P VAGINAL RING
P The vaginal ring is a flexible. This ring is about 2 inches (5 cm) wide and is placed into the vagina. It releases the hormones progestin and estrogen.
- Your provider will prescribe this method, but you will insert the ring yourself.
- It will stay in the vagina for 3 weeks. At the end of the third week, you will take the ring out for 1 week. DO NOT remove the ring until the end of the 3 weeks.
P Side effects with the ring may include:
- Nausea and breast tenderness, which are less severe than with birth control pills or patches
- Vaginal discharge or vaginitis
- Breakthrough bleeding and spotting (may occur more often than with birth control pills)
P The vaginal ring contains estrogen. As a result, there is a rare risk of high blood pressure, blood clots, heart attack, and stroke. Smoking increases these risks even more.
P The vaginal ring slowly releases both estrogen and progestin into your blood.
P The vaginal ring works better than birth control pills to prevent pregnancy. Very few women who use the vaginal ring is likely to get pregnant.

T Alternative Names
P Contraception - slow-release hormonal methods; Progestin implants; Progestin injections; Skin patch; Vaginal ring

T References
P Allen RH, Kaunitz AM, Hickey M. Hormonal contraception. In: Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, Kronenberg HM, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 18.
P Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). U.S. selected practice recommendations for contraceptive use, 2013: adapted from the World Health Organization selected practice recommendations for contraceptive use, 2nd edition. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2013;62(RR-05):1-60. PMID: 23784109 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23784109.
P Pickle S, Wu J, Burbank-Scmitt E. Prevention of unintended pregnancy: A focus on long-acting reversible contraception. Prim Care. 2014;41:239-260. PMID: 24830607 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24830607.
P The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Combined Hormonal Birth Control: Pill, Patch, and Ring. FAQ 185, updated July 2014. www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Combined-Hormonal-Birth-Control-Pill-Patch-and-Ring. Accessed August 9, 2016.
P The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC): IUD and Implant. FAQ184, updated May 2016. www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Long-Acting-Reversible-Contraception-LARC-IUD-and-Implant. Accessed August 9, 2016.

T Review Date 5/21/2016
P Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director and Director of Didactic Curriculum, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

