Birth Control: Time-Release Hormones

Pregnancy rates

Talk to your healthcare provider about the effectiveness of this birth control method.

Using time-release hormones

Methods to deliver hormones include:

• A skin patch. This is placed on your stomach, buttocks, arm, or shoulder. You replace the patch weekly.

• A ring that you insert in your vagina. You leave it in for 3 weeks and remove it for 1 week.

• Shots (injections). These are given in your arm or buttocks once every 3 months by your healthcare provider.

• An implant. This is placed under the skin in the upper arm by your provider. It can be left in place for up to 3 years.

• Progestin IUD. This is inserted by your provider. It can be left in place for 3 to 8 years depending on which one is chosen.

Pros

• Lowest pregnancy rate of the birth control methods that can be reversed

• No interruption to sex

• Easy to use

• Don’t need to take a pill each day

• May decrease menstrual cramps, menstrual flow, and acne

Cons

• Don't protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

• May cause irregular periods

• May cause side effects, such as nausea, weight gain, headaches, breast soreness, severe tiredness (fatigue), or mood changes (these often go away within 3 months)

• May take up to a year for you to become fertile (able to get pregnant) after stopping injections

• May increase the risk of blood clots, heart attack, and stroke

Time-release hormones may not be for you

Time-release hormones may not be for you if:

• You are a smoker and over age 35

• You have high blood pressure, gallbladder disease, liver disease, certain lipid disorders, cerebrovascular disease (stroke), or heart disease

• You have diabetes, migraines, clot in a vein or artery (thromboembolic disorder), lupus, or take medicines that may interfere with the hormones

In these cases, talk about the risks with your healthcare provider.