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When facing an endless list of contraceptive drugs, do you feel helpless in finding a suitable one for you? Do not worry. Here are a few basics of birth controls which will give you some knowledge to begin with to make an informed decision.
How do contraceptives work?
All contraceptive drugs contain either a progestin alone or a progestin with an estrogen, both of which are female sex hormones. Extra female sex hormone(s) in combination or alone prevent pregnancy by inhibiting egg production and/or fertilization.
What are the differences between mini-pills and combination pills?
Progestin-only oral contraceptives are also known as the "mini-pills". Mini-pills are less forgiving compared to estrogen/progestin combination pills. Mini-pills must be taken the same the time every day and must be used with another contraceptive method for a month before one can solely rely on them. Combination pills only need to overlap with a sec
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ondary method for 7 days if one starts on the Sunday following a period. If you miss a dose of a mini-pill, or take the mini-pill more than 3 hours late than the scheduled time, you should use a backup method until the next period; whereas if you miss a dose of a combination pill, you can double the dose on the next day.
Who should be on mini-pills?
Mini-pills are a suitable choice for women who are breast-feeding; who need short- or long-term birth control that can be stopped at any time; who cannot take estrogen, including smokers older than 35, long-standing, poorly controlled diabetics, heart disease, hypertension and clotting dysfunction patients. Other candidate populations include those who have migraine headache and those who have heavy, painful menstrual periods. Examples of mini-pills include Ortho Micronor®, Errin™, Provera®, etc.
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What are other contraceptive formulations?
Several non-oral birth controls are available. A clear advantage of non-oral birth controls is that they do not need to be administered daily. Depo-Provera® is a progestin shot which provides 3 month of contraceptive protection. Ortho EVRA™ is a transdermal contraceptive patch. Three patch systems provide contraceptive coverage for a cycle, with each system worn for 7 days. A vaginally inserted system, NuvaRing®, needs to be left in place for 3 weeks in a cycle. This list does not cover all the non-oral formulations. Ask you doctor or pharmacist for more options.
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8120 Parallel Parkway
Kansas City, KS 66109
(913) 334-1660
6238 N. Chatham Road
Kansas City, MO 64151
(816) 746-1475
1015 N.E. Rice Road
Lee's Summit, MO 64086
(816) 525-1479
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13600 S. Blackbob
Olathe, KS 66062
(913) 782-2039
2724 W 53rd St
Fairway, KS 66205
913-236-4983
6900 W. 135th Street
Overland Park, KS 66223
(913) 814 WELL (9355)
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Sprint Campus
6450 Sprint Parkway
Overland Park, KS 66251
(913) 315-8646
Merriam Town Center
5800 Antioch Rd.
Merriam, KS 66202
(913) 831-4140
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