Table of contents:
- Things that must be considered when you want to change KB
- The reason for changing contraceptives
- 1. Often forget to take birth control pills
- 2. Frequent bleeding
- 3.Moods are volatile (mood swing)
- 4. Flatulence
- 5. Decreased sex drive
- 6. Many pimples appear
- 7. Migraine accompanied by visual disturbances
- Considerations before changing contraceptives
- 1. Smoking habits
- 2. Weight
- 3. Drugs that are being taken
- 4. Health problems you have
- 5. The desire to get pregnant again
- How to change contraception
- The risk of changing contraceptives
There are many contraceptives available that are known to be effective at preventing pregnancy, including birth control pills, IUDs, injectable contraceptives, and condoms. If you are already using one of these contraceptives and then feel that it is not suitable, then you may consider changing your contraceptives. Then, what should be considered and considered before deciding on this matter? Check out the full explanation below.
Things that must be considered when you want to change KB
Basically, changing family planning is not prohibited. However, if you really want to replace it, you shouldn't just do it. It is better for you to discuss with your obstetrician first about the decision to change this contraceptive.
Ask your doctor what type of birth control is best for you. Generally, the doctor will ask you first, what is the reason that compels you to change contraception. For example, are there certain complaints or symptoms, or you find it difficult to use them.
Of course, changing contraceptives should not be done carelessly, especially if the interval between changing from the long contraceptive to the replacement contraceptive is too long. The reason is, pausing the replacement of contraceptives can cause the risk of pregnancy to increase again.
That is why, if you switch from birth control pills to another contraceptive method, your doctor will recommend that you switch immediately without giving any breaks. This also applies to other types of contraception.
If you were previously using spiral birth control and intend to change your contraception to hormonal pills, the replacement should not be paused. As soon as the IUD is removed, you will need to take birth control pills as a substitute for contraception.
Even so, your doctor will still advise you to use a backup plan. For example, keeping a condom on during sex with a partner or using a lubricant containing spermicide during sex between seven days to one month after replacement.
This aims to prevent the risk of conceding pregnancy. The reason is, new birth control may take time to adjust to your body condition until it can show its effectiveness.
The reason for changing contraceptives
Just like choosing a life partner, not all women will immediately feel comfortable with the contraceptive method they use. There are women who have had to fight the side effects of the contraceptives they used first. Only then did this incompatibility prompted her to change contraceptives.
Incompatible contraceptives are one of the many reasons why you should change your contraceptive device. The following are characteristics of you should change contraceptives as soon as possible.
1. Often forget to take birth control pills
Are you a user of the oral contraceptive method, aka the birth control pill? If so, make sure you take birth control pills according to the rules for taking birth control pills, which is regularly every day. In other words, try not to forget to take birth control pills, even if it's only for one day.
The truth is, being late or forgetting to take a birth control pill even once doesn't have a big impact on your body. However, if this happens repeatedly or until it lasts for days, birth control pills may no longer work effectively to prevent pregnancy.
If all this time you often forget to take birth control pills, immediately consult your doctor about changing to another contraceptive. Your doctor may recommend that you insert an IUD, birth control patch, or vaginal ring, because the three contraceptives tend to be simpler than having to take birth control pills every day.
2. Frequent bleeding
Some women experience light bleeding when they first use birth control. Actually, this is quite normal and will usually disappear after a few days. The hormone estrogen in birth control pills works like glue. If the lining of the uterine wall has formed, but there isn't enough glue to stick it together, the uterine wall will shed and cause bleeding.
If the bleeding continues, the doctor will give birth control pills with a higher dose. You may also be advised to change to other contraceptives according to your needs and health conditions.
3.Moods are volatile (mood swing)
Women who use hormonal contraceptive methods often experience drastic mood swings mood swing . This is influenced by the high amount of progestins in birth control devices.
Basically, each type of birth control has different levels of progestins. If at first you feel happy, but suddenly turn sad or angry for no reason and even bother those around you, then it is time for you to change contraceptives.
4. Flatulence
Flatulence is one of the most common side effects of birth control pills. This happens because the estrogen content in it can accumulate a lot of water in the body, thus making your stomach feel full.
Get immediate rest if your stomach feels uncomfortable due to bloating. However, if this condition interferes with your activities, then consult a doctor to change to another contraceptive.
5. Decreased sex drive
The main way birth control pills work is to inhibit the ovulation process to prevent pregnancy. However, at the same time these birth control pills also stimulate the ovaries to stop producing the sex hormone testosterone.
This causes a woman's sex drive to decrease and ultimately refuse to have sex. If not addressed immediately, the intimacy of your relationship and your partner can be threatened.
So, try to talk to your doctor about changing the contraceptives that contain progestins. The way progestins work in contrast to estrogen, which actually triggers the production of the hormone testosterone. You can also use non-hormonal birth control such as the copper IUD which is safer without disturbing your sex drive.
6. Many pimples appear
Apart from the various side effects that are caused, almost all contraceptives are actually useful for treating acne, including birth control pills. You are even allowed to use birth control pills to treat acne. The reason is, the hormone content can inhibit ovulation and the body's testosterone levels, making the skin healthier and acne-free.
Even so, there is still a chance that your face will come back filled with annoying pimples. As a solution, use other contraceptives that contain progestins to help treat acne.
7. Migraine accompanied by visual disturbances
Have you recently had migraines accompanied by blurry vision? If so, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, the hormone content in birth control can cause an imbalance in the hormone estrogen in the body. This can cause various symptoms in the body, one of which makes the head feel replied to migraines.
If you experience it, immediately talk to your doctor about changing contraceptives. Choose non-hormonal contraceptives such as the copper IUD or condoms which are safer.
Considerations before changing contraceptives
Even though you are allowed to mutually change contraceptives, that does not mean you can change them carelessly without consulting your doctor first. We recommend that you tell your experience about the contraceptive you are currently using. Then, tell the doctor the reason why you want to change the contraceptive.
From the information you have shared, your doctor will help you choose an effective contraceptive method for you. The following are some things that are important and need to be taken into consideration when changing contraceptives, namely:
1. Smoking habits
If you have a smoking habit and are over 35 years of age, you need to be careful before changing contraceptives. The reason is, some contraceptives are not recommended for smokers. For example, smokers are not advised to take birth control pills as their preferred method of contraception. This is because this type of contraception cannot work effectively with the substances contained in cigarettes.
2. Weight
Another thing to consider before changing contraception is your current weight. Choose a contraceptive that has the smallest chance of gaining weight if you are already obese. Reporting from the NHS page, injectable birth control usually has a smaller chance of gaining weight.
3. Drugs that are being taken
Certain drugs can affect the efficacy of contraceptives, in particular the use of birth control pills. For that, for those of you who have certain health problems and are taking medication regularly, you should first consult your doctor before changing contraceptives.
Meanwhile, IUD, injection family planning, and condoms are among the choices of contraceptives that will not affect the drugs being taken.
4. Health problems you have
Some contraceptives work by using hormones that are similar to those produced by the body. For example, in combination birth control pills, there are synthetic hormones estrogen and progesterone. However, not all women are suitable for using hormonal contraception.
Women who have breast cancer are not suitable for contraceptives that contain synthetic hormones. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor before choosing the contraceptive method you want to use. If you feel that your contraceptive choice is not suitable, tell your doctor about a contraceptive change plan.
5. The desire to get pregnant again
In fact, all contraceptives can be stopped immediately when you plan to have another baby. However, combination birth control pills, vaginal rings, and injections usually take up to several months to restore your fertility.
Therefore, if you plan to change contraceptives with those that can make you fertile again, immediately choose contraceptives such as IUDs, progestin-only pills, and condoms.
How to change contraception
When the doctor has recommended a contraceptive that is suitable for your condition, this is the right time for you to change contraception. In some cases, your doctor will ask you to overlap birth control. This means that you will be using the new KB tool before stopping the old KB.
The goal is that pregnancy can still be prevented even though the contraceptive method is changing. Typically, this method depends on the type of birth control you are currently using and what you will choose to do later.
For example, if you are taking birth control pills and want to change to an IUD or spiral, your doctor will insert a progestin IUD seven days before you stop taking the pill. For the exact procedure, consult your trusted doctor.
The risk of changing contraceptives
Besides being able to increase the risk of pregnancy if done carelessly without the doctor's knowledge, mutually birth control can disrupt your normal menstrual cycle. Especially if the hormone dose is higher or lower. If the hormone dose remains the same, changing any type of hormonal birth control will not cause a problem.
In addition, the side effects of changing contraceptives include fatigue, nausea, breast tenderness, menstrual spotting, and possibly weight gain. This happens because changing hormonal birth control methods works the same way as starting birth control.
Once again, you need to remember that changing contraceptives must be accompanied by a doctor's supervision. Do not be tempted to mutually change KB just because a close friend's testimony states that the tool used is more effective than the one you use.
The problem is, the effectiveness of contraceptives can vary from person to person, depending on your health condition. Make sure you discuss your wish to change birth control with your doctor before making a decision about the contraceptive device you want to use.
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