Did you know that medicines like contraceptive pills have different generations? As science continues to drive us forward, medicines are tweaked and altered to make them more effective and with fewer unwanted side effects. Each of these iterations is called a generation.
Since first becoming available in 1960, birth control or contraceptive pills have gone through four generations, with each generation of combination pill using different types of progestin. First-generation pills are still used today, but second to fourth-generation pills are now more popular and, in fact, are all available options here at Dima. However, newer may not always mean it’s the best fit for you. Weighing different potential birth control pills side effects, risks, and costs will help you decide which types of contraceptive pills to use.
Second-Generation Pills
This set of pills, including Protec (50PHP), contains the progestin levonorgestrel. Of all the generations, it has the lowest risk (not much lower) of venous thrombosis (a blood clot in your veins) but has the highest risk of other birth control pills side effects like acne, water retention, breakthrough bleeding, and nausea.
Protec Pills
A 2nd generation pill that helps manage menstrual cramps.
Third-Generation Pills
This set of contraceptive pills includes Cybelle (500PHP), which contains the progestin cyproterone acetate. It has a higher risk (but not much higher) of venous thrombosis than second-generation pills, but can be very effective for managing acne, excessive body hair growth, hair loss, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Cybelle
A 3rd generation pill that helps treat acne and manage PCOS
Fourth-Generation Pills
This set of contraceptive pills includes Liza (680PHP) and Lizelle (720PHP), which both use the progestin drospirenone. The difference between the two options is that Lizelle has a lower estrogen dose, which can be good for those who may be sensitive to estrogen side effects and also lowers the risk of venous thrombosis. Like third generation pills, this generation has a higher risk of clots (not much higher) than second-generation options but can be very effective for managing acne, excessive body hair growth, hair loss, and PCOS. They’ve also shown to help reduce PMS symptoms and are most recommended for women worried about mood swings due to contraceptive pills.
Liza
A 4th generation pill that helps treat acne, cycle control and more!
Weighing Risks vs Side Effects
First, let’s tackle the scariest potential birth control pills side effect: venous thrombosis. The idea of a blood clot is terrifying, but how at risk are you of developing a clot on a second-, third-, or fourth-generation pill?
It turns out, regardless of which generation you go with, the risk of developing a clot when using contraceptive pills is at 0.06%, with those using 3rd and 4th generation pills having a 0.1% risk. Meanwhile, pregnant women have up to a 0.2% risk of developing a clot, with the risk rising to up to 0.65% in post-partum women. Non-pregnant women who aren’t on the contraceptive pills have a 0.01-0.05% chance of developing a clot.
The risk of developing a clot goes up if you’re a smoker, over 35 years old, or have a family history of blood clots, so it’s important to share this information with your healthcare professional. If you don’t have these added risk factors, then the risk is very low.
Meanwhile, with each new generation of the pill, unwanted birth control pills side effects like acne, weight gain, hair loss, and mood swings become milder and less likely to happen. On top of that, later generations of contraceptive pills have been shown to be effective against PCOS, severe PMS, and even acne and certain hair issues.
Choose your fighter!
The world of contraception can be a confusing place, which is why consulting a medical professional is important (and why Dima provides a questionnaire when you place your first order with us).
Here are the products we mentioned.
Protec
Birth control pills
PHP 50
Cybelle
Birth control pills
PHP 500
Liza
Birth control pills
PHP 680
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