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8 Ways to Stay Healthy While on Hormonal Birth Control

Medically reviewed by Wendy A. Satmary, MD — By Heather Grey on September 30, 2022Hormonal contraceptives contain synthetic progesterone (progestin), alone or in combination with synthetic estrogen. Taking hormonal contraceptives helps prevent pregnancy. Your doctor may also prescribe hormonal contraceptives to treat certain hormone-related conditions. Hormonal contraceptives are available in multiple forms, including:oral pillsinjectionsskin patchesvaginal ringsimplants that go under your skinintrauterine devices (IUDs) Before you try a new hormonal contraceptive, talk with your doctor about the potential benefits and risks. Hormonal contraceptives are safe for most people, but they can cause side effects and carry certain risks. Read on to learn how to stay healthy while taking hormonal contraceptives. Last medically reviewed on September 30, 2022

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SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Are birth control pills safe? (n.d.).
plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/birth-control-pill/how-safe-is-the-birth-control-pillThe broad benefits of contraceptive use in the United States. (2020).
guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/broad-benefits-contraceptive-use-united-statesCooper DB, et al. (2020). Oral contraceptive pills.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430882/Fenasse R, et al. (2019). Impact of the oral contraceptive pill on health and nutritional status.
search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/informit.069519634390796Mohn ES, et al. (2018). Evidence of drug–nutrient interactions with chronic use of commonly prescribed medications: An update.
mdpi.com/1999-4923/10/1/36/htmTeal S, et al. (2021). Contraception selection, effectiveness, and adverse effects: A review.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2787541Summary chart of U.S. medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use. (2020).
cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/contraception/pdf/summary-chart-us-medical-eligibility-criteria_508tagged.pdfOur experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Current Version Sep 30, 2022 By Heather Grey Edited By Molly McCann Medically Reviewed By Wendy A. Satmary, MD Copy Edited By Stassi Myer - CE Share this articleMedically reviewed by Wendy A. Satmary, MD — By Heather Grey on September 30, 2022

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