Best birth control for PCOS: Finding effective management

PCOS is a hormonal condition that can’t be treated completely but can be addressed to improve the overall symptoms and achieve hormonal balance. Birth control is a common treatment approach used for this condition. Generally, there are three types of contraceptives that can be used:

• Combined
• Progestin-only
• Non-hormonal

Each of them can be used to meet different objectives. Respectively, finding the best birth control for PCOS requires individual consideration and, ideally, a consultation with a healthcare provider.

{{button}}

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a chronic hormonal condition that affects about 1 in 10 women in their reproductive years. It impacts female essential sex hormones, typically leading to excessive production of androgens (male hormones), which results in hormonal imbalance and hinders ovarian function. As a result, women diagnosed with this condition face a range of hormone-caused symptoms, such as:

• Missed or irregular menstrual cycle.
• Development of cysts in the ovaries.
• Issues with getting pregnant.
• Excessive hair growth (hirsutism) on the face and some parts of the body.
• Hair thinning and loss.
• Acne.
• Weight gain.

Although this condition is chronic and can’t be cured completely, there are treatments that help normalize hormones and address PCOS symptoms. In particular, birth control is often prescribed because of its ability to increase estrogen and lower testosterone levels for hormonal balance. In this article, we’ll explore the best birth control for PCOS.

How PCOS Birth Control Helps Manage the Symptoms

Before we move on to the best birth control for PCOS, let’s quickly define why using birth control is considered an effective management method in the first place.

In a nutshell, birth control pills primarily affect the balance of your sex hormones. Studies show that combined oral contraception lowers the circulating levels of total and free testosterone in your body. Respectively, after some time of taking birth control, your androgen levels will go down, creating a healthier balance of female sex hormones. Since increased androgen levels and hormonal imbalance are the primary challenges of PCOS, the change in your hormones offered by birth control can positively impact your symptoms.

Namely, it has been shown to:

• Regulate the menstrual cycle
• Decrease the risk of developing ovarian cysts
• Improve acne
• Prevent (or slow) excess hair growth
• Decrease the risk of endometrial hyperplasia

So, does birth control help with PCOS? Yes. Though they can’t treat the condition completely, hormonal contraceptives can help you balance your essential hormones and thus, improve nearly all PCOS symptoms. In combination with lifestyle changes, such as implementing a PCOS-friendly diet and increasing your physical activity, birth control can indeed help you address your condition and improve your quality of life.

Different Types of Birth Control and Their Impact on PCOS

When choosing the best birth control for PCOS, it’s important to consider all the options out there to find the most efficient one for you.

Basically, there are three types of contraceptives that can be used:

1. Combination birth control pills - This type of birth control contains two essential hormones–estrogen and progestin. They work by preventing ovulation, thickening the cervical mucus, and thinning your uterine lining to prevent pregnancy. With correct use, they can be 99% effective.
2. Progestin-only contraceptives - Unlike the combined type, this form of birth control only contains the progestin hormone. They come in several kinds, such as a mini-pill, implant, IUD, or depot injection. These contraceptives work by thickening the cervical mucus and complicating sperm mobility. Progestin can also prevent ovulation but it can’t do it consistently without added estrogen.
3. Non-hormonal contraceptives - In contrast to contraceptives that contain hormones, there are also non-hormonal options, such as copper IUDs. This type of birth control releases copper ions (instead of hormones) into the uterus, affecting sperm motility, uterine lining, and fertilization.

What’s the Best Birth Control for PCOS?

As you now know, there are several birth control options with different mechanisms of work and, respectively, different advantages and disadvantages. Due to this reason, finding a one-size-fits-all best birth control for PCOS is not possible.

The best approach is to consult with a healthcare professional about your individual needs and goals and select the most suitable option. Further in this article, we’ll suggest some of the best choices meant for different goals.

Best Birth Control for PCOS Facial Hair, Acne, and Other Hormonal Symptoms

If hormonal imbalance and related problems are your primary concern, the best choice for you is combined contraception.

Examples: Estrostep, Alesse, Levora, etc.

Thanks to a combination of estrogen and progestin in COCs, this type of contraception is known to have a direct effect on your hormonal balance. It can lower your androgen (testosterone) levels and regulate your menstrual cycle.

By balancing your hormones, combined pills can also help you reduce other PCOS symptoms, including:

• Excess hair growth
• Acne
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• PCOS pain

Some possible risks include blood clots and diabetes development. Hence, this type of contraception may not suit people who smoke, are obese, or already have a risk of diabetes.

Best Birth Control for PCOS Heavy Periods or Irregular Cycles

If you are struggling with heavy and irregular periods, a good option to consider is a progestin-release IUD.

Example: Liletta, Mirena, Skyla, etc.

The use of a progestin-release IUD for PCOS can also be helpful in managing your symptoms thanks to the progestin it releases. In particular, this kind of birth control can give you the following benefits:

• More stable menstrual cycle
• Heavy and painful periods relief
• Reduced risk of endometrial cancer

Compared to combined contraceptives, these IUDs may not be as effective in managing high-androgen-related symptoms of PCOS, such as acne or hirsutism. So you should consider them if you are not struggling with such issues.

Potential negative effects can include nausea, headaches, and low sex drive.

Best Birth Control Pill for PCOS Weight Loss

As many of you should know, PCOS frequently causes weight gain due to hormonal imbalance and issues with insulin sensitivity, which frequently affect females with this condition. This often causes women with PCOS to seek effective weight management opportunities. And this might be one of the important considerations to keep in mind when selecting the best birth control pill for PCOS.

Although birth control doesn’t directly cause weight gain, hormones contained in it can have certain side effects, such as increased fluid retention due to increased estrogen and enhanced appetite caused by progestin. These side effects can hinder your weight loss progress. Thus, if you are looking for the best birth control pill for PCOS weight loss, you have two options to consider:

• Non-hormonal contraceptives - Options like a non-hormonal IUD for PCOS can be a good choice. Since they don’t contain hormones, they cannot affect your metabolism or appetite.
• Combined oral contraceptives - If you are struggling with hormonal imbalance and related symptoms but, at the same time, want to continue losing weight, it can be wise to pick COCs with lower estrogen doses. These contraceptives might be more weight-neutral. Yet, they still have anti-androgen properties important for managing PCOS symptoms.

Important Considerations for Choosing the Best Birth Control Pill for PCOS

PCOS birth control can be an effective tool for managing your condition and related symptoms. Yet, like any other medication, different types of contraceptives have their own side effects and considerations.

To name a few:

• Weight fluctuations
• Mood swings
• Spotting
• Blood clots
• Diabetes, etc.

Additionally, there might be special considerations concerning how your birth control interacts with other medications or your lifestyle and existing health conditions. Due to this reason, it’s important to seek medical advice and develop a personalized treatment plan that works best for you.

FAQ

Does birth control help with PCOS?

Yes, birth control is one of the primary treatment methods used to improve PCOS symptoms. First of all, contraception can help women with PCOS gain more control over their menstrual cycles and regulate them. Besides, some types of birth control have anti-androgenic properties and also help address hormonal imbalances.

What is the best birth control for PCOS?

Generally, there are three types of birth control used in PCOS females–combination, progestin-only, and non-hormonal contraceptives. Each of these birth control types has different mechanisms of work and different pros and cons. Thus, it’s impossible to name a single best solution for all females.

How do I choose the right PCOS birth control for me?

It’s important to consider your overall health condition and lifestyle and identify the key problems you want to address with your treatment. For example, if you want to decrease androgen levels and address symptoms like acne and hirsutism, you may want to choose combined contraceptives. Ideally, you should consult with a healthcare provider to choose the best option.

Conclusion

So, does birth control help with PCOS? Although PCOS is a chronic condition, it’s possible to improve its symptoms and support your health in the long run. Birth control is one of the most frequently assigned treatment methods that can be effective for managing your symptoms.

Depending on your overall health profile and goals, different types of contraceptives can help you achieve your health objectives. After reading this guide, you should be able to navigate different types of birth control better. Use this knowledge to find the best treatment solution for you. But don’t forget to consult with a doctor.

{{pink-banner}}