Adolescent Hormonal Contraceptive Use

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Hormonal contraceptives are birth control medicines. These medicines help prevent pregnancy. Hormonal contraceptives may also decrease bleeding and pain during your child's monthly period.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Give your child's medicine as directed:

Call your child's primary healthcare provider if you think the medicine is not working as expected. Tell him if your child is allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs your child takes. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why they are taken. Bring the list or the medicines in their containers to follow-up visits. Carry your child's medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists.

Follow up with your child's primary healthcare provider as directed:

Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your child's visits.

Types of hormonal contraceptives:

Hormonal contraceptives may contain one or both of the female hormones. Both estrogen and progesterone are found in combined oral contraceptives (COC), the skin patch, and the vaginal ring. Progesterone-only contraceptives include the mini-pill, and injectable hormone medication. Talk to your child's primary healthcare provider about what birth control is best for her.

• COCs: These medicines may have the same or different levels of hormones in each pill. Pills with different hormone levels must be taken in the right order. The following are common types of COCs:
  
  
  • 21-pill pack: One pill is taken each day for 21 days. No pill is taken for the 7 days that follow. Once this schedule is complete, a new pill pack is started.
    
    
  • 28-pill pack: One pill is taken every day for 28 days. This pill pack contains 21 pills that have with hormones and 7 reminder pills that do not have hormones. A new pack is started after the old one is finished.
    
    
  • Extended-cycle pill: One pill is taken each day for 12 weeks. This kind of birth control decreases the number of periods your child has in a year. At the end of 12 weeks a new pack is started.
  
  
• Mini-pill: This type of birth control pill comes in packs of 28 pills. One pill is taken each day until the pack is finished. A new pack may then be started. The pills are taken whether or not your child has her monthly period. Mini-pills may help reduce weight gain, breast pain, and mood changes that can happen during the monthly period.
  
  
• Skin patch: This is a thin patch that contains hormones and sticks to your child's skin. The patch is placed on the buttocks, outside of the upper arm, upper torso, or lower abdomen. The patch is changed once a week for 3 weeks. The fourth week is a patch-free week when your child's menstrual period will occur. Your child will be able to do sports and other activities such as showering or bathing while she wears the patch.
  
  
• Vaginal ring: This is a small, flexible, ring-shaped device that is placed into your child's vagina. It does not need to be fitted or placed by a doctor. Your child inserts the vaginal ring by herself. It is worn for 3 weeks and taken out on the fourth week. Your child will get a menstrual period when the ring is removed.
  
  
• Injectable hormonal contraception: These are shots given in the muscle of the upper arm or buttocks. The first shot is given within 5 to 7 days from the start of your child's menstrual period. A shot is given every 12 weeks. If your child forgets an appointment or needs to postpone an injection, it can still be given up to 2 weeks late. Injections can also be given 2 weeks early if needed.

Risks of hormonal contraceptives:

Hormonal contraceptives may not prevent pregnancy, even if they are taken as directed. Your child may not want to take the medicine because of side effects, such as mood changes or weight gain. Other medicines, such as antibiotics, can decrease how well the contraceptive works. Hormonal contraception does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. If your child uses a skin path, the skin around the area may become red, itchy, or irritated. The patch may not work as well for women who weigh more than 198 pounds. The vaginal ring may be uncomfortable. It may come out by accident if your child strains to have a bowel movement. It may also come out when your child removes a tampon or has sex.

Contact your child's primary healthcare provider if:

• Your child misses or forgets to take one or more birth control pills.
  
  
• Your child has an upset stomach or throws up after she starts to use hormonal contraceptives.
  
  
• Your child has vaginal bleeding or spotting more than usual after she starts to use hormonal contraceptives.
  
  
• You or your child have questions or concerns about hormonal contraceptives.

Seek care immediately or call 911 if:

• Your child has severe abdominal pain.
  
  
• Your child has a severe headache.
  
  
• Your child has blurred vision, sees flashing lights, or starts to lose her vision.
  
  
• Your child has severe leg pain.
  
  
• Your child has chest pain or shortness of breath.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.