How Does Contraceptive Pills Work for PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that affects 1 in 10 women during their childbearing years. Your endocrine system has glands that regulate your hormones like testosterone and oestrogen abd when you have PCOS, your body produces more of the male sex hormone, testosterone.
The disorder gets its name from how it affects your ovaries: PCOS impacts ovarian function and can cause cysts to develop.
Symptoms of PCOSBecause it is a hormonal disorder, PCOS causes several different symptoms with one of the main ones being infertility. Women who have PCOS may find it difficult to become pregnant without medical help. Additional symptoms include:
- Severe abdominal pain
- Irregular periods
- Acne
- Weight gain
- Mood swings
- Thinning hair
- Insulin resistance
- Excess body and facial hair
Pregnancy occurs when your hormones release an egg from your ovary and that egg becomes fertilised by sperm. The release of an egg is the part of the menstrual cycle called ‘ovulation.’ Hormonal birth control pills contain the female sex hormones estrogen and progestin that stop ovulation from occurring.
Since hormonal birth control has female sex hormones in it, taking them can help women with PCOS rebalance their hormones and suffer fewer symptoms.
Main Types of Birth Control PillsCombination birth control pills have oestrogen and progestin. They most often come in conventional packs that have 21 active pills and 7 inactive placebo pills. With conventional packs, you will get your period during the week you take the inactive pills. You can also take continuous packs that have fewer or no inactive pills, limiting how often you’ll get your period.
The minipill is birth control that only has progestin. These pills have a lower dose of progestin than combination pills and the packs don’t contain any inactive pills (so fewer periods!). The minipill is usually prescribed to women who smoke or are over the age of 35.
Both types of birth control pills can help reduce the often painful and uncomfortable symptoms of PCOS. To get birth control pills like Zoely, Logynon, and Yacella online in the UK from Pharmacy Planet. With us, it couldn’t be any easier or more convenient to have birth control delivered to your door.
Authored By
HARMINDER ‘HARMY’ KAUR
BSc(hons) Pharmacy
GPhC Number: 2061107
Reviewed By
GURDEV SEHMI
BSc Pharm, MRPharmS, Independent Prescriber, Superintendent Pharmacist, Clinical Lead
GPhC Number: 2050925