Anywho, I couldn't find any one source that listed which birth control does what, so I am compiling everything I find here in one blog post.
IUDs
"How do intrauterine devices work?
The progesterone intrauterine device releases a constant low dose of a synthetic hormone continually throughout the day. Both the progesterone IUD and copper IUD prevent pregnancy in one of two ways:
- The released progesterone or copper creates changes in the cervical mucus and inside the uterus that kills sperm or makes them immobile.
- Changes the lining of the uterus, preventing implantation should fertilization occur."
Birth Control Pills
"The pill contains the hormones estrogen and progestin. It is taken daily to keep the ovaries from releasing an egg. The pill also causes changes in the lining of the uterus and the cervical mucus to keep the sperm from joining the egg."
Source: www.womenshealth.gov
"What Are Mini Pills?
These are pills that contain only one hormone (progestin). They do not contain estrogen and may be prescribed in women who are breastfeeding or in women who experience nausea with estrogen.
How Do Mini Pills Work?
Mini pills work by thickening the cervical mucus so the sperm cannot reach the egg. The hormone in the pills also changes the lining of the uterus, so that implantation of a fertilized egg is much less likely to occur. In some cases, mini pills stop ovulation (the release of an egg). A pill is taken every day."
The patch
"Also called by its brand name, Ortho Evra, this skin patch is worn on the lower abdomen, buttocks, outer arm, or upper body. It releases the hormones progestin and estrogen into the bloodstream to stop the ovaries from releasing eggs in most women. It also thickens the cervical mucus, which keeps the sperm from joining with the egg."
Source: www.womenshealth.gov
"The birth control shot often is called by its brand name Depo-Provera. With this method you get injections, or shots, of the hormone progestin in the buttocks or arm every 3 months. A new type is injected under the skin. The birth control shot stops the ovaries from releasing an egg in most women. It also causes changes in the cervix that keep the sperm from joining with the egg."
Source: www.womenshealth.gov
Vaginal ring
"This is a thin, flexible ring that releases the hormones progestin and estrogen. It works by stopping the ovaries from releasing eggs. It also thickens the cervical mucus, which keeps the sperm from joining the egg."
Source: www.womenshealth.gov
Voila. If the belief that life begins at conception, not implantation, is important to you, and you need or want birth control, you will want to choose a hormonal birth control that contains both estrogen and progestin and skip IUDs and the Mini Pill.
5 comments:
Thing is too, one thing I read is that breastfeeding can also do some of the things that birth control does in that ovulation can be delayed but the phase following can be shortened which means that there is the potential for a fertilized egg to be lost. So even that can be a concern when people push the whole life begins at conception. I stopped using birth control due to my concerns about it but still breastfeed and I wonder about it at times.
For me the health benefits of breastfeeding my children outweighs the possibility that a fertilized egg misses implantation. All kinds of things can effect the implantation of an egg, including vigorous exercise. One could go mad thinking about all the possibilities. It is very natural for a fertilized egg to pass through the body like a regular menstruation and for the woman to never have known the difference. That's why I personally think it is safer to be concerned with implantation.
I totally agree with you on this though now with my age and the family history of clot issues (dad had a stroke, older sister had heart attack, younger sister had a clot while on BC pills), I have even more of a reason to avoid hormonal birth control.
I use Mirena, which is an IUD. It has made my world so much better! No more periods, except a minor spot now and then, no bloating, and no cramps. I looked up how it works:
Thicken cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering your uterus
Inhibit sperm from reaching or fertilizing your egg
Make the lining of your uterus thin
I guess the thinning of the uterus lining would be akin to losing a fertilized egg, if the Superman sperm made it through the first two roadblocks.
:-)
I like my copper iud because I won't have to think about it for years and years but it didn't require yet another surgery like Essure. Also, I'm okay with a fertilized egg being lost, because fertilized eggs get lost all the time. An implanted egg being lost would feel differently to me, but even then, it would depend on the age. Even though I considered all 3 of my children MINE the moment I saw those lines, I really do consider a 2 week embryo to be a collection of cells. At three weeks there is a spinal cord and rudimentary heart beat and then things start taking shape for me. Losing a 3 week pregnancy would hurt me more than a two week one. Losing a fertilized egg hurt me as a mother struggling with infertility, but I didn't feel like I had lost babies.
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