With so many birth control methods to choose from, you want to make sure you’re getting the one that’s best for you and has the most manageable side effects. A common side effect many people experience when starting a new birth control is changes to their menstrual cycle, which can affect the length of your period, the time between each cycle, and even the complete loss of your period for months at a time. So to know which birth control can affect your menstrual cycle, read up on some of the popular birth control methods, and be sure to keep track of your cycle and period if you’re sexually active.
Birth Control Pills
With pretty much every hormonal birth control pill, there is a chance of spotting and irregular periods as a side effect due to the hormones administered. Spotting and irregular periods are most common if you have a progestin only pill, rather than one that has a combination of progestin and estrogen.
Hormonal and Copper IUDs
Intrauterine devices, or IUDs, are small devices that can be inserted directly into the uterus by your doctor and can prevent pregnancy for 3 to 7 years. Hormonal IUDs administer localized hormones to just your uterus and may cause irregular or lighter periods. Comparatively, copper IUDs may lead your period to get heavier, last longer, and be more painful, though this can subside within a few months
Condoms and Single Use Birth Control
Single-use non-hormonal birth control like condoms will not affect your period and are probably the best birth control option when it comes to side effects, as there aren’t really any if used correctly! Condoms will have no hormonal side effects and are the only over-the-counter birth control that will protect you from both STIs and pregnancy. You can use condoms on their own, or with other hormonal birth control like the pill or IUDs for extra protection.
Should I Talk to My Doctor?
If you’ve been experiencing changes in your menstrual cycle and period that last longer than 3 to 6 months on your birth control, you might want to talk to your doctor. There may be another birth control option that works better for you and your lifestyle and has more manageable side effects when it comes to your period.
