There are many types ofbirth control pillsavailable on the market today. The more recent evolution of the birth control pill includes continuous-cycle pills and extended-cycle pills.
Continuous- and extended-cycle birth control pills are types ofcombination birth control,meaning that they contain both estrogen andprogestin. Continuous cycle pills contain more pills per pack, which means that they can, depending on how they’re used:
Types of Continuous Birth Control Pills
There are three categories of extended-cycle birth control pills.
How Continuous Birth Control Works
Extended-cycle birth controlworks the same wayas otherhormonal contraceptionthat contains estrogen andprogestin(such as combination oral contraceptives, NuvaRing, andthe Ortho-Evra patch). If you don’t have a prescription for one of the extended-cycle pill types listed above, you can also use your regular28-day combination pillsor combination hormonal contraception as continuous birth control.
Safety
Research shows that continuous-cycle pills are safe to use. Experts assert that there’s no biological need to have a monthly period if you are using hormonal contraception.In fact, when you use hormonal birth control, you’re not getting a true period, but rather what’s termed a “pill bleed” or “withdrawal bleed.”
Continuous birth control pills have the sameside effectsand risks as your regular 28-day birth control pill packs—this is because they contain the same types of hormones. Continuous pills also offer the same high effectiveness.
One 2018 study found no clinically significant difference in the risk of venous thromboembolism (blood clots) with the continuous-cycle pills versus traditional cycle pills.
Benefits
Extended-cycle birth control pills offer you the samenon-contraceptive benefitsthat hormonal contraception does. But continuous birth control pills may be able to do even more. If you have period-related issues, continuous cycle pills can greatly improve your quality of life.They give you the control to lower the number of periods you have as well as how long your periods last. This could provide a lot of relief if you suffer from:
Even if you do not have difficult symptoms during your period, you may still want to choose to use continuous birth control for the following reasons:
A Word From Verywell
As with other hormonal contraceptives, you will need adoctor’s prescriptionto get continuous birth control pills. If you have certain health conditions, extended cycle pills may not be the safest contraceptive method for you to use. And remember that, even though these pills are effective at preventing pregnancy, continuous birth control pills do not provide you with any protection againstsexually transmitted infections.
Frequently Asked QuestionsContinuous birth control does not cause infertility. Studies show that long-term use of birth control does not have any negative effect on a woman’s ability to get pregnant. Once she stops taking birth control, her fertility will return to normal.Learn MoreWhen Does Fertility Return After Stopping Birth Control?The continuous birth control pill brands Seasonale, Quasense, Seasonique, and LoSeasonique give you one period every three months (four periods per year).Continuous birth control pills have the same side effects and risks that other 28-day birth control pills have. Side effects tend to occur during the first three months after starting new birth control pills and may include nausea, headaches, breast tenderness, spotting, and mood changes.Breakthrough bleeding while on birth control can happen when starting a new oral contraceptive or switching to a different one. It’s most likely nothing to be concerned about, but you should still tell your healthcare provider so that they can ensure there is not another underlying cause.Learn MoreSpotting Between Periods While On Birth Control
Frequently Asked Questions
Continuous birth control does not cause infertility. Studies show that long-term use of birth control does not have any negative effect on a woman’s ability to get pregnant. Once she stops taking birth control, her fertility will return to normal.Learn MoreWhen Does Fertility Return After Stopping Birth Control?
Continuous birth control does not cause infertility. Studies show that long-term use of birth control does not have any negative effect on a woman’s ability to get pregnant. Once she stops taking birth control, her fertility will return to normal.
Learn MoreWhen Does Fertility Return After Stopping Birth Control?
The continuous birth control pill brands Seasonale, Quasense, Seasonique, and LoSeasonique give you one period every three months (four periods per year).
Continuous birth control pills have the same side effects and risks that other 28-day birth control pills have. Side effects tend to occur during the first three months after starting new birth control pills and may include nausea, headaches, breast tenderness, spotting, and mood changes.
Breakthrough bleeding while on birth control can happen when starting a new oral contraceptive or switching to a different one. It’s most likely nothing to be concerned about, but you should still tell your healthcare provider so that they can ensure there is not another underlying cause.Learn MoreSpotting Between Periods While On Birth Control
Breakthrough bleeding while on birth control can happen when starting a new oral contraceptive or switching to a different one. It’s most likely nothing to be concerned about, but you should still tell your healthcare provider so that they can ensure there is not another underlying cause.
Learn MoreSpotting Between Periods While On Birth Control
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lo Loestrin Fe prescribing information. Irvine, CA: Allergan USA, Inc.; 2017.
Li J, Panucci G, Moeny D, Liu W, Maro JC, Toh S, Huang TY.Association of risk for venous thromboembolism with use of low-dose extended- and continuous-cycle combined oral contraceptives: A safety study using the Sentinel Distributed Database.JAMA Internal Medicine. 2018 Nov 1;178(11):1482-8. doi:10.1001%2Fjamainternmed.2018.4251
Girum T, Wasie A.Return of fertility after discontinuation of contraception: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Contracept Reprod Med. 2018 Jul;3(1):9. doi:10.1186/s40834-018-0064-y
Brown.What are the side effects of birth control pills?.
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