How utilize mental health support

Having a support system in place can be a great way to make sure you’re ready for the inevitable ups and downs of life.

It doesn’t have to look like what you expect

Is there someone in your life you would feel comfortable sharing your struggles with? It doesn’t have to be the person you might feel you’re expected to turn to. Maybe the person who usually falls into the best friend category for you is a little high-strung, and opening up the question of mental health support with that person feels harder than not asking for help at all right now. That’s okay, and it doesn’t mean that person isn’t important to you. There may be someone else in your life who is a better listener, or someone who has more time for you. Maybe it’s a casual friend that can help you the most right now. You can try to turn that casual friendship into a more serious one by opening up, and sometimes this is a great opportunity.

Get specific

Asking for help is hard, and getting too specific about what kind of help you need can feel even harder, but even the people in your life who know you best can’t read your mind. If you’re having a hard time, and thinking you’ll do better reaching out and asking for help, sitting down and making a short list of exactly what might help you out – anything from a more general “please don’t ask me about,” a certain subject, “I’ll tell you when I’m ready,” to the more specific, “I need to take a break from cooking at night until things quiet down at work” – can help whoever it is you’re asking for help figure out the best way to support you.

Give a little to get a little

The strongest support system is one that’s mutually supportive. This can be tricky in moments when you’re the person who needs help, but it’s important to remember that by sharing vulnerability, you are offering friends, family, and others the chance to feel more open to sharing their own vulnerabilities or insecurities. Maybe you have that one friend who acts like a superhero, and always seems to be completely on top of things, even when their life is full of challenges and changes. It can be hard to feel comfortable sharing when you’re having trouble with a friend like that – but if you hide it every time you’re having trouble, they may feel the same way about you.

Asking for help can feel selfish, but everyone needs help at some point. If you make a point of reminding the people in your life that you’re committed to being there for them in the best way you can when it’s their turn, you’re offering the chance to deepen your relationship. Actively listening to what’s going on in the lives of the people in your support network, and doing your best to offer the kind of support they need isn’t just offering that chance, it’s taking an active part in maintaining and developing that relationship.

Think outside the box

Your support system doesn’t have to just consist of people you already know. For one thing, depending on why or how you’re starting to feel overwhelmed, talking to a therapist or looking for a support group can be a great place to get started, especially if you’re not sure how to bring the subject up with the people in your life already. Taking a step like this can make whatever you’re coping with feel more real – and sometimes that’s exactly what you need, as a reminder that your feelings are valid.

You also don’t need to talk to everyone in your life about everything that’s going on in your life. If opening up a big conversation about how you’re feeling seems out of reach, try just asking for help in a simple way. A friend may be willing to help you out if you ask them to carpool to get your toddler to dance class. Your sister may be perfectly happy to take the reins on planning the next family event.

Practice these daily routines to help with managing depression

Sometimes, it’s easy to be harder on yourself than you’d ever allow or want yourself to be with someone else, especially when you’re dealing with depression. When you feel like this, picking some of the people in your life who you love, and who love you, and trying to talk to yourself the way you’d want someone to talk to those people if they were having a hard time can be a good frame for speaking generously to yourself. Like “fake it till you make it,” the way people speak to themselves inside their heads can have a huge impact of the way they think about themselves, and the way they feel, and can easily turn into feedback loops of bad feelings. Making a point to speak to yourself kindly can help to pull you out of the loop of speaking unkindly to yourself in a way that you internalize and feel worse because of.

Some suggestions for dealing with depression – or even most of them – can feel too simple to make much difference, or so often-repeated that it can feel like they can’t possibly make a difference. It’s true that no single one of these strategies may bring an end to depression, but finding the combination that works for you, in conjunction with the type of treatment that works best with your body chemistry and lifestyle, can make a big difference in helping you start to feel better.

Get it out there

Writing in a journal can offer an outlet for getting emotions out without opening them to any judgement, and can give you a way to keep track of your thoughts and notice any patterns in them. For example, do certain thought-patterns seem to go along with more severe depressive symptoms? That’s good information to have, and so is any strategy you might notices for steering your thoughts in other directions.

For endorphins’ sake

Getting into a regular exercise schedule is one of the most common pieces of advice when it comes to managing depression, and in turn, it’s one of the most dismissed pieces of advice. It’s true that exercise isn’t a magic bullet for depression, but getting outside and moving around on a regular basis has a whole host of benefits that can contribute to starting to feeling better. Between the sun, the change of scenery, the endorphins, and the fresh air, anything from a walk around the block to training for a marathon can be a healthy part of managing depression.

Treatment

Depression is a medical condition, but there’s a lot of stigma around it. Some may mistakenly characterize it as a personal problem, and to be resistant to seeking out treatment from professionals. If depression is negatively affecting your quality of life, seek help. Medication, psychotherapy, or some combination of the two, can have a huge positive impact on your life. Just like with these informal strategies, finding the treatment plan that works well for you can take some trial and error, and figuring out how to be patient with yourself and your medical team will be an important part of the process.

Setting up a pattern

Having a strong routine in your life  can help you demonstrate to yourself what you’re capable of, especially when you’re having an especially hard time. It can help to keep self-care tasks from slipping during difficult episodes, and when depression does become severe enough to interfere with routines, having those routines set up to begin as a control can show how much is changing.

General physical health

A lack of physical health doesn’t cause depression, but it can certainly contribute to it. Making sure to eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep (but notice if you find yourself sleeping more and more often), avoiding alcohol and street drugs can help keep you in your best shape possible to combat depression.

Reach out

Often, during periods of strong depression, spending time with people can be one of the early things that gets cut out. Isolating yourself can create a feedback loop of bad feelings, though, whereas spending time with someone, even if the sound of that feels exhausting, can be a way to get out of your own head a bit. Making a point to reach out to people who feel restful or helpful to you during this time, instead of the people who may ask more from your energy reserves, can help to make social experiences during periods of depression more meaningful and positive.

Fake it till you make it

Sometimes, especially during a spell of depression, putting on a can-do attitude – even if it’s not how you feel – is a great way to get through a difficult or challenging day, from a huge family gathering to coordinating with an electrician or landlord over an unexpected wiring problem in your house, to a normal day of work at a time when you just don’t think you can do it. One of the reasons faking it till you make it works is that putting on an attitude can help to infect you with some of the feelings you’re putting on, but that benefit also comes with a caution. It’s also key for you to know and understand how you’re really feeling. Denial about depression can mean putting off making the changes that can help you feel better.

Other things to consider

Depression can make even the simplest tasks feel more challenging, and managing changes to your life, routine, and comfort zone when you’re experiencing depression can feel like an especially dangerous game. Making changes can help you feel out the shifts in your routine that can better support your changes in mood, attitude, and mental health, though. Dealing with depression means that you may be able to benefit from a certain amount of extra support, but by making changes in your own life, some of that support can come directly from you.

Signs of depression and when to talk to a doctor about it

Most people experience majority of the symptoms of depression at some point in their lives, to one degree or another, and it can be hard to tell which moods and feelings are symptoms of disorders which require treatment. For this reason, many people who do have depression or other mood disorders are diagnosed many years after noticing symptoms, or are never diagnosed or treated at all.

Watch out for these symptoms and signs of depression

There are a wide range of symptoms of depression, and some of them are physical, which can make it easier for some people to figure out how and when to reach out and ask for help. Both physical and emotional symptoms may be signs of depression if they last for two weeks or longer. Physical symptoms of depression include:

• Changes in sleep, whether that’s sleeping more often than usual, or insomnia
• A loss of appetite, or increased craving for food, causing either over- or under-eating
• A loss of sex drive
• Tiredness or lack of energy
• Aches and pains or headaches with no obvious cause

The emotional effects of depression can vary widely, from a consistent level of negative feelings all the way to feeling suicidal or hopeless. Emotional symptoms of depression can include:

• Feelings of sadness, hopelessness or feeling on the edge of tears
• Anger, irritability, or frustration, especially anger or frustration that feels excessive to events
• A loss of interest or pleasure in favorite things or interests
• Slowed thoughts, speaking and movements
• Agitation, twitchiness or restlessness
• Feelings of guilt, inability to let go of past mistakes or blame
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Thoughts of suicide should be treated as a medical emergency and you should go to your local emergency room right away.

Depression can be caused and set off by different things at different times. Sometimes depression is triggered  more by life events and stressors. Other times, it’s more determined by brain chemistry, regardless of life and stressors. Often, it’s some combination of the two. In any case, when depression affects your life, reaching out to a healthcare provider  for treatment and support is one of the best ways to start to work towards recovery.

Talking to your provider

Depression is a serious condition, and not something that one snaps out of by force of will. The earlier treatment starts, the faster and more effectively one can begin to start feeling better.

Primary care providers tend to be the first line of defense against depression. Starting the conversation about your mental health with the healthcare provider you’re the most comfortable with is never a bad idea, but it’s also good to remember that most PCPs don’t specialize in mental health treatment, and mental health providers like psychiatrists can be fantastic resources as you start to figure out what your needs around treatment are.

Dear Ovia, My husband and I have been trying for a third kid for the last year and a half. He wants to stop trying and says it’s taking away from us appreciating the beautiful babies we do have. But I’ve always dreamed of a big family and I don’t feel ready to give that up. 

First of all, secondary infertility isn’t something we talk about enough — and I hope this answer helps you know for certain that you’re not alone! 

So many families hesitate to talk about fertility struggles. And when you’re already parents you may feel the social pressure to just be grateful for the kiddos you have (which I am sure you are!). I’m here to tell you that feeling like there is an empty seat at your family’s table is a valid feeling whether you have 0, 1, 2, 3 or 9 children. The tough part is that you’re both having valid feelings — and they’re not the same. There may be middle ground in taking a break from TTC for a period of time or continuing to try for “X” number of months before starting a break. 

At the end of the day, it sounds like expanding your family is something that would make you both happy if it could happen with the wave of a wand. So, try to focus your conversations with him around the challenges of the journey (the process of TTC), rather than the destination (the decision to have another baby).

In any case, you need an ongoing and open dialogue, but it can be hard to find a good and private time to talk (especially when you have other children in the house). It’s common for people to either avoid tough subjects or to bring them up at times that are not conducive to conversation (like when you’re getting into bed). 

If you’re avoiding the conversation or one of you is bringing it up at less-than-ideal times, it’s essential that you create a space where you can both actively listen to each other. Try scheduling some time to talk, that way you can both come to the conversation prepared to share and listen. 

Having a disagreement hanging over your heads makes the whole situation more stressful.

Some tips:

• Avoid talking about it before bed when everyone is tired and sex is on the table. 
• Sometimes a drive is helpful because you have a little bit of emotional distance, can break endless eye contact, and sex is (usually) off the table. 
• Agreeing on how to move forward may take more than one discussion, but it should be simple to make a plan for more chats. Breathe, you’ve got this. 
• Fertility journeys start, pause, and end for a variety of reasons, and it often takes a toll. It’s always okay to look for more support from family, friends, or professionals. 

More from this series

• Dear Ovia, My partner isn’t sure if he wants kids
• Male fertility testing

What you can control

Timing of intercourse or introducing sperm

Making a baby is all about timing and, thankfully, you have control over how often and when you have sex or introduce sperm. Checking your cervical fluid and tracking your basal body temperature can help you know when you are ovulating to maximize your chances of success. For couples TTC through intercourse, the highest rates of pregnancy happen for those who have sex every day or every other day during the fertile window, which is the day of ovulation plus the 5 days beforehand. 

Your health

Having a healthy body is important overall, and it’s no different for baby making. This goes for your partner too. Having healthy habits such as eating nutritious food and integrating movement into your day can help prime your body for when you finally do get that positive test. Cutting down on alcohol and caffeine, avoiding smoking, and taking a folic acid supplement can help in your efforts to get pregnant.

Your mindset

It’s common to feel sad or frustrated when you’ve been TTC for a while with no results. Even if it’s taking a little longer than expected, with practice you can aspects of how you think about the situation. Staying relaxed and having a positive attitude can help make the process a little easier. And if you just rolled your eyes, we hear you. There are some specific things you can do to improve your mindset like talking to a therapist and setting boundaries around work. Even spending time outside has been shown to increase happiness.

Things you can’t control

How long it will take

Although it would be nice to have a crystal ball and know exactly when conception will happen, unfortunately there’s just no way to know for sure. Studies show that most couples (about 84%) will get pregnant within their first year of trying. This is reassuring, but of course, every person is different. Some may get pregnant on their first try while others may take 6 months or more.

Your fertility

Having a condition that affects fertility is not your fault. About 12% of women ages 15- 44  have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term. And even though it’s common, struggling to conceive can feel extremely isolating. It’s essential that you have a support system and/or a professional to speak with. 

When your friends get pregnant before you

When you’ve been TTC with no luck, hearing of a friend’s pregnancy can be bittersweet. Of course, you’re happy for your friend, but you may also feel a sense of sadness. Acknowledging your feelings, focusing on self-care, and remaining optimistically realistic can all be helpful in moving forward.

Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team

Sources

Mayo Clinic Staff. “How to get pregnant.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic. October 5, 2019. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/getting-pregnant/in-depth/how-to-get-pregnant/art-20047611.

“Trying to get pregnant.” National Health Service. NHS. December 2, 2020. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/trying-for-a-baby/trying-to-get-pregnant/.

“How long does it usually take to get pregnant?” National Health Service. NHS. September 4, 2018. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/trying-for-a-baby/how-long-it-takes-to-get-pregnant/.

We meditated with Faith Hunter, learned about the importance of sleep with Angela Holliday-Bell, and participated in a healing, positive affirmation exercise with Leasa Wright.

Here are the most important moments from the event, hosted by Denise Albert, in case you weren’t able to attend.

A short, guided meditation session on how to help reduce stress with Faith Hunter

Breath work gives us the ability to center ourselves. Faith led us in a breathing exercise that you can do at home, here’s how:

• Take your right hand, close your index and middle finger towards your palm
• Take your right thumb and use it to close your right nostril 
• Breath in through your left nostril
• Close off your left nostril with your ring finder 
• Release your right nostril 
• Exhale through your right nostril
• Inhale through your right nostril
• Close it off
• Exhale through your left nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril
• Repeat

Stress management and self-care with Dinah Eke, Amanda McKay, and Brooke Davis 

Dinah, Amanda, and Brooke discussed the importance of taking small moments in the middle of the day to be mindful. Check in with yourself: How are you feeling? Are you drinking enough water? Are you getting a little movement? Are you getting outside? Take a little time for yourself.

When it comes to practical ways to destress, there are two options: address the stress head-on or escape it through distraction.

Dinah offered some advice about the way list-making helps her de-stress. Just writing down the thoughts that are leading to stress can makes it feel more manageable. And when you just need to escape the stress, Amanda recommends distracting yourself away by getting outside, listening to a podcast, or just laying down for a moment. 

And remember, it’s OK to bring other people into the conversation. Ask for help from family and friends. Ask for flexibility from your manager.

Wellness check with Elaine Bishop

Signs that you are experiencing an amount of stress that could be damaging to your mental health:

• Overwhelming feelings of sadness 
• Difficulty enjoying things you used to enjoy
• Relationship changes: are you having more trouble reading other people’s social signals? Are you declining social invitations more than usual?
• Appetite changes: Are you experiencing significant increased or decreased appetite?
• Substance use: Are you turning to drink more often than before? Are you developing feelings of dependence?
• Thoughts of harming yourself 

If you are feeling any of these feelings, know that there is help. Try contacting the National Alliance on Mental Illness either by phone at: 1800-950-6264 or by email at: info@nami.org.

Tips from physician and sleep specialist, Dr. Holliday-Bell

The first step to getting better sleep is prioritizing better sleep. Better sleep helps reduce stress. Dr. Holliday-Bell outlined a few specific tips:

• Decide on a bedtime and wake time
• Stick to a consistent schedule (weekends count too!)
• Create a relaxing, 30-60 min bedtime routine
• Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool
• Master a relaxation technique (like deep breathing)

Breath work and affirmation practice with Leasa Wright 

We closed out Stressless Fest with a series of affirmations from Leasa Wright. To try and reduce stress levels, practice this at home. Close your eyes and think of a happy memory or a happy place. Then repeat out loud to yourself:

• I live in my truth
• I boldly and freely express myself
• I follow my dreams
• I welcome goodness; I welcome love 

This may feel uncomfortable at first, but after a few rounds of these affirmations, the Stressless Fest attendees felt calmer, lighter, and more confident. We hope you will too!

Sponsored by Airwick, Enfamil, and Beyond Yoga 

Stress and fertility

Stress interferes with fertility because when you’re experiencing chronic stressors, your brain produces more hormones like cortisol and epinephrine, which can interfere with your ovulation. More importantly, stress can impact other factors such as weight problems, sleep deprivation, and lack of sex drive. All of these can significantly interfere with fertility and make conception more difficult, which is where yoga comes in play.

Yoga and other athletic pursuits are an important part of weight and stress management, which in turn, can lead to higher fertility rates and greater chance at conceiving. The stretching and breath techniques practiced during yoga can help relieve stress by releasing endorphins, your body’s “feel-good” hormones.

Physical benefits of yoga

• Slow your mind and release stress and tension: Practicing gentle yoga such as Hatha or Kripalu once a day, alongside other activities such as meditating, allows your body to get rid of all your daily stressors and increase wellness.
• Strengthens your pelvic floor: These muscles are essential for pregnancy and even your sex life. Squats are a good way to help tone these integral muscles.
• Aligns your hips, pelvis, and lower back: Positions such as bridge facilitate lower body alignment and stimulates your endocrine and immune systems.
• Brings you closer to your partner: Yoga can wring out your insides and release emotion, helping connect and build emotional and physical strength with your partner.

Read more

• 5 herbs to boost fertility
• Can fertility supplements help me conceive?

Sources

• Smith C, Hancock H, Blake-Mortimer J, Eckert K. “A randomised comparative trial of yoga and relaxation to reduce stress and anxiety.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 15(2):77-83. Web. June is 7, 2015.
• Gyorgy Csemiczky, Britt-Marie Landgren, Aila Collins. “The influence of stress and state anxiety on the outcome of IVF-treatment: Psychological and endocrinological assessment of Swedish women entering IVF-treatment.” Acta Obstetrica et Gynecologica Scandinavica. Volume 79, Issue 2, pages 113-118. Web. December 24, 2001.
• Louis GM, Lum KJ, Sundaram R, Chen Z, Kim S, Lynch CD, Schisterman EF, Pyper C. “Stress reduces conception probabilities across the fertile window: evidence in support of relaxation.” Fertility & Sterility. 95(7):2184-9. Web. June 11, 2015.

Common misconceptions and facts about birth control

How many of these facts did you already know? Take a look at common misconceptions and vital facts about birth control.

“The pill” doesn’t just describe one single kind of pill.

The name might suggest that it’s just one single medication, but “the pill” actually includes a number of different kinds of oral contraceptives. There are two main varieties of the pill — combination pills, which contain estrogen and progestin, and the minipill, which contains only progestin. And each type comes in a variety of doses, brands and generics. Conventional packs lead to a period every month, whereas continuous dosing/extended cycle packs lead to a period once every three or more months. With so many options to choose from, many people can find a form of the pill that’s a good fit.

Most birth control doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Many types of birth control do a fantastic job at preventing pregnancy — IUDs and the birth control implant are 99% effective! — but most birth control doesn’t protect against STIs. Male and female condoms are the only types of birth control that provide protection against STIs. They are not the most effective at preventing pregnancy — 85% and 79%, respectively — so it’s often a good idea to use more than one contraception in order to both prevent pregnancy and protect against STIs. Just don’t use male and female condoms together. They can rub against each other and break or slip, making them much less effective at protecting against both pregnancy and STIs.

You can use the pill to skip your period.

And it’s safe to do so. Essentially, you can skip taking the hormone-free “reminder” pills found at the end of a pack and instead take the first week of active pills in the next pack to skip your period. Some people do this so they don’t have to deal with getting their period on a special occasion or during travel. Others do it to skip out on pain or discomfort during their period. If you take the pill and are interested in skipping your period, just be sure to check in with your healthcare provider to understand how to do so with your specific brand.

The morning-after pill isn’t just for the morning after.

The name may suggest that you need to use the morning-after pill (or “emergency contraception”) right away to lessen your chance of getting pregnant after unprotected intercourse. But, technically, you have a little more time to do so — some brands of morning-after pill can be taken up to 72 hours (or 3 days) after intercourse, others for up to 120 hours (or 5 days) after. It is worth noting that the morning-after pill is most effective the sooner it’s taken because the hormones in it keep your body from ovulating — no ovulation, no pregnancy. Depending on where you live, the morning-after pill may be available over the counter or as a prescription. Just be aware: some studies suggest that these pills may be less effective at preventing pregnancy for people with higher body weights. In addition, many combination birth control pills can be used as emergency contraception if you have them at home. Talk to your provider about what option is best for you.

Some birth control is approved for use for up to 10 years.

The copper IUD is approved for use for 10 years to prevent pregnancy! The small T-shaped device is inserted into the uterus, and once in place, it can safely stay there for a decade. It can always be removed sooner, after which, it is possible to get pregnant right away. Because many people use this as a long-acting, reversible form of birth control, depending on your insurance, it may also come with the added perk of being cost-effective.

Hormonal birth control can be used for much more than just to prevent pregnancy.

42% of people who take the pill do so exclusively to prevent pregnancy. The other 58% take the pill for other reasons as well. Hormonal birth control can be used to help with irregular or particularly uncomfortable periods — heavy periods, lengthy periods, heavy cramping and discomfort, or pain and other health problems related to endometriosis — or even mood disorders and acne. Hormonal birth control can improve quality of life for those suffering from some of these conditions.

That’s the overview of important birth control facts and common misconceptions. If you want to learn more, or have questions about what sort of birth control might be right for you, be sure to speak with your healthcare provider.

And if you’re taking the pill or have an IUD, add it to your Ovia profile!

Read more about your birth control options

• Which birth control option is right for you?
• Finding the birth control method that works for you

Sources

• “Barrier Methods of Birth Control: Spermicide, Condom, Sponge, Diaphragm, and Cervical Cap.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, May 2018. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/contraception/barrier-methods-of-birth-control-spermicide-condom-sponge-diaphragm-and-cervical-cap.
• “Birth Control.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, May 2019. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/especially-for-teens/birth-control.
• “Combined Hormonal Birth Control: Pill, Patch, and Ring.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, March 2018. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/contraception/combined-hormonal-birth-control-pill-patch-and-ring.
• “Contraceptive Use.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 21 2019. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/contraceptive.htm.
• “Emergency Contraception.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, May 2019. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/contraception/emergency-contraception.
• “IUD.” Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood, Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/iud.
• “Long-Acting Reversible Contraception: Intrauterine Device and Implant.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, January 2018. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/contraception/long-acting-reversible-contraception-intrauterine-device-and-implant.
• “Plan B morning-after pill.” Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-massachusetts/online-health-center/planned-parenthood-services-birth-control-abortion-std-hiv-pregnancy-health-care/emergency-contraception-plan-b.

Birth control myths, debunked

We’re here to set the record straight by debunking some widespread myths and help you get closer to finding the best birth control method for you!

MYTH: Hormonal birth control makes you gain weight

Birth control might make you retain water, but it doesn’t make you gain weight. It’s not uncommon to gain a little weight as a result of retaining water when starting hormonal birth control, but this side effect typically goes away quickly. Some hormonal birth control may come with other side effects, like an increased appetite or feeling bloated, but there’s no proven association between hormonal birth control and longer term weight gain. (One exception is the birth control shot [Depo Provera], which for some patients has been shown to have longer-term weight gain as a side effect.) As with all birth control, if you’re concerned about or if you experience any side-effects, you should speak with your healthcare provider to see if there’s another option that might be a better fit for you. It could just be a matter of switching to a similar birth control with a different combination of hormones.

MYTH: All pills are created equal

There are many different types of birth control pills. Combination pills contain estrogen and progestin, whereas the minipill contains only progestin — both options come in a variety of doses. Some pills are organized in conventional packs and you can expect a period every month, others are continuous dosing/extended cycle packs with a period once every three months. There’s a wealth of different pills to choose from, brand name options and generic options.

Birth control pills have different benefits and side effects. For people with certain medical conditions, sometimes the pill is not a good fit. Your healthcare provider can help you learn more.

MYTH: Taking birth control can negatively affect your fertility

Birth control use — whether used for a short time or long-term — doesn’t affect your fertility. After using certain hormonal birth control methods, you may need to wait a few months before your menstrual cycle will return to normal so you can get pregnant. But there’s no evidence that birth control presents any long-term fertility issues, and some people get pregnant right away after stopping the pill.

MYTH: Using the pill to skip your period isn’t good for you

While you should check with your healthcare provider about the specifics for your birth control pill, it’s entirely safe to skip your period. It’s also very easy. Just take a pill that includes hormones every day and skip the hormone-free “reminder” pills at the end of a pack. Some people like to skip their period if it’s going to fall on a special occasion — like on a vacation or while traveling — others opt for this option to avoid period discomfort. Regardless of the reason you’d like to skip yours, you may experience a little bit of spotting, which is normal.

MYTH: Long term use of hormonal birth control isn’t healthy

Hormonal birth controls aren’t necessarily a good fit for everyone — certain health conditions might increase the risks associated with using specific birth control pills, or the pill in general. But hormonal birth control is a very good fit for a lot of people. It can even help certain people feel better. For those with particularly irregular or uncomfortable periods — a heavy period, lengthy periods, heavy cramping and discomfort, or pain and other health problems related to endometriosis — hormonal birth control can improve quality of life, with lighter, shorter, more regular, more comfortable periods.

MYTH: Birth control’s primary use is to prevent pregnancy

Certainly, a lot of people use birth control to prevent pregnancy — and as the name suggests that’s the primary reason many people might use it. But many take birth control for other reasons already mentioned — like to have a more comfortable or more regular period and relieve major pain and discomfort — and for even to help improve mood or acne. Everyone has their own reasons for wanting to use birth control, and no matter your reason, a healthcare provider can help you find the type of birth control that’s a good fit for you.

And if you’re taking the pill or have an IUD, add it to your Ovia profile!

Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team

Read more about birth control

• Are LARCs more popular than ever?
• Who should I talk to about birth control?

Sources

• “Birth Control.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, May 2019. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/especially-for-teens/birth-control.
• “Combined Hormonal Birth Control: Pill, Patch, and Ring.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, March 2018. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/contraception/combined-hormonal-birth-control-pill-patch-and-ring.
• “Contraceptive Use.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 21 2019. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/contraceptive.htm.
• “IUD.” Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood, Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/iud.
• “Long-Acting Reversible Contraception: Intrauterine Device and Implant.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, January 2018. Retrieved March 31 2020. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/contraception/long-acting-reversible-contraception-intrauterine-device-and-implant.