What is it?

The 84/7 combination pill is an oral contraceptive that contains two female sex hormones: estrogen and progestin. Seasonale* is an example of an 84/7 oral contraceptive.
* Seasonale is a registered trademark of of Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc, USA.

How effective are combination birth control pills?

Oral contraceptives are >99% effective when used as directed.

How often will I have my period?

This contraceptive option is designed so that you should have at least 84 scheduled period-free days each cycle. You should expect 4 scheduled periods each year.

How does it work?

Like other combination birth control pills, the 84/7 pill works by preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg each month. It also changes the uterine lining and changes the mucus produced by the cervix to slow the movement of sperm.

How is an 84/7 taken?

An “active” pill containing hormones is taken daily for 84 days, followed by 7 days of “inactive” pills containing no hormones.

Some things you should know:

• Reversible (not permanent)
• Periods are typically lighter and shorter than usual
• Over time your period will be more regular with less menstrual cramping
• May be associated with less acne and hirsutism
• Decreases the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer
• Woman over the age of 35 who smoke should not use it
• Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Requires a prescription

Common or important side effects:

• Some women may experience irregular bleeding or spotting
• Other common side effects are nausea, bloating, breast tenderness and headaches
• May increase the risk of blood clots
• For more information check out the section Is the pill right for you?

What is it?

The 24/4 combination pill is an oral contraceptive that contains two female sex hormones: estrogen and progestin. Yaz* is an example of a 24/4 oral contraceptive.
* Yaz is a registered trademark of Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany.

How effective are combination birth control pills?

Oral contraceptives are >99% effective when used as directed.

How often will I have my period?

This contraceptive option is designed so that you should have at least 24 scheduled period-free days each cycle. You should expect 13 scheduled periods each year.

How does it work?

Like other combination birth control pills, the 24/4 contraceptive works by preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg each month. It also changes the uterine lining and changes the mucus produced by the cervix to slow the movement of sperm.

How is a 24/4 taken?

An “active” pill containing hormones is taken daily for 24 days, followed by 4 days of “inactive” pills containing no hormones.

Some things you should know:

• Reversible (not permanent)
• Periods are typically lighter and shorter than usual
• Over time your period will be more regular with less menstrual cramping
• May be associated with less acne and hirsutism
• Decreases the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer
• Woman over the age of 35 who smoke should not use it
• Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Requires a prescription

Common or important side effects:

• Some women may experience irregular bleeding or spotting
• Other common side effects are nausea, bloating, breast tenderness and headaches
• May increase the risk of blood clots
• For more information check out the section Is the pill right for you?

What is it?

The 21/7 combination pill is an oral contraceptive that contains two female sex hormones: estrogen and progestin. Alesse, Yasmin and TriCyclen are examples of 21/7 combination oral contraceptives.*
* Alesse is a registered trademark of American Home Products Corporation, USA.
* Yasmin is a registered trademark of Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany.
* Tri-Cyclen is a registered trademark of Johnson & Johnson, USA.

How effective are combination birth control pills?

Oral contraceptives are >99% effective when used as directed.

How often will I have my period?

This contraceptive option is designed so that you have at least 21 scheduled period-free days each cycle. You should expect to have 13 scheduled periods each year.

How does it work?

The 21/7 pill works by preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg each month. It also changes the uterine lining and changes the mucus produced by the cervix to slow the movement of sperm.

How is 21/7 taken?

An “active” pill containing hormones is taken daily for 21 days, followed by 7 days of “inactive” pills containing no hormones (28-day pack) or 7 days off (21-day pack).

Some things you should know:

• Reversible (not permanent)
• Periods are typically lighter and shorter than usual
• Over time your period will be more regular with less menstrual cramping
• May be associated with less acne and hirsutism
• Decreases the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer
• Woman over the age of 35 who smoke should not use it
• Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Requires a prescription

Common or important side effects:

• Some women may experience irregular bleeding or spotting
• Other common side effects are nausea, bloating, breast tenderness and headaches
• May increase the risk of blood clots
• For more information check out the section Is the pill right for you?

What is it?

A flexible ring that is inserted into the vagina that contains estrogen and progestin. NuvaRing* is an example of a vaginal ring.
* NuvaRing is a registered trademark of N.V. Organon, Netherlands.

How effective is it?

The ring is >99% effective when used as directed.

How often will I have my period?

This contraceptive option is designed so that you have at least 21 scheduled period-free days each cycle. You should expect to have 13 scheduled periods each year.

How does it work?

A ring works by preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg each month. It also changes the uterine lining and changes the mucus produced by the cervix to slow the movement of sperm.

How is a ring used?

A flexible ring containing hormones is inserted into the vagina where it stays for 3 weeks. The ring is then removed for 1 week and then replaced with a new ring.

Some things you should know:

• Reversible (not permanent)
• Periods are typically lighter and shorter than usual
• Over time your period will be more regular with less menstrual cramping
• Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Requires a prescription

Common or important side effects:

• Some women may experience irregular bleeding or spotting
• Other common side effects are nausea, bloating, breast tenderness and headaches
• May increase the risk of blood clots
• May cause vaginal discomfort or irritation (but uncommon)
• The ring may fall out (expelled), but this is uncommon

What is it?

A patch that is applied to the skin that contains two female sex hormones: estrogen and progestin. Evra* is an example of a birth control patch.
* Evra is a registered trademark of Johnson & Johnson, USA.

How effective is it?

A patch is >99% effective when used as directed.

How often will I have my period?

This contraceptive option is designed so that you have at least 21 scheduled period-free days each cycle. You should expect to have 13 scheduled periods each year.

How does it work?

A patch works by preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg each month. It also changes the uterine lining and changes the mucus produced by the cervix to slow the movement of sperm.

How is a patch used?

A small patch containing hormones is applied to the skin once a week for 3 weeks, followed by 1 week without a patch.

Some things you should know:

• Reversible (not permanent)
• Periods are typically lighter and shorter than usual
• Over time your period will be more regular with less menstrual cramping
• Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Requires a prescription

Common or important side effects:

• Some women may experience irregular bleeding or spotting
• Other common side effects are nausea, bloating, breast tenderness and headaches
• May cause skin irritation where the patch is applied
• Patch may detach from skin (less than 2%)
• May increase the risk of blood clots

What is it?

A pill containing the female sex hormone progestin. Micronor* is the only progestin-only pill marketed for contraception in Canada.
* Micronor is a registered trademark of Johnson & Johnson, USA.

How effective is it?

A progestin-only pill is slightly less effective than combination birth control pills.

How often will I have my period?

Some women will continue to have regular periods while taking the progestin-only pill. However, irregular periods or bleeding are the most common side effect of the progestin-only pill.

How does it work?

A mini-pill works by changing the uterine lining and changing the mucus produced by the cervix to slow the movement of sperm. It may also prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg each month.

How is the mini-pill taken?

An “active” pill containing a progestin-only hormone is taken daily for 28 days. Without missing a day, a new pack is started.

Some things you should know:

• Reversible (not permanent)
• Periods are typically lighter and shorter than usual
• It can be prescribed to women who can’t take estrogen, such as women over 35 who smoke
• Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Requires a prescription

Common or important side effects:

• Women may experience irregular bleeding or spotting
• Other common side effects are headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and dizziness

What is it?

A T-shaped device that contains only progestin that is inserted into the uterus by a healthcare professional. (There are also intrauterine devices (IUD) that prevent pregnancy that do not contain hormone.) Mirena* is an example of a intrauterine system (IUS).
* Mirena is a registered trademark of Bayer Schering Pharma Oy, Finland.

How effective is it?

An IUS is greater than 99% effective when used as directed.

How often will I have my period?

Some women find that their period stops all together. Overall, you are likely to have a gradual reduction in the number of bleeding days and in the amount of blood loss each month.

How does it work?

An IUS works by changing the uterine lining and changing the mucus produced by the cervix to slow the movement of sperm. It may also prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg each month.

How is a hormonal IUD used?

The IUD is inserted into the uterus by a healthcare professional and can remain there for up to 5 years.

Some things you should know:

• Must be inserted and removed by a healthcare professional
• Reversible (not permanent)
• Decreases menstrual bleeding and menstrual cramping
• It can be prescribed to women who can’t take estrogen, for example women over 35 who smoke.
• May decrease endometriosis pain
• May decrease the risk of precancerous cells developing in the uterus
• Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Requires a prescription

Common or important side effects:

• Women may experience irregular bleeding or spotting
• Perforation of the uterus may occur at the time of insertion (but rare)
• May be expelled (fall out) in up to 6% of women

What is it?

An injection containing only progestin. It is given by a healthcare professional 4 times per year (every 12-13 weeks). Depo–Provera* is an example of a hormonal injection.
* Depo-Provera is a registered trademark of Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC, (a Delaware Limited Liability Company, USA.)

How effective is it?

An injection is >99% effective when used as directed.

How often will I have my period?

For the first three to six months, most women have irregular and unpredictable bleeding. By one year, over half of users will stop having periods.

How does it work?

An injection works by changing the uterine lining and changing the mucus produced by the cervix to slow the movement of sperm. It also prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg each month.

How is a hormonal injection taken?

An injection to the arm or buttocks is given by a healthcare professional 4 times per year (every 12-13 weeks).

Some things you should know:

• Has to be administered by a healthcare professional every 3 months
• It can be used by women who cannot take contraceptive methods with estrogen
• Reversible (not permanent)
• Women over the age of 35 who smoke should not use it
• Improves symptoms of endometriosis
• Decreases the risk of endometrial cancer
• Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Requires a prescription

Common or important side effects:

• Some women may experience irregular bleeding or spotting
• May stop having periods (amenorrhea)
• Causes a decrease in bone mineral density. Appears to be reversible when the injection is stopped
• May cause weight gain
• May cause a delay in getting pregnant when it is stopped. It takes on average 9 months after the last injection for the ovaries to start releasing an egg again.