Hormonal birth control

There are different methods of birth control with hormones. Some contain only one hormone (progestin) and others 2 different hormones (progestin and estrogen).
Below we will discuss the 3 most commonly chosen metods of hormonal contraception after childbirth.

Cerazette / minipill

The Cerazette pill only has 1 hormone: progestogen, so it doesn’t have a stop week. You take a pill every day throughout the month. When the pill strip is finished, you just start a new strip again. To minimize the chance of forgetting, it can help to keep a fixed time for taking the pill.

It is good to know that you cannot influence the timing of your period yourself. You cannot shift or skip your period. It is also good to know that taking the pill without estrogen can change your period, or even stay away completely.

The pill without estrogen is just as effective as the combination pills with 2 hormones. This birth control pill is a reliable form of birth control, provided you take the pill correctly.
This pill does not contain estrogen, making it very suitable for use during breastfeeding.

Combinationpill

The pill is the most commonly used contraceptive method in the Netherlands. The combined pill contains 2 hormones, namely estrogen and progestogen. The hormone estrogen ensures a predictable period. Progestogen prevents a pregnancy. The hormones ensure that no egg cell is released. In addition, the pills make the mucus in the cervix thicker, so the sperm cells cannot pass through easily. In addition, the hormones influence the uterine wall, preventing a fertilized egg cell to nest in the womb.

If you start taking the contraceptive pill on the first day of your period, you can immediately rely on the contraceptive effect. Are you starting on a different day? Then you should use an additional contraceptive method for another 7 days.

There are many different types and brands of the birth control pills available.
The contraceptive pill is a method of high reliability.
The combination pill is not recommended while breastfeeding.

Hormone Intra Uterine Device (I.U.D.)

A hormone I.U.D. (a plastic device 24 to 36 mm long), such as the Mirena or Kyleena, contains progestin. This hormone is released gradually to your uterine wall. It prevents the fertilized egg cell from nesting in the womb. The amount of hormones is 10 to 30 times less than other hormonal contraceptive methods.

A hormone I.U.D. remains effective for 5 years. This means you don’t have to think about contraception every day. After placement in the womb, an I.U.D. works immediately. But we do recommend using an additional contraceptive method for 7 days, just to be on the safe side.

When you have an I.U.D., your menstrual pattern can change. You cannot control the timing of your period yourself.
A hormone I.U.D. can be combined with breastfeeding.