Advice

How does estrogen dose affect protection against pregnancy?

Michelle
Question

Does the amount of estrogen in birth control pills (ex. low, high or moderate levels) have any effect on protection against pregnancy? For example, is it better to take a birth control pill with a higher level of estrogen than one of the newer "low dose" ones? Will the protection be the same?

The dosing mostly matters depending on your body composition. Estrogen is a fat-soluble hormone. Therefore if you have a significant amount and proportion of body fat, some of that will dissolve into the fatty tissue and not make it to its receptor sites in your organs. If you have more fatty tissue, you will need more estrogen to prevent (that’s estrogen’s role in  pills).

This is why it’s important to see a clinician and get an examination before obtaining a prescription for birth control. Your doctor will need your vital stats to figure which pills will work best.

For most women even if they’re a little overweight, they should still be able to take lower-dose pills. If you are moderately overweight, significantly overweight or obese, your doctor should prescribe you something stronger to ensure full .

    Similar articles and advice

    Article
    • Heather Corinna

    By all means, effective use of contraception, all by itself, goes a long way. Those who can access and consistently and correctly use a very effective form of contraception are very unlikely to become pregnant. But that group can be smaller than it may seem.