Women are such amazing creatures that it's downright mind
boggling at times. I know what you're thinking - you and I are both
women, so such self-praise sounds a bit excessive.
But really,
think about it for a minute. Our physical makeup is dramatically
different from that of our male counterparts. We have to train nearly
twice as hard to make any substantial gains in the gym, and we're
genetically preprogrammed to store more fat than men, all because of the
differences in our hormonal makeup.
Let's face it, ladies, our
bodies are built for child rearing, not heavy lifting or figure
competitions. Regardless of whether those babies are a goal of yours or
not, your system will always do its best to ensure a soft &
comfortable atmosphere for that baby's development during the first nine
months of its existence.
Nature's plan.
What's even more
interesting is the fact that if you're actively working on preventing
pregnancy, you'll likely have an increased hormonal imbalance and even
more pronounced effects of the estrogen hormone doing its job.
Not
sure what I'm talking about? There is a phrase that will conjure up
memories of bloat, fat gain, nausea, spotting or breakthrough bleeding,
mood swings, and even severe headaches. It's a short phrase with a lot
of power. Ready?
"The Pill."
Most of those who've tried
birth control pills are well aware of their possible side effects. These
are to be expected; anytime hormone levels are changed in any way, the
body is bound to let you know of the changes.
Birth control pills
are comprised of synthetic estrogen and progesterone (or in some cases,
just one of those two). Since the menstrual cycle and ovulation are
regulated by these hormones, this increase results in a variety of
changes within the reproductive system, which results in pregnancy
prevention.
Now, as any woman in the fitness industry knows, we
try our very best to decrease the female hormones in our bodies. We all
know that increased levels of testosterone, along with decreased
estrogen hormones, are essential to the sense of well-being and overall
health.
It's testosterone that helps us gain lean mass, reduce fat
storage, increase sexual desire, ward off that "I'm
PMS'ing-leave-me-alone" mood, keep our skin healthy, and our minds
sharp. Excessive levels of its opposing hormone, estrogen, produce the
exact opposite effect on our bodies.
Clearly, increasing your very
own estrogen levels by going on the pill sounds more than just a little
crazy. It is, however, seen as an absolute necessity by most women.
Many of us just accept the unfortunate side effects and learn to deal
with the consequences of a less than perfect hormonal balance.
After all, what else is there?
That's
the question we'll answer in this article. I've done some extensive
research on the topic, including interviewing numerous fitness and
figure competitors regarding their personal experiences with birth
control pills. Each of these girls has discovered what works for her;
whether it's a lower dose estrogen pill or a viable alternative that
does the job while keeping those hormone levels at least somewhat
conducive to her hardcore fitness lifestyle and ultra-lean body goals.
The Pill
Types of Birth Control Pills
Types of Birth Control Pills
There are two basic categories: those containing progestin only, and combination pills containing both progestin and estrogen.
Progestin-only
pills contain no estrogen. These are sometimes referred to as the
"mini-pill," and are considered ideal for breastfeeding women since the
presence of estrogen reduces milk production.
The mini-pill works
by thickening the cervical mucus, thereby preventing sperm from entering
the uterus. They must be taken at the same time every day.
While
these pills don't contain any estrogen, they're not considered
figure-friendly by any means. You see, the pill's progesterone component
has been shown to increase appetite - which of course makes it very
difficult to diet, resulting in weight gain.
Some of the other
side effects of the mini-pill include irregular or heavy bleeding,
spotting, and severe headaches. Additionally, progestin-only pills have
been shown to be slightly less effective than their combination
counterparts - so that the chance of becoming a mommy is actually
increased when choosing these over estrogen containing birth control
pills.
Combination pills are ones containing both estrogen and
progestin. This category can be broken down into three different types,
which are as follows:
Monophasic pill. This is the original birth
control pill. Each pack of these pills consists of 21 active pills
containing the same amount of estrogen and progestin in each pill, and 7
placebos, which contain no hormones.
The second type of the
combination pill is called multiphasic.Also referred to as biphasic and
triphasic, multiphasic oral contraceptives contain varied amounts of
hormones and are designed to be taken at specific times over the
pill-taking period.
Each of the pills in this pack contains
different levels of estrogen and progestin so that the hormones are
varied throughout the month. They were developed for the specific
purpose of reducing side effects of oral contraceptives. Women taking
multiphasic pills report having fewer episodes of breakthrough bleeding
and spotting, but as of now, those are the only sides that have been
shown reduced.
The last type of the combination pill is the
continuous use pill. This is the brand new one of the bunch, being
approved in the spring of '07. The best known brand of the continuous
use pill is Lybrel, which also happens to be a multiphasic pill. It
comes in a 28-day pack and is meant to be taken without any breaks in
between pill packets, which basically means not having a period at all.
Some
of the side effects associated with all combination oral contraceptives
include most of the ones you'd normally hear about, including nausea,
severe headaches, possible vomiting, irregular bleeding, and weight gain
resulting from the changes in the body's hormonal makeup.
Birthcontrol
Birth Control Options for Fit Girls
Now
that we've gone over the basic differences among the pills, let's take
some time discussing ones that seem to be popular with women who are in
the fitness industry.
Those ladies who are on the pill and
training hard almost always opt for low dose pills. Low dose birth
control pills are mostly monophasic pills that have an estrogen
component of less than 35 micrograms. Some examples of this type of pill
include LoOvral, Nordette, and Ortho-Cept.
There are also two
newer formulas of low dose pills on the market, both of which have
become a quick favorite among many figure competitors. Cyclessa is a
brand new low dose oral contraceptive that's also multiphasic. The low
estrogen in its varying-hormone package has actually been shown to
result in weight loss for many women who begin taking it... and those
who didn't lose any noticeable weight, didn't gain any fat, according to
the studies.
Yasmin is another newer low dose pill with many fit
ladies in its fan club. Because of a more natural progestin in its
formula, it's been associated with improved skin texture for those who
are naturally oily or acne-prone, an improved sense of well-being, and
even weight control help due to reduced water retention.
Ultra low
dose pills exist as well, and these are ones that have the lowest
amount of estrogen in a birth control pill, which is 20 micrograms. This
dose of estrogen is sufficient for contraception, however these pills
oftentimes result in more spotting and breakthrough bleeding than pills
containing 30-35 micrograms of estrogen, which is why most women who've
tried them end up opting for the low dose pills instead.
If you're
interested in trying an ultra-low oral contraceptive, two of the most
popular ones are Alesse and Mircette, with the prior being a favorite of
three figure competitors I'd interviewed.
One other factor that's
interesting when it comes to all oral contraceptives (even low dose
ones) is that they've been shown to decrease total and free testosterone
by almost half, while increasing total cortisol levels. This, of
course, is quite a negative effect for all of us trying to build muscle -
it's just bad news from the anabolic perspective.
Tired of taking pills? Read on!
Pill Alternatives
Now
if none of the aforementioned sides scare you, and the only thing you
dislike about the oral contraceptives is the oral part, there are a
couple of alternatives that work in ways very similar to that of the low
dose pills, without having to take the actual pill!
These are the
NuvaRing and the Patch. Both work by supplying the same amount of
hormones as low dose pills, so side effects along with benefits are very
similar. Ladies who dislike taking pills may find it easier to go with
either of these two, though each of the two has its own inconveniences.
NuvaRing
is a small, flexible ring inserted into the vagina once monthly. It's
left in place for three weeks, and then taken out for a week. Once that
week's passed, a new ring is inserted for the following three-week
period.
A few of the fitness ladies I spoke with find the NuvaRing
to be very practical. One of them mentioned that it's helped her get
rid of the terrible migraine headaches she used to get with the low dose
pill while also helping her lose some water weight she'd been carrying.
The
Patch operates by delivering the hormones directly into the bloodstream
through the skin via a thin patch. It must be replaced once weekly for
three weeks straight, taking a break on the fourth week. The Patch may
be applied just about anywhere on the body, and needs to stay in place
at all times - regardless of the activity (yes, even training, cardio,
or bathing).
As you'd suspect, this wasn't a favorite of any of
the girls' I'd spoken with. Two of them had experimented with it as it
seemed like a convenient, easy birth control method; both were quickly
disappointed as the Patch began irritating their skin after just a
couple of cardio sessions. My guess is it just wasn't created with
fitness-oriented ladies in mind.
The Patch
There's just one
other thing I'd like to mention about the NuvaRing and the Patch. Both
have caused quite a bit of controversy since their FDA approval. Over
the past several months, there've been a number of lawsuits filed
against both companies, claiming that the birth control devices are
responsible for blood clots, resulting in stroke, heart attacks, and
even death.
Neither of the devices has been taken off the market,
and both companies are maintaining innocence, stating that their
products have proven to be safe in most cases.
My personal advice? Do your own research and be sure that your decision is an informed one.
Non-Hormonal Alternatives
For
those of you hoping to stay away from anything that will alter your
natural hormone levels, there are alternatives. The majority of fitness
and figure girls I've spoken with, have opted for hormone-free birth
control methods - everything ranging from male and female condoms,
diaphragms, cervical caps, and lea's shields (all of which work by
creating a physical block), to longer lasting methods, such as the
IUD... to permanent ones, like tubal ligation.
Since the IUD
seemed to be the most obvious choice for most of the competing ladies,
I'd like to discuss that in depth. An IUD is a tiny, T-shaped device
that gets inserted directly into the uterus by your OB/GYN. It's made of
soft plastic and contains either copper or hormones.
The
non-hormonal ones are the ones I'd like to focus on, as these are the
ones most popular in the fitness world. These are known as the ParaGard
Copper T 380A IUD, contain copper, and can be worn for up to 12 years.
They are effective as soon as they're inserted and can be removed at any
time.
Mirena IUD
Keep in mind that ovulation still occurs
when you use an IUD, so you'll still have your period. Many women
complain of more intense cramps and heavier or irregular periods, but
most of the fitness-oriented girls find these sides to be a small price
to pay for stable hormone levels and the ability to maintain a higher
level of testosterone.
Another detail to keep in mind is the IUD
installation process itself. It isn't a pleasant experience by any means
- many of the ladies I spoke with said it was one of the most painful
experiences they'd endured. But really, just put things into perspective
for a second: the insertion lasts for about five minutes, and you'll
most likely be worry-free for a period of over 10 years!
If you
don't already have kids, the IUD may not be suitable for you. The
company states that women who have never been pregnant before have an
increased risk of expulsion (expelled by the body, usually within the
first year) due to a smaller uterus and difficulty with insertion. Check
with your doc and follow his or her recommendations when it comes to
your particular case.
I'd also like to note that many women are
concerned about the safety of copper IUD's. This concern is mostly
grounded in a few events that took place in the 70's when the very first
IUD to hit the market (known as the Dalkon Shield) had to be recalled
after 12 of its 2.8 million users died.
The Dalkon Shield was
pulled out of doctor's offices immediately, and although no other IUD
since that period has ever been found unsafe, their reputation remains
somewhat tarnished. If you begin to seriously consider this device, be
sure to do your research just as you would with anything else - plenty
of information is available upon an Internet search.
Summary
Summary
And that, ladies, pretty much sums up your birth
control options. My only hope is that this article gave you a starting
point for your own research and made you a more informed patient, one
who'll enter the OB/GYN's office armed with knowledge.
Keep in
mind that the effects any birth control pill will have on anyone will
depend on not only the combination and the dose you're taking, but also
on your individual hormonal makeup and response. Because of this, the
final decision is best left to you and a doc you trust.
Hi there, my name is Olesya Novik, and I've spent years and years
searching for that illusive website myself with no luck at all. I've
grown so sick and tired of seeing women take the back seat to men in the
fitness industry, that I've decided to take it all into my own hands.
It's time for a change. A REVOLUTION, if you will.
Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to find a no-nonsense fitness website geared only toward women with the following traits:
* A place where the owner and contributing experts are always around to help.
* Something with a one-stop shop for all the products you're looking to buy.
* A community where someone truly cares about your needs, where the members help each other, creating one big, supportive family.
* A site that caters to women's emotional differences without portraying us as inferior to men.
* Run by a company that understands you and accepts you for the woman you are, helping you get fit regardless of your personal definition of the term "fitness."
* Has no hidden agendas, doesn't shove its own products or beliefs down your throats, takes your requests close to heart, and doesn't try to change or reshape your beliefs, wants, or needs.
* Provides you with all the latest up to date, completely unbiased, well rounded information concerning all women's needs (not just training and food-related!).
* Run by a socially aware company that gives back to the female community, rather than a bunch of men in suits who are motivated by corporate greed and profits.
So... having much luck yet?
Celebrate
The world is yours. We just opened the door.
It's time for a change. A REVOLUTION, if you will.
Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to find a no-nonsense fitness website geared only toward women with the following traits:
* A place where the owner and contributing experts are always around to help.
* Something with a one-stop shop for all the products you're looking to buy.
* A community where someone truly cares about your needs, where the members help each other, creating one big, supportive family.
* A site that caters to women's emotional differences without portraying us as inferior to men.
* Run by a company that understands you and accepts you for the woman you are, helping you get fit regardless of your personal definition of the term "fitness."
* Has no hidden agendas, doesn't shove its own products or beliefs down your throats, takes your requests close to heart, and doesn't try to change or reshape your beliefs, wants, or needs.
* Provides you with all the latest up to date, completely unbiased, well rounded information concerning all women's needs (not just training and food-related!).
* Run by a socially aware company that gives back to the female community, rather than a bunch of men in suits who are motivated by corporate greed and profits.
So... having much luck yet?
Celebrate
The world is yours. We just opened the door.