12/09/2022
Such a great post by Lara Briden - The Period Revolutionary . There is so much we need to know more about hormonal contraceptives before we take the dive to ensure we are getting the ‘right’ fit .
There's actually no progesterone in any type of birth control, including "progesterone-only" methods like implants and hormonal IUDs. Instead, all types of birth control contain progestins, which are kind of similar to progesterone but also quite different.
The progestin in hormonal IUDs is levonorgestrel, which is structurally similar to testosterone so can cause androgen side effects such as hair loss and weight gain.
Which is NOT to say you should not use a hormonal IUD if you need it for heavy bleeding, endometriosis, or birth control. But please just know that it's not progesterone. And for what it's worth, it is possible to use a hormonal IUD together with real progesterone (eg. Prometrium).
See my blog posts:
- The crucial difference between progesterone and progestins: https://www.larabriden.com/the-crucial-difference-between-progesterone-and-progestins/
AND
- The pros and cons of hormonal IUDs: https://www.larabriden.com/pros-cons-mirena-iud-natural-health/
