
Though I do think hormonal birth control options, like
the pill and
Nuvaring, are great methods of contraception, I’ll be the first to admit that the fluctuation in hormones can definitely cause feelings of irritability and depression. Of course much of it depends on the dosage, as well as how your body handles it. So ladies, do tell: Have you found yourself fighting with your moodiness after going on hormonal birth control?

Since the pill has such a long list of benefits, it's no wonder so many of us have
been on it for as long as we have. But with that said, I'm sure you've wondered if you should take a break to give your body a chance to be pill-free for a while. While it's popular to think that a break from the pill is beneficial for your body, it's actually
not necessary. It's a myth that may have started a while back with older pills that contained high doses of hormones, but today's pills contain a much lower, safer amount.

I'm sure many of you are
on the pill for various different reasons, but most of you have been on it
for years, so have you ever asked yourself if you were doing more harm than good? If so, and if you're concerned about the health risks of taking the pill, check out this chart below.
Health Benefits
- Studies have shown that being on the pill for more than two years can decrease your risk for ovarian cancer by 70 percent, and endometrial cancer by 50 percent (great news).

I'm sure many of you have a
form of birth control that you love, and for those that swear by the
Depo shot, you might be interested in learning that there's now a lower-hormone dose version called Depo SubQ Provera 104. It's still
estrogen free, but instead of
400 mg of Medroxyprogesterone acetate (the hormone) per shot, it only contains
104mg (that's
31 percent less). You still need to go to your gynecologist every three months to get the shot, but it's just as effective as regular Depo-Provera.

I don't know about you, but just about every woman I know has been on or is taking birth control pills. There are so many
different brands out there and they all offer different amounts of hormones, so I made this handy chart to help you figure out
which one may be right for you. These pills are combination pills, which means they contain a type of estrogen (ethinyl estradiol), and a type of progestin (levonorgestrel, desogestrel, norethindrone). The pills with the least amount of ethinyl estradiol tend to offer the least amount of side effects, and the ones that offer the same hormonal dosages each day (monophasic pills) will help to ease PMS symptoms (mainly mood swings).

A little while back, I told you about IUCs, which are a kind of long-term
birth control that are becoming really popular since many women don't want to have to remember to take their
pill every day or interrupt lovemaking to slip on a condom. IUCs allow for spontaneous intimacy and are over 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. There's a lot more to know, so let's see what you remember!

Many women are on the pill because they love how it regulates their periods, reduces symptoms of PMS, and prevents them from becoming pregnant. What they don't love is having to remember to take their pill every single day — that's where the
Nuvaring comes in! I know I've told you a lot about this form of BC over the past few months, so let's see how much you really know about the Nuvaring.

Dear Sugar--
What can I do? I was invited to a cruise with a friend that I really like,
but the days are exactly during my period. Is there a way to avoid getting my period during those days, or postpone it to I get back?