Differences in Birth Control Pills & Pills for Menopause
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The Pill
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Birth control pills prevent pregnancy. According to Planned Parenthood, the pill works for two reasons: it stops a woman's body from releasing an egg and it thickens vaginal mucus so sperm can't travel up the vagina.
HRT
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HRT pills provide a post-menopausal woman with the hormones her ovaries no longer produce. These hormones help to reduce menopausal side effects, including hot flashes, sleeplessness and vaginal dryness.
Type
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Birth control pills contain either estrogen and progesterone (the combination pill) or progesterone only. HRT pills contain either estrogen or progesterone only or a combination of both hormones.
Amount
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According to womentowomen.com, birth control pills contain greater amounts of hormones than HRT pills. The lower levels of estrogen and/or progesterone found in HRT are enough to relieve a post-menopausal woman's symptoms.
Considerations
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Middle-aged women, who are still menstruating but are beginning to experience the hormonal fluctuations characteristic of approaching menopause, can find relief by taking an oral contraceptive.
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