What criteria do doctors use to decide which birth control pill is best for a person?

Having decided that a combination pill is probably the best choice, I am having trouble finding a good way to compare advantages and disadvantages of each. I was wondering - if I went to the doctor's office, how would they decide?

1) Doctors usually have their "standard pills" they prescribe to most of their patients. This might be disillusioning, but it's true. The doctor's preference has to do with how old he is, how much he knows about modern pills, which experiences his patients report and so on. And it has surely to do with how active the marketing managers of the various pill producers visit this doctor! It's an advertising world!

2) I recommend you get Yaz or Yasmine, which are very modern variants with little side effects, low hormone dosages and very high reliability. They have proven to be the top birth control pills in this decade.

3) Alternatively, you might want to consider an IUD, either copper coil or Mirena. Advantages are that you won't have to think about contraception for several years, there is no forgetting to take the pill and they work even if you are vomiting or having diarrhea (the two top causes of unwanted pregnancies with birth control pills by the way!).

Most doctors have a pre-decided notion of what they'll prescribe. For example, some will only offer mono-phasics (one hormone combo all month long...LoEstrin for example), while others will only prescribe tri-phasics (such as Tri-cyclin).

They will also look at your overall health, age, family history, body type, level of physical activity, other medications you're taking, what you eat, and whether or not you've had children before, as well as your ultimate goals while using BCPs.

The key to remember is that you can always change after a few months if you don't like what's going on. That is why there are SO many types on the market. But it really should be up to your doctor to decide the specific brand you use and what you may switch to if the need should arise.

whatever you do do NOT get the shot, even if your doctor recommends it. it rots away your uterus and most people are infertile within 4 years. So if you ever plan on having kids DO NOT take the shot.

I would go sit with your doctor and talk over why you are going on it, what you're expecting from it etc. and they'll find the best thing for you.

well personally my doctors goes by your estrogen level. you need to know your estrogen level so the pill will be able to match the hormones and etc. good luck

all birth control causes heart attack,stroke and a ton of other things.but if u feel the need and cant control yourself....then i guess its good.but then there is stds too.

they will take family history into consideration,your pap smear results and other things.

get the birthcontrol shot. It is very effective and you dont have to worry about missing a dose of the pills.

not sure i think they just give u one and wait i have been on 3 different ones and got pregnant on 2 of them