Birth Control Pill

Sometimes oral drugs that lower blood glucose levels or insulin injections are needed.">diabetes or liver disease; are 35 or older and smoke; or have high blood pressure and smoke. You should not take certain types of combination pills if you have ever had kidney, liver or adrenal gland disease. Women who use hormonal contraception are strongly advised not to smoke.

* The Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies to cover contraceptives with no co-pay, as of August 1, 2012. Not all plans must provide immediate coverage, but as more health plans come under the law's reach, more women will have access to all free FDA-approved forms of contraception. The specifics of how and when insurance companies must comply are still being worked out. For example, insurance companies may be able to charge a co-pay for a brand name drug when a generic is available, and regulations are still being determined for contraceptive methods that involve surgery or other medical procedures. For more information, see What You Need to Know About Birth Control Coverage.