Find the Pill That's Right For You

The birth control pill is the world's most popular form of contraception, and it's pretty easy to see why: The Pill is highly effective and easy to use, and it can slash your risk of serious health problems like osteoporosis and ovarian cancer. But with more than 50 different brands on the market, it can be tough to choose one. "Many women experiment with a few different types before they find one they like," says Mary Jane Minkin, M. D., clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine. Consult our chart to pinpoint the one that suits you best.

If You Have: Persistent acne
Try This: Ortho Tri-Cyclen
Why It's Best: All women produce some testosterone, which can increase oil production and bring on breakouts. Ortho Tri-Cyclen contains the skin-friendly hormone norgestimate, which helps decrease your body's testosterone levels.

If You Have: Wicked PMS
Try This: Yaz or Yasmin
Why It's Best: Both contain drospirenone, a hormone that minimizes water retention, which can help reduce bloating. Plus, a study found that taking Yaz helps reduce severe pre-period mood swings.

If You Have: Heavy or painful periods
Try This: Seasonale, Seasonique, or Lybrel
Why It's Best: All oral contraceptives can help lighten your flow, but extended-cycle pills can significantly reduce or even end painful bleeding by slashing the number of periods you get per year—just four with Seasonale and Seasonique, and zero with Lybrel.

If You Have: A new baby
Try This: Nor-Qd, Orthomicronor, or other progestin only pills
Why It's Best: Pills that contain estrogen can decrease breast-milk production by up to 5 percent. Progestin-only pills don't interfere with lactation; just make sure you take them at the same time every day or you could end up with another little bundle of joy earlier than planned. Their effectiveness rate is slightly lower than combination-hormone pills—92 percent versus 98 percent.

If You Have: Menstrual migraines
Try This: Mircette
Why It's Best: You usually get your period on placebo-pill days; this is also when migraines most often strike, thanks to the rapid drop in estrogen. Each pack of Mircette contains only two placebos rather than the usual seven, cutting your number of headache-prone days.

If You Have: Breakthrough bleeding
Try This: Femcon Fe or another low-dose estrogen pill
Why It's Best: Compared with other brands, this one gives a lower dose of estrogen, helping to minimize breakthrough bleeding. Bonus: These pills are mint flavored and chewable!