Added: 10/26/2005 |
Pill Contraceptive 101Female oral contraceptives, otherwise known as birth control pills, or simply "the Pill," are the most popular form of legal pharmaceutical contraception. On the market since the 1960s, the pill contraceptive has been used by millions of women worldwide.
What exactly is a Pill Contraceptive (The Pill)?
A pill contraceptive is a pill, taken daily by women, that usually contains the hormones estrogen and progestin. These hormones prevent pregnancy.
How Do You Correctly Take the Pill?
The Pill typically comes in a packet consisting of 28 pills for 28 days. A woman swallows a pill for the first 21 days, and then waits an entire week before she starts a new pack. During that week, the woman can either choose to take the included placebos, or sugar pills, or refrain from taking pills altogether. Either way, she must start a new pack seven days after her last hormone-filled birth control pill.
Types of Birth Control Pills
There are several dozen brand-name birth control pills to choose from, each having specific hormone levels. However, generally, there are two types of birth control pills that doctors prescribe:
• Combination Pill: Doctors prescribe this type of pill contraceptive the most. This pill contains both estrogen and progestin. Depending on the brand name, the doses of estrogen and progestin vary. Yasmin, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, and Alesse are examples of combination pills.
• Minipill (Progestin -only pill): The Minipill only contains, you guessed it, progestin. This pill is prescribed when a woman wants to decrease some of the side affects associated with the combination pill due to estrogen levels. The minipill also decreases the amount of periods a woman has. Depo-Provera is an example of a minipill. The minipill is less effective than the combination pill.
How Does the Pill Work?
Depending on which pill you use, the Pill works in three ways:
• When a woman takes a combination pill, the hormones estrogen and progestin stop the release of an egg during the monthly cycle (ovulation). If a woman is not ovulating, she cannot get pregnant because there is no egg to fertilize.
• When a woman takes the minipill, this pill contraceptive can affect the lining of the uterus, making it tricky for an egg to attach itself to the uterus wall.
• The minipill also thickens the mucus around the cervix. This makes it hard for the sperm to enter the uterus, where the egg is found.
Can Any Woman Take the Pill?
No, not every woman should take the pill. In fact, the Pill can be very dangerous. Always consult a physician before you start to take any pill contraceptive. You should not take the pill if you:
• are over 35 years old.
• smoke.
• have liver disease.
• have cancer.
• are pregnant.
• have blood clots.
• have unexplained vaginal bleeding.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Possibly, yes. Although the Pill is rather safe and effective, there are some side effects that you should take into consideration before you begin taking any pill contraceptive. However, keep in mind not every woman experiences these side effects. While taking a pill contraceptive some women experience:
• mood changes.
• lower sex drive.
• nausea.
• weight gain.
• breast tenderness.
• blood clots.
• headaches and dizziness.
If you start to feel that any of these side effects are interfering with your life, let your doctor know. He can prescribe a different brand of birth control that may work better with your body. Keep in mind that many of the side effects will improve after three months of taking the Pill.
The Pill is a blessing for a lot of women because it has many advantages. It is easy to use, it does not interfere with sexual intercourse, and does not harm fertility levels. It has also been proven to reduce acne and lesson cramps and discomfort associated with the monthly cycle.
Taken correctly and without other medications like antibiotics, the Pill is 99% effective against pregnancy. The only way to prevent pregnancy 100% is to become celibate or have sexual intercourse with a man after vasectomy. And remember, oral contraceptives do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
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