Birth Control Pill

The birth control pill represents one of the most efficient contraceptive methods available. It is administered by women and it consists of a combination of hormones that control the release of the eggs from the ovaries into the uterus. And it works as follows:

-It combines estrogen and progesterone, the two hormones that inhibit ovulation. Pregnancy cannot appear without ovulation.

-It thickens the cervical mucus preventing the sperm from entering the uterus.

-It modifies the lining in the uterus making it unsuitable for the implantation of the egg.

The birth control pill has to be taken daily, preferably at the same hour, for twenty one days. There is no administration for the last seven days of the menstrual cycle, and it is within this interval that the period appears. Depending on the manufacturer, the pills are available in 21 or 28 pill packages. For the 28-pill package, the last seven pills are inactive, meaning that they contain no hormones at all.

As for the advantages of the birth control pill, they are pretty numerous.

-The monthly bleeding is less intense.
-The pre-menstrual discomfort disappears.
-Fertility is preserved, and it is totally reversible when you stop taking the pill.
-It solves hormonal imbalances.
-It prevents some forms of cancer.

There is one special kind of birth control pill that contains active hormones for 12 weeks and then inactive pills for a week. This means that the frequency of the period will be reduced to one in three months.

Yet, another type of birth control pill is the mini-pill. It contains progesterone only, and it requires continuous administration daily, on the same hour, without the monthly break. The efficiency of the mini-pill is considered inferior to the combined birth control pill.

The normal efficiency of the birth control pill is very high, with only 8 couples out of 100 reporting a pregnancy during the treatment. The chances of getting pregnant increase if you fail to take the pill daily, or you take it at random hours. Plus, the efficiency of the medication also depends on some individual factors too.

For example, the birth control pill may not work well if you follow some other herbal or medical treatment and there are interferences between the drugs. Moreover, the incidence of side effects should not be overlooked. It is important to read all the warnings on side effects and the possible consequences on the health condition before using this contraceptive method. Stick doctor’s orders for the administration of the birth control pill!