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Birth Control Pills AdviceBirth control pills can effectively prevent pregnancy because they contain the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which control the functions of the ovaries and the uterus. These pills are taken daily and contain a combination of estrogen and progesterone in order to stop ovulation or the release of the egg during the monthly cycle. This pill is so successful at preventing pregnancy because it is not possible for a woman to get pregnant if ovulation does not occur because this means there is not an egg available to be fertilized. In addition to preventing ovulation, the pill also thickens the mucus surrounding the cervix so it becomes difficult for sperm to enter the uterus and find any eggs that may have been released. Most combination pills come in packs that contain pills for 21 or 28 days. Every day at the same time, one hormone pill is taken and this continues for a span of 21 days. If you have a 21 pill pack you will stop taking pills for 7 days after the initial 21, but if you have a 28 day pack you will continues to take a pill that contains no hormones for 7 days before you begin a new pack. When a woman stops taking the pills that contain hormones she will have her period within the 7 day time span. Some women prefer the 28-day pack because they remain in the habit of taking the pill every day at the same time and they find it is easier to remember when they need to begin a new pack of pills. There is also a newer pill called Seasonale, which is a type of combination pill but it decreases the frequency of a woman’s period to every 13 weeks. A hormone pill is taken for 12 consecutive weeks and then an inactive pill is taken for 7 days. This means a woman will only have her period every 3 months instead of having one every month. There is also another pill which decreases the number of periods a woman will have is called the minipill. It is a low dose progesterone pill, which means it differs from other pills in that it only contains progesterone rather than a combination of estrogen and progesterone. While it works the same way as regular birth control pills, it can be a little less effective at inhibiting pregnancy because it does not contain both hormones. The minipill is taken every day without ever interrupting for hormone-free pills. A woman on the minipill may not have any periods or she can go several months without a period because she is not ovulating. However, if a woman on the minipill is having regular periods, she is at a greater risk for getting pregnant than a woman’s who is not getting her period. Birth control pills are most effective when they are taken every day at the same time even if you are not having sex. This is particularly important for progesterone only pills because they are already a little less effective. Never take another individual’s pills and remember, if you forget to take a pill or you skip a pill, you are not protected against pregnancy and you need to use another birth control method or abstain from sex for a while. The Pill is a highly popular method for preventing pregnancy but it does not protect against any sexually transmitted diseases. If you are having sex, you must use condoms along with the Pill to protect yourself from STDs. The only foolproof method for preventing both pregnancy and STDs is abstinence or the decision to not have sex. |
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