BIRTH CONTROL PILLS

Birth control pills or "the pill" (also called oral contraceptives) are one of the most popular methods of preventing pregnancy. They work by using one or two hormones to stop the ovaries from releasing an egg each month and cause the lining of the uterus to thin. If there was a fertilized egg, it could not stay in the uterus to grow. In addition, these hormones make it difficult for the sperm to enter the uterus because the cervix will produce less and thicker mucus. Birth control pills are about 98 to 99 percent effective.

Birth control pills are taken in monthly cycles. The first pill starts with the first few days of a woman's period. From that point on, her cycle will adjust to the pill cycle. A regular menstrual period that may be lighter and shorter in duration and less painful usually results. Many women have less premenstrual problems while taking birth control pills. Other benefits of the pill include decreased risk of uterine and ovarian cancers, ovarian cysts, and rheumatoid arthritis. There is also a lower incidence of fibrocystic changes in the breasts and benign tumors of the breast.

Birth control pills are a good form of birth control when a woman plans to get pregnant in the future, but not now. The pill does not affect the ability to get pregnant. However, it may take as long as two periods after stopping the pill before pregnancy can occur.

Birth control pills come in a package of 21 or 28 pills. If you are using the 21-pill pack, take one pill every day for 3 weeks. Stop taking the pills for 7 days, then start over. If you are taking the 28-day pack; take one pill every day for 4 weeks, then start a new pack.

The so-called "mini-pill" is a birth control pill that contains just one hormone. The failure rate is slightly higher than with the combination pill. The mini-pill must be taken at the same time every day or they may fail. If taken just 3 hours late, another form of birth control will need to be used.

There are some cautions when taking the pill. It does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases and must be taken everyday. It is best if taken at the same time of the day. If a pill is missed, another form of birth control should be used while still taking the pill, until the next period. When the pill fails, it is usually because a pill has been missed. In the case of a missed pill, the healthcare provider or pharmacist can advise what to do for each brand of pill. Some antibiotics and other drugs may make the pill less effective. This is why a provider needs to know if a woman is taking birth control pills or if she has a medical condition that requires taking any medication. Sometimes another form of birth control may be necessary until the other medication has been stopped.

Most women can use birth control pills, including young teenagers who have recently started a normal cycle, as well as women in their 40's. There are over 30 different types of birth control pills. The pills usually contain both the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, although progesterone-only pills are available. A provider will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of taking the pill and will help find the right one for you.

The pill has a low risk of serious complications for young, healthy, non-smoking women. There are a few women who should not take the pill. Birth control pills with estrogen in them should not be taken by women with any of the following medical problems:

blood clots
heart attack
stroke
chest pain
breast cancer or cancer of the uterus
vaginal bleeding without a known cause
liver tumors or
jaundice during a previous pregnancy

Diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, overweight, depression, gall bladder disease, and exposure to DES before birth are additional factors for not using the pill. Women who have had kidney or heart disease, migraine headaches, asthma, or epilepsy may find the pill makes these problems worse. The pill can cause the body to retain water.

The birth control pills that are available today are lower doses than in the past. They do not increase the risk of heart attack or stroke in women younger than 35 who do not smoke or have high blood pressure. Taking the pill AND smoking significantly increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. When a woman stops taking the pill, any increased risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke goes down.

For more information, contact your provider or visit the website of EngenderHealth, a non-profit organization dedicated to making reproductive health care accessible to women and men around the world, at www.engenderhealth.org.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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