Birth Control Pills (Oral Contraceptive Pills) - Everything You Need To Know

combined oral contraceptive pill also known as the birth control pill is used to prevent pregnancy it contains the synthetic versions of the two major female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone in order to become pregnant a sperm from the male must be combined with the female ovum within the female reproductive system usually the fallopian tube this process is known as the fertilization for fertilization to occur an ovum from female ovaries should be released into the fallopian tube which is known as ovulation ovulation is stimulated by the lh hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland the main mechanism of combined oral contraceptive pills is to inhibit the secretion of fsh and lh hormones from the anterior pituitary which ultimately inhibits ovulation in addition contraceptive pills also cause thickening of the cervical mucus making it difficult for penetration by sperms it also has effects on the fallopian tubes these effects will impair the transport of the ovum towards the uterus the primary indication for combined oral contraceptive pills is to prevent pregnancy other uses include treatment of menstrual pain irregular menstruation uterine fibroids endometriosis related pain and menstruation related migraines potential health benefits of combined oral contraceptive pills include the following reducing iron deficiency anemia reducing premenstrual tension reducing benign breast tissues reducing functional ovarian cysts and reducing the risk of endometrial ovarian and colorectal cancer these pills can be either monophasic which contains the same dose of both estrogen and progesterone inactive pills or multi-fascic which contains varying doses of both or either component in the active pills they can be prescribed as cyclic or monthly bleeding extended cyclic or every three month bleeding or as continuous pills cyclic formulations have active hormone pills for 21 to 24 days followed by seven to four days of hormone-free pills extended cyclic formulations contain active hormone pills for three months followed by a placebo week continuous formulation contains active hormone pills for one year this method functionally stops all menstrual bleeding however one of the common adverse effects of this method is breakthrough bleeding combined oral contraceptive pills are usually started on the first day of menstruation when it is started like this no additional contraceptive method is needed to prevent pregnancy in addition the pill can be started at any day of the cycle this is known as quick start however when the pill is started like this an additional contraceptive method should be used for at least seven days to prevent pregnancy these pills can also be used following an abortion in the first two trimesters as a contraceptive method it is important to know that these pills should not be used within the first 21 days postpartum since this period is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism in addition breastfeeding mothers should not use these pills within the first 42 days postpartum as it can impair the secretion of breast milk some common adverse effects of combined oral contraceptive pills include the following nausea and vomiting acne weight gain risk of thromboembolism and hypertension