There is hardly any other contraceptive method as efficient as the birth control pill. 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. Here is how it works:
-It contains a combination of estrogen and progesterone, both inhibitors of the ovulation. Without ovulation there is no chance of pregnancy.
-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. During the seven days when there is no hormonal administration, 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.
Benefits of taking the birth control pill!
-The monthly bleeding is less intense.
-The pre-menstrual discomfort is seriously alleviated.
-There are no consequences on fertility following the use of the birth control pill.
-It solves hormonal imbalances.
-It prevents some forms of cancer.
One more special type of birth control pill contains active hormones to be administered for 12 weeks without a break; then seven days of inactive pills follow, and the period occurs. This means that the frequency of the period will be reduced to one in three months.
The mini-pill is another type of hormonal contraceptive we should mention in the category of the birth control 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 has been reported as inferior to the combined birth control pill.
The efficiency range of the birth control pill is very high, although 8 out of 100 couples face an unexpected pregnancy yearly, despite the use of this treatment. When taking the pill at random hours or when forgetting to use it daily, the efficiency drops. 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. Only start a hormonal birth control treatment following doctor’s orders!
Tags: birth control, birth control pill
Emergency contraception or the morning after pill is a hormonal treatment administered if another form of birth control has failed, or when no protection was used. There are many resemblances between the morning after pill and the regular hormonal pill since the ingredients are the same. Nevertheless, the concentrations are different, which makes the regular use of the morning after pill a potential health threat.
Take the morning after pill as soon as you can after unprotected sex. Normally it can be used within three or five days after intercourse, but the sooner you act, the better for you. The efficiency is higher when you use the pill earlier. Do not mistake this birth control method for the abortion pill, because this is not the effect it produces. Its action at the level of the reproductive system consist in the prevention of the ovulation and the alteration of the womb lining so as to become unsuitable for egg nesting.
The morning after pill has similar side effects with the regular hormonal pill, and the efficiency rate is pretty high. The usual adverse reactions to hormonal treatments may appear nonetheless: nausea, headaches, breast tenderness and spotting. Read the list of instructions carefully and check the side effects in detail. The morning after pill should not be used by women who suffer from severe liver disease or porphyria. The efficiency of the morning after pill could be impaired by other drugs or by some herbal supplements.
Get a drug prescription right away if you need the morning after pill. Do specify that you need the morning after pill urgently, in order not to be appointed for some later date. The sooner you act, the higher the risk of unwanted pregnancy. Sometimes you may not even need a prescription to buy emergency contraception; the policy differs from state to state. The only downside is the cost, as the prices are a lot higher in pharmacies. Emergency contraception can be accessed freely with certain organizations, but you need to know where to call.
The morning after pill does not protect you for the entire menstrual cycle, and after you take it you are again exposed to the appearance of pregnancy if you don’t use another birth control method. Do not take more emergency contraceptives in the same month because of the health risks that hormonal imbalances could lead to. Rely on some serious birth control method or abstain from sex.
Tags: birth control, morning after pill
