Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) are
a method of birth control that uses hormones to prevent
pregnancy. The man-made female hormones in the pills change
a woman's natural hormone levels and prevent her ovaries
from releasing an egg each month. If a woman does not
ovulate she cannot get pregnant because there is no egg to
be fertilized. The cervix also produces less and thicker
mucous so that sperm cannot easily enter the uterus. In
addition, the lining of the uterus becomes thinner, so it
would be more difficult for a fertilized egg to stay in the
uterus.
What are the types?
The most commonly used pills are
"combined" pills. They contain man-made forms of 2 hormones:
oestrogen and progesterone. There is also a
progesterone-only pill (the mini-pill), but it is not as
effective and causes a lot of blood spotting between
menstrual periods.
How are the pills used?
The combined pills usually come
in a package of 28 pills. They are also available in 21-pill
packs. The doctor decides which type of package is best
suited for a person. She will probably advise one to start
taking the pills on the Sunday after the period has started
or on the first day of the next period, depending on one’s
preference.
If one is using the 21-pill pack, it is necessary to take 1
pill every day for 3 weeks. One should stop taking the pills
for 7 days and then start a new pack.
If one is using the 28-day package, it is necessary to take
1 pill every day for 4 weeks and then start a new package
the next day. The last 7 pills contain no medication for
birth control; they just keep one in the habit of taking a
pill every day. It is important to try to take the pills at
approximately the same time every day. The period will
usually occur soon after the last hormone-containing pill is
taken.
Some antibiotics can affect the way birth control pills work
in one’s body. If one is taking antibiotics, it is necessary
to tell the doctor. One may need to use an additional form
of birth control while one is taking antibiotics.
What if one forgets to take a
pill?
If one forgets to take some of
the pills, one will have menstrual bleeding at unpredictable
times and one may get pregnant.
If one forgets to take a pill, it is necessary to take it as
soon as one remembers and take the next pill at the usual
time. If one misses 2 consecutive pills, one should take 2
pills each day for 2 days and then go back to the regular
schedule.
If one misses 3 or more pills, stop taking the pills and use
a different birth control method until the next menstrual
cycle starts. If the menstrual cycle does not start on
schedule, it is necessary to get in touch with a doctor.
If one has forgotten to take 2 or more pills and have missed
a period, one might be pregnant. One should stop taking the
pills and use other forms of birth control until pregnancy
is ruled out. One should not stop taking the pills if one
has taken them correctly.
When to start taking the pills
after having a baby?
If one is breast feeding the
baby, one should not take oral contraceptives until one has
a good milk supply. This will take about 4 to 6 weeks after
the birth. Then, a low-dose pill or progesterone-only pill
may possibly be used. It is necessary to talk to the doctor
about when one can start the pills again. Also, one should
remember that breast feeding is not a sure protection
against pregnancy, so one should use another form of birth
control before one starts taking birth control pills again.
If one is not breast feeding the baby, one may be able to
start taking birth control pills 1 to 2 weeks after the
birth or when one begin menstruating again. It is necessary
to check with a doctor before one starts taking birth
control pills again.
What are the benefits?
The main benefit of birth
control pills is that they are effective in preventing
pregnancy but do not interrupt sexual intercourse. The pills
also may decrease the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer,
ovarian cysts, rheumatoid arthritis, and ectopic (tubal)
pregnancy. Also, when one uses birth control pills, the
periods become regular, lighter, and less painful. There is
also a lower incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID),
fibrocystic changes in the breasts, and fibroadenoma (benign
tumours) of the breast.
Generally, women who have no gynaecologic problems before
they start taking oral contraceptives have no trouble
becoming pregnant after they stop taking birth control
pills, regardless of how long they have been taking them.
There is no advantage to "taking a break" from birth control
pills unless one has problems specifically related to the
pills. When one wishes to get pregnant, it is recommended
that one waits until one has had at least 2 normal menstrual
periods after stopping the pills.
What are the disadvantages?
One disadvantage of birth control pills is
that one must remember to take a pill every day.
Problems one may have while taking birth control pills
include:
irregular bleeding for the first few
months
nausea and vomiting
weight gain
breast swelling and tenderness
increased appetite
depression
headaches
scant or missed periods
high blood pressure
dizziness
Women who take birth control pills and
smoke, especially those over 35 years old, have an increased
risk of severe problems such as heart disease and blood
clots. The heart disease could cause a heart attack. The
blood clots may cause leg pain or swelling, chest pain,
stroke, or death.
It is necessary to monitor one’s blood pressure after one
has taken the pills for 3 months. Birth control pills do not
protect one from sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS.
Latex condoms are the only safe way to protect against AIDS.
It is necessary to consult a doctor if one experiences:
leg pain or swelling
loss of vision or double vision
bleeding irregularities
more headaches than usual
numbness of arms, legs, or any other
part of your body.
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