Birth Control Pills: Intro

What are birth control pills and how do they work?

Birth control pills (also called oral contraceptive pills and the “Pill”) are a type of female hormonal birth control method and are very effective at preventing pregnancy. The Pills are small tablets that you swallow each day. Most pills contain two types of synthetic (man-made) female hormones; estrogen and a progestin. These are similar to the estrogen and progesterone normally made by the ovaries. These pills are called “combination oral contraceptives”, and there are many different kinds.

The hormones in the pills prevent pregnancy by suppressing your pituitary gland, which stops the development and release of the egg in the ovary (ovulation). The progestin also helps to prevent the sperm from reaching the egg and changes the lining of the uterus.

Another type of pill contains only one hormone (progestin) and is called either the “progestin-only pill”, or the “mini-Pill”. It works by suppressing ovulation and by helping to prevent the male's sperm from reaching the egg.

Which birth control pill should I take?

First, talk with your health care provider about whether the Pill is right for you. If it is, discuss which pill and what dosage is best for you.

The combined pill with both estrogen and protesting is slightly more effective than the progestin-only pill. However, some women can't take estrogen, so it's better for them to take the protesting-only pill.

How effective is the Pill at preventing pregnancy?

The Pill is very effective if you take it exactly as you are supposed to - one pill a day, taken at the same time each day. You should also use back-up contraception such as condoms if you have diarrhea or vomiting, or are taking a medication that could change the effectiveness of the birth control pill. Using condoms is always important to lessen your chances of getting an STD.

If you take the Pill at the same time every day (perfect use), it's more than 99% effective. This means that if 100 women take the combination pill every day, less than 1 woman will become pregnant in a year.

Although it's obvious that the Pill is most effective against pregnancy when it's taken at the same time every day, perfect use can be difficult for both teens and adults. That's why it's often considered 92% effective. This means that if 100 women use the Pill, but don't take it perfectly, 8 or more women will become pregnant in a year.