The most effective form of contraception, birth control tablets, are 99 percent effective if used every day. As well as controlling menstruation and lowering cancer risk, this tablet also helps clear up acne and cure endometriosis.
What is birth control?
Birth control, sometimes known as contraception, is an anti-pregnancy method. The pill is only one of several methods of birth control available to you.
What is the birth control pill?
Hormones in the birth control pill work to prevent women from becoming pregnant. People refer to it as “the pill” because of the pill-like nature of the medication. Pills are swallowed by women once a day. Taking the medication at the same time every day helps it work best.
How effective is the pill?
As long as you don’t skip a dose, you have the ability to avoid pregnancy 99 percent of the time with the pill provided you don’t skip a day or two. As a result, nine out of every 100 women who use the pill will get pregnant unintentionally each year. When you take the tablet every day at the same time, it is most effective. Hormone fluctuations may be minimised by maintaining a regular schedule of activities.
How does the birth control pill work?
By preventing pregnancy, birth control tablets include hormones.
- decreasing or halting the ovulatory cycle (the release of an egg from an ovary).
- Sperm cannot reach the uterus because the cervical mucus is thickened.
- reducing the likelihood of a fertilised egg attaching to the uterine wall by thinning the uterine lining.
What are the types of birth control pills?
Contraceptive tablets come in two flavours: natural and synthetic. Pregnancy is prevented by the hormones in both forms.
- Estrogen and progestin are both included in combination tablets.
- Progestin-only tablets, or “the minipill,” are also referred to as such. Women who are nursing or have a history of blood clots or strokes and should not take oestrogen benefit from these alternatives.
Dosing packages for the pill range from 21-day packs to 90-day packs to even 365-day packs. Traditionally, you would take active tablets for three weeks, followed by hormone-free (inactive) pills for two to seven days, depending on the brand and dosage. Cyclic dosing is the medical term for this. Most women experience their menstrual cycle while taking inactive medication. There are some brands that don’t include any inactive tablets in the package at all (they only supply three weeks of active pills). The 21-day kits allow a lady to go a week without taking any medication. Your menstruation will occur during this time, just as it does when you take inactive, hormone-free tablets.
It is possible to use a formulation that does not need inactive tablets, and instead has a woman take an active pill each day. Extending the duration of the active pill cycle to three or four times a year is another option. Menstruation may be avoided by not taking the inactive tablets. Your doctor will be able to help you choose the best course of action.
Does the pill prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)?
There is no protection against STDs or illnesses that you might get by taking the pill (STIs). STDs including genital herpes, chlamydia, and HIV are spread via sexual contact and the exchange of body fluids like sperm. HIV is spread through blood. When it comes to preventing a sexually transmitted disease (STI), condoms and the pill are the best ways to go. Preventing pregnancy is around 85% successful when using condoms alone. Infection prevention and pregnancy prevention may both be improved with the combined use of the pill and condoms. In order to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), your doctor may advise you to use condoms in conjunction with the pill if you are not in a monogamous relationship.
What are benefits of taking the pill?
The pill is used by some women for health reasons. The pill has the ability to:
- Menstruation may be regulated or lightened.
- Make your periods shorter or lighter to avoid anaemia.
- Reduce the pain of menstruation (dysmenorrhea).
- PMS and premenstrual dysmorphic disorder management (PMDD).
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome should be treated (PCOS).
- Treat uterine fibroids or endometriosis.
- To lessen ovarian, uterine, and colon cancer risks, a low-carbohydrate diet is recommended.
- Improve acne.
- Stop the development of hair that you don’t want.
- Reduce migraines.
- Reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes as your body prepares to enter the menopausal phase.
Are there any side effects to taking the pill?
When using the pill, some women notice drug side effects. After a few months, these adverse effects are usually gone. If you notice any adverse effects, notify your doctor. Change to a new brand if the current one is giving you troubles. However, many of the symptoms may be alleviated by just waiting a few cycles before beginning a new medication regimen. The following are possible adverse effects:
- Tenderness or enlargement of the breasts.
- Headaches.
- Irritability or moodiness.
- Nausea.
- Detecting the gaps between them (abnormal menstruation).
Are there any health risks to taking the pill?
For the vast majority of women, birth control tablets are completely safe. Since the pill has been on the market for more than half a century, many people are familiar with its benefits and drawbacks. Women who use the combination (estrogen-containing) birth control pill are at an increased risk of getting these uncommon complications:.
- Blood clots.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
- Heart attack.
- Hypertension (high blood pressure).
- Stroke.
Based on your medical history, your doctor will discuss your risk level with you. Fortunately, most women may safely use progestin-only tablets if they are unable to utilise an estrogen-containing pill.
How soon does the pill work?
Pregnancy may be prevented for as long as seven days after taking the pill. You should use another kind of birth control at this period. Symptoms such as acne or irregular bleeding might take up to four months to improve when using the tablet to treat them.
What should I do if I miss a pill?
As soon as you remember to take the missing tablet, do so. Then, as intended, take your normal daily dosage. Birth control should be used until your period arrives as a back-up method of contraception. If you don’t take the pill for a few days, contact your doctor. Pregnancy tests and emergency contraceptive methods might be discussed with your doctor. Make sure you have the package inserts on hand, since most will offer you explicit advice on what to do if you miss a pill.
Should I avoid certain medications while taking the pill?
Check with your doctor before taking any new drugs or herbal supplements. Pregnancy may occur if you take certain medications that make the pill less effective. Items in this category include:
- Medication to prevent seizures.
- Supplements made from natural ingredients
- Anti-HIV medications.
Can I take the pill while breastfeeding?
Estrogen, which is included in the combination birth control pill, may reduce milk supply. If you’re nursing, your doctor may advise you to switch to a progestin-only tablet. Once a woman’s milk supply is established and her risk of blood clots is diminished, some women may utilise estrogen-containing tablets.
What are alternatives to the pill?
Whether you’re not sure if you can remember to take a pill every day, speak to your doctor about these additional birth control options:
- implantation of etonogestrel (Nexplanon).
- Many hormonal and non-hormonal solutions are available for the intrauterine device (IUD).
- Vaginal ring contraception that may be removed (both monthly and yearly options are available).
- Skin patches (Xulane).
- Progestin injection Depo-Provera (also called Depo).
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What does birth control do?
Birth control tablets include hormones that stop or reduce ovulation in order to prevent pregnancy (the release of an egg from an ovary). Sperm cannot reach the uterus because the cervical mucus is thickened. reducing the likelihood of a fertilised egg attaching to the uterine wall by thinning the uterine lining.
What do you mean birth control?
In order to prevent pregnancy, birth control involves the use of a variety of devices, medications, sexual behaviours, and surgical treatments. It gives women the freedom to decide when they wish to have a family. Both men and women may use a variety of contraceptive devices and procedures to avoid becoming pregnant.
Does birth control stop periods?
It is possible to use birth control pills for as long as a year in order to stop the flow of blood for up to three months. However, using monophasic birth control pills — which have the same hormone dosage for the whole three weeks that the active tablet is taken — may keep you from getting your period.
