Contraception

The contraceptive pill, often referred to simply as “the Pill”, contains the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.  These hormones prevent ovulation (the monthly release of an egg or ovule)..  If the sperm doesn’t have an egg to fertilize, then there can be no pregnancy. 

It is one of the most effective birth control methods.  If taken correctly, the Pill is over 99% effective.  There are many kinds of pills with different hormone concentrations.  However, these differences are small.  You physician might change your prescription if you encounter any minor problems.

It is important to know that the Pill has no adverse effects on fertility. Once off the Pill, ovulation will resume and a woman’s ability to have children will be as good as it was before she started taking it.

The contraceptive pill requires a prescription.  Your doctor will evaluate your health before giving you a prescription for the Pill.  Generally, healthy women have no problem getting a prescription for the Pill.

Precautions …

• If you’re taking medicine, ask your physician or pharmacist if it can have adverse effects on the Pill; certain drugs are known to reduce the effectiveness of the Pill.
• Some natural products, like St-John’s-wort, can also reduce the effectiveness of the Pill.
• If you are suffering from persistent vomiting or diarrhea, continue using the Pill but use a second contraceptive method, such as condoms.  Vomiting and diarrhea might hinder your body’s ability to properly absorb and channel the hormones contained in the Pill from the intestine into the bloodstream.
• Women on the Pill should not smoke.  Combining smoking with the Pill increases your chances of illness.  Actually, Pill or no Pill, smoking is definitely a health hazard.
• The Pill provides absolutely no protection against sexually transmitted infections (STI’s).  Condoms prevent STI.
• It’s a good idea to keep a spare box of pills.  You might lose your box, lose a Pill down the sink, forget it at your boyfriend’s place…a spare box can come in quite handy!

• The Pill is very easy to take.  All you have to do is take one tablet every day.  Try making it a habit by always taking the pill at the same time every day.  Try taking it at a time that will help you remember, like when you get out of bed or just before you go to bed at night.  You can also set your watch, pager, or cell phone to ring to help you remember.
• Start taking the Pill the first day of your period, or follow instructions given to you buy your physician or a nurse.
• Most brands will have two types of boxes: a 21-day box and a 28-day box.  Choose whichever one you like.  If you choose to take a pill everyday for 28 days, you never need to take a break, you’re less likely to forget.  Your period should start within the 7 last days of the box.  Once the box is finished, you start a new one the next day.  If you choose a 21-day box, you stop taking the Pill everyday for 7 days (the ones that correspond to your period).  After a 7-day break, you start a new box, regardless of whether or not you still have your period.
• If you forget your Pill… take it right away if you remember the same day.  Take two pills if you remember the day after.
• If you forget two Pills…say on Monday and Tuesday, take two pills on Wednesday and two more on Thursday.
• If you have forgotten Pills during the month, it is safer to use a second contraception method (like condoms) until the end of the month to prevent a pregnancy.
• You do not have to stop taking the Pill to help your body “rest”.
  

The Pros:

• The Pill is very effective
• The girls has some control over contraception
• The Pill reduces cramps and menstrual bleeding
• It helps to have a regular menstrual cycle
• The Pill reduces chances of developing cancer of the ovaries and the uterus
• Its effects are completely reversible.  When you stop taking the pill, everything goes back to normal, without side effects.
• It reduces the risk of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
• The Pill can decrease acne problems

The Cons:

• You have to take it every day
• The Pill can produce bleeding between periods, especially at the beginning
• Sometimes periods stop altogether
• Although it doesn’t happen frequently, the Pill can cause a few side effects including: digestion problems for those with a sensitive stomach, headaches, breast pain and small weight gain.

Most of the side effects caused by the Pill disappear after a few weeks or a few months.  If the side effects don’t go away or if they’re intense, it is better to talk to your doctor.

If you want to learn more, you can go to these websites: