Birth Control Pill

Birth control pills, or oral contraceptives, are a popular method of preventing pregnancy. Female contraceptive pills consist of a pill with the doses of synthetic hormones like progestin or estrogen, taken orally by a woman to prevent pregnancy. Although some birth control pills balance the hormone level in a woman\'s body during the menstrual cycle, others keep the hormones at a constant level.

Contraceptive pills work on the mechanism of averting pregnancy by stopping ovulation. Sometimes the pills also thicken the mucus over the cervix and prevent sperm from entering the uterus. There are different kinds of birth control pills sold on the market which mostly differ in their composition, like variation in the synthetic hormones progestin and estrogen, or differences in chemical analogues of the natural hormones estradiol and progesterone.

The correct usage of birth control pills is imperative, as women sometimes forget to take them daily, which destroy the effectiveness of the pills. Usually, a contraceptive pill is taken every day at the same hour for 21 days, followed by a break of seven days, during the menstrual cycle. Most oral contraceptive packages usually contain seven placebos like sugar pills or iron supplements, which one can take during the break period as it helps in maintaining continuity. Although birth control pills are quite reliable in stopping pregnancy, sometimes they fail to give 100% protection. Certain conditions, like the use of other medications along with the pills, sometimes hinder its mechanism and, during certain medical conditions like diarrhea, the pill might stop working altogether.

Although women take birth control pills globally, they remain controversial due to certain side effects they cause. Some of the common problems encountered by women on the pill are weight gain and changes in sexual intensity, vaginal discharge and menstrual cycle. Some other side effects reported by women are nausea, headaches, depression and skin problems.

Contraceptive pills undoubtedly provide women with the power to control the decision on family planning and help in reducing not only unwanted pregnancy, but also in controlling the symptoms of some hormonal disorders.