HOW DO BIRTH CONTROL PILLS PREVENT PREGNANCY?

Birth control pills, generally known as oral contraceptives (OC’s) contain the absolute goal every month connected with avoiding your reproductive system from liberating an egg cell. In most cases, birth control pills avoid being pregnant simply by controlling ovulation. 

One other way of which birth control pills avoid being pregnant is the fact that they support this cervical mucous to become thicker as well as tacky. Lastly, birth control pills make that cells lining on the uterus much less sensitive to implantation.

Birth control pills, or oral contraceptives, consist of hormones that will suppress ovulation. In the course of ovulation an egg cell is actually produced from the ovaries, without having ovulation there is absolutely no egg cell for being fertilized and also being pregnant are not able to happen. There are actually 3 varieties of birth control pills — the combined pills and also the Minipill. This combined tablet consists of both estrogen as well as progestin, while the Minipill consists of merely progestin.

What If I Forget to Take a Birth Control Pill?

If you forget to take a birth control pill, take it as soon as you remember. If you don’t remember until the next day, go ahead and take two pills that day. If you forget to take your pills for two days, take two pills the day you remember and two pills the next day. You will then be back on schedule. If you miss more than two pills, call your doctor. You may be told to take one pill daily until Sunday then start a new pill pack or to discard the rest of the pill pack and start over with a new pack that same day.

Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle

At the beginning of each menstrual cycle, levels of the hormone estrogen begin to rise. Estrogen helps thicken the bloody lining of the uterus (endometrium) to prepare for a fertilized egg. Once estrogen levels peak, about 14 days into the menstrual cycle, one of the ovaries releases one or more eggs—this release is called ovulation.

After ovulation, levels of another reproductive hormone—progesterone—rise to help prepare the uterus to receive a fertilized egg by thickening its lining. The egg travels through the fallopian tubes toward the uterus, and if the egg is fertilized and successfully implants itself in the uterine lining, conception (pregnancy) takes place. If conception does not occur, both estrogen and progesterone levels drop, signaling the now thickened uterine bloody lining to slough off or shed, and menstruation begins.

How Birth Control Pills Work

Birth control pills are a synthetic form of the hormones progesterone and estrogen. They prevent ovulation by maintaining more consistent hormone levels. Without a peak in estrogen, the ovary doesn’t get the signal to release an egg. Remember that no egg means no possibility for fertilization and pregnancy.

The pill also thickens cervical mucus so the sperm cannot reach the egg. It makes the lining of the uterus unreceptive to the implantation of a fertilized egg.

How to Take Birth Control Pills

There are a few different ways you can start to take birth control pills. Discuss the pros and cons of the following methods with your doctor:

• You can start taking them on the first day of your period, in which case you won’t need backup birth control.
• You can start taking them the Sunday after your period starts, in which case you will need backup birth control for seven days.
• You can start taking birth control pills on the day they are prescribed, in which case you will need to make sure you’re not pregnant and you will need to use backup birth control for the first month. If you have a negative pregnancy test and it has been at least 10 to 11 days since you last had intercourse, you can be nearly sure you are not pregnant and it is OK to start the pill.

No matter when you start taking birth control pills, you will need to start each new pack on the same day of the week that you began your first pack. For example, if you start taking your birth control pills on a Monday, you will always begin taking them on a Monday. Keep in mind that birth control pills only work if you take them every day. They do not accumulate or collect in your body, which is why you must take a pill every day! You shouldn’t skip pills (on purpose or by accident) or stop taking them, even if you’re not having sex often. Also be aware that certain medications, such as certainantibiotics taken for a long time, can make your birth control pills less effective. If you regularly have diarrhea or vomiting, that can interfere with absorption of the pill. If you miss a pill or have gastrointestinal problems or are taking medication that could interfere with your birth control pills, use a backup method for the rest of your cycle. Just remember, don’t stop your birth control pills.

Are There Side Effects of Birth Control Pills?

Yes, there are side effects of birth control pills, although the majority are not serious. Side effects include:

• Nausea
• Weight gain
• Sore or swollen breasts
• Small amounts of blood, or spotting, between periods
• Lighter periods
• Mood changes

The following side effects, easily remembered by the word “ACHES,” are less common but more serious. If you experience any of these, contact your doctor immediately. If you cannot reach your doctor, go to an emergency room or urgent care center for evaluation. These symptoms may indicate a serious disorder, such as liver disease,gallbladder disease, stroke, blood clots, high blood pressure, or heart disease. They include:

• Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
• Chest pain
• Headaches (severe)
• Eye problems (blurred vision)
• Swelling or aching in the legs and thighs

Birth control pills that contain drospirenone, including YAZ and Yasmin, have been investigated by the FDA because of the possibility that they may cause an increased risk for blood clots. Drospirenone is a man-made version of the hormone progesterone. Other brands containing drospirenone include Beyaz, Safyral, Gianvi, Loryna, Ocella, Syeda, and Zarah.

The results of the investigation are inconsistent. Some studies showed there was an increased risk while other studies showed no increased risk. The drugs are still available. A summary of the findings is contained on the packaging label. If you are taking a pill with drospirenone, talk with your doctor about your risk.