Thursday, January 8, 2015

oral contraceptive pill

No two people are exactly alike. What may be right for one person may be unacceptable to another. The same goes with birth control medications. Because no two women have the exact same body composition, what may work effectively for one woman may not work or work less effectively for another. With this thought in mind, how does one choose the best birth control pill to use?

To be able to pick the best birth control pill to take, women must first get a better understanding of how oral contraceptive pills work and the different kinds of pills available in the market.

The oral contraceptive pill Birth control pills, more commonly called as "the pill", contain one or both of two synthetic female hormones, progestin and estrogen. These synthetic female hormones were copied from the female body's naturally occurring hormones estrogen and progesterone. Contraceptive pills work by altering hormone production to create a more consistent hormone level. Without a peak in estrogen, the ovaries would not get a signal to release an egg. Without a high level of progesterone, the uterine lining is not prepared to receive implantation of a fertilized egg.

The different kinds of oral contraceptive pills 1.The combination pill. This kind of birth control pill has both estrogen and progestin in it. These two synthetic female hormones stop pregnancy by suppressing the pituitary gland, which in turn stops the maturation and release of the egg from the ovary during ovulation. There are three different kinds of combination pills, and these are: 1.1.Monophasic or 21-day pill. Twenty-one pills with the same amount of hormones are taken daily for twenty-one days, and then no pills are taken on the next seven days after the twenty-first day. 1.2.Phasic pill. Twenty-one pills are divided into two or three different colors corresponding to the amount of hormones they contain. This pill is taken for twenty-one days according to packet instructions, and then no pills are taken on the next seven days after the twenty-first day. 1.3.Everyday pill. This pill is taken for twenty-eight days straight. It contains twenty-one active pills and seven placebo pills which are to be taken according to packet instructions. 2.The progestin-only pill or the "mini-pill". As the name implies, this oral contraceptive contains only progestin. Progestin is important in thickening the lining of the uterus to prevent sperm cells from reaching the egg. This pill is taken at the exact same time daily.

Choosing the best birth control pill Do you think you're the type of person who can remember to take a pill every day at the exact same time? Birth control is a serious and delicate matter, it requires discipline. One missed pill may end up in accidental pregnancy. You can also try out other birth control methods to use in conjunction with the birth control pill as a means of backup protection. It is most important to consult a health care professional or a pharmacist first before deciding to buy oral contraceptive pills in order to determine if there are any possible drug interactions.

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Birth control pills

Birth control pills are the most commonly used contraceptive method, followed by the condom and the withdrawal method. It is a daily pill that contains hormones aimed to change the way the body works and limit, if not eliminate, the chances of pregnancy.

It is usually a combination of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. When combined in the right balance, these hormones prevent ovulation. If a woman does not ovulate, she doesn't release an egg cell, and therefore nothing will be fertilized. Birth control pills also help thicken the cervical mucus lining that slows down sperm movement from the vaginal canal into the uterus if an egg has already been released. Furthermore, pills also affect the uterine lining, making it difficult for an egg to attach itself onto the wall of the uterus.

What benefits can I get from using birth control pills?

-The effects are reversible. Unlike some other birth control methods, the birth control pill can be stopped at any given time that you are ready to conceive.

-It aides in menstrual regulation. This is most beneficial to women with irregular menstrual period: from none at all (amenorrhea), to too many (polymenorrhea), or too little (oligomenorrhea). This also helps decrease heavy blood flow. Birth control pills help the body mimic a regular 28-day cycle.

-It helps treat benign ovarian cyst. Functional ovarian cysts do not form without ovulation. For this reason alone, the pills ovulation-stopping effect helps decrease the risk of developing functional ovarian cysts.

-It decreases menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea). Birth control pills decrease cramping by decreasing prostaglandin production.

-It decreases the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Because birth control pills prevent ovulation, it also eliminates the pain experienced during ovulation within the menstrual cycle.

-It decreases the risk of ovarian, endometrial, cervical and colorectal cancer. Certain cancer cells rely on naturally occurring sex hormones estrogen and progesterone to develop and grow. As pills alter the level of estrogen and progesterone in a woman's body, it stunts the growth and development of these carcinogenic cells.

-It decreases the risk of osteoporosis. The hormones regulated while taking birth control pills help reduce risks of getting osteoporosis.

-It decreases the risk of tubal (Ectopic) pregnancy. Because birth control pills work primarily by suppressing ovulation, they effectively prevent ectopic pregnancy as well as normal pregnancy.

What are the side effects of using birth control pills?

-It is tedious. It needs to be taken every day at the exact same time. Women with busy schedules might have some problems following the strict dosing schedule.

-Decreased enjoyment of sex. Some women experience a decreased interest in sex or a decreased ability to have orgasms.

-Risk of experiencing depression. The change in hormone level may affect chemicals in the brain, causing depression to birth control pill users.

There may be more advantages and side effects of using birth control pills that was not included in the list above. However, now that you've learned of some of the benefits and risks of using oral contraceptive pills, it is up to you to decide whether or not you are going to use it. Of course, before making any decisions regarding this matter, consult your physician if this birth control method is the best for you. Do not forget, though, using oral contraceptive pills will not prevent you from acquiring sexually transmitted diseases (STD) or HIV.