Oral contraceptive how does it work

Combination birth control pills have also been found to protect against some forms of breast disease, anemia , ovarian cysts, and ovarian and endometrial cancers. Young women who can remember to take a pill each day and who want excellent protection from pregnancy use birth control pills. Not all women can — or should — use the Pill. In some cases, medical or other conditions make the use of the Pill less effective or more risky. For example, it is not recommended for women who have had blood clots, certain types of cancers, or some migraine headaches.

It also might not be recommended for girls who have had unexplained vaginal bleeding bleeding that is not during their periods or who think they might be pregnant. Girls who are interested in learning more about different types of birth control, including the Pill, should talk to their doctors or other health professionals.

A doctor or a nurse practitioner NP must prescribe the Pill. He or she will ask about a girl's health and family medical history, and do a complete physical exam, which might include a pelvic exam. If the doctor or NP prescribes birth control pills, he or she will explain when to begin taking the Pill and what to do if pills are missed. The doctor or NP will usually ask the girl to come back in a few months to have her blood pressure checked and to see if she is having any problems.

After that, girls who are having sex should get routine exams every 6 months to a year, or as recommended. Many health and family planning clinics such as Planned Parenthood sell birth control pills for less.

In addition, birth control pills and doctor visits are covered by many health insurance plans. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is It? How Does It Work? How Is the Pill Taken? It is best to take this pill at the same time every day. You could set the alarm on your phone to remind you. There are three different ways to take the pill.

Here is a video featuring Family Planning Nurse Rose Stewart explaining how to choose what's right for you. Take the hormone pills and then the seven non-hormone pills. You will get your period while you are taking the seven non-hormone pills. It may be lighter and less crampy than your regular period. Miss the seven non-hormone pills most months and take the hormone pills continuously, every day. Take the seven non-hormone pills when you want to have a period.

Take the hormone pills continuously, every day. Take the hormone pills from one packet and then start the hormone pills from a new packet, missing the seven non-hormone pills. With this option, you are protected from pregnancy unless you forget more than eight pills in a row. You can do this for as many packets of hormone pills as you like.

If you wish to stop taking oral contraceptives and become pregnant, your doctor may tell you to use another method of birth control until you begin to menstruate regularly again. It may take a long time for you to become pregnant after you stop taking oral contraceptives, especially if you have never had a baby or if you had irregular, infrequent, or complete absence of menstrual periods before taking oral contraceptives.

However, it is possible to become pregnant within days of stopping certain oral contraceptives. If you want to stop taking oral contraceptives but do not want to become pregnant, you should begin using another type of birth control as soon as you stop taking oral contraceptives.

Discuss any questions that you may have with your doctor. Oral contraceptives may decrease the amount of folate in your body. Folate is important for the development of a healthy baby, so you should talk to your doctor if you want to become pregnant soon after you stop taking oral contraceptives.

Your doctor may recommend that you take a folate supplement or an oral contraceptive that contains a folate supplement Beyaz, Safyral. Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. Estrogen and Progestin Oral Contraceptives pronounced as ess' troe jen proe jes tin.

Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow? What should I do if I forget a dose? What side effects can this medication cause? What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication? Brand names of combination products Other names. Other uses for this medicine. What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking oral contraceptives, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to estrogen, progestin, or any other medications. Be sure to mention any of the following: acetaminophen APAP, Tylenol ; antibiotics such as ampicillin Principen , clarithromycin Biaxin ,erythromycin E. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Before taking Beyaz or Safyral, also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking cholestyramine Locholest, Prevalite, Questran , a folate supplement, methotrexate Trexall , pyrimethamine Daraprim , sulfasalazine Azulfidine , or valproic acid Depakene, Stavzor.

John's wort. Also tell your doctor if you have recently had surgery or have been unable to move around for any reason. Your doctor may tell you that you should not take certain types of oral contraceptives or that you should not take any type of oral contraceptive if you have or have had any of these conditions.

If you become pregnant while taking oral contraceptives, call your doctor immediately. This is the most common type. Each pill has the same amount of hormone in it. One pill is taken each day for 21 days and then no pills are taken for the next 7 days. Microgynon, Marvelon and Yasmin are examples of this type of pill.

Phasic pills contain 2 or 3 sections of different coloured pills in a pack. Each section contains a different amount of hormones. Phasic pills need to be taken in the right order. Logynon is an example of this type of pill. There are 21 active pills and 7 inactive dummy pills in a pack. The two types of pill look different. One pill is taken each day for 28 days with no break between packets of pills.

Every day pills need to be taken in the right order. Microgynon ED is an example of this type of pill. Follow the instructions that come with your packet. If you have any questions, ask a doctor, nurse or pharmacist. It's important to take the pills as instructed, because missing pills or taking them at the same time as certain medicines may make them less effective.

You can also take the combined pill as a tailored regime. This may include taking the pill for 21 days and stopping for 4, or taking the pill continuously without a break. For more information speak to a doctor or nurse. You can normally start taking the pill at any point in your menstrual cycle.

There is special guidance if you have just had a baby, abortion or miscarriage. The guidance may also be different if you have a short menstrual cycle.

Get advice from a doctor or nurse if you need it. You may need to use additional contraception during your 1st days on the pill — this depends on when in your menstrual cycle you start taking it. If you start the combined pill on the 1st day of your period day 1 of your menstrual cycle you will be protected from pregnancy straight away. You will not need additional contraception. If you start the pill on the 5th day of your period or before, you will still be protected from pregnancy straight away.

You will not be protected from pregnancy straight away and will need additional contraception until you have taken the pill for 7 days. If you start the pill after the 5th day of your cycle, make sure you have not put yourself at risk of pregnancy since your last period.

If you're worried you're pregnant when you start the pill, take a pregnancy test 3 weeks after the last time you had unprotected sex.