Birth Control Pills: What, why, how and more...

 

Will having a birth control pill induce an abortion? Is it any different? Will it harm my body in any way? Will it mess up my cycles? 

 

These are some of the most common queries you tend to have when you think of taking birth control pills. 

Birth control pills or oral contraceptives are pills you take orally to prevent pregnancy. It is one of the most commonly used methods of contraception. Birth control pills are of two types – Combination pills and Progestin-only pills. Both these pills work on different mechanisms.

 

Find out more about them in this blog. 

 

COMBINATION PILLS

These are made from a combination of synthetic Estrogen and Progestin. They are mostly used in a 28-day cycle where you take the ‘active’ pills, which contain hormones, for 21 days and ‘inactive’ tablets, which do not have hormones, for 7 days. There are three types of combination pills: monophasic, multiphasic, and extended cycle pills. 

Monophasic pills give you the same amount of hormones for 21 days, and you take the inactive pills to get your periods. Multiphasic pills give different amounts of hormones, and extended cycle pills are used in a 13-week cycle where you take the pills for twelve weeks and get your period in the thirteenth week. By using extended-cycle tablets, you get your periods only three or four times in the whole year. 

Combination pills prevent ovulation and thicken cervical mucous. By thickening the cervical mucous, it prevents the sperms from reaching the egg. 

Combination pills are more commonly used and you can get these pills by name of Yasmin, Apri, Azurette, Kariva, Gianvi, Zarah, Aviane, Levora, Balziva, Sprintec etc. in India.

PROGESTIN-ONLY PILLS

These pills contain only progestin and are suitable for females who cannot take Oestrogen for any reason. Since all the medicines are active, you may not get your periods while using progestin-only pills. 

They work by thickening your cervical mucous and thinning your uterine lining (Endometrium). If the Endometrium is thin, chances of implantation get reduced exponentially, therefore, preventing pregnancy. These pills may also prevent ovulation. 

In India, you can get these pills by the name of Cerazette, Famylette, Zerogen, Femfolin etc. All these medicines have the salt 'Desogestrel' which is a progestin.

 

HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THESE PILLS?

Pills are considered to be a very successful method of contraception. The failure rate of the pills is only 9%. You should take your pills at the same time every day for them to be fully effective. 

Certain medications like Rifampin, HIV medicines, Carbamazepine and topiramate interact with the pills and make them less effective. Further, if you’re suffering from diarrhoea or vomiting, you may want to use other contraception to be hundred per cent protected. 

 

WHY SHOULD YOU USE BIRTH CONTROL PILLS?

Birth control pills are a very effective method of contraception which protect you from pregnancy 24/7. This means that you don’t have to worry about birth control during sex. These pills can also be used to regulate the menstrual cycle of females suffering from PCOD/PCOS. Combination pills also provide benefits like clearing of acne, prevention of ectopic pregnancy, heavy periods, severe cramps and even cancer. 

Another benefit of using pills is that the effects are reversible. Once you stop taking the pills, everything goes back to normal. 

 

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS AND DISADVANTAGES?

The major disadvantage of using birth control pills is that they don’t provide protection against STIs and STDs. So, you will have to use condoms in addition to the pills to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. 

Another problem is that you need to be very diligent in taking pills at the same time every day without missing a dose; otherwise, the chances of pregnancy will increase. 

Some women may also experience nausea, decreased sex drive, spotting between periods and breast tenderness while using the pills. 

There is an increased risk of blood clots also, especially in overweight women or those who suffer from high blood pressure which can lead to problems like heart attack and deep vein thrombosis. 

Everyone has their own method of contraception, and it is a very personal decision that you must take after carefully looking at the benefits, effectiveness as well as side effects of each method. Take your time to weigh your options, consult with your doctor and choose a method that suits you. After all, your health is in your hands!

By

Nt. Heena Gupta