What Types of Birth Control Pills are Available

Among all the birth control methods that are available today, there are many people who still like to use the contraceptive pill because of its reliability. In contrast to other methods of birth control, this method allows one the freedom from having to go through routines before and after having sex.

Stating simply, if one happens to be impulsive where sex is concerned; the contraceptive pill is most suitable. An individual does not have to go through the process of getting out a contraceptive sheath and face complications in case one does not have it.

In view of this advantage, there are different pills designed keeping in mind the different body and hormonal structure of women. Two kinds of contraceptive pills are suited for consumption at fixed intervals. There is also another one that can be taken after having sex without protection.

Progesterone-Only Pill

To begin with there is the ‘Progestin-only’ pill (POP). This is also called the ‘mini-pill’. It includes the following functions:

1. Thickening the mucus on the cervical walls. By this, sperms cannot get into the uterus and fuse with the ova. Thus, it prevents pregnancy.
2. Keeping the Endometrium as thin as possible also manages to prevent pregnancy. It must be noted here that if the wall of the Endometrium is thin, implantation of the zygote cannot take place even if the ovum happens to get fertilized.
3. The third reinforcing factor of birth control with the mini pill is that it prevents ovulation in up to fifty percent of the cycles that occur.

Combined Pill

In addition to the Progesterone pill, there is the combined pill that consists of the hormone progesterone as well as estrogen. This pill is also known as the COC pill. By using it, ovulation is drastically reduced. Indeed, it is prevented in ninety to ninety five percent of the cycles.

• In addition to this, the function of the COC is that the cervical wall is also thickened just as it is with the mini-pill.
• This prevents the sperm from reaching the egg for fertilization.
• However, it must be noted that since the egg would hardly be present because of the action of the pill, pregnancy will hardly be possible. In addition to this, the Endometrium, as in the case of the mini pill, remains thin.

This also does not favor fertilization. Hence, with all three actions in place it is highly unlikely that pregnancy would occur.

Emergency Contraceptive

Aside from the mini pill and the COC pill, there is another pill that can still prevent one from becoming pregnant even if one dose of these pills has been missed out on.

The Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP) also known as the morning after pill is commonly used. This pill though considered to be a contraceptive pill like the others, it is actually has more to do with abortion. The following include the actions of the morning after pill:

• Ovulation is restricted or put off till a further time in order to miss the sperm that may be present. In case an egg has been fertilized, the pill prevents it from being implanted.
• It is said that even if the pill has been taken nearly 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse the probability of pregnancy is reduced by seventy five percent.

There are a many kinds of birth control pills available. However, you should only take these pills after consulting your doctor as improper usage may cause side effects and complications.