Oral Contraceptives - Are They for You?

Before you can choose a method of birth control, you must become educated about the method you are choosing. In my previous article, I discussed how to go about choosing the method that is best for you. Now, I will detail the first type of birth control, the oral contraceptive.

Oral contraceptives, as according to WebMD, are one option for hormonal contraception. When taken correctly the pills are 99.9% effective in preventing pregnancy. However, this contraceptive, unlike the male condom does not offer any protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. If you engage in intercourse with multiple partners, it is still best to require the use of a condom for your safety.

There are many variations of the birth control pill. The standard pill includes both the hormone estrogen, and progestin, and is taken daily for 21 days, with inactive pills for a week to keep the patient remembering to take the medication, while allowing time for menstruation. The mini-pill, or low dose version, only uses the hormone progestin, and is the best option for women who are breastfeeding or cannot handle the synthetic estrogen found in regular pills. The extended cycle pill, more commonly known as Seasonale, gives women the luxury of four menstrual cycles per year by offering hormonal pills for 12 weeks for each week of inactive pills to allow for menstruation. There is some skepticism about how safe the change in menstrual frequency is for women, but Seasonale is welcomed among many women.

The standard birth control pill uses synthetic hormones to work against the body's natural cycles to prevent pregnancy in a number of ways. First, the pill prevents the ovary releasing the egg. The contraceptive also can thicken the cervical mucus, making it more difficult for sperm to travel to the egg, and it can also make the uteruine environment inhospitable for an egg to implant and mature into a baby.

Mini-pills only have an effectiveness rating of about 95% as compared to their dual hormone counterparts, and only work by thickening the cervical mucus. Pills are taken daily.

Birth Control pills are available by doctor prescription only, and your doctor must determine that you are healthy enough to begin taking them. This method is best recommended if you do not smoke, and can be used up until menopause unless you do. You will get full effectiveness, provided you do not miss dosages within the first month of taking the medication and fertility will return within a month after ceasing to take the medication. It is best to get into a habit of taking the pill at the same time daily so you do not miss dosages. If you do, you can double up on pills the following day, but beyond that, consult the insert that comes with the medication, or your doctor as to what you should do. Get pregnancy tests if you have missed a period during the same cycle where your pills were not taken daily. Always remember to tell your doctor what other medications you are taking, as some of them such as antibiotics can reduce the effectiveness of your birth control and a back-up method (a condom) should be used to be safe.

Side effects include nausea (if this happens eat a small meal before you take the medication, and it will usually subside after making it through a few packs of the medication), weight gain, soreness/tenderness of the breasts, mood changes, lighter periods, or spotting between periods. Side effects that are more serious include serious headaches, blurred vision, chest and/or stomach pain, and swelling in the legs/thighs.

Many women take this form of birth control and it works just fine for them. It is all a matter of personal preference and lifestyle factors as to what choice you make.