What are Oral contraceptives?
Definition Oral contraceptives are medicines taken by mouth to help prevent pregnancy. They are also known as the Pill, OCs, or birth control pills. Purpose Oral contraceptives, also known as birth control pills, contain artificially made forms of two hormones produced naturally in the body. These hormones, estrogen and progestin, regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle. When taken in the proper amounts, following a specific schedule, oral contraceptives are very effective in preventing pregnancy. Studies show that less than one of every one hundred women who use oral contraceptives correctly becomes pregnant during the first year of use. These pills have several effects that help prevent pregnancy. For pregnancy to occur, an egg must become mature inside a woman’s ovary, be released, and travel to the fallopian tube. A male sperm must also reach the fallopian tube, where it fertilizes the egg. Then the fertilized egg must travel to the woman’s uterus (womb), where it lodges in the uterus l
Oral contraceptives are highly effective means of preventing pregnancy. Oral contraceptives consist of synthetic forms of two hormones produced naturally in the body: either progestin alone or estrogen and progestin. Estrogen and progestin regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle, and the fluctuating levels of these hormones play an essential role in fertility. To reduce side effects, oral contraceptives are available in a wide range of estrogen and progestin concentrations. Progestin-only products are usually prescribed for women who should avoid estrogens; however, they may not be as effective as estrogen/progestin contraceptives.
