The first pill went on sale in 1960, and it was a real revolution in the field of contraception. For the first time in human history, women were able to control their own reproductive cycles. Half a century later, despite the abundance of other convenient forms of contraception such as IUDs, birth control pills and patches, injections, birth control pills are still the most popular means to prevent unwanted pregnancy. For a very rough estimate, they are more than one hundred million women worldwide.

Modern birth control pills contain far less estrogen than their predecessors of the sixties of the last century, and cause fewer side effects, while remaining very reliable. In addition to them, and they are now widely used progestin-only birth control pills, or a mini-pill. There are also pills for emergency contraception.

The combined pill

They most women associate with the phrase "the pill." They contain a synthetic form of estrogen and progestogen.

Ovulation occurs when the increase in estrogen ovaries gives a signal, after which one of them leaves mature egg. Under the influence of the combined contraceptive pill estrogen level does not reach the level required for ovulation. In addition, their active substances makes cervical mucus thicker and more viscous, which is why it will be harder to get the sperm into the uterus and fallopian tubes and changing the uterine lining so that implantation of a fertilized egg will be difficult, even if the all-ovulation and fertilization still occur.

Most packages with combined contraceptives containing 21 or 28 tablets. Packages with 21 tablets all the pills are active. Patient during three weeks takes the pills, and then making seven break - at that time periods are usually not as heavy or prolonged, as usual. Packages with 28 tablets, seven tablets are inactive.

Advantages of combined contraceptive pills:

• When used properly, the effectiveness of these pills is more than 99%. However, in practice, it is between 92% to 97% - reduced efficiency due to the fact that women often forget to take their pills on time;
• Menstruation becomes more regular, less heavy and painful;
• Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome become less pronounced;
• It reduces the risk of cancer of the ovaries and uterus, as well as the formation of ovarian cysts and breast;
• In some cases, the symptoms are less severe acne;
• Tablets can alleviate the discomfort associated with endometriosis.

Side effects of the combined contraceptive pills:

• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Headache;
• Breast tenderness;
• Weakening of sexual desire;
• Dizziness;
• Smearing bleeding between periods, especially in the first two months after starting birth control pills;
• Pills increase the risk of liver tumors, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, breast cancer Breast Cancer: Myths and Facts , Blood clots and, in rare cases, gallstones.

Progestin birth control pills

These tablets do not contain estrogen; they contain only a progestogen .  They are usually advised to take lactating women, since estrogen can reduce milk production, as well as women who can not take combined contraceptives because of any disease .  Progestin makes the cervical mucus tablets thicker and act on the endometrium so that impede implantation of a fertilized ovum; they can also prevent ovulation .  Packages such contraceptives containing 28 tablets, and they are all active .  Progestin pills can be very effective if the woman will take them at exactly the same time every day .  If you use the combined pill is permissible to take another pill for a couple of hours earlier or later in the case of this contraceptive even a small delay leads to the fact that the likelihood of unintended pregnancy increases significantly .

Advantages of progestin-only birth control pills:

• They can be taken during lactation;
• They can take those to whom estrogen is contraindicated, for example, women older than 35 years, smoking women suffering from migraine Migraine   and high blood pressure;
• They reduce the duration of menstrual bleeding.

Side effects of progestin-only birth control pills:

• Smearing bleeding between periods, sometimes - the absence of menstruation for several cycles;
• Lethargy;
• Tides fat;
• The weakening of the libido;
• Nausea;
• Dizziness;
• Headache;
• Sleep problems.

Emergency Contraceptive Pills

These are birth control pills to prevent pregnancy after sex. There are two main types of these tablets. Tablets of the first type contains levonorgestrel - a synthetic form of the progestogen; this substance can prevent ovulation, fertilization or implantation of a fertilized egg already. Such tablets are for example postinor Postinor - means of emergency contraception , You can buy without a prescription. They must be taken within 72 hours after sex - the sooner, the better. Another type of emergency contraceptive pill contains progesterone receptor modulators. They can be taken within five days (120 hours) after sex, but they are sold only by prescription.

Advantages of pills for emergency contraception:

• They reduce the risk of unintended pregnancies by 58% -95%, depending on how soon they take;
• They usually do not cause harm to the fetus if the pregnancy still occurs.

The side effects of pills for emergency contraception:

• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Dizziness;
• Weakness;
• Breast tenderness;
• Headache.

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