How Does Birth Control pills work?

Question

I know it gives you a less risk of becoming pregnant

but like whats the routine?

and why is it so important to take it EVERY DAY and around the same time?

please give me as much details as possible

Answer 1

There are two basic kinds of hormonal birth control pills: (1) the combination pill which is made up of two synthetic hormones (estrogen and progestin) and (2) the progestin-only pill (sometimes called the minipill). The synthetic estrogen in the combination pill works to prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg. If no egg is released, there is nothing to be fertilized by sperm and the woman cannot get pregnant. In addition, the synthetic estrogen works by suppressing the body's normal hormonal pattern (which involves one egg being developed per menstrual cycle and released for possible fertilization).

The synthetic progestin (present in both types of pills) works to:

    * thicken the cervical mucus, which hinders the movement of sperm,

    * inhibit the egg's ability to travel through the fallopian tubes,

    * partially suppress the sperm's ability to unite with (and thereby fertilize) the egg, and

    * alter the uterine lining so (in the event that an egg is released and fertilized) the egg will likely not be able to implant into the uterine wall. (A fertilized egg would then be discharged with the rest of the menstrual blood.)

Although there are only two basic kinds of hormonal birth control pills, there are many different brands to choose from! The only difference between different brands of birth control pills is that they use different synthetic estrogens or progestin hormones and/or different proportions of the hormones.

These two kinds of hormonal birth control (the combination formula and the progestin-only formula) are available in other forms besides pills. The combination formula is also available in the patch and vaginal ring forms. The progestin-only formula is also available in intramuscular shots (ex: Depo-Provera) and in intrauterine devices (IUDs are inserted into the uterus and can prevent pregnancy for 5 years or more).

Some women may prefer these other forms of birth control because they can be taken less often (and consequently need to be remembered less often). While birth control pills must be taken everyday, the patch is only applied once per week, the vaginal ring only once per month, and the intramuscular shot only once every 3 months. In the US, hormonal birth control devices are only available by prescription. Women will want to speak with their gynecologist or women's health care provider about these different kinds of birth control and which form would be best for them personally. Students at Columbia may make an appointment by calling x4-2284 or online through Open Communicator.

If you choose birth control pills (which are sometimes the cheapest form of birth control), it is very important to take the pills at the same time everyday. This creates a more stable level of hormones in your body. When you forget your pill (or take it 3 to 4 hours late or more), this causes a dip in your body's levels of the birth control hormones. If you forget your pill one day, you may need to take two pills the next day, which will cause a spike in your body's levels of the birth control hormones. For maximum protection against pregnancy, pick a time you are more likely to remember (maybe first thing in the morning or right before bed) and take your pill this same time everyday.

Finally, birth control pills traditionally come in packs of 21 or 28 pills. Both packs contain 21 active pills. The 7 extra pills in the 28-pill pack are placebo pills which are there to remind you to continue taking one pill everyday and to remind you when to begin the next pack.

New brands of birth control pills have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (like Seasonale) which allow women to have their period fewer times per year. Seasonale packs come with 84 active pills followed by a placebo week so the woman gets her period only 4 times per year.