Oral Contraceptive / The Pill

Part 3 in my ongoing contraceptive series.

Ah, the pill, a well-trusted and popular form of birth control. A pack of oral contraceptives consists of 21 pills with hormones (progesterone and estrogen) and 7 placebos. During the last week of your pack, you have your period. How do these magic perscriptions work at preventing pregnancy? Simple, it tricks your body into thinking it’s pregnant. By doing this, you don’t ovulate and your cervical mucus thickens. If taken regularly at the same time everyday, the pill is over 99% effective. With typical use, it is 92% to 97% effective.

Oral contraceptives also have some bonus side effects. I am one of the unlucky persons who suffers from terrible menstrual cramps. These would cause me to vomit and sometimes even miss school. Once I got on the pill, these cramps disappeared, and my life has benefited greatly. It also can potentially give you a lighter flow, lessen PMS, and subside acne.

And as with any other medication, it has some possible negative side effects. These include weight gain (though one of my friends only gained weight in her breasts), headaches, nausea, and mood swings.

wikipedia article | planned parenthood

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