The combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP), often referred to as the birth-control pill or simply "the pill", is a birth control method that includes a combination of an estrogen (oestrogen) and a progestin (progestogen). When taken by mouth every day, these pills inhibit female fertility. They were first approved for contraceptive use in the United States in 1960, and are a very popular form of birth control. They are currently used by more than 100 million women worldwide and by almost 12 million women in the United States.Usage varies widely by country, age, education, and marital status: one quarter of women aged 16–49 in Great Britain currently use the pill (combined pill or progestogen only pill or "minipill"),compared to only 1% of women in Japan.
Why use contraception?
Contraception is necessary if you wish to avoid an unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
Every month a woman's ovary produces an egg. When a man ejaculates, his semen contains millions of sperm. It takes only one of these sperm to fertilise an egg and begin a pregnancy. If a couple has sex (penis in vagina) and do not take precautions, there is a high risk of pregnancy. Using contraception allows you to have sex and avoid an unintended pregnancy.
A condom is always a good idea
In Australia, there are more than 20,000 new sexually transmitted disease infections every year. One of the most common of these is chlamydia, which can lead to infertility if left untreated. A condom is your best protection against infections. If you use a condom and water-based lubricant every time you have sex you will have less chance of getting HIV/AIDS and many other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Contraceptive Pills
There are two main types of oral contraceptive pills. The combined pill contains two hormones and stops the ovaries releasing an egg each month. The progestogen-only pill (minipill) has only one hormone and works by changing the mucus at the entrance to the womb (uterus) so that sperm cannot pass through to fertilise the egg.
The progestogen-only pill is somewhat less effective than the combined pill.
The Combined Pill
How well it works?
The combined pill is about 98% effective if taken properly. The effectiveness is reduced by irregular pill taking, diarrhoea and vomiting, and by some antibiotics or other drugs. You are not protected against pregnancy until you have taken hormonal pills for seven days. The Pill does not cause infertility.
Advantages
* A regular bleed with reduced blood loss
* Acne often improves
* Improvement or absence of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) which can cause uncomfortable symptoms and mood changes in the days before the period starts.
Disadvantages
* Tender breasts, nausea (feeling sick) and breakthrough bleeding mainly in the first few months of taking the Pill
* The Pill may cause some weight gain, mood changes or loss of libido in some women
* Rare health problems
Health risks
Serious health problems with the Pill are rare. Smoking increases the risk of harmful effects. The Pill is not suitable for women with the following conditions:
* focal migraine
* history of blood clotting
* liver problems
* unusual vaginal bleeding.
The Progestogen-Only or Mini Pill
The progestogen-only pill or the Mini Pill, contains one female hormone only.
The progestogen makes the cervical mucus thicken. This mucus then acts as a plug and prevents sperm from entering the uterus and traveling to the tube to fertilise the egg. It is 95 per cent effective.
In most women the mini pill will not prevent her from having a normal menstrual cycle.
The mini pill is taken daily without a break. When commencing the POP it is advised to use back-up contraception (e.g. condoms) for 48 hours. It is important not to be more than three hours late when taking the POP.
It is suitable for women who are breastfeeding and can be continued when the baby is weaned.
Taking The Pill
Remember to:
* take one pill every day
* take each pill at the same time every day, or as close to it as possible
* if you forget to take a pill, take it as soon as you remember and take the next pill at the usual time the next day
Fertility can return and you can become pregnant if:
* you have been over 24 hours late with taking the pill
* you stop the pill without other forms of contraception.
When you not be protected from pregnancy:
* during the first packet until seven consecutive hormone pills have been taken
* if you vomit or have diarrhoea
* when taking some other medicine which may affect the pill absorption, e.g. antibiotics
* when you have missed taking a pill or are more than 24 hours late with taking the pill
At these times continue taking your pill, but use some other form of contraception (e.g. condoms) until a further seven consecutive hormone pills have been taken.
BUT if these seven days run into the end of your packet then miss the seven inactive pills and start taking the hormone pills in the next packet. If you are not sure which pills are inactive, ask your doctor or telephone the Choices Clinic, the Emergency department or the Women's Health Information Centre (number listed at the end of this fact sheet).
Emergency Pill
(Previously known as the Morning After Pill)
The emergency pill is available from Chemists without a prescription.
If you were not using contraception and you had sex when you did not plan to, or the condom broke, and you don't want to get pregnant, then you can take the emergency pill. Emergency pills are more effective the sooner you take them. You must start the emergency pill within three days (72 hours) after unprotected sex. However, it is more effective the sooner you take it.
How you take it?
The most common method of emergency contraception consists of two single pills that are taken 12 hours apart. This method prevents about 85% of expected pregnancies.
There are other emergency contraception methods that consist of multiple combined contraceptive pills. These are no longer recommended because they are less effective and have more side effects. All emergency contraception is more effective the sooner it is taken after sex.
It is important to note that the emergency pill is not recommended as ongoing contraception. It is not as effective as the Pill.
Possible side effects
Side effects are uncommon but some women get breast tenderness or headaches
Contraception is necessary if you wish to avoid an unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
Every month a woman's ovary produces an egg. When a man ejaculates, his semen contains millions of sperm. It takes only one of these sperm to fertilise an egg and begin a pregnancy. If a couple has sex (penis in vagina) and do not take precautions, there is a high risk of pregnancy. Using contraception allows you to have sex and avoid an unintended pregnancy.
A condom is always a good idea
In Australia, there are more than 20,000 new sexually transmitted disease infections every year. One of the most common of these is chlamydia, which can lead to infertility if left untreated. A condom is your best protection against infections. If you use a condom and water-based lubricant every time you have sex you will have less chance of getting HIV/AIDS and many other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Contraceptive Pills
There are two main types of oral contraceptive pills. The combined pill contains two hormones and stops the ovaries releasing an egg each month. The progestogen-only pill (minipill) has only one hormone and works by changing the mucus at the entrance to the womb (uterus) so that sperm cannot pass through to fertilise the egg.
The progestogen-only pill is somewhat less effective than the combined pill.
The Combined Pill
How well it works?
The combined pill is about 98% effective if taken properly. The effectiveness is reduced by irregular pill taking, diarrhoea and vomiting, and by some antibiotics or other drugs. You are not protected against pregnancy until you have taken hormonal pills for seven days. The Pill does not cause infertility.
Advantages
* A regular bleed with reduced blood loss
* Acne often improves
* Improvement or absence of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) which can cause uncomfortable symptoms and mood changes in the days before the period starts.
Disadvantages
* Tender breasts, nausea (feeling sick) and breakthrough bleeding mainly in the first few months of taking the Pill
* The Pill may cause some weight gain, mood changes or loss of libido in some women
* Rare health problems
Health risks
Serious health problems with the Pill are rare. Smoking increases the risk of harmful effects. The Pill is not suitable for women with the following conditions:
* focal migraine
* history of blood clotting
* liver problems
* unusual vaginal bleeding.
The Progestogen-Only or Mini Pill
The progestogen-only pill or the Mini Pill, contains one female hormone only.
The progestogen makes the cervical mucus thicken. This mucus then acts as a plug and prevents sperm from entering the uterus and traveling to the tube to fertilise the egg. It is 95 per cent effective.
In most women the mini pill will not prevent her from having a normal menstrual cycle.
The mini pill is taken daily without a break. When commencing the POP it is advised to use back-up contraception (e.g. condoms) for 48 hours. It is important not to be more than three hours late when taking the POP.
It is suitable for women who are breastfeeding and can be continued when the baby is weaned.
Taking The Pill
Remember to:
* take one pill every day
* take each pill at the same time every day, or as close to it as possible
* if you forget to take a pill, take it as soon as you remember and take the next pill at the usual time the next day
Fertility can return and you can become pregnant if:
* you have been over 24 hours late with taking the pill
* you stop the pill without other forms of contraception.
When you not be protected from pregnancy:
* during the first packet until seven consecutive hormone pills have been taken
* if you vomit or have diarrhoea
* when taking some other medicine which may affect the pill absorption, e.g. antibiotics
* when you have missed taking a pill or are more than 24 hours late with taking the pill
At these times continue taking your pill, but use some other form of contraception (e.g. condoms) until a further seven consecutive hormone pills have been taken.
BUT if these seven days run into the end of your packet then miss the seven inactive pills and start taking the hormone pills in the next packet. If you are not sure which pills are inactive, ask your doctor or telephone the Choices Clinic, the Emergency department or the Women's Health Information Centre (number listed at the end of this fact sheet).
Emergency Pill
(Previously known as the Morning After Pill)
The emergency pill is available from Chemists without a prescription.
If you were not using contraception and you had sex when you did not plan to, or the condom broke, and you don't want to get pregnant, then you can take the emergency pill. Emergency pills are more effective the sooner you take them. You must start the emergency pill within three days (72 hours) after unprotected sex. However, it is more effective the sooner you take it.
How you take it?
The most common method of emergency contraception consists of two single pills that are taken 12 hours apart. This method prevents about 85% of expected pregnancies.
There are other emergency contraception methods that consist of multiple combined contraceptive pills. These are no longer recommended because they are less effective and have more side effects. All emergency contraception is more effective the sooner it is taken after sex.
It is important to note that the emergency pill is not recommended as ongoing contraception. It is not as effective as the Pill.
Possible side effects
Side effects are uncommon but some women get breast tenderness or headaches
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