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Hormonal Methods

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Effectiveness:

99.7% Perfect Use 91% Typical Use

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Lecture Notes

Oral contraceptives, also known simply as "the pill," are the most popular form of reversible contraceptives in the United States. The pill is actually a series of pills containing synthetic estrogen and/or progesterone. Oral contraceptives may be prescribed by a physician or a family planning clinic. There are more than 95 combinations available, containing various amounts of hormones. Some women react differently to different pill combinations, so if a women is having an adverse reaction to one form, it may be advantageous to try another combination. <br /><br />Since none of the hormonal methods of birth control offer protection against sexually transmitted infections, women on the pill should consider using additional protection, such as a condom.

 

Advantages of oral contraceptives include that they are easy to take and dependable, there are no applications or interruptions before or during intercourse, and they're more regular or reduce menstrual flow, which includes less cramping, enlarged breasts, or less acne.

 

However, it does have its disadvantages as well. The pill is only effective if taken consistently. It must be taken every day, as close as possible to the same time each day. If one pill is missed, it should be taken as soon as the woman remembers, and the next one taken on schedule. If two pills are missed, the method cannot be relied on, and an additional form of contraception should be used for the rest of the cycle.

 

Other side effects, such as spotting can occur, along with breast tenderness, nausea or vomiting, and weight loss or weight gain. In addition, there can be spotty darkening of the skin, nervousness and dizziness, loss of scalp hair, headaches, changes in appetite, sex drive, as well as mood changes. These problems can be eliminated by changing the prescription, but that does not always work. And in rare instances more serious problems can occur. <br /><br />There is an acronym called ACHES—A, C, H, E, S. The A stands for abdominal pain, the C stands for chest pain, the H stands for headaches, the E stands for eye problems, including blurred vision, spots, or a change in the shape of the cornea, and the S stands for severe leg pain. Often, these are severe problems.

 

The health risks with oral contraceptive use also increase with age. Women who are over the age of 35, women who smoke, or women with certain other health disorders are considered high risk.

The synthetic estrogen and progesterone regulates egg production and the menstrual cycle. When taken for birth control, oral contraceptives accomplish some of the following:

They suppress ovulation 90-95% of the time.

They thicken cervical mucus which prevents sperm penetration into the woman's upper genital tract

They thin the lining of the uterus which inhibits implantation of the fertilized egg.

They slow the rate of ovum transport.

They disrupt transport of the fertilized egg.

And, they inhibit capacitation of the sperm, which limits the sperm's ability to fertilize the egg.

 

When a woman is pregnant, these chemical conditions are created within the body to prevent another pregnancy from occurring. The pill works to prevent pregnancy in much of the same way. It produces basically the same chemical conditions that would exist in a woman's body as if she were pregnant.

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