Oral contraceptives
While working out hormonal methods of contraception scientists implemented a wonderful idea: to decieve female organism, making it think that pregnancy takes place.
The matter is that when a woman gets pregnant, ovaries stop producing eggs. Thus, conception is impossible because sperm has nothing to conceive.
Hormonal methods of contraception are a good choice at those periods of life when pregnancy is undesirable. This is not only a reliable method of protection from unwanted pregnancy, but also a mean of various diseases treatment.
Modern birth control pills are popular with women because they contain a relatively small dose of hormones and have fewer side effects than previous generation oral contraceptives.
Modern oral contraceptives are harmless for most women, and what is more, these pills have a great number of positive remedial effects. Modern birth control pills protect a woman from ovarian and endometrium cancer and many various non-cancerous growths. It is significant that hormonal contraceptives prevent some causes of infertility and increase the possibility to get pregnant after refusal of the preparations taking. Of course, oral contraceptives can cause some side effects and are not suitable for everyone, but you should not forget that most medicines are not perfect either. For example, most of us take aspirin without fear, though it can provoke stomack ulcer.
There are various types of pills which differ in composition and quantative relationship of components.
The main types of oral contraceptives are: combined oral contraceptives, which contain two hormones (oestrogen and progestin) in various combinations. Progestin pills contain only microdoses of progestin. Progestin pills are less effective than combined ones. They are recommended for women older than 35, for nursering mothers and for women suffering from hypertension and headaches.
Usually there are 21 pills in a pill pack. They are to be taken one pill a day, desirably at one and the same time. Then you do not take any pills for 7 days. Menstruation usually occurs during this period. The cycle is then repeated.
Advantages of oral contraceptives:
High effectiveness
Immediate effect, if pill taking begins not later than on the seventh day of the cycle
Few side effects
Many positive effects
The pills do not affect the intercourse
They are convinient and easy to use
The pills prevent some causes of infertility
Disadvantages of oral contraceptives
They require accuracy and self control for every day taking
Each missed pill inreases the possibility to get pregnant
The effectiveness of this method can be decreased if you take some other medicines
Oral contraceptives can cause (very rarely) rather serious side effecsts, such as heart attack, stroke or thrombosis
Birth control pills do not protect from sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS
Side effects of oral contraceptives
Headaches, weakness, dizziness
Hypertension
Eye problems, speech problems
Severe leg pain
Cough, shortness of breath
If you noticed some of above listed signs you should immediately see the doctor who prescribed you the contraceptive. After he examines you, he can recommend you to substitute the preparation you take by another one or to go on taking the same pills, as some side effects can go away in the first three or four cycles.
It is significant that you cannot know for sure what type of pills is suitable exactly for you and whether you can generally use this method of contraception. It means that self confidence is not welcome in this case. Let a professional do his job.