The pill

What is the pill?

The pill or birth control or oral contraceptive pill is a small tablet that a woman needs to swallow every day in order to prevent pregnancy 

How does it work?

The birth control pill releases hormones so you don't get pregnant. 

The pill works in the following ways:

• It blocks ovulation. This is the release of an egg from the ovaries. Without an egg there is no pregnancy
• It thickens the cervical mucus. This makes it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and the fallopian tubes.
• It thins the lining of the uterus. This makes it harder for a fertilized egg to implant in the uterine walls.

How is it used?

You take one pill a day. 

After taking all the pills in the pack, you don't take any for a week. 

You then have your period but are still protected from pregnancy. 

How effective is it?

When used correctly, the pill is very effective at preventing pregnancy. 

Is the pill safe?

Millions of women take birth control pills every day without any problems. But that doesn’t mean that the pill is for everybody. Like every medication, the pill carries some risk, and certain conditions might increase the probability of side effects.

It is therefore important to report every condition you have to your doctor. Let him or her evaluate whether the pill is the right contraceptive for you.

What happens if you miss a pill?

Remembering to take the pill every day, preferably always at the same time, is the biggest challenge women face when they use the pill. 

Sooner or later, many women will miss a pill. For some women, it happens frequently.

What you should do when that happens depends on the type of pill and the number of pills missed.

Read the instructions provided with the pills to know what to do. If anything remains unclear, the best thing to do is to visit a clinic and talk to your doctor. 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the pill? 

Does it offer STI protection?

No.

The pill doesn’t offer any protection against STIs. 

If you have sex and want protection against STIs, always use a condom. 

Also test for STIs at the beginning of the relationship.

Avoid changing partners frequently.