Birth control pills can contain progestin, estrogen or a combination of both hormones, according to Young Women's Health, a website sponsored by the Children's Hospital Boston. While certain birth control brands help to reduce the incidence of...
Oral contraceptive pills that contain progestin, which is the synthetic equivalent of the natural hormone progesterone, are sometimes called minipills. Unlike other birth control pills, progestin-only pills do not contain the hormone estrogen and...
Progestins are female hormones your body produces and that can be produced synthetically. Progesterone is a hormone in the progestin family that is used in hormone replacement therapy for women after they undergo menopause and in some forms of...
Birth-control pills, also known as oral contraceptives, are one of the best methods of preventing pregnancy. According to Planned Parenthood, they have about a 1 percent failure rate if used correctly and about an 8 percent failure rate for women...
Birth control pills, or oral contraceptives, are prescription-based synthetic hormones. Most pills contain a combination of estrogen and progestin. Some also contain seven days of inactive spacer tablets. Oral contraceptives work by preventing...
Every type of birth control pill has advantages and disadvantages. Although comparing side effects and benefits is useful, women should also consider their lifestyle when deciding which option is right for them. Women who talk to a health care...
Oral birth control (contraceptive) pills are used to prevent pregnancy. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, they are used by millions of women in the United States and are considered safe and effective for most...
Finding the right hormone birth control can be confusing. However, the experts at the National Institutes of Health, the Mayo Clinic and Planned Parenthood agree that hormone birth control is safe for healthy women. Before starting a birth control...
Oral contraceptives, also called birth control pills or simply the Pill, are prescription medications taken by a woman to prevent pregnancy. If taken properly, oral contraceptives are one of the more effective forms of birth control, according to...
Most birth control pills work in much the same way by preventing the release of an egg, which makes pregnancy impossible. Each pill comes with its own set of instructions, but most pills are taken in the same manner. Combination pills, or those...
Birth control pills contain hormones that can regulate a woman's menstrual cycle. One type of birth control pill contains 21 active pills, meaning they contain hormones that prevent pregnancy by stopping the release of an egg from the woman's...
Birth control pills contain either estrogen and progestin or only progestin. When used as prescribed, the combination pill will provide you with hormones for 21 days. On days 22 through 28, you take an inactive pill to maintain your routine and...
Because of their ease of use and effectiveness, many women rely on oral contraceptives, or birth control pills, to prevent pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that in 2002, 11.6 million women in the United States used oral...
Often referred to as the "morning after pill," the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) can be used up to five days after unprotected sex. The ECP is essentially a high-dose birth control pill. However, because the hormones don't stay in your body...
When you decide you want to begin taking birth control pills, the first thing you'll want to do is talk to your doctor about what type of pill is best for you. While there are dozens of different brands of birth control pills, there really are...
According to the article "Hormonal Contraception in Women of Older Reproductive Age" by Andrew M. Kaunitz in the March 20, 2008, edition of the "New England Journal of Medicine," women who are entering menopause can still use hormone-based birth...
Other than PMS, irregular periods are one of the most common complaints about menstrual cycles. Although they are not necessarily a cause for worry, they can sometimes be a symptom of other health problems. While doctors will often recommend birth...
Most tissues in your body grow only in specific areas. Endometrial tissue, which lines the inside of the uterus, is an exception to the rule, sometimes appearing in areas far from the uterus, causing a disorder called endometriosis. During your...
It is possible to get pregnant shortly after giving birth. Your menstrual cycle may not resume immediately after giving birth, but it will not be long before you start ovulating. Breastfeeding can have an impact on putting off your menstrual...
Oral contraceptives, also known as birth control pills, are pills that a woman takes each day to prevent pregnancy. Most pills work by preventing ovulation, thickening cervical fluid and preventing the implantation of a fertilized egg. Your doctor...
Choosing the right contraception method is important for any woman during her reproductive years. Just because a woman is premenopausal does not mean that her options are limited. According to a 2008 study by Andrew M. Kaunitz in the New England...
There are several types of birth control pills available for oral use. When selecting a birth control pill, women should consider their age, medical history and menstrual cycle. Working with a doctor to select the best contraceptive pill can help...
Women have a wide variety of birth control pills from which to choose. The Internet and a health care professional are just two reliable resources that can assist a woman in selecting the pill that is right for her. It is not unusual for a woman...
Women have many choices when it comes to contraceptives. If you've settled on an oral contraceptive pill, there are some things you should know before committing to any medication. "The Pill," or combination pill, has been around for 40 years. It...
Ovarian cysts are common in women during reproductive years. Ovarian cysts are usually functional meaning they develop from the egg containing follicle that matures during the menstrual cycle, according to "A Gynecologist's Second Opinion," by...
The term "the pill" encompasses various oral contraceptives. Estrogen-progestin or combined pills suppress the ovaries' monthly release of an egg cell. While progestin-only pills also work this way, they mostly thicken cervical mucus, inhibiting...
According to the Mayo Clinic, most women begin to experience menopause around age 51. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that women can use hormone based birth control up until they reach menopause. Besides...
Prevention of pregnancy occurs with the use of hormonal therapy found in prescribed oral medications named oral contraceptives or "the pill." These medications cause changes in the female's body to prevent conception. While they offer some of the...
There are several hormonal methods of birth control available to help avoid pregnancy. These methods contain either a synthetic version of estrogen and progestin, the two dominant hormones in a woman's menstrual cycle, or they simply contain...
