Birth Control Information

Birth control is a term that describes medically approved ways that prevent a woman from becoming pregnant.

Birth control can generally mean anything from contraceptives - things that limit the chances of a woman becoming pregnant - to other ways of avoiding pregnancy, like not having sex. Most methods of birth control do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, after having unprotected sex.

Specifically, medicational means of birth control contain hormones - estrogen and progesterone (combination pills). There are various methods of birth control through the use of medications, such as birth control pills, birth control shot, birth control patch, birth control injection, and over-time release implants (vaginal rings, skin implants, and intrauterine devices).

How does birth control work?

Hormonal birth control drugs control pregnancy through the following ways:

1) Preventing ovulation (release of an egg from the ovary), thus effectively preventing pregnancy,
2) Altering cervical mucus, rendering the male sperm unable to travel further,
3) Changing the lining of the uterus so that it cannot hold on to a fertilized egg,
4) Making the fallopian tubes unable to move the eggs toward the uterus as effectively.

This 4-way birth control method provides a woman with a near perfect protection against getting pregnant - clinical tests have proven that, if taken in accordance to instructions, over 99% of examined patients have successfully prevented pregnancy by using birth control pills - currently the most popular and effective method of medicational pregnancy prevention.

How effective is birth control?

Clinical test results state that over 99% of patients who used oral contraceptives have successfully prevented pregnancy - the remaining <1% was usually due to the patient's personal shortcomings, such as missing a dose on the designated time. Oral contraceptives are among the most thoroughly studied drugs in the world. Because of the vast amount of data collected on them, although they do have certain side effects, few women are likely to experience them. Moreover, the major part of that information was collected from studies of higher dose pills than those on the market today. Women with a history of heart disease or other illnesses linked to pregnancy prevention pills are usually steered towards another method of birth control, which is not exactly the right choice. If you are healthy, you don't smoke more than 15 cigarettes a day, and no one in your family has suffered from cancer, high cholesterol levels or heart attacks, you most probably will never experience any of the more serious side effects.

Birth control facts

Not only birth control pills prevent pregnancy, they also have other medical benefits. Many young women take the birth control pill just for its medical benefits and not for its protection against pregnancy. Here is a list of additional benefits that birth control pills provide:

- Highly effective - over 99% of patients have successfully prevented pregnancy,
- Regular and Lighter Periods - OCs regulate the menstrual cycle through hormones, so your period will come about every 28 days, making the periods lighter as well,
- Clearer Skin - Birth control pills are known to help against acne. The hormones in most types of pills can help stop acne from forming,
- Decreased Cramps, or No Cramps - Oral contraceptive pills can help to decrease menstrual cramps,
- Protects against ovarian, endometrial cancer and ovarian cysts,
- Reduced menstrual blood flow, thereby reduced threat of anemia,
- Is easily reversible,
- Safe for most women,
- Does not interrupt sex,
- Is easy to use and discontinue.

Birth control pill also protect against fallopian tube infections (such as PID-Pelvic Inflammatory Disease) that would otherwise require hospitalization, as well as help against tubal(ectopic) pregnancies.

Birth control brands

Amongst all brands of oral contraception available on the market today, only a few deserve attention, and after an extended study on the market of birth control pills, we evaluated that the following medications are most safe and effective.

We have provided you with some information on dosage details of those medications:

Brand name:	Dose:	Estrogen level:	Progestin:
Alesse (Ovral L)	0.10	20 mcgm	levonorgestrel
Yasmin	3.0	30 mcgm	drospirenone
Ortho Tri-Cyclen	0.25	35 mcgm	norgestimate