So, if the ovary does not release an egg, then sperm cannot fertilize an egg to cause pregnancy. The pill may also make the fallopian tubes less likely to move an egg toward the uterus. By inhibiting the natural hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle, the pill prevents follicle-stimulating hormone FSH levels from rising. Without ample FSH, ovulation cannot occur. The next way that the pill prevents pregnancy is by thickening the cervical mucus, which is a viscous fluid found around the opening of the uterus.
The pill makes cervical mucus stickier than normal, reducing the ability of sperm to pass through the cervix and reach the egg. Under normal circumstances, the mucus will thin when ovulation occurs, which eases the passages of sperm and provides them a hospitable environment. The final way that the pill works to prevent pregnancy involves the endometrium, which is the uterine lining. Hormonal contraceptives thin the endometrium and make it far more difficult for a fertilized egg to implant.
Without implantation, a fertilized egg cannot receive the nutrients and blood needed to survive and grow. Under normal circumstance, the endometrium will thicken during ovulation to create a place where a fertilized egg can implant and grow.
Some hormonal methods include a placebo week, but not all hormonal methods have a placebo week. Placebo week is a time when your pill pack contains placebo pills "sugar pills" with either no hormones or reduced hormones. The placebo week can vary based on the contraceptive types:. The placebo week is important in that it helps you maintain a consistent habit of taking a pill every day, rather than stopping and starting.
Moreover, you are likely to have your period during this week, which is comforting for many people. Even though you are being exposed to few, if any, hormones during the placebo week, the level of protection remains unchanged. As such, you do not need additional forms of contraception to prevent pregnancy.
Comprehensive Gynecology. Editorial team. Birth control and family planning. Here are some questions to consider when selecting a birth control method: How well does the method prevent pregnancy?
To tell how well a method works, look at the number of pregnancies in women using that method over a period of 1 year. What are your feelings about getting pregnant?
Would an unplanned pregnancy create hardship or distress to a woman or her partner? Or would a pregnancy be welcomed if it occurred earlier than planned?
How much does a method of birth control cost? Does your insurance plan pay for it? What are the health risks? Talk about these risks with your health care provider before believing what you hear from others. Is your partner willing to accept and use a given method of birth control? Do you want a method that you only need to use when you have sex?
Or do you want something that is in place and always working? Is preventing infections spread by sexual contact important? Many methods do not protect you from sexually transmitted infections STIs.
Condoms are the best choice for preventing STIs. They work best when combined with spermicides. Availability: Can the method be used without a prescription, a provider visit, or, in the case of minors, parental consent? The male condom is placed around the erect penis. The female condom is placed inside the vagina before intercourse. Couples having sex or any intimate sexual contact must always use condoms along with the Pill to protect against STDs.
Abstinence the decision to not have sex or any intimate sexual contact is the only method that always prevents pregnancy and STDs. The birth control pill is a safe and effective method of birth control. Most young women who take the Pill have none to very few side effects. The side effects that some women have while on the Pill include:. Some of these side effects improve over the first 3 months on the Pill.
When a girl has side effects, a doctor will sometimes prescribe a different brand of the Pill. The Pill also has some side effects that most girls are happy about.
It usually makes periods lighter, reduces cramps, and is often prescribed for women who have menstrual problems. Taking the combination Pill often improves acne, and some doctors prescribe it for this purpose. Combination birth control pills have also been found to protect against some forms of breast disease, anemia , ovarian cysts, and ovarian and endometrial cancers.
Young women who can remember to take a pill each day and who want excellent protection from pregnancy use birth control pills. Not all women can — or should — use the Pill. In some cases, medical or other conditions make the use of the Pill less effective or more risky. For example, it is not recommended for women who have had blood clots, certain types of cancers, or some migraine headaches.
It also might not be recommended for girls who have had unexplained vaginal bleeding bleeding that is not during their periods or who think they might be pregnant. Girls who are interested in learning more about different types of birth control, including the Pill, should talk to their doctors or other health professionals. A doctor or a nurse practitioner NP must prescribe the Pill. However, 10 years after you stop taking the pill, your risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer goes back to normal.
Contraception is free to everyone through the NHS. Places where you can get contraception include:. Find a sexual health clinic. If you need contraception, call your GP surgery or a sexual health clinic as soon as possible. Only go in person if you're told to. It can take longer to get contraception at the moment and some types are not widely available. You may only be able to get the combined pill if you've had your blood pressure and weight checked in the last 12 months.
If you cannot get the combined pill, you may be advised to use the progestogen-only pill or condoms for now. If you want advice about changing your contraceptive pill, you can visit a GP, contraceptive nurse sometimes called a family planning nurse , or sexual health clinic.
You should not have a break between different packs, so you will usually be advised to start the new pill immediately or wait until the day after you take the last of your old pills. You may also be advised to use alternative methods of contraception during the changeover, as the new pill may take a short time to take effect. Contraception services are free and confidential, including for people under the age of If you're under 16 and want contraception, the doctor, nurse or pharmacist will not tell your parents or carer as long as they believe you fully understand the information you're given and your decisions.
Doctors and nurses work under strict guidelines when dealing with people under They'll encourage you to consider telling your parents, but they will not make you. The only time that a professional might want to tell someone else is if they believe you're at risk of harm, such as abuse. The risk would need to be serious, and they would usually discuss this with you first.
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