Oral contraceptives are hormone pills that prevent pregnancy. It is also known commonly as the birth control pill. Oral contraceptives are able to prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation. Without ovulation, the egg cell (ovum) is not present and can therefore not be fertilized. Hence pregnancy cannot occur. Although oral contraceptives are primarily used to prevent pregnancy, it has several other uses by regulating the levels of female hormones in the body. This makes it useful for treating or at least minimizing the symptoms associated with conditions like acne, polycystic ovarian syndrome and various other causes of menstrual irregularity.
During certain times in a woman’s life, having a menstrual period may be rather inconvenient for various reasons. In these instances she may wish to delay her period for a few days or weeks. While it is possible to do so, this should not be done frequently as it may lead to other problems such as irregular periods. It is advisable to consult with a doctor before taking any measures to delay a period to discuss the methods and consequences.
Emergency contraception is a means of preventing pregnancy in a woman after unprotected sexual intercourse. It should only be used after isolated episodes of unprotected intercourse and not on a regular basis. Emergency contraception can reduce the risk of an unwanted pregnancy and the need for subsequent abortion. The most common form is a pill, also referred to as the morning after pill, but an intra-uterine device (IUD) may also be used for this purpose.
More teen girls are using hormonal methods of contraception as a means of avoiding pregnancy these days compared to previous generations. This is due to a change in attitude towards the use of hormone contraceptives, both by parents and teens, as well as the ease of availability.
While the pill (oral contraceptive) and injection are the favored methods, there are odd cases where teen girls are using hormonal skin patches and vaginal rings that release hormones. The “morning after pill” is an emergency hormonal contraceptive, which is effective when used within a certain period of time after having unprotected sex.
The oral contraceptive, often referred to as ‘the pill’, is still among the most popular method of preventing an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy. While other forms of contraception, like the contraceptive injection, are widely used, especially after having a child and in developing countries due to the cost, an oral contraceptive is the method of choice for many teens and young women.
