

Estrogen helps thicken the bloody lining of the uterus (endometrium) to prepare for a fertilized egg. The one exception is the emergency birth control pill, Plan B One-Step, which is sold over the counter.Īt the beginning of each menstrual cycle, levels of the hormone estrogen begin to rise. Unlike forms of birth control sold over the counter, you need a health care professional's prescription to purchase birth control pills, and many health insurers cover their cost. Also, birth control pills do not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the virus that causes AIDS, or HPV, the human papillomavirus that can cause cervical cancer.
#Types of birth control professional
For example, if you are over 35 and smoke or have certain medical conditions such as a history of blood clots or breast or endometrial cancer, your health care professional may advise against taking oral contraceptives. Unlike the original oral contraceptives, low-dose pills have few health risks for most women and even offer some health benefits, such as lighter periods (which reduce risk of anemia), less severe menstrual cramps and lessening of acne breakouts.īirth control pills do carry some health risks. In fact, almost all healthy women who don't smoke may use birth control pills, regardless of their age. In recent years, birth control pills have changed to include less hormones, resulting in fewer side effects. couples who use birth control, more than 30 percent use the pill. According to Planned Parenthood, among U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved "the pill" in 1960, it has become the most popular and one of the most effective forms of reversible birth control ever invented. A 2013 National Health Statistics Report says that 82 percent of women who use contraception have used the pill at some point. women who use birth control, more than 27 percent use the pill. According to The Guttmacher Institute, among U.S. Without a peak in estrogen, the ovary doesn't get the signal to release an egg, which eliminates the possibility of fertilization and pregnancy. The birth control pill prevents ovulation by maintaining more consistent hormone levels. What Is It? Birth control pills are synthetic forms of the hormones progesterone and estrogen taken by women to prevent pregnancy.
