Contraceptive Pills Types

The contraceptive pill, which was invented in 1960, is a birth-control method very popular with women.  The pill, as it is known, works by forcing hormones into the body, inhibiting the female reproductive cycle.  Oral contraception was one of the key factors in the sexual revolution, since women no longer had to be concerned with getting pregnant.  In the Unite States, it is one of the most popular forms of contraception, since taking one pill a day helps keep the baby away.  Contraceptive pills have over a 90 percent effectiveness rate.

Contraceptive pills are typically a combination of estrogen and progestin, is taken daily in order to be effective.  The pills are usually taken at around the same time of day to maximize effectiveness.  The pill comes in packs of either 21 or 28 pills, either being 21 straight contraception pills or 21 contraceptive pills and 7 placebos.  The placebos are more of a reminder than anything else, to ensure the women stays in the habit of taking her pills daily.  During this week off of the medication, the menstrual cycle will return to normal, and menstruation will occur during the week without the medication.  You are still protected during this week of placebos.

There are three main types of contraceptive pills, each with its own benefits and disadvantages.

Combination Pills

These pills are the classic combination of estrogen and progestin, and is the most common type used today.  This type of oral contraception does have health benefits in women, including the reduction in the risk of ovarian cancer and other illnesses.  With this type, you typically have a fairly regular period as long as you take the pill as directed.  This type of birth control has also been used to regulate various menstrual issues that women have a tendency to develop, since the hormone levels of the pill help to regulate the woman's cycle.

Progestin-Only Pills

This type of contraceptive pill only contain progestin, without any of the estrogen found in the typical birth control pill.  This pill is great for women who are currently breast feeding, since estrogen stops milk production, and women who cannot have any extra estrogen.  This pill requires the same regiment as other forms of birth control, requiring the pill to be taken once daily at the same time.  This pill also decreases the amount of menstrual blood lost during the week without the pill or the week when the placebo is taken.

Emergency Contraceptive Pills

These types of contraceptive pills aren't meant for regular birth control, but are effective should you discover previous birth control methods didn't work properly, or the intercourse was unprotected.  Emergency contraception work by forcing your menstrual cycle to move forward when it's not ready, eliminating the chance of you conceiving from a sexual encounter you didn't happen to use protection with.  It is very important the these pills are start no later than 72 hours after potential conception.  Many people will say they are effective up to 120 hours after, but why take the chance.  These should not be considered an every day kind of option, but if you had a condom break, you missed several pills then had unprotected sex, had a diaphram slip off or were forced into having sex against your will, then this will eliminate any chance of you becoming pregnant from the encounter.  ECPs are available over the counter and through various health care providers.