Women who use oral
contraceptives swallow a pill each day to prevent pregnancy. Combined oral
contraceptives contain two hormones similar to the natural hormones in a
woman’s body---an estrogen and a progestin. Also called combined pills,
COC’s, OC’s, the pill and birth control pills.
How Combined Oral Contraceptives work ?
-Stop ovulation (release of eggs from ovaries)
-Also thicken cervical mucus, making it difficult for sperm to pass
through.
-They do not work by disrupting existing pregnancy.
How Combined Oral Contraceptives effective ?
Effectively as commonly used – 6 to 8 pregnancies per 100 women in first
year of use (1 in every 17 to 1 in every 12).
Very effective when used correctly and consistently – 0.1 pregnancies per
100 women in first year of use (1 in every 1,000).
Advantages of Combined Oral Contraceptives :
* Very effective when used correctly
* No need to do anything at time of sexual intercourse
* Increased sexual enjoyment because no need to worry about pregnancy
* Monthly periods are regular; lighter monthly bleeding and fewer days of
bleeding; milder and fewer menstrual cramps
* Can be used at any age from adolescence to menopause
* Fertility returns soon after stopping
* Can be used as an emergency contraceptive after unprotected sex
* Can prevent or decrease iron deficiency, anemia
Combined Oral Contraceptives Helps prevent :
-Ectopic pregnancies
-Endometrial cancer
-Ovarian cancer
-Ovarian cysts
-Pelvic inflammatory disease
-Benign breast disease
Disadvantages of Combined Oral Contraceptives :
Nausea (most common in first three months)
Spotting or bleeding between menstrual periods, especially if woman
forgets to take her pills or takes them late (most common in first three
months)
Breast tenderness
Slight weight gain
Not recommended for breast feeding women because they effect quality and
quantity of milk
Very rarely can cause stroke, blood clots in deep veins of the legs, or
heart attack. Those at highest risk are women with high blood pressure and
women who are age 35 or old and at the same time smoke more than 20
cigarettes per day
Do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Starting Low-Dose Combined Oral Contraceptives
When to start Combined Oral Contraceptives ?
The first day of the menstrual bleeding is best
Any of the first 7 days after her menstrual bleeding has already stopped,
some programs advise avoiding sex or using
condoms or spermicide for seven
days
After she stops breast feeding or 6 months after child birth—whichever
comes first
3 to 6 weeks after childbirth. No need to wait for menstrual periods to
return to be certqain that she is not pregnant
Some important points for the user to remember
Pills can be very effective if taken regularly every day
Safe-Serious problems are very rare
Please come back or see another health care provider at once if you have
severe , constant pain in the chest, leg, or belly, or very bad headaches,
if you see flashing lights or zigzag lines, or if your skin or eyes become
unusually yellow (jaundice)
Pills do not prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including HIV/
AIDS. If you think you might get an STD, use
condoms regularly along with
your pills.
