Many of us have heard of oral contraceptive pills, but how well do you know about the pills? Have you ever wondered why some people took the pills even if they are not using them for contraceptive purposes? What is in the pills, and how does it work? Well, if you are thinking about those questions, then you've come to the right place! Talk to us now!
In this article, we will bring you on a trip to learn more about oral contraceptive pills.
Photo source: By Towfiqu Barbhuiya on Canva
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What is Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCPs)?
Oral contraceptive pills, or also known as birth control pills, are medication taken by mouth at the same time every day to prevent pregnancy. There are 3 types of OCPs, namely the combined oral contraceptive (COC) pills, progestin-only pills (POP, or commonly known as minipills) and continuous or extended-use pills. These pills can be purchased over-the-counter (in other words, without the need for a prescription from a doctor) from most of the pharmacy outlets in Malaysia.
OCP is highly effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy, whereby the effectiveness of the pills is divided into 2 categories. The first category is the typical users, which are those who use OCP inconsistently or incorrectly and has a failure rate of 7-9% during the first year of using this method. Meanwhile, perfect users (i.e. those who use the method consistently and correctly every time) has a 0.3% of failure rate during the first year of use. 1, 2
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How does it work? 1, 2
Generally, OCPs contain 2 important hormones -- estrogen and progestin (synthetic counterpart of progesterone). These hormones suppress the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and prevent luteinizing hormone (LH) surge, ultimately prevents ovulation (release of an egg from the ovary). Asides from that, the hormones also cause the thickening of cervical mucus, keeping the sperm from fertilizing with the egg.
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Other benefits
As we had mentioned from the beginning, the pills are also used to address other health problems. For example, some doctors will prescribe the pills to women with acne problems.3
So, is that all it can do? No!
Other benefits of the pills include regulating the menstrual cycle, reduces menstrual pain, reduces menstrual flows as well as managing polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Do note that OCPs does not protect you from contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). So next time when you see the pills, you will know that there’s more than just being one of the contraception methods.
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The downside of OCP
As good as OCPs sounds to be, all medications come with their side effects. Some women may experience side effects of the pills, such as breakthrough bleeding, breast tenderness, headache, nausea, bloating or decreased libido (sexual drive).
Photo source: Verywellheath / Cindy Chung
Still, most of these side effects are mild and will disappear with continued use. If the symptoms persist, consider speaking with your doctor or pharmacist to switch to another pill formulation.
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Consult your healthcare provider 2, 4
While the contraceptive pill is one of the popular contraception choices for women, not everyone is suitable to use them. So before you decided to start taking the pills, make sure that you do not fall into one of the following groups:
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Smokers who are over 35 years old
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Obese (BMI > 40kg/m2)
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Have migraine with aura
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Have uncontrolled high blood pressure or heart disease (i.e. hypertension/vulvar or ischaemic heart disease)
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History or family history of blood clotting disorder (i.e. venous thromboembolism, stroke)
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History of breast cancer or endometrial cancer
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Liver disease or tumour
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Taking St John's Wort
If by any chance you fall into one of the categories mentioned above, please speak to the doctor or pharmacist to discuss which alternative contraception method is more suitable for you.
Now we have reached the end of the article. Hopefully, this article gives you more insight and knowledge about oral contraceptive pills. Do you still have any questions regarding OCPs? Consult our online pharmacists for free HERE! You can also get your OCPs sent to you WITHOUT delivery fees. What's more, you can get a FREE OXWHITE premium cloth mask when you purchase OCPs from us today!
A word from DOC2US
If you have any questions related to oral contraceptive pills, you can consult our professional doctors and healthcare professionals on DOC2US. DOC2US is a mobile application that allows you to talk to a doctor or any healthcare professionals via text chat at any time and from anywhere. For better communication, you can even send our online doctor images or voice messages related to your medical inquiry.
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References:
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Oral Contraceptive Pills - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
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Prescribing Oral Contraceptives to Acne Patients (medscape.org)
