Oral contraceptive pills are a special medicine used to prevent pregnancy. There are two types of oral contraceptive pills: combination pills and progestin-only pills. Combination pills contain two hormones, estrogen, and progestin, whereas progestin-only pills contain just progestin. For full effectiveness, birth control pills need to be taken once a day at the exact same time. Birth control pills not only help prevent pregnancies, but they can also clear your skin, relieve symptoms of endometriosis, lower your risk of cancers in the reproductive tract, reduce cramps during menstruation, and help with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

An oral contraceptive pill is classified as any pill that is used to prevent pregnancy. Combination pills, progestin-only pills, levonorgestrel emergency pills, and ulipristal emergency pills all fall under the oral contraceptive classification. While combination and progestin-only pills are taken every day, levonorgestrel and ulipristal pills are only used in emergency situations. These emergency pills are not for regular birth control use but instead are used if you’ve engaged in unprotected sex. Though they can be used to significantly reduce the chance of you getting pregnant, they are much less effective than regular birth control.

The primary roles of oral contraceptives are to stop ovulation, stop sperm from penetrating the cervix, and prevent pregnancy. Regular oral contraceptives are taken once a day at around the same time. We recommend you choose a time that regularly works with your schedule, such as during breakfast or right before bed. They begin to work about one week after you start regularly taking them. We recommend that within the first month of going on the pill, you use an additional form of birth control such as condoms or a contraceptive sponge. Once you’ve completed the first month of the pack, you can rely solely on your pill as long as it’s taken correctly. Discuss with your primary care physician about your specific oral contraceptive benefits, possible side effects, and instructions.

Pregnancy occurs when an egg is released during ovulation and is fertilized by sperm through sexual intercourse. The fertilized egg then attaches to the uterus and develops into a fetus and, in nine months, a baby. Natural hormones found within the body cause this ovulation to occur. Oral contraceptive pills contain human-made contraceptives that safely stop ovulation from occurring and therefore prevent sperm from joining with an egg. It’s one of the most effective forms of birth control when taken correctly.
 
If you’d like to discuss oral contraceptive pills and how they work, please contact Avant Medical Group. Our team of kind professionals can schedule you with one of our specialists to walk you through the different types of birth control options available to you. Oral contraceptive pills are proven to be highly effective when taken properly. If this form of birth control seems like the right fit for you, Avant Medical Group can provide you with a prescription and any useful information you may need. We are conveniently located at 233 Broadway Suite 2750 New York, NY 10279. For more information, please call us or request an appointment online. We serve patients from New York NY, Brooklyn NY, Manhattan NY, Harlem NY, and Greenwich Village NY. We look forward to seeing you at our primary care clinic soon!