Spotlight On… Contraception – The Oral Contraceptive Pill

Contraception and its many different forms are always a talking point. With so many different types on the market, and the fact that every woman's body is different, we take a closer look at all the options that are available to you.  This week, we focus on the pill, in part one of our two-part Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill feature. ______________________________________ What is the Pill? Getting back to basics, “The Pill” is the name commonly given to the Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill. It contains two hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. How does it work? The hormones in the pill stop you from ovulating, which means that you do not produce an egg each month. It also changes the cervical mucus (nice!) and makes the environment hostile for those pesky sperm. How good is the pill at preventing pregnancy? According to numerous medical reports, if the pill is used 'perfectly' by 1,000 women, 3 of them will become pregnant. However, if it is used 'normally' (i.e. not perfectly) it is believed that about 90 of those 1,000 women will become pregnant. When might the pill not work? If you have vomiting or diarrhoea, or take other medications that interfere with the pill, it may not work. Similarly if you forget to take the pill, it may not work. If you miss one or more pills, you need to check the information leaflet that comes with the pill. This leaflet will advise you on what to do. You can also speak to your doctor or pharmacist. If you are worried that you have had unprotected sex and might be at risk of pregnancy, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about emergency contraception. Any time you take over the counter or prescribed mediation, make sure and check that it does not interfere with the pill. Most medications do not interfere with the pill but some anti-epileptic drugs and antibiotics may affect it. What is the best pill to be on? There are lots of different pills out there and with so many options it can often be difficult to know what is right for you. What makes each pill different from each other is how much of and what types of hormones they contain. Different pills have different amounts of oestrogen and there are different types of progesterone that are used in different pills. It is usually the type of progesterone that is used in the pill that causes side-effects, and certain types of progesterone may suit some women more than others. When it comes to hormones, us women are sensitive creatures, and if you do not feel good on the pill, it is always worth chatting to your GP about switching brands. The doctor will often start you on one of the lower dose pills and then change accordingly if you develop side effects. What are the side effects? Many women experience no side effects on the pill. However, a small number of women may experience nausea, breast tenderness and headaches. Other side effects include irregular bleeding, mood changes, skin changes and a change in sex drive. There are so many brands of the pill on the Irish market that there is generally one to suit most people. Can everyone take the pill? Most women who are healthy and not overweight can take the pill. The pill is not suitable for everyone however your doctor may not prescribe it for you if you suffer from certain types of migraine, are on certain medications such as anti-epileptic tablets, if there is a family history of blood clots or if your BMI is over 39.