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Birth
Control Pills - Controlling Unwanted Pregnancy
Most
women have heard of "the pill", but
many of us do not know exactly what it is and
how it works. In this article, you will learn
what oral contracteptives are and how they work
in a woman's body.
In the 1930's, it was discovered that the hormone,
progesterone, could cause a woman to stop ovulating.
When a woman ovulates each month, she produces
eggs that, if fertilized by the male, result in
a pregnancy. But, it wasn't until 1960 that the
birth control pill got approval in the United
States from the Food and Drug Administration.
Birth
control pills contain synthetic (man-made), estogen
and progesterone, which are natural hormones produced
in a woman's body. The synthetic hormones are
extremely similar in chemical make up to the natural
hormones, and have the same effect on the woman's
body. To understand what effect "the pill"
has on the body, we must, therefore, know what
roles estrogen and progesterone play in the woman's
body.
Estrogen is one of the two female hormones produced
in the pituitary gland, which is located at the
base of the brain. The woman's menstrual cycle
is controlled by these hormones. Each month, the
hormones trigger the uterine lining to build up,
or mature, in preparation for pregnancy, then
if there is none, to then, slough off. Estrogen
is produced in the first few weeks of the menstrual
cycle, and progesterone and estrogen are produced
in the last half of the cycle, after ovulation,
(release of the egg). Ovulation occurs around
the middle of the cycle. Each cycle is about 28
days, roughly or each month.
Although there are other types of contraceptives,
or birth control, such as the IUD, which is a
device put in place by your doctor in the uterus,
to prevent pregnancy, one of the most popular
and common forms of birth control is oral contraceptives.
"The Pill" is an oral contraceptive.
There are two types of oral contracteptives. Combination
control pills contain the synthetic hormones,
estrogen and progestin, which mimic the natural
hormones, estogen and progesterone. The combination
pill is more effective than the mini-pill.
Birth control pills that contain the synthetic
hormones, estrogen and progestin, to prevent pregnancy.
The pill is taken orally and the hormones in the
pill are absorbed into the bloodstream. The hormones
reach the hypothalamus in the brain and the anterior
pituitary gland near the brain. The hormones send
a signal to the hypothalamus, and then this reacts
by signaling the anterior pituitary gland. The
pituitary gland, which is responsible for producing
the female hormones, natually that normally would
stimulate the ovary to produce a mature egg and
release it, is now inhibited from producing the
hormones, due to the pill. The ovary does not
release the egg, because the hormones were not
produced and released by the pituitary gland.
Thus, ovulation does not occur. Obviously if a
mature egg is not ovulated and sent out, the fertilization
and pregnancy cannot occur.
Another way the pill works is that the progestin
in the pill produces a thick cervial mucus that
is hostile to sperm. And lastly, even if by a
rare chance, ovulation and fertilization did occur,
while a woman is taking the pill, the hormones
in the pills act direcly on the lining of the
uterus to keep it in a state that makes implantation
of a fertilized egg impossible. Oral contraceptives
usually stop ovulation by their action, the hypothalamus
and the pituitary gland, but they also have effects
on cervial mucus and the lining of the uterus.
Birth control pills are said to be 99.66 percent
effective in preventing conception if used correctly.
Many women, do, however, take them incorrectly,
such as missing a pill here and there, thus, decreasing
the effectiveness of the pill and giving the chance
that she will become pregnant.
First of all the pill is convenient because the
pill is taken daily, routinely, so there is no
worry as to the timing related to sexual intercourse.
Oral contraceptive use, also, is said to reduce
the occurance of menstrual cramps. Another pro
is that the periods or flow is lighter. Women
lose less blood so there is a less chance of iron
deficiency in the blood. There are less PMS symptoms
because there is no ovulation, acne diminishes
or improves and there is a 75% less chance of
developing ovarian cysts. This is because ovarian
cysts are caused by eggs in the ovaries that are
not released and continue growing in the ovary
and develop into cysts, which can be painful and
sometimes have to be surgically removed.
Now for the con's. Like almost anything, there
are good and bad sides. Some of the down sides
of using "the pill" include the following:
you have to see a doctor in order to get the pills
prescribed to you. Next, a woman must be very
accurate and faithful in taking them or they are
not effective. Nausea, weight gain, swelling,
breast tenderness, breakthrough bleeding, which
is unexpected bouts of bleeding, some women have
trouble with their contact lenses because of the
estrogen-related fluid retention changes the shape
of the cornea. Some women have reported a decrease
in libido while on the pill. Breast feeders say
it can decrease the amount of milk. Headaches
are common complaints. For a small percentage,
acne or other facial complexion problems get worse
instead of improving.
Strokes, hearth attacks, and blood clots are eight
times more likely in women who smoke while using
the pill than those who do not smoke. The pill
does not cause cancer, but you should have an
annual Pap smear, as should all women to detect
for early signs of cervical cancer. Women who
have high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer or
a history of blood clots, it is not recommended
to take the pill. Overall, birth control pills
have come a long way, they are made much better
than when they first came onto the market 40 years
ago. They contain lower doses of hormones, so
there are not nearly as many side effects, yet
their effective-ness is has remained excellent.
With weighing the positive and the negative attributes
of the pill, it is clearly believed that, for
most women, the benefits outweigh the risks. Talk
to your doctor, to find out what is the best alternative
for you. Finally, one last note, the pill does
prevent pregnancy, but it does not prevent sexually
transmitted diseases.
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