Written by: ParaSaInangBayan, stik-o, frindler, ube pandesal, terry the turtle
Artwork by: harry styles r u free tonight & peppa
I. What are Birth Control Pills?
Birth control pills, also known as oral contraceptives, are a commonly-used type of medication that women take to prevent pregnancies. These can be taken by women who want to prevent or lessen menstrual problems (e.g. cramps) or medical concerns (e.g. cysts, premenstrual syndrome) or as aforementioned, by women who want to prevent pregnancy. These are taken by mouth and contain hormones that control the ovaries and the uterus to preempt one from getting pregnant.
It is a method of birth control that is safe, affordable, and is effective–if taken correctly and on time. And though it inhibits pregnancies, it does not protect one from having sexually transmitted infections and diseases.
II. The different types of BCPs
III. How do they work?
Birth control pills work by stopping sperm from joining with an egg. To simply put it, birth control pills prevent fertilization. Two types of pills exist, combination pills and mini pills. Combination pills contain estrogen and progestin, whilst mini pills contain progestin. These two hormones stop ovulation which means no egg will be present in the ovaries for sperm cells to fertilize. Taking the pill also thickens the cervical mucus, therefore blocking the sperm and making it more challenging to fertilize an egg.
IV. How and when to take it
As aforementioned, Birth Control pills are taken by mouth and ingested. You can start taking the birth control pills (BCP) on the first day of your period. If you take a pill on any other day of your cycle, you have to wait seven days before having unprotected sex.
Once you begin, one pill must be taken every day, or according to the pill pack instructions. If you forget to take a pill for one day, take it as soon as you remember. If you forget to take the pill for two consecutive days, consult your doctor and use other forms of birth control in the meantime to prevent pregnancy.
If you want to get pregnant, you may simply stop taking the pill entirely. Though it will take a few months for your period to return to the cycle you had before you started taking BCPs, you can still get pregnant during that period.
You can start taking Combination pills at any time, though if you start within five days of your period you’ll be protected from pregnancy right away. However, if you start at any other time, the pill must be taken for a week straight before you’re protected from pregnancy.
The regular schedule for taking the Combination Pills depends on the pack purchased. The 28-pack consists of either 4 or 7 placebo pills, the rest being hormone pills depending on the brand of BCPs. You must take the pills consistently for 28 days, consuming the placebos during the fourth week. If the placebos do not contain hormones, some may contain other iron or other supplements. The placebos are also called “reminder pills” because they remind you to take your pills every day and to start a new pack on time. During that fourth week, you are still protected from pregnancy even if the hormone pills aren’t ingested.
The 21-pack however consists of 21 hormone pills only. These must be taken consecutively for 21 days, then for the next seven days, take no pills. After that week, immediately begin a new pack of 21 Combination pills. There are no “reminders” in the 21-pack, so you must set your own reminders to take the pills after the 7 days of not taking any. Not having “reminder pills” may also cause you to forget to start the new cycle of pills, so it is usually recommended to take the 28-pack for everything to be continuous.
The Progestin-Only (Mini) Pills only come in 28-packs, containing 28 progestin-filled pills. For the Mini pills, there is no hormone-free week unlike when taking the Combination pills. You may start taking this at any time and be protected from pregnancy within 48 hours of ingestion. During these 48 hours, you must use another method of birth control if you will have penis-in-vagina sex to reduce the chances of pregnancy. It is essential that these are taken every day, at the same time or no more than three hours past the usual time they are taken.
V. Side effects
Most young women will experience little to no side effects. These would usually go away in 2-3 months while the body adjusts. Some side effects women have while on the Pill include:
Nausea, headaches, and dizziness
Breast tenderness
Bloating
Mood changes
Drastic side effects for combination birth control pills include:
Depression
Weight gain
Some doctors prescribe the pill when one experiences menstrual problems, as it also causes the following side effects:
Reduces menstrual cramps
Lighter period
Relieves PMS
It is also sometimes prescribed when the patient has acne problems because it can prevent and improve acne.
VI. Formulations and Pill Generations
What are progestin generations?
It’s how types of progestin are classified based on when they were first available
Different generations have different characteristics
Generally, 2nd generation pills are considered the safest
3rd and 4th generation pills were developed to address side effects you may get from 2nd generation pills, however, they may increase the risk of blood clots
Progestational effects
Prevents ovulation
Lessens menstrual bleeding
Androgenic effects
Unwanted side effects like acne and body hair growth
Estrogenic effects
Help counter androgenic effects
VII. Online Pharms and Pill Package Websites
In the Philippines, various types of contraceptives can be purchased over-the-counter. Dima PH and Southstar Drug are online pharmacies that sell birth control pills. Though Watsons also sells contraceptives, a prescription has to be presented before buying the products. Dima PH can provide you with a prescription if necessary!
REFERENCES
“Birth Control Pill (for Teens) - Nemours KidsHealth.” Edited by Rupal Christine Gupta, KidsHealth, The Nemours Foundation, Jan. 2017, kidshealth.org/en/teens/contraception-birth.html.
“Birth Control Pills: The Pill: Contraceptive Pills.” Planned Parenthood, www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/birth-control-pill.
Brooks, Krista. “Birth Control Pills: What You Need to Know.” National Center for Health Research, 21 July 2020, www.center4research.org/birth-control-pills-need-know/.
“Contraception.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 Aug. 2020, www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/contraception/index.htm.
Dawn Stacey, PhD. “8 Types of Progestin in Combination Birth Control Pills.” Verywell Health, www.verywellhealth.com/different-progestin-types-906936.
Dawn Stacey, PhD. “How Do You Choose Between Multiphasic vs. Monophasic Birth Control?” Verywell Health, www.verywellhealth.com/types-of-combination-pills-906935.
“How to Use Birth Control Pills: Follow Easy Instructions.” Planned Parenthood, www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/birth-control-pill/how-do-i-use-the-birth-control-pill.
Team, the Healthline Editorial. “Birth Control Pills: Types, Effectiveness, and More.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 17 Sept. 2018, www.healthline.com/health/birth-control-pills.
“What Are 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Generation Pills?” What Is a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Generation Pill? - Treated.com, www.treated.com/contraception/what-is-a-1st-2nd-3rd-4th-generation-pill.
“What Are the Benefits of Birth Control Pills?” Planned Parenthood, www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/birth-control-pill/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-birth-control-pill.
Your Complete Guide to Birth Control Methods in the Philippines. (2017). https://www.cosmo.ph/health/health-report/contraceptives-available-philippines-kinds-prices-effectiveness-side-effects-a1526-20170203-lfrm2