Oral Contraceptive Pills

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Cooper DB, Mahdy H

Oral Contraceptive Pills

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Abstract

Currently, there are three types of oral contraceptive pills: combined estrogen-progesterone, progesterone only and the continuous or extended use pill. The birth control pill is the most commonly prescribed form of contraception in the US. Approximately 25% of women age 15-44 who currently use contraception reported using the pill as their method of choice. The most commonly prescribed pill is the combined hormonal pill with estrogen and progesterone. Progesterone is the hormone that prevents pregnancy, and the estrogen component will control menstrual bleeding. [1] Birth control pills are primarily used to prevent pregnancy. The effectiveness of this form of birth control is referred to as typical and perfect use. Typical use, meaning the method may not always be used consistently or correctly, results in a failure rate of 9 women out of 100 that will become pregnant during the first year of using this method. Perfect use, meaning the method is used consistently and correctly every time, is less than one woman out of 100 will become pregnant in the first year of use. Due to human error, the quoted failure rate for combined oral contraceptive pills is the typical use of 9%. OCP's can be used to address other health conditions particularly menstrual related disorders such as menstrual pain, irregular menstruation, fibroids, endometriosis-related pain and menstrual- related migraines.[2] Use of combined pills for acne has been formally approved by the FDA for specific brands. The majority of women take OCP's to prevent pregnancy, but 14% used them for non-contraceptive reasons.

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Drugs: Norgestimate