Combined Oral Contraceptive (COC)

Pills contain estrogen and progestin to prevent ovulation and pregnancy

What is it?

Combined oral contraceptive (COC) pills contain estrogen and progestin to prevent ovulation and pregnancy. A monthly pack typically has three weeks of hormone pills and one week of either placebos or iron tablets to induce your period.

There is also a type of COC with the cyproterone acetate molecule that can treat moderate to severe acne related to hormonal imbalance and hirsutism in women of reproductive age.

How does it work?

Combination pills are proven effective because they contain both estrogen and progestin. The estrogen in COCs primarily prevents the release of an egg during ovulation, leaving no egg for sperm to fertilize. Progestin, on the other hand, increases cervical mucus, forming a barrier that stops sperm from entering the womb and reaching the fallopian tubes to fertilize an egg.

How effective is the method?

If taken perfectly, the pill is 99% effective, meaning only 1 out of 100 women might get pregnant in a year. With typical use, which includes occasional missed pills, it’s 91% effective, so about 9 out of 100 women might get pregnant in a year.

Pros

Proven effectiveness
Can help relieve period pain
Can help improve acne
Protection against some cancers, iron deficiency (anemia), ovarian cysts, and more

Cons

May experience side effects such as nausea, headache, and sore breasts
Small risk of forming blood clots for women over the age of 40, smokers, those who are overweight, or with a higher risk of vascular diseases in their family.

Where to Buy:

Reference:

Planned Parenthood. (n.d.). How effective is the birth control pill? Planned Parenthood. Retrieved August 22, 2024, from

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/birth-control-pill/how-effective-is-the-birth-control-pill

This is not an advertisement. The contents of this page are for information purposes only. They are not intended to diagnose and/or treat any medical ondition and should not be interpreted as substitutes for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor or health care provider before taking any prescription medicines found on this page.

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Please consult your doctor or healthcare provider before taking any prescription medicines found on this page.

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