What are oral contraceptives? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this method of contraception. Describe two types of oral contraceptives, how they work, and their effectiveness

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Responses should consider:
- Oral contraceptives are also called birth control pills.
- Combination oral contraceptives contain both estrogen and progestin.
- The contraceptive effect on a woman taking these hormones is that her body's normal hormonal cycle is altered, and ovulation is prevented.
- Advantages include:
- They are very effective.
- There is no interruption of lovemaking.
- They are generally very safe.
- They often make menstrual cycles more regular and reduce or relieve symptoms of PMS and menstrual cramps.
- They may reduce the length of the menstrual period, and the amount of bleeding.
- Disadvantages include:
- They do not protect against STIs.
- It's easy to miss doses.
- Depending on where they are purchased, they can be relatively expensive.
- There is the possibility of spotting.
- There is the possibility of nausea.
- There are possible side effects; if experiencing any of the following, call a physician immediately: ACHES
A - abdominal pain
C - chest pain (severe) with a cough or shortness of breath
H - headache (severe), dizziness, weakness, numbness
E - eye problems, vision, loss, blurring, slurred speech
S - severe leg pain
- One type is the minipill.
- It is a progestin-only pill, and has approximately the same low failure rate as the combination (progestin and estrogen) pill.
- The main advantage is that it avoids some of the potentially negative side effects associated with estrogen.
- A disadvantage is that many of the health benefits associated with the estrogen in the combined pill are not present in the progestin-only pill.
- It interferes with ovulation.
- It also causes a thickening of the mucus secreted by the cervix, which sets up a barrier that is very difficult for sperm to penetrate.
- If some sperm do get through, the lining of the uterus that develops to support a fertilized egg is thinner in a woman taking the minipill, and is therefore less receptive to implantation and pregnancy.
- Another type is the extended-dosage contraceptive pill, such as Seasonale.
- These pills provide a daily dose of hormones for 84 consecutive days, during which a woman is protected against pregnancy and does not menstruate.
- After the 84 pills are taken, a woman then takes a placebo for 7 days, during which she will typically have her period.
- A woman will only have four menstrual periods a year.
- Research has shown no dangers from menstrual suppression.
- Advantages include:
- These can be recommended by doctors for women with menstruation-related health problems, and have been used by women themselves to delay or skip a period.
- Women who have especially painful period, heavy bleeding, cycle-related migraine headaches, or other serious menstruation-related conditions may benefit from reducing the annual number of periods.
- Disadvantages include:
- The most serious side effect was an increase in bleeding or spotting between periods.
- These extended-dosage contraceptive pills carry the same health risks as other combination pills with similar formulations.