Contraceptive Pill (The Pill)

The Pill

Contraceptive pills (commonly referred to as 'The Pill') are a means for women to control whether or not they get pregnant. The contraceptive pill, also called 'the pill' and "contraceptives", is a convenient way to conduct family planning and prevent unwanted pregnancy.

Contraceptive pills are for women who want to avoid getting pregnant, The Pill can be a simple, practical and convenient way to prevent it. Contraceptive pills contain female hormones, that can act in 1 to 3 different ways on the body, to stop you conceiving.

The most commonly prescribed and well known combined pills in the UK are Microgynon, Yasmin, Cilest, Loestrin, Mercilon and Femodette.

There are 2 different types of contraceptive pill available, the first one being the combined pill. The combined pill contains small amounts of oestrogen and progestogen which work in 3 different ways to prevent pregnancy. They prevent the release of an egg from the ovaries, they make the fluid in your cervix thicker (to make it more difficult for sperm to enter the womb), and they prevent the lining of your womb from thickening enough for an egg to grow in it.

This 3-pronged approach makes the combined pill one of the most effective forms of contraception. The second type of pill is often referred to as ‘the mini pill’. Contrary to popular belief though, this tablet does not simply contain lower amounts of the same hormones. It actually only contains progestogen, so it works on your body slightly differently and only prevents the sperm cell from entering the womb. Although effective, this can sometimes prove less so than the combined pill.

Below is a list of contraceptive pill names:

Contraceptive Pill: Cerazette

• Progestogen only
• Suitable for women who are breastfeeding
• Effective contraception

Birth Control Pill: Clairette

• Treats acne and rosacea
• Effective form of birth control
• Easy to use

Contraceptive Tablet: Yasmin

• Highly effective contraceptive pill
• Can decrease period pain
• Helpfully marked pill packets

Prevent Pregnancy Pill: Rigevidon

• Contains oestrogen and progestogen
• Up to 99% effective in preventing pregnancy
• Easy to take

Qlaira

• Effectively prevents pregnancy
• Causes more regular and lighter periods
• Better menstrual control

Ovranette

• Combined contraceptive pill
• Up to 99% effective
• Can regulate menstrual cycle

Noriday

• Progestogen-only pill
• Up to 99% effective in preventing pregnancy
• Suitable for most women, including those who are breastfeeding

Microgynon

• Contains oestrogen and progestogen
• Highly effective form of birth control
• Easy to take

Mercilon

• Protects against pregnancy
• Regulates menstrual cycle
• Low risk contraceptive pill

Marvelon

• Low dose combined oral contraceptive
• Lessens menstrual symptoms
• Makes periods shorter and lighter

Logynon

• Prevents pregnancy
• Reduces menstrual symptoms
• Colour-coded pills for ease of use

Loestrin

• Extremely low oestrogen content
• Can make periods shorter and lighter
• Effective form of birth control

As well as its primary use of pregnancy prevention, taking the contraceptive pill can offer women a variety of other benefits, such as menstrual cycle control and an uninterrupted sex life.

A lot of women choose the combined pill not only because of its effectiveness but also because it can make your periods lighter, keeps your menstrual cycle regular (because you take the pill for 21 days then have a 7 day break) and reduces your risk of cancer of the ovaries, womb and colon. However, the combined pill does carry increased risks of blood clots and can cause some side effects (especially at the start of treatment). Common side effects include mood swings, weight gain and skin problems.

Although less popular, the mini pill (progestogen only) is still loved by a lot of women thanks to the fact that you take it every day, so it’s much easier to remember. Because it doesn’t contain oestrogen, there are no increased risks of blood clots either and it’s also suitable for women who don’t tolerate oestrogen, and for those who are breastfeeding. However, it does remain the less effective of the two styles of contraceptives and can cause some irregular or ‘breakout’ bleeding, because there is no scheduled period involved.

There are plenty of brands available, containing various amounts of synthetic versions of oestrogen and/or progestogen. Using the fast, simple and dependable online doctor’s service at UK Meds, you can select the contraceptive pill that best suits you and have it delivered to your door.

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