Oral contraceptive or the oral contraceptive tablets composed of hormones and are one of the most significant and consistent methods of contraception.

They are of different types depending on what they contain

Combined Pills: These pills consist of female hormones estrogen and progestin. Estrogen is generally in the form of ethinyl estradiol while the progestin available in different forms such as levonorgestrel, desogestrel, norgestimate or gestodene.

Combined pills are available in 2 different packs as follows,

• The 21-day pack and


• 28-day pack. The 28-day pack contains both the hormones in the first 21 pills and the last seven pills have no hormones and are known as the spacer pills. In some packs, these spacer medicines contain iron. The pills are to be taken daily at the same time.

Newer forms of combined pills are now available. Some contain hormones for a longer duration of 24 days and spacer pills for 4 days. These packs decrease the duration of bleeding. Chewable combined pills are available in some countries. Some hormonal pills can be taken continuously for 12 weeks followed by a week of spacer pills or very low dose estrogen. This results in bleeding only 4 times per year.

Phased Pills: Phased pills may be either biphasic or triphasic. In these pills the estrogen dose is kept more or less constant while the progestin dose is pregressively increased in the later stages of the cycle. Common triphasic pills are Triquilar and 3-Phase.

Minipill: Minipills contain only a low dose of progesterone. They are not as effective as a combined pill. An example of a minipill is Ovrette.

Morning after Pill: This pill is used after sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy. It contains a progestin either as 1 or 2 tablets. It is available in brands .

Centchroman: Centchroman is a nonhormonal oral birth control pill developed and available in India. It does not have the side effects of hormonal contraceptives.\

Benefits:

These pills provide certain health benefits in addition to avoid pregnancy.

• Highly effective reversible contraception. Birth control pills provide highly reliable contraceptive protection, more than 99%. Even when improper use (skipping an occasional pill) is considered, the BCPs are still very effective in preventing pregnancy.


• Menstrual cycle regulation. Birth control pills cause menstrual cycles to occur regularly and predictably. This is especially helpful for women with periods that come too often or too infrequently. Periods also tend to be lighter and shorter.


• Reduce menstrual cramps. These pills can provide significant relief to women with painful menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea).


• Decreased risk of iron deficiency (anemia). These medicine decrease the quantity of blood flow during the period. Less blood loss is helpful in preventing anemia.


• Reduce the risk of ovarian cysts. The risk of developing ovarian cysts is really reduced for birth control pills users because they help prevent ovulation. An ovarian cyst is a fluid - filled growth that can develop in the ovary during ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary).


• Can improve acne. These tablets can recover acne. For moderate to severe acne, which other medications can't cure, birth control pills may be prescribed. The hormones in the birth control pill can help stop acne from forming.