Sex information that include information about birth control pills doesn’t increase level of teens sexual activity but actually promotes proper use of birth control methods among sexually active teens.
Birth control pill commonly known as the pill is a daily pill that usually contains hormones estrogen and progesterone that prevents pregnancy.
The combination of the hormones, estrogen and progesterone, prevents ovulation. A woman cannot get pregnant if there’s no egg to be fertilized. The pills also work by thickening the mucus around the cervix making it difficult for sperm to enter the uterus and fertilize any egg that may have been released. The hormones can also affect the lining of the uterus making it difficult for an egg to attach to the wall of the uterus.
Most pills come in a 21 day or 28 day pack, a pill is taken each day about the same time for 21 days. Depending on the pack the pill can be stopped for 7 days when the woman has her periods or take a pill that contains no hormones.
A combination of pills that reduces the frequency of a woman’s periods is also available, 12 weeks supply of hormone pill and 7 days of inactive pills, reduces the number of periods to one every 3 months instead of one every month.
Every type of birth control pill works best when it’s taken every single day at the same time of the day, regardless whether a female is going to have sex. If pills are skipped or forgotten, she’s not protected against pregnancy and will have to use another form of birth control such as a condom for back up or stop having sex for a while.
For the first 7 days of using the pill, a girl should use other forms of contraception like a condom but after the 7 days the pills should work alone to prevent pregnancy.
Young women who can remember to take the pill each day use the pill to prevent unintended pregnancy. Its side effects include; irregular menstrual bleeding, mood changes, blood clots, nausea, headaches, dizziness and breast tenderness.
A doctor or a nurse practitioner must prescribe the pill after a complete physical exam. Although they prevent unplanned pregnancies they cannot prevent you from getting sexually transmitted diseases.
