Advice about how the contraceptive pill works and information on stopping the pill for pregnancy.Discuss the contraceptive pill on our forums, right now! Or, post a comment below.The pill is an example of a hormonal method of contraception. It manipulates the level of oestrogen and progesterone in the body so as to prevent ovulation and therefore pregnancy. There are many different types of contraceptive pill available, however all types fall into two main categories that work in different ways.
Combined Pill The combined pill is the form of hormonal contraception most frequently prescribed as it is approximately 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. It contains a combination of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone (hence its name) and works by preventing ovulation from occurring - fertilisation and pregnancy cannot occur without the release of an egg. The combined pill works on a 28 day cycle with some brands including a 7 day break from pills and others including a pill for each day.
Mini Pill The progesterone-only pill (or 'mini-pill' as it is often known) contains synthetic progestogen (which mimics the action of the natural hormone progesterone) but no oestrogen. They are less frequently prescribed as although they are only slightly less effective at preventing pregnancy than the combined pill, they do have to be taken at roughly the same time every day to be effective (within 3 hours of the usual time). The mini-pill works by thickening cervical mucus so that it is hostile to sperm, thinning the lining of the uterus so that implantation of a fertilised egg is not possible and some newer versions also prevent ovulation too.
The pill and pregnancyOne of the reasons the pill is such a popular form of contraception is that its effects at preventing pregnancy are completely reversible and long term fertility is not effected. Although you can start trying to conceive straight after you have stopped taking the pill, many women find that full fertility does not return for 3-6 months. For this reason it is often recommended that you use an alternate method of conception (e.g. condoms) until you have experienced several regular menstrual cycles.
Waiting until your natural menstrual cycle becomes re-established will enable you to begin to chart your fertility, helping you to identify when you're most fertile and maximise your chances of conception. It will also enable you to more reliably establish the date of conception, the developmental stage of your fetus and estimated due date when you do fall pregnant.
Although the contraceptive pill works by altering levels of the fertility related hormones oestrogen and progesterone, it will not affect the results of a pregnancy test. This is because pregnancy tests detect levels of the hormone HCG, the presence of which is not influenced by the contraceptive pill.
A small number of women do fall pregnant whilst on the pill as it is not 100% effective especially when taken with certain medication or during illness. There is no evidence to suggest that taking the pill whilst pregnant is detrimental to fetal development. However, if you do find that you are pregnant, you should stop taking the pill immediately and visit your GP.
If you are considering coming off the pill it is advisable to visit your GP for a pre conception check up to ensure that you and your partner are in the best possible health during this important time and to address any issues that may impair your chance of getting pregnant.
Follow your baby's development through pregnancy and beyond.
Watch your baby's development from conception right through to birth - now you can actually see how much your baby is growing each day!
No question is too big or small - find advice, support and friendship in our Talk forums.
The good, the bad and the ugly - find out what we think of the latest baby products on the market.
Not yet a member? Join thousands of other parents and parents-to-be and Sign Up Here.