Types of birth control pills

Oral contraceptive pills make  a great revolution in birth control and reduction of mass population in western end eastern countries.

Types of birth control pills

In the past there was three main birth control types and now there only two types , as sequential pills withdrawn from the market nowadays due to its carcinogenic effect on endometrium, as it contain higher estrogen content , the main two types are :

1.Combined birth control pills

It’s idea based on when estrogen given in daily dose it cause inhibition of ovulation through suppression of hypothalamus – pituitary – ovarian axis , and when that estrogen combined with progesterone , that provide balanced estrogenic effect and decrease estrogen side effects , also it add to estrogenic suppressive effect on hypothalamus -pituitary -ovarian axis.

Each pill of birth control pills contain estrogen with dose of 30 to 100 mcg , and contain minimal progesterone, the pills are given from the fifth day of menstruation for  21 days to provide hormonal endometerial  support , and then leaved to cause bleeding from 2 to 3 days what is called withdrawal bleeding , and then new cycle repeated .

There are new generation of combined pills are now available such as low estrogen birth control pills , that type contain small dose of estrogen , but it cause breakthrough bleeding , also there are triphasic pills , in which estrogen is given 30 Mg for 6 days , then 40 Mg for 5 days,  and finally 30 Mg for 10 days , that estrogen is followed with progesterone with 50 Mg for 6 days, 75 Mg for 5 days and finally 125 Mg for 10 days , the main advantage of these pills is the avoidance of breakthrough bleeding and the total estrogen is low and balanced with progesterone.

2. Mini pills (progesterone only pills)

Small dose of progesterone is given continuously irrespective of menstruation , that type of pills cause endometerial changes as edema of the stroma , atrophy of tha glands which make the uterus unsuitable for implantation, it also increase cervical mucus which in turn make the sperms can not penetrate , it only inhibit ovulation by 20 %.

The main Mini pills advantages it is not cause inhibition of lactation , beside with it’s use , there are estrogen side effects avoidance.

Mini pills also has disadvantages as it cause menstrual irregularities , also it may be a cause of increase incidence of tubal pregnancy , as it slow motility of the tubes towards uterus.

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