>Personal Health >Womens Health >Family Planning >Methods >Birth Control

Birth Control

Birth Control generally refers to "the pill" or "the patch". It is a hormonal method of preventing pregnancy.

The Combined Pill is made up of two hormones - estrogen and progestin, and is taken by mouth and swallowed every day. It is best to take the pill at the same time every day. If you miss a pill, take it as soon as you remember. You can take 2 pills the same day.

The Minipill is made up of one hormone- progestin, and is taken by mouth daily like the Comined Pill. Progestin only methods are preferred if a hormonal method of birth control is used while breastfeeding.

The Patch is a weekly hormonal birth control method that is worn on the skin to prevent pregnancy. The patch should be applied on the same day of the week for 3 weeks. The patch contains 60% more estrogen than the pill. This may cause an increase in side effects.

Both the pill and the patch work by:

• Keeping the body from releasing an egg that could be fertilized by a man's sperm.
• Causing changes in the cervical mucus- making it more difficult for a man's sperm to enter the uterus (womb).
• Keeping a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus.