hormonal contraceptives contain artificial hormones, similar to the ones found in your body. There are two types of oral contraceptive pills, the Progesterone-only pil (POP) sometimes called the “mini-pill), and the Combined oral contraceptive pill (COC). As the name suggests, the POP contains only a Progesterone hormone, whilst the COC contains two hormones, a Progesterone and an Oestrogen.

Hormonal contraceptives work by regulating and altering a women’s natural hormonal levels to prevent ovulation, and thickening bodily fluids such as cervical mucus to prevent the sperm from reaching the egg and implantation occurring. These combined actions prevent pregnancy.

Oral contraceptives are usually taken at the same time each day as a single tablet. The POPs are taken at the same time every single day. The COCs are taken for 21 days, followed by a 7 day break.
As POPs are taken daily, they can alter periods which may be much lighter or infrequent, or they may stop altogether.

COCs do not stop periods and women taking this type of contraceptive will usually have their period during the 7 day break, much like a regular cycle.

Depending on your choice of Pil, your prescriber may recommend to use additional methods of contraception for the first 7-days whilst the Pil starts working.

Patches and implants reduce the need for remembering to take a tablet every day and are just as effective. Evra, a contraceptive patch is applied every 7 days for 3 weeks, with a weeks break. Implants will need to be inserted by a Doctor or nurse and can last for several months without needing to be changed.

The Pill is one of the most convenient methods of contraception. It allows women to be confident in avoiding unwanted pregnancy and allows an uninterrupted sex life compared to barrier methods such as diaphragms or condoms.

Some women prefer to take the Pill as it can help manage other conditions such as Acne, irregular periods or painful periods, and can often make periods much lighter or even prevent them in some cases. They can also be beneficial in conditions such as PCOS in controlling hormone levels and reducing symptoms such as weight gain, facial hair and period irregularities.

Side-effects can be easily managed compared to methods such as implants as they can be stopped immediately without the need to see a GP or nurse.

Whilst they may increase the risk of some cancers, they also offer protection against other types of cancer such as cancers such as ovarian or womb cancers.

As with most drugs, there are some side-effects when taking the Pill and women often need to try a few until they find one that suits them. If you experience side-effects, it may be worth speaking to your prescriber to discuss trying an alternative.

Some of the common side-effects include

• Headaches or migraines
• Nausea and vomiting
• Increased blood pressure
• Mood changes
• Weight gain
• Risk of blood clots
• Period changes
• Acne
• Breast tenderness

The Pill is safe for most women to use long term without any complications. There is some evidence to suggest an increased risk of some conditions, such as blood pressure, blood clots and some cancers, so prescribers will usually consider individual risk factors before recommending the Pill to some women.
The pill may not be safe for people with
• High blood pressure
• A history of heart disease or blood clots
• A history of certain cancers such as breast, endometrial, cervical or ovarian
• A history of migraines
• For smokers over the age of 35 years.
Cancer?
The risk of cancer varies from person to person. There is a slight increase in the risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer when taking the pill, whilst the risk of ovarian or womb cancer may be reduced.
The increase in the risk of getting breast cancer is around 7%. Whilst this sounds high, in terms of numbers, this means only 13 more women out of 100,000 would get breast cancer when taking the Pil.
The risk of cancers reduces after stopping the Pil and is no different to someone who has not taken the Pil after 10 years of stopping.
If you are concerned about the risks, speak to your prescriber who can tell you more about these so you can make an informed decision.

There are several alternatives to hormonal contraception which can be equally as effective.

Condoms or diaphragms are suitable alternatives and are the only type of contraception which can prevent against several sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)

Implants are a suitable alternative, some may contain hormones, often referred to as Intra Uterine Systems (IUS) where as others, such as the copper IUD are drug free and can be left in place for several months. A similar alternative includes vaginal rings which are inserted by a GP or nurse and left in place to prevent pregnancy. GPs can also offer injectable hormonal contraception

Some couples may choose natural family planning which is free from all drugs and devices, and involves timing sexual intercourse and avoiding the most fertile periods of the cycle, monitoring body temperature to track ovulation, “pulling out” prior to ejaculation, monitoring cervical mucus secretions to predict ovulation or a combination of all these. These methods can be effective if used correctly but require participation and understanding by both sexual partners and work better in long term relationships. In practice, these can be difficult to adhere to for many couples, and the “pulling out” technique can still lead to pregnancy if unprotected sex occurs when the female is fertile.

Permanent solutions such as male and female sterilization are available as surgical options for those who do not wish to have children in future.

Please choose your preferred treatment option above and complete our online questionnaire for our prescriber to consider. Our prescriber will take your medical history and any risks into account when prescribing, and may contact you for further information if needed. Once approved, your medication will be delivered to your door.