BIRTH CONTROL PILLS

Birth control pills are daily pills that contain hormones to change the way the body works and prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation.

TYPES; (i ) combination pill... contain both oestrogen and progesterone

              (ii) progestin-only pill

Deciding on birth control pills

Not all pills are suitable for every person. in that case you have to consider the following;

   * Your menstrual symptoms- if you experience heavy bleeding you are advised to use progestin-only 

    * Your cardiovascular health- if you have a history of stroke or blood clots..you should avoid combination pills

Mostly used pill -Postinor-2 {P2}

P2 is the most taken emergency pill after sex to prevent pregnancy that is priced at only Ksh. 100 in most pharmacies.  The first tablet should be taken as soon as possible and the second pill 12 hours after. It can also be taken as 2 tablets at once.

P2 should only be taken once every menstrual cycle. Taking the pill often will upset your hormones and lead to hormonal imbalance disorder including acne. However, P2 should be taken before the ovulation happens or it will definitely fail.

P2 protects women against cancer of the endometrium, ovary, pancreas and liver but increases the risk of breast cancer. it has some side effects obviously like cramping, change in bleeding patterns, tiredness, etc

How birth control pills work;

(a) they prevent your body from ovulating 

(b) they cause the body to thicken your cervical mucus. This prevents the sperm from reaching the uterus

Side effects of all BCPs

(i) decreased sex drive   (ii) headaches and migraines (iii) spotting between periods (iv) weight gain         (v) increase in vaginal discharge (vi)abdominal cramping

Rare but serious risks of BCPs

*breast and cervical cancer *liver tumours *high blood pressure *stroke *heart attack

In summary, every person reacts differently to different types of pills. So before finding the right one for them, a person will need to try a few different pills. However, if a person stops taking the pill, the body will return to how it was before they started taking the pill. If the side effects are severe, or when they last for more than three months, it is best advised to consult a health specialist.