Birth control pills are basically pills that are taken on a daily basis and which contain certain hormones that will change the way the uterus and ovaries perform thereby preventing pregnancy. Most birth control pills today are classified as combination pills which means they contain both progesterone and estrogen hormones which prevent the release of eggs in a women’s monthly cycle (ovulation). If there are no eggs released, a woman cannot get pregnant.

Another function of the pill is that it thickens the mucus found around the cervix, making it very hard for sperm to get into the uterus and finding any eggs that could have been released. The pills hormones sometimes affect the uterus’ lining as well so that any eggs released will find it very difficult to attach to the sides.

Birth Control Pills and Other Common Methods

Most combo pills come in 21-day or 28-day packets, with one taken each day. With a 21-day pack you will stop taking the pill for seven days at the end of the cycle and with the 28-day pack you will take seven pills without any hormones at the end of the cycle. Women then tend to get their periods when they cease taking the pills that contain the hormones.