Exploring the benefits of contraception with the pill and the mini pill

The pill is one of the most convenient methods of birth control available to women, with the added benefit of being almost 100% effective. The two most effective ways of hormonal contraception currently in use are combined oral contraceptive pills (also known as the pill) and progesterone-only pills (also known as mini pill). These hormonal contraceptive pills are capable of providing almost 100% effective protection against pregnancy. In addition, these pills are easy to take and compared to their early counterparts they are far safer, which means freedom from unnecessary complications while the remains almost completely safe from the risks of unwanted pregnancy.

The availability of different varieties hormonal contraceptive pills has allowed sexually active women to select the best option according to their own preference and tolerance to the active ingredients. Contraceptive pills like Mercilon and Marvelon are gradually rising in popularity as they are capable of providing equally effective protection from pregnancy when compared to some of the more well-known contraceptive brands, meaning that they can serve as an alternative to some women. Each of these two medications fall under the category of combined oral contraceptive pills, also know as the pill. These mediations contain synthetic oestrogen and progesterone that are almost similar to the natural ones produced in a woman’s body. Medications like Mercilon and Marvelon function by overriding the natural hormonal cycle in the body.

The change in the level of oestrogen and progesterone in a woman’s body throughout your menstrual cycle plays an important part in fertility. If any change should occur in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle, this could have an influence whether you are able to conceive or not. The artificial hormonal properties of Mercilon and Marvelon mimic the action of natural ones and make your system believe that the ovulation has already occurred. These synthetic hormones stop the change of hormonal level in the menstrual cycle and stop ovulation. However, compared to the synthetic progesterone, oestrogen plays a more crucial role in stopping ovulation.

The synthetic progesterone, on the other hand, functions by thickening the cervical fluid. This increased thickness of the fluid stops sperm to enter the ovary and even in case ovulation hasn’t stopped, then restricted entry of sperm in the ovary reduces the risk of conceiving considerably. Finally, the synthetic progesterone also alters the thickness of womb lining constantly, which makes it almost impossible for an impregnated egg to implant itself on the ovarian wall.

A progesterone-only pill or a mini pill like Cerazette contains only one hormone and thus it doesn’t function by stopping ovulation. Although it still doesn’t allow sperm to penetrate the womb by increasing the density of mucous in the cervix. Moreover, it also functions by changing the womb lining so that it becomes almost impossible for a fertilised egg to grow in the womb. The main advantage of using a mini pill like Cerazette is that it carries with it a reduced risk of side effects, because of absence of oestrogen. This is perhaps an important reason that a mini pill is prescribed most frequently to women who are older, breastfeeding, sensitive to synthetic oestrogen or smoke regularly. In addition, the Cerazette pills are currently the most popular variant of mini pill available in the UK market due to their capacity to provide adequate protection from the risk of unwanted pregnancy.