Birth control pill
Birth Control Pill
The Birth Control Pill (pronunciation: /bɜːrθ kənˈtroʊl pɪl/), also known as the contraceptive pill or simply the pill, is a type of hormonal contraception used by women to prevent pregnancy.
Etymology
The term "birth control pill" is derived from the English words "birth" (from Old English gebyrd, meaning "birth, descent, race, nature"), "control" (from Middle French contreroller, meaning "to check, control") and "pill" (from Middle Dutch pille, meaning "pill, ball").
Usage
The birth control pill is taken orally and works by suppressing ovulation, thereby preventing the fertilization of eggs by sperm. The pill's effectiveness is dependent on the user taking it at the same time every day.
Types
There are two main types of birth control pills: combined oral contraceptives (COCs) and progestin-only pills (POPs). COCs contain both estrogen and progestin, while POPs contain only progestin.
Side Effects
Possible side effects of the birth control pill include nausea, headache, breast tenderness, and changes in menstrual bleeding patterns. In rare cases, the pill can increase the risk of serious health problems, such as blood clots, stroke, and heart attack.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Birth control pill
- Wikipedia's article - Birth control pill
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