Title: Oral contraceptives
Course: Level 3 - Family Planning > Section: Oral contraceptive methods

Oral contraceptives are also known as the Pills or birth control pills. This medicine usually contains two types of hormones, oestrogens and progestin and, when taken properly, prevents pregnancy. The pill works mainly by changing the body's hormonal balance so that the woman does not ovulate. Also, the pill causes the cervix mucus to thicken and form a "mucus plug" in the cervix which makes it difficult for sperm to get through to the uterus to fertilise an egg. The pill also makes the lining of the uterus thinner, which makes it unlikely that a fertilised egg will be able to attach to the uterus.

Based on their hormone content, oral contraceptives are divided into two types:

- Combined oral contraceptives (COCs), which contain the hormones oestrogen and progesterone.
- Oral contraceptives with a single hormone, known as progestin-only oral contraceptives.

Both combined and progesterone-only oral contraceptives, do not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS. If your client has or might get an STI, they should be given condoms to use regularly.