What exactly does birth control do?

Question

I mean I know that it helps to like make your period regular and so you dont get pregnant but does it stop ovulation or what? and what if you had sex and used a condom and are on the pill? is there a good chance you wont get pregnant??

Answer 1

Birth control contains hormones that your body produces when you are pregnant. This makes your body think it already IS pregnant, so when the time comes, your ovaries do not release an egg. It suspends ovulation, just like it would if there were a fetus in your uterus. If there is no egg sitting around to be fertilized, you can't get pregnant.

When used properly (i.e. same time every day and never missing one), it has an efficacy rate of 99.9%. Only 1 time in 1000 would you get pregnant. It is always good to also use a condom as the pill does not stop stds in any way. Plus, it never hurts to have a second line of defense.

The reason why it makes your period regular is that when you stop taking it (that placebo week), your body says, "well crap, we don't need all this uterine lining anymore," so it sheds it. You don't actually have to have your period while you are on the pill. You can keep taking active pills and your body will still think it's pregnant and will still not release an egg.

It amazes me that so many women are on the pill and don't even know what it does to their body. When I asked my gyno how it worked, he said no one had ever asked him before.

Now other forms of birth control operate differently...

Answer 2

A woman naturally produces two different hormones that regulate her ovulation and menstruation: estrogen and progesterone. Birth control pills contain synthetic(man-made), hormones that are similar to these naturally occurring hormones. Some pills are combination pills. This means that they contain BOTH an estrogen and a progesterone and work in two ways:

1.The body is "tricked" into thinking it is pregnant. This prevents the release of an egg, or ovulation. Without an egg to be fertilized, a woman cannot become pregnant

2.In case an egg is released, the cervical mucus (a fluid released by the female genitalia. Its quality and quantity is able to change) is thickened, making it difficult for sperm to travel toward the egg and fertilize it .

With "perfect use," meaning that the pills are taken exactly as directed, combination pills are more than 99% effective. This means that fewer than one out of 100 women will become pregnant when they take the combination pill in a way that is consistent and correct. However, if a woman does not use the pill exactly as directed, these chances slightly increase, perhaps by 3 to 5%.

It is important to remember, though, that the Pill does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV and AIDS. Only condoms provide some protection against STDs, although there is a risk even with condom use.

Also, the pill can be associated with an increased risk of several serious adverse events. It may also cause minor side effects, like headaches, nausea, bloating, bleeding between periods, or breast tenderness.

You should not take the Pill if you:

Are already pregnant or think you might be
Know or think you have cancer of the breast, uterus, or cervix
Have had a heart attack or stroke
Have a history of blood clots in your legs, lungs, or eyes
Have a history of blood clots in the deep veins of your legs
Have had liver tumors (cancerous or noncancerous)
Have active liver disease
Get chest pain or angina
Have vaginal bleeding other than from your regular period
Have had jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) during pregnancy or when you took the Pill before
Have heart disease
Have severe blood pressure
Have diabetes

Women who use the Pill should not smoke.

Answer 3

It does not stop ovulation. And, if you miss a day, or if you do not take the pill at the same time every day, you could get pregnant. If you are taking the pill as directed, and use a condom, it is highly unlikely that you would become pregnant.

Answer 4

I've been told that birth control keeps an embryo from attaching to the womb. It doesn't effect your ovulation or periods, it just kinda ignores the pregnancy and doesn't let it occur. Like someone knocking at the door, but you don't let them in. Yes, there was a visitor, but they never made it inside.

Answer 5

birth control does not stop ovualation, only regulates it. you can still get pregnant on the pill. if you have sex using a condome and on the pill, you should be safe from pregnancy, but never STD. If you get pregnant, it was His will.

Answer 6

the hormones in the birth control pills prevent the coprus luteum (outer protective shell) from coming off of the egg. The corpus luteum has to come off in order for the sperm to penetrate it.

Answer 7

no you still ovulate - its true purproses are exactly what you said above> I fyou got prego with a condom and using bc that woul dbe a pretty unique situation and very unlikely

Answer 8

it adds more hormones in your body. the way it helps u from not getting preg. is because it makes your body think it already is, and thats why women gain weight and makes there chest grow.

Answer 9

it stops the eggs from getting fertilized by you period

Answer 10

not much,at least for me.i've gotten pregnany on birth control.all the birth controls out there i've been on them