Talking to your kids about sex can be a challenge. But discussing things like abstinence, sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs), and birth
control can help lower teens' risk of an unintended
pregnancy or getting an STD.
Discussing these issues like any other health topics
— not as something dirty or embarrassing — makes it more likely
that your kids will come to you with any questions and problems. As awkward as it
can be, answer questions honestly. And if you don't know something, it's OK to say
so, then find out and report back.
If you have questions about how to talk
with your kids about sex, ask your doctor. Lots of parents find this tough to
tackle, and a doctor may offer some helpful advice.
What Are Birth Control Pills?
The birth control pill (also called "the Pill") is a daily pill that usually contains
the hormones estrogen and progesterone, and is taken to prevent pregnancy.
How Does the Pill Work?
Most birth control pills are "combination pills" with a mix of the hormones estrogen
and progesterone to prevent ovulation (the release of an egg during the monthly cycle).
A female cannot get pregnant if she doesn't ovulate because there is no egg to be
fertilized.
The Pill also works by thickening the mucus around the cervix, which makes it difficult
for sperm to enter the uterus and reach any eggs that may have been released. The
hormones in the Pill can also sometimes affect the lining of the uterus, making it
difficult for an egg to attach to the wall of the uterus.
How Is the Pill Taken?
Most combination pills come in either a 21-day pack or a 28-day pack. One hormone
pill is taken each day at about the same time for 21 days. Depending on the pack,
the birth control pills are either stopped for 7 days or a pill that contains no hormones
is taken for 7 days. During the week that a woman is taking no pills or pills
that don't contain hormones, she has her period. Some women prefer the schedule
in which pills are taken every day of the month because it helps keep them in the
habit of taking a pill every day.
Also available is a combination pill that reduces the frequency of a woman's
period by supplying a hormone pill for 12 weeks and then inactive pills for 7 days.
This reduces the number of periods to one every 3 months instead of one every month.
Another kind of pill that may change the number of monthly periods is the low-dose
progesterone pill, sometimes called the mini-pill. This differs from
other birth control pills in that it only contains one type of hormone — progesterone
— rather than a combination of estrogen and progesterone. It changes the cervical
mucus and the lining of the uterus, and sometimes by affects ovulation. It may be
slightly less effective than the combination pills at preventing pregnancy.
The mini-pill is taken every day without a break. A girl who is taking the mini-pill
may have no period at all or she may have irregular periods. For the mini-pill
to work, it must be taken at the same time every day, without missing any doses.
Every type of birth control pill works best when it is taken every single day at
the same time of day, regardless of whether a female is going to have sex. This is
especially important with progesterone-only pills. It's very important that your daughter
not take anyone else's pills. If pills are skipped or forgotten, she is not protected
against pregnancy and she will need a backup form of birth control, such as condoms,
or she will need to stop having sex for a while.
For the first 7 days of taking the Pill, a girl should use a second form of contraception,
such as condoms, to prevent
pregnancy. After 7 days, the Pill should work alone to prevent pregnancy. This timing
can vary based on the type of Pill and when a girl starts taking it — your
daughter should talk about it with her doctor. Also, it's important to continue using condoms to protect against STDs.