Jump to content

Choose locationChoose Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location

We've expanded your view

You are now viewing all services in the Sutter Health network. You can change your location above to narrow your view to a medical group, hospital, city or zip.
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
  • Locations
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Diseases & Conditions
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Services
  • Gynecology and Women's Health
  • Birth Control Pills
Content

Birth Control Pills - Overview

Birth control pills (BCPs) contain man-made forms of 2 hormones called estrogen and progestin. These hormones are made naturally in a woman's ovaries. Birth control pills can contain both of these hormones, or have progestin only.

Both hormones prevent a woman's ovary from releasing an egg during her menstrual cycle (called ovulation). They do this by changing the levels of the natural hormones the body makes.

Progestins also make the mucus around a woman's cervix thick and sticky. This helps prevent sperm from entering the uterus.

Alternative Names

Contraception - pills - hormonal methods; Hormonal birth control methods; Birth control pills; Contraceptive pills; BCP; OCP; Family planning - BCP; Estrogen - BCP; Progestin - BCP

Information

Birth control pills are also called oral contraceptives or just "the pill." A health care provider must prescribe birth control pills.

  • The most common type of birth control pill combines the hormones estrogen and progestin. There are many different forms of this type of pill.
  • The "mini-pill" is a type of birth control pill that contains only progestin, no estrogen. These pills are an option for women who do not like the side effects of estrogen or who cannot take estrogen for medical reasons.
  • They can also be used after delivery in women who are breastfeeding.

All women who take birth control pills need a check-up at least once a year. Women should also have their blood pressure checked 3 months after they begin to take the pill.

Birth control pills only work well if the woman remembers to take her pill daily without missing a day. Only 2 or 3 women out of 100 who take birth control pills correctly for a year will get pregnant.

Birth control pills may cause many side effects. These include:

  • Changes in menstrual cycles, no menstrual cycles, extra bleeding
  • Nausea, mood changes, worsening of migraines (mostly due to estrogens)
  • Breast tenderness and weight gain

Rare but dangerous risks from taking birth control pills include:

  • Blood clots
  • Heart attack
  • High blood pressure
  • Stroke

Birth control pills without estrogen are much less likely to cause these problems. The risk is higher for women who smoke or have a history of high blood pressure, clotting disorders, or unhealthy cholesterol levels. However, the risks of developing these complications are much lower with either type of pill than with pregnancy.

Regular menstrual cycles will return within 3 to 6 months after a woman stops using most hormonal birth control methods.

Open Article Detail

References

Glasier A. Contraception. In: Jameson JL, De Groot LJ, de Kretser DM, et al. eds. Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 134.

Harper DM, Wilfling LE, Blanner CF. Contraception. In: Rakel RE, Rakel D, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 26.

Jensen JT, Mishell DR. Family planning: contraception, sterilization, and pregnancy termination. In: Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM, Katz VL, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2012:chap 13.

Winikoff B, Grossman D. Contraception. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 238.

Patient Information

Couple in kitchen looking at digital tablet

Interested in becoming a Sutter patient? Here’s what you need to know about health plans, choosing a doctor and how to get started today.

  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Tips for Choosing a Doctor
  • Health Insurance Guide

Find a Doctor Who Fits Your Needs

Related Videos

Dr. Leslie Kardos explains the advantages of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (laparoscopy), and da Vinci robot assisted surgery.

Leslie Kardos, MD on Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery

Dr. Leslie Kardos explains the advantages of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (laparoscopy), and da Vinci robot assisted surgery.

Leslie Kardos, MD on Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery

Doctor Profiles

The following doctors are part of the Sutter Health network. Learn about the doctors on this site.
Larry Lo, M.D.

Larry Lo, M.D.

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

Stephen M. Tsang, M.D., FACOG

Stephen M. Tsang, M.D., FACOG

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

View All Related Doctors

The Sutter Health Network of Care
Expertise to fit your needs
Primary Care

Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

Specialty Care

Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

Emergency Care

For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

Urgent Care

After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

Walk-In Care

Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Annual Report
  • Awards
  • Community Benefit
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Giving
  • Find Care

  • Birth Centers
  • Care Centers
  • Emergency Rooms
  • Hospitals
  • Imaging
  • Labs
  • Surgery Centers
  • Urgent Care
  • Walk-In Care
  • View All >
  • Featured Services

  • Behavioral Health
  • Cancer Services
  • Family Medicine
  • Home Health and Hospice
  • Orthopedics
  • Pediatrics
  • Pregnancy
  • Primary Care
  • Women's Health
  • View All >
  • Patient Resources

  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Classes and Events
  • Estimate Costs
  • Flu Resources
  • Health and Wellness
  • Medical Records
  • Medicare
  • My Health Online
  • Pay a Bill
  • Symptom Checker
  • Our Team

  • For Employees
  • Physician Careers
  • Recruiting Events
  • Sutter Careers
  • Vendors
  • Volunteers
    • ADA Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

    • LinkedIn Opens new window
    • YouTube Opens new window
    • Facebook Opens new window
    • Twitter Opens new window
    • Glassdoor Opens new window
    • Instagram Opens new window

    Copyright © 2021 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

    Cookie Policy

    We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

    Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences