How Hormonal Birth Control Works

The 3 Ways

  1. Prevents Ovulation

  2. Thickens cervical mucus so the sperm cannot reach the egg to conceive

  3. Makes the uterus inhospitable for a fertilized egg, so that it cannot implant itself in the uterus. Unfortunately, many women who understand that life starts at conception might not realize this could be happening to them. Many websites and doctors do not mention it.

https://www.reproductivefacts.org/news-and-publications/patient-fact-sheets-and-booklets/documents/fact-sheets-and-info-booklets/hormonal-contraception/

https://www.ucsfhealth.org/treatments/medical-abortion

Potential Side Effects

  • Depression (even more significant in teen girls)

  • Weight Gain

  • Mood swings

  • Decreased libido

  • May increase risk of breast cancer

  • Increased risk of stroke

  • Blood clots (rare but serious)

  • And other rare symptoms like your eye shape changing (Yes, this happened to me)

Effectiveness

The combination and the progestin only pill have a normal efficacy rate of 91%. That means 9 out of every 100 women will get pregnant on the pill.

https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sex/how-effective-is-birth-control#comparison-chart