 The Combined pill The combined pill contains a combination of two synthetic hormones, estrogen and progestogen. These hormones are very similar to the hormones your body produces naturally. The estrogen/progestogen combination in the combined pill acts in three ways. - It prevents ovulation - the release of an egg from your ovaries.
- It alters the mucus around the cervix, making it thick and sticky and difficult for the man's sperm to enter the womb.
- It prevents the lining of the womb from preparing itself properly to receive
and nurture a fertilised egg.
When taken correctly, the combined pill is 99% reliable in preventing pregnancy.
Two types of Combined pill
There are two types of combined pills in current popular use. - Monophasic pills
These contain the same amount or 'dose' of estrogen and progestogen in all the active pills in the packet. Your body gets the same amount of these hormones every day you take an active pill. - Triphasic pills
These contain different amounts of estrogen and progestogen at three different stages of the month so the levels of hormones reflect more closely, the hormone variations in your body during a natural cycle. This means that the lowest possible dose of hormones is taken at each stage but still in sufficient amounts to prevent pregnancy. Triphasic pills are a different colour for each 'phase'. |