Medical Questions » Contraception Questions » Question No. 213
| Question: | How does the contraceptive pill work? |
| Answer: | The pill contains two hormones, an oestrogen and a progestogen, that are artificial equivalents of the two sex hormones that all women possess. These are combined in a manner which mimics the hormonal balance of pregnancy. The body is fooled into thinking that it is already pregnant, and will not allow the release of a further egg from the ovary.
The side effects of the pill are therefore the side effects of early pregnancy, but usually on a much milder scale. In addition, the pill prevents pregnancy by thickening the fluid in the neck of the womb so that there is a natural barrier to sperm, and it also alters the lining of the womb, making it more difficult for an egg to implant itself and develop.
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