• Birth control pills are a form of hormonal contraception that are taken orally in order to prevent pregnancy. Birth control pills must be taken on schedule to guarantee effectiveness.

  A provision in the budget bill signed by President Obama on March 11, 2009 may spell good news for college students taking birth control pills. The bill restores an earlier incentive for drug manufacturers to offer discounts for their pills. College clinics have seen the price of birth control double, and sometimes triple, since 2007.Associated Press: Bill could lower birth control costs... (March 12, 2009)

• 1. Also called: Oral contraceptives, the pill
  2. Birth control type: Hormonal
  3. 1960: 1st used
  4. Failure rate: .1% (perfect use), 5% (typical use)
  5. Do not prevent STDs
  6. Taken daily
  7. Cost $15-$50 each month
  8. Prescription only
  9. Birth control pills are used by 100 million women worldwide
  10. Used by almost 12 million women in the United States
  11. The use of birth control pills are said to decrease a woman's risk of cancer later in life

• Possible Side Effects

  1. Nausea or vomiting
  2. Headache
  3. Breast tenderness
  4. Breast abnormalities
  5. Stroke
  6. Heart attack
  7. Blood clots
  8. Bleeding in between menstruation

• Birth Control Pills and STDs

  Protection from sexually transmitted diseases is not possible when birth control pills are taken on their own. To prevent STDs, use a barrier method, such as a condom, in addition to birth control pills.

• Disclaimer

  The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before taking birth control pills.

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