How Does The Contraceptive Pill Work?

The oral contraceptive pill was first developed in the 1960s. Before that, people were forced to rely on barrier methods of contraception, primarily condoms. The pill was the first contraceptive to control the reproductive process chemically.

The pill contains a mixture of artificially produced oestrogen and progesterone. Taking it by mouth once a day increases the blood hormone levels of these two hormones to those of early pregnancy. This fools the body into thinking it is already pregnant. The high level of progesterone inhibits the secretion of a hormone called follicle stimulating hormone, which, in turn, prevents the development and release of new eggs cells.

There are other forms of the contraceptive pill that work in slightly different ways. The mini pill contains low doses of hormones, not enough to prevent ovulation, but enough to change the consistency of the mucus at the cervix. This thick mucus prevents the entry of sperm into the uterus so that fertilisation of the egg cannot take place.

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