What is the low-dose pill (OC)?

The low-dose pill is a fixed combination drug of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. These pills have an ovulation suppressing effect and an endometrial growth suppressing effect. Not only are they useful for contraception, they can also improve symptoms such as menstrual pain, menorrhagia, irregular menstruation, PMS and acne.

Learn about the low-dose pill

How the lose-dose pill prevents pregnancy

The pill is made from types of female hormones. One is called progestin (progesterone), which helps to prepare the uterine lining for implantation of a fertilized egg and increases basal body temperature. Progesterone is also responsible for keeping the body hydrated, and it is said that the changes that occur in the body before menstruation are the result of progesterone. The other is called estrogen, which is characterized by its ability to protect the elasticity and moisture of the skin and hair, and by its effect on the independent nervous system, greatly affecting a woman's physical and mental health. When you take the pill, these female hormones cause a decrease in the amount of hormones that cause ovulation, and so ovulation does not occur. In addition to this, they also prevent sperm from entering the uterus and make it difficult for a fertilized egg to implant itself in the uterine lining.

The contraceptive effectiveness of the pill

The pill is a highly effective contraceptive. Looking at the failure rates of various contraceptive methods during the first year of intercourse using them, we can see that the failure rate of the pill is quite low at 0.3 to 9%, compared to 2 to 15% for condoms. It can be said that the pill is an extremely effective contraceptive as long as you don't forget to take it.

Failure rate (pregnancy rate) of each pregnancy avoidance method during the first year of use

IUS: Intrauterine system　IUD: Intrauterine device
*Rate of pregnancy despite correct and continued use of your chosen pregnancy avoidance method
**Rate of pregnancy despite use of your chosen pregnancy avoidance method (for the pill, the failure rate includes missed doses)　[Exhibited: Hatcher RA et al.: Contraceptive Technology: Twentieth Revised Edition. New York: Ardent Media.2011 (Modified)

The pill won't leave me unable to get pregnant after I stop taking it, will it?

You can become pregnant again normally three months after you stop taking the pill. Also, the fact that you have taken the pill in the past will not affect your pregnancy rate in the future.

Advantages of the pill

Contraception with the low-dose pill has the following features.
① Easy and highly effective contraception
② The female can take the initiative in contraception
③ High contraceptive coverage

In addition to contraception, the following effects can also be expected.
① Reduction of menstrual pain
② Decrease in bleeding
③ Improvement of menstrual irregularities
④ Suppression of the progression of endometriosis
⑤ Decreased risk of uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, and colon cancer
⑥ Prevention of osteoperosis
⑦ Improvement of acne
⑧ Shortening of menstrual period
⑨ Improvement of premenstrual syndrome (premenstrual health issues)

Side effects of the pill

Though the pill seems to have many advantages, there are also some slight side effects. However, the chance of side effects occuring is only a small percentage. Side effects typically disappear after about 3 months of continued use, but in the rare event that your symptoms persist, please consult your doctor
Main side effects
① Nausea
② Tightness in the breasts

③ Irregular bleeding
④ Headache
⑤ Lower abdominal pain
⑥ Swelling

How to take the pill

Triquillar 28：
"Take the reddish brown pill once a day at a decided time for 28 consecutive days. Keep taking the pill in this manner for as long as you want contraception, whether or not you are menstruating. (Take the pills in order as indicated by the arrows, from top to bottom and left to right. First, the reddish brown pill for 6 days, then the white pill for 5 days, followed by the light yellowish brown pill for 10 days, and finally the slightly larger white pill for 7 days.)

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