Oral Contraceptives - What You Need to Know

Oral contraceptives are a type of birth control method that is taken by mouth to prevent pregnancy. They contain hormones that stop ovulation or make it difficult for sperm to reach the egg.
Category
Drug
Where to get
Available with a prescription at pharmacies or through healthcare providers.
Applicable for
Pregnancy Prevention
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Oral Contraceptives FAQ


Image credit: britannica.com

What is a combined oral contraceptive pill?

The combined oral contraceptive pill is a type of contraception (birth control). It is often just called 'the pill'. You take the pill as a daily tablet. It contains 2 hormones — oestrogen and progestogen. If you are thinking about going on the pill, talk to your doctor about the best option for you — you need a prescription to take the pill.

What are oral contraceptive pills?

Approximately 25% of women aged 15-44 who currently use contraception reported using the pill as their method of choice. Oral contraceptive pills are either combined estrogen-progesterone (also called combined oral contraceptive pill- COC) or progesterone-only pill (POP).

What are the different types of oral contraceptive pills?

There are two main types of oral contraceptive pills that are collectively known as ‘the Pill’. The combined pill contains two hormones and stops the ovaries releasing an egg each month.

What types of oral contraception are available in Australia?

The two types of oral contraception available in Australia are the combined pill, known as the Pill, and the mini pill. The combined oral contraceptive pill, usually called 'the pill', is a type of contraception (birth control) that can also help control your periods.

Where can I get advice on a contraceptive pill?

Talk to your doctor, nurse or other healthcare provider, or ring the Family Planning NSW Talkline on 1300 658 886 for more advice on this. Other pills you may have heard of are the progestogen-only pill (POP, sometimes called the mini pill), or the Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP).

Oral Contraceptives References

If you want to know more about Oral Contraceptives, consider exploring links below:

What Is Oral Contraceptives

  1. https://www.verywellhealth.com/oral-contraceptive-pills-5225489
  2. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/the-pill-combined-oral-contraceptive-pill
  3. https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-information/contraception/contraceptive-pills/
  4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_contraceptive_pill
  5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430882/
  6. https://australianprescriber.tg.org.au/articles/choosing-a-combined-oral-contraceptive-pill.html
  7. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gynecology-and-obstetrics/family-planning/oral-contraceptives
  8. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control/birth-control-pill
  9. https://www.britannica.com/topic/oral-contraceptive

Oral Contraceptives Information

  1. https://www.fpnsw.org.au/sites/default/files/assets/combined_oral_contraceptive_pill.pdf
  2. https://fpt.org.au/advice-and-information/contraception/the-pill/
  3. https://shq.org.au/resources/health-info/info-sheets/cocp/

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