If
you think your oral contraceptive works by inhibiting ovulation
(the release of an egg) then you're right. If you think this is
the only way the pill works you are dead wrong. This website
is dedicated to giving you the facts about oral contraceptive
pills, the facts drug companies and planned parenthood don't want
you to know.
What
is a contraceptive?
A contraceptive is a device which prevents conception. Conception
occurs when sperm fertilzes an egg. At this moment a new human
being is formed with a genetic code distinct from either of his/her
parents. Any product that prevents conception is a contraceptive.
What are birth control pills?
Birth control pills commonly called combination pills contain
hormones naturally found in the woman's body. When introduced
into her system at higher than normal levels the body is fooled
into acting as if already pregnant. These hormones, consisting
of estrogen and progestin, act primarily to stop the release of
an egg thus preventing ovulation. If there is no egg to be fertilized
there can be no pregnancy. The second mechanism is that of thickening
the cervical mucus. The thickening of mucus helps stop sperm from
reaching the fallopian tubes where conception (the joining of
the sperm and the egg) occurs. The third mechanism works by thinning
the lining of the uterus to prevent a fertilized egg (a newly
formed human being) from implanting. This third mechanism is
abortion. Birth control pills work in two ways: utilizing
contraceptive and abortive mechanisms.
Don't
just take our word for it!
The Physicians Desk Reference (PDR) contains descriptions of drug
mechanisms (how they work). Below are some references referring
to the most commonly prescribed oral contraceptive pills taken
from the 1995 PDR. The section of each passage that is in bold
is the abortive mechanism. Endometrium is another word for the
lining of the uterus. Any time the word implantation is used this
is referring to an already fertilized egg or a new human being.
Page numbers are given.
"Combination
oral contraceptives act by suppression of gonadotropins. Although
the primary mechanism of this action is inhibition of ovulation,
other alterations include changes in the cervical mucus, which
increases the difficulty of sperm entry into the uterus, and
changes in the endometrium which reduce the likelihood of implantation."
(The PDR, 1995 page 1775) referring to pills made by Ortho
"Although
the primary mechanism of this action is inhibition of ovulation
other alterations include changes in the cervical mucus (which
increases the difficulty of sperm entry into the uterus, and
the endometrium (which may reduce the likelihood of implantation)."
(The PDR, 1995 page 2461) referring to pills made by Syntex
"changes
in the endometrium (which reduces the likelihood of implantation)."
(The PDR, 1995 page 1782) referring to ortho-tri
"other
altercations includechanges in the endometrium which reduce the
likelihood of implantation." (The PDR, 1995 page 2693 and
2743) referring to Lo/Ovral, Ovral, and Triphasil
"changes
in the endometrium which reduce the likelihood of implantation."
(The PDR, 1995, page 1744) referring to pills made by Organon
In
addition to the PDR consult the medical books and journals!
"These
data suggest that the morphological changes observed in the endometrium
of OC users have functional significance and provide evidence
that reduced endometrial receptivity does indeed contribute to
the contraceptive efficacy of Ocs." (Stephen G. Somkuti ,
et al., "The effects of oral contraceptive pills on markers
of endometrial receptivity," Fertility and Sterility,
Volume 65, #3, March 1996, page 488)
"Progestins
produce an endometrium that is unfavorable to blastocyst implantation."
(Williams Obstetrics page 122, Cunningham, et al, Stamford CT:
Appleton & Lange, 1993, page 1323)
"The
production of glycogen by the endometrial glands is diminished
by the ingestion of oral contraceptives, which impairs the survival
of the blastocyst in the uterine cavity." Danforths Obstetrics
and Gynecology (Philedelphia: J.B. Lippincott Co., 1994, 7th edition,
page 626)
Why
you don't know this!
Doctors and medical professionals are not stupid and in general
they do not plan to mislead you. In most cases they probably don't
even know about this third mechanism of the pill. For more information
on this topic click on the icon on the navigation bar to the left
titled, "Why the lies?"
