Oral contraceptive

Oral contraceptives are chemicals taken by mouth to inhibit normal fertility. All act on the hormonal system. Female oral contraceptives have been on the market since the early 1960s, and enjoy great popularity. They are used by millions of women around the world, though the acceptance varies by region: approximately one-third of sexually active women in the United Kingdom, but much less in countries such as Japan. Male oral contraceptives remain a subject of research and development, and are not widely available to the public.

Drug interactions

Some drugs reduce the effect of the Pill and can cause breakthrough bleeding, or pregnancy (together with unprotected sex, of course). These include antibiotics, barbiturates, phenytoin and carbamazepine. The traditional medicinal herb St John's Wort has also been implicated.

Related Topics:
Breakthrough bleeding - Unprotected sex - Antibiotics - Barbiturate - Phenytoin - Carbamazepine - St John's Wort

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