Question

1. Explain how the 28-day birth-control pill works. How does the pill affect the female menstrual cycle and how does it affect the hormones of the reproductive system?

Answer 1

In a 28- day pack, the woman will take a pill that contains no hormones for 7 days. A woman has her period when she stops taking the pills that contain hormones.

Most birth control pills are "combination pills" containing a mix of the hormones estrogen and progesterone to prevent ovulation (the release of an egg during the monthly cycle). A woman cannot get pregnant if she doesn't ovulate because there is no egg to be fertilized.

The Pill also works by thickening the mucus around the cervix, which makes it difficult for sperm to enter the uterus and reach any eggs that may have been released. The hormones in the Pill can also sometimes affect the lining of the uterus, making it difficult for an egg to attach to the wall of the uterus.

Women prefer this 28-day pack because it helps them stay in the habit of taking a pill every day.