What benefits do Oral Contraceptives (OCs) have?

Most women will enjoy a number of benefits from the oral contraceptive pill. OCs gives you the freedom to have sexual relations at any time of the month without the worry of becoming pregnant.

The pill is an effective, reversible form of birth control which may also have health benefits for many women. Advantages include:

• more regular cycles, less pain and reduced menstrual blood flow.
• improvement in acne.
• lower risk of certain cancers including cancer of the ovaries and endometrium ( the lining of the uterus).
• less benign breast disease.
• Although likely the same as for for higher dose (sub50 pills), the latter two benefits remain to be confirmed for lower dosed pills.

"Custom tailoring" the time of your period:

Oral contraceptives allow you to determine the time of your periods. If you are going on vacation and don't want a period at this time, you simply skip the hormone-free interval. When you finish your 21 days of hormone pills, you simply start a new 21-pack right away. In the case of biphasic or triphasic pills, remember to continue with the last 7 pills of your strip only!