Birth control pills essentially contain a mixture of synthetic estrogen and progesterone. What are estrogen and progesterone? Why are they used in birth control pills?
Estrogen and progesterone are female hormones that are linked to ovulation and menstruation in women. They also play a role in pregnancy. Birth control pills contain a mix of both hormones and act in the following ways: Birth control pills operate by halting the entire development of the ovum each month, causing it to no longer absorb sperm and therefore preventing conception. If the woman's egg develops, such tablets thicken the cervical mucus near the uterus' entrance, making it difficult for sperm to reach the egg. Furthermore, tablets can alter the uterine lining just enough to prevent an egg from developing in the uterus.
