Patient Education: Diseases Conditions Treatments & Procedures

Contraceptives

Overview

Oral contraceptives are commonly called "the pill." They are a popular method of birth control, which when taken correctly, are up to 99.9% effective in preventing pregnancy.

Many women also take oral contraceptives to regulate their menstrual cycle or mood and/or to control acne. Oral contraceptives won't offer any protection from HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) or other sexually transmitted infections.