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24 CONTRACEPTION VS FERTILITY TALKING ABOUT THE PILL... yes that one! The contraceptive pill – it’s highly debated, sometimes controversial, and some will talk until their faces turn blue about the reasons why they won’t take it. No matter what your stance is on the matter, it is the most popular form of period control, according to Dr Tal Jacobson at Eve Health Gynaecology. BTy Emily Devon. he name of the medication varies; informally known as ‘the pill’, to others, ‘the contraceptive pill’ or ‘the birth control pill’. In reality, the pill comes in two forms, one being called the mini pill, and the other the combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP). Dr Jacobson described the differences between the pills: “The mini pill is progestogen only, and the pill everyone talks about is actually called the combined oral contraceptive pill. This is the COCP, or the combined pill, and it has oestrogen and progestogen in it.” Additionally, there’s also the emergency contraceptive pill, as mentioned by Dr Jacobson. Informally, many refer to it as ‘the morning after pill’, as it is generally used after someone has had unprotected sex. It’s also used when someone has been vomiting, had diarrhoea or has taken antibiotics, i.e. when their usual pill isn’t working.1 The purpose of the pill depends on the age when it’s taken. “Women will often go on it as a teenager,” said Dr Jacobson. “So, at the age of 14, or something like that. If they went through menarche, which means they started their period at 11, they may have had two or three years of painful periods, so they might start taking the pill quite early. “As for other women, they might not have had a problem with their period, they might go on it as a form of contraception, so around 17 to 18 \[years old\], I wouldn’t say there is a specific age that people go on the pill.” RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • JUN 2020