The menstrual cycle essentially is a process that occurs in the female reproductive system to facilitate pregnancies. A typical cycle is 28 days long and is shorter in adults than in young teens. Ovulation is a key part of this cycle and understanding what is it is crucial to understanding the female reproductive system better.

What is ovulation?
The ovaries produce two main hormones called progesterone and estrogen. When there is a rise in the estrogen level, the naturally thick mucus in the cervix begins to thin out and becomes slippery. Estrogen also triggers the other hormones for one of the ovaries to release an egg. This process is called ovulation. When women have sex during this time, it is easier for the sperms to pass through the thinner mucus to fertilize an egg. If the process of fertilization doesn’t occur within a day of the egg leaving the ovary, the egg dissolves. As sperm can live for approximately 3-5 days, knowing the process of ovulation can help one plan for pregnancy or gauge how to avoid it. During the second half of the cycle, the hormone progesterone helps to prepare the uterus’s lining for a fertilized egg. If a fertilized egg isn’t implanted, the lining disintegrates. Progesterone levels fall and approximately a fortnight later, the egg, along with blood and tissues from the lining of the uterus, is shed. This process is known as menstruation.

What are birth control pills?
Birth control pills are one of the common methods of contraceptives. The pill is taken orally and is about 99.9% effective when taken correctly. It does not, however, protect the woman against STDs. The most effective type of birth control pill is a combination pill, which contains both estrogen and progestin.

How do birth control pills work?
There are two types of birth control pills which are:

• Combination pills: The estrogen and progestin from the pill maintain constant levels of hormones in the body. These levels prevent it from releasing similar hormones that cause ovulation. Without ovulation, there is no egg available for fertilization, so women cannot get pregnant. Progestin also prevents pregnancy by keeping the mucus thick enough in the cervix, which prevents the entry of sperms through it. These pills usually come in a 28-day pack. Depending on the brand of pill, the first 21 to 24 pills are active pills, as they contain hormones. The last 4 to 7 pills are called inactive as they are reminder pills that do not contain any hormones. Inactive pills allow the hormone level in the body to drop so that the bleeding during the menstrual cycle can occur.

• Mini pills: These are also called progestin-only pills. The hormones present in the pill prevents pregnancy to avoid ovulation. This happens by thickening cervical mucus and thinning out the lining of the uterus. These pills are used by women to avoid side effects of estrogen or other medical conditions. They have to be taken at the same time every day for the highest protection against pregnancy.

Concerns about birth control pills
Birth control pills, albeit a very common method of contraceptives, can have side-effects on the body. Nausea, weight gain, sore breasts, frequent mood changes, spotting, and lighter periods that can be experienced by the individual.