Combined oral contraceptive pill, more typically referred to as “the pill”, can be used as a form of birth control to prevent pregnancy. This is not to be confused with the morning after pill which is considered to be an emergency contraceptive.
There are two types of this drug, combination pills containing both oestrogen and progestin, and progestin-only pills also called the minipil as it only contains progestin.
Why take it?
Although its primary use is to act as a form of contraception, which is to be taken daily, some women also take the pill for other reasons. Being a combination pill, it can be used to help prevent acne and correct any hormone imbalances. Women who suffer from heavy or imbalanced periods can also benefit from “being on the pill” as it helps to regulate the menstrual cycle. Apart from this, studies have shown that taking the pill can also have other benefits, such as the prevention of cysts in the breasts or ovaries and ease symptoms of endometriosis when using pills with high levels of progestin as well as easing conditions such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).
Although very efficient, like most drugs, the pill does not come without its side-effects. This can range from nausea to having a decreased sex drive and breast tenderness. However, such symptoms could ease after a few months of using the pill, so it is recommended to wait the time directed to you by your clinician before switching to a new pill.
Different pill brands generally tend to differ in the ratio of hormones; the amount of oestrogen and progestin in them. Therefore, the correct pill can be administered for its desired effect on the body. Changing pills to find the preferred effect can be relatively low risk, however changing pills regularly can lead to many undesired effects on the body as well as the change in behaviour (mood swings) because of the severe imbalance of hormones in the body.
Contraception and Malta
Conversation on topics such as contraception have always been hot topics filled with controversy and, rather frequently, not talked about well enough. Discussions are held during times of crisis however conversation typically stops there, with little to no payoff. What's worrying is that girls often feel like they do not have the adequate information regarding contraception and often resort to researching online. Schools should be at the forefront of such matters and should educate young girls on the different types of contraception and their effectiveness. Currently the world is going through the Covid-19 pandemic and this has shed light on many inequalities in our society. Covid – 19 is changing our mentality and our lifestyle and surely brings about a change in how we view our sexual and reproductive health.
In countries such as the UK, women are finding it difficult to find contraception, as many are out of stock or have been stopped due to manufacturing issues. In Malta things are no different, as women are having trouble finding their prescribed pill during this Covid - 19 crisis. However, this seems to be a recurrent issue as women have been dealing with out of stock medication well before Covid. In fact, some women have been prescribed medication, for it to only go out of stock and then have to constantly change medication again. This is increasingly harmful not to mention the effects this has on a person’s mental health.
What’s troubling is that during the start of the pandemic, the government stocked up on essential medications. However, oral contraceptives, medicines that as stated can not only be prescribed as a form of contraception but also as a form of medication, is not considered to be essential. Moreover, the criminalisation and banning of abortion in Malta makes the access to contraceptives more eminent. This decision has affected many women and will continue if nothing is changed. The decision to make the pill free will benefit many, however the obstacle we need to overcome is having it readily available and in stock.
Written by: Nicholas Aquilina