Oral contraceptive pills are hormonal medications designed to prevent pregnancy by primarily inhibiting ovulation, the release of an egg from the ovary. These pills contain synthetic hormones, typically estrogen and progestin, which regulate the menstrual cycle and suppress the natural hormonal fluctuations that lead to ovulation. By preventing ovulation, oral contraceptive pills ensure that there is no egg available for fertilization by sperm, thereby significantly reducing the likelihood of pregnancy.
Additionally, these pills may also cause changes in the cervical mucus, making it thicker and more hostile to sperm penetration, and altering the uterine lining, which may further hinder fertilization or implantation of a fertilized egg. Through their multifaceted mechanisms of action, oral contraceptive pills offer a highly effective method of birth control for individuals seeking to prevent unintended pregnancies, providing them with greater control over their reproductive health.