The Pill and Other Forms of Hormonal Contraception

Used by over 200 million women since the 1960s, the Pill is one of the most commonly prescribed medicines--and has repeatedly been established as one of the least harmful ever formulated. However, there are some risks, and a number of "Pill Scares" have been reported in the media--often causing women to give up the Pill without finding a satisfactory alternative. More choices are now available than ever to users of hormonal contraception, and it can be difficult for doctors or family planning workers to find the time for detailed discussion with existing or new users. Women of all ages, whether they are existing users of or new to hormonal contraception, will find realistic, practical, and trustworthy guidance in this book to help them to make their own informed decisions. It will also be indispensable to health professionals as a concise, balanced overview. Thise user-friendly book contains extensive and unbiases advice and information on the Pill, along with other hormonal alternatives such as implants, injections, and patches.

John Guillebaud is Emeritus Professor of Family Planning and Reproductive Health, University College London. Until 2003 he was the Medical Director of the Margaret Pyke Centre for Family Planning and is currently a vasectomy surgeon at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford. He acts as a consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO) and other national and international bodies in the reproductive health field. He originated the Environment Time Capsule Project at www.ecotimecapsule.com, is Trustee of TASKwh (Towards African Solutions through Knowledge for Women's Health), Co-Chair of www.populationandsustainability.org, and Chair of Planet 21 (www.peopleandplanet.net (http://www.peopleandplanet.net)). Dr Anne MacGregor works in sexual and reproductive healthcare at St Bartholomew's Hospital and is an Instructing Doctor and CRQ Vice Convener for the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. She is also Clinical Research Director at the City of London Migraine Clinic, an independent medical charity, and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at the Research Centre for Neuroscience within the Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London.

Part 1 - Your choice of contraception1. Why take the Pill?2. What is the Pill?3. What about other methods of contraception?Part 2 - Keeping it safe4. What causes the effects of the Pill?5. What are the benefits?6. What are the unwanted side-effects?7. What about blood clots, hearts attacks, and strokes?8. What about cancer?9. Who can and who can't take the Pill?Part 3 - Taking the Pill10. How do I get the Pill?11. How do I start the Pill?12. How do I take the Pill?13. What if I forget a Pill?14. What else can make the Pill less effective?15. What if I get side-effects?16. Which Pill should I choose?Part 4 - Other types of Pill17. The progestogen-only Pill18. Emergency contraception19. The male Pill