What is the Pill?

The Pill is a tablet containing two female-type hormones – an oestrogen (pronounced ‘ee-stro-jen’) and a progestogen.

Various different oestrogens and progestogens are used in the many different types of Pill which are available. There are currently 22 brands on the market in Britain.

What these two hormones do is to stop you from ovulating (‘producing an egg’) each month. And if you don’t ovulate, you won’t get pregnant.

In addition, the hormones thicken the secretions round your cervix – thus making it more difficult for sperm to get through. Also, they make the lining of your womb thinner, so that it is less receptive to an egg.

03/09/2010 06:17 PM

'No proof' IVF aided by acupuncture

There is no evidence acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine boost the chance of IVF success, fertility experts warn.

03/09/2010 06:04 PM

'Problem kids' risk future pain

Children with behavioural problems are twice as likely to suffer chronic pain as adults than others, say researchers.

03/09/2010 05:36 AM

US school soda deal 'cuts sugar'

The US soft drinks industry says it has dramatically cut full-calorie beverages available in schools as part of a drive to tackle obesity.

03/07/2010 06:59 PM

Action urged on pregnancy deaths

Pregnant women in developing countries face the same risk of death as women in the UK did 100 years ago, say campaigners.

03/08/2010 02:37 PM

Obama continues healthcare attack

US President Barack Obama attacks insurers for raising rates as he continues his push for healthcare reform.

03/09/2010 10:21 AM

UK gives SA millions of condoms

The UK donates £1m ($1.5m) to South Africa to buy 42m condoms, as the nation builds up to the football World Cup.

03/06/2010 08:27 AM

Surgery on Mubarak 'successful'

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak undergoes successful surgery at a German clinic for an inflamed gall bladder, state media say.

03/07/2010 06:19 PM

Premature brain 'wash out' hope

A technique that "washes out" the brains of severely ill premature babies may aid survival, a study suggests.

03/06/2010 04:48 AM

Africa in bid to wipe out polio

A campaign is launched to eradicate polio in west and central Africa, targeting 85 million children.

03/08/2010 06:06 PM

'London bomb stress' recognised

Psychologists say they have treated hundreds of survivors of the 2005 London bombings for post-traumatic stress disorder.