Glossary

birth control pills

Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) are a type of medicine with hormones that you take by mouth to help prevent pregnancy.

The 2 types of birth control pills are:

  • Combination pills (combined oral contraceptives or COCs), which have both estrogen and progestin hormones
  • Progestin-only pills (minipills or POPs), which only have a progestin hormone
Synonyms:
oral contraceptives, COCs, POPs, minipills
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