There are two types of oral contraceptive pills. Combined oral contraceptives, or COCs, contain both estrogen and progestin. The other type of pills is progestin-only pills, or POPs. COCs are by far the most commonly used worldwide, and most information available regarding oral contraceptives and youth pertain to the combined pills. COCs are the best type of pill for young women, except for those who are breastfeeding, when estrogen might affect lactation.
Oral contraceptives are very safe for young women.
They are very effective at preventing pregnancy when used consistently and correctly. In perfect use, COCs have a pregnancy rate of less than 1 percent, but in typical use, the rate is about 8 percent. Oral contraceptives also provide non-contraceptive health benefits, such as improving acne, regulating menstrual cycles, decreasing menstrual cramps, and protecting against ectopic pregnancy, benign breast disease, ovarian and endometrial cancer, and some forms of pelvic inflammatory disease. Once a woman stops taking the pill, fertility returns quickly, which could be important to young women who want to become pregnant. With the pill, young women gain more control over their fertility, since taking the pill is independent of sexual intercourse, and it can be used without the male partner's knowledge or cooperation.