Today, more than 10 million women take birth control pills. The modern version of the pill contains much lower concentrations of estrogen and progestin and is much safer than those marketed in the past. Besides preventing pregnancy, the pill has other health benefits, including a reduced risk for pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and benign breast disease. For some women, the birth control pill improves menstrual function - decreasing severe menstrual bleeding and regulating monthly cycles. But women sometimes forget to take it.
Research shows three out of ten birth control users miss at least one pill in the monthly cycle.
Inconsistencies or variations in taking the pill lead to an actual success rate of about 95 percent. Lunelle is an injectable drug containing the same hormones found in the birth control pill. Since it only needs to be given once a month, researchers say it may be an attractive alternative for women who have trouble remembering to take a daily pill. A study comparing Lunelle to the birth control pill shows the injectable drug is at least 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. There were no pregnancies among the women getting Lunelle and two among the women in the pill group.