Oral contraceptive information. Woman reading the instruction leaflet from a box (lower right) of combined oral contraceptive pills. The combined pill

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Oral contraceptive information. Woman reading the instruction leaflet from a box (lower right) of combined oral contraceptive pills. The combined pill contains synthetic versions of the female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Both of these hormones suppress ovulation. Progesterone also increases the thickness of the mucus in the neck (cervix) of the uterus, which decreases the chances of fertilisation, should ovulation occur. It also alters the lining of the uterus, reducing the likelihood of the implantation of a fertilised egg. The combined pill seen here is Microgynon, made by Schering Health Care.

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Photo credit: © SATURN STILLS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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