- Birth control pills are pills that prevent a woman from becoming pregnant. They contain hormones that prevent a woman's body from releasing an egg. Because there is no egg, there can be no fertilization or pregnancy. Pills are effective for any female as soon as she is old enough to begin menstruating, which means that her body is releasing eggs, and they can be used through menopause. They are considered to be an oral form of birth control, since they are ingested through the mouth rather than depending on some type of physical or chemical barrier to prevent pregnancy.
- Traditional birth control pills contain hormones and are taken on a daily basis to prevent pregnancy. If they are taken correctly, their effectiveness rate can be up to 99 percent. Morning-after pills are an "emergency" form of birth control that contain levonorgestrel, a hormone that is also used in many traditional birth control pills. However, they deliver a larger dose. Rather than being taken on a daily basis, they are taken within 72 hours of unprotected sexual intercourse. Both types can be used in women of any age, as long as they are fertile and menstruating.
- When traditional birth control pills are taken regularly and correctly, their effectiveness at preventing pregnancy is up to 99 percent. Morning-after pills are less effective than regular birth control pills. Their effectiveness rate is up to 89 percent if taken within 72 hours, but their effectiveness increases if they are taken sooner. A woman's age doesn't have an effect on either pill's effectiveness.
- There are no age restrictions on traditional birth control pills. They are available to any woman from the time she reaches sexual maturity. She simply has to find a doctor to prescribe them and a pharmacy that can fill the prescription. Morning-after pills are available over-the-counter to women age 18 and above.
- Birth control pills do not pose any special risks for younger women unless they are smokers. According to the Mayo Clinic, women smokers of any age face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease when they take birth control pills. Women who are over age 35 also faced an increase risk of cardiovascular disease. Although they are not restricted from taking contraceptive pills, their doctor may issue an extra warning.
