How Does Ortho-Cept Work?
Ortho-Cept is a combined oral contraceptive, which means that it is a birth control pill that contains two different types of hormones. It contains both an estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and a progestin (desogestrel). The hormones in Ortho-Cept prevent pregnancy primarily by stopping ovulation (the maturation and release of eggs from the ovaries). However, it also works to prevent pregnancy in two other, less important ways. Ortho-Cept changes the cervical mucus (the fluid of the cervix, which is the lower, narrow part of the uterus that is connected to the vagina), making it more difficult for sperm to enter the uterus. Lastly, Ortho-Cept alters the lining of the uterus (the endometrium), making it less receptive to an embryo.
