What are the types of birth control pills?
Birth control pills are small tablets that you swallow whole on a regular schedule. • COCs: These pills come in packs of 21 or 28 pills. They may have the same or different levels of hormones in each pill. Pills with different hormone levels must be taken in the right order. Extended cycle pills may be taken continuously for a longer time. You, your child and your child’s caregiver can decide which type of pills are best for her. • 21-pill pack: One pill is taken each day for 21 days (three weeks). No pill is taken for the seven days that follow. Once this schedule is complete, a new pill pack is started. • 28-pill pack: One pill is taken every day for 28 days. This pill pack contains 21 pills that have with hormones, and seven reminder pills that do not have hormones. A new pack is started after finishing the old one. • Extended cycle pill: One pill is taken each day for 12 weeks, without missing a pill. • Mini-pill: This type of birth control pill comes in packs of 28 pills. One pill
