Does anyone know how birth control pills work?

[Cassie R.]

What exactly does the pill do? What part of the cycle do the pills affect? Do they prevent maturation of the egg? Stop ovulation?

I'm taking a low estrogen one right now for cysts. I have heard that sometimes right after a few cycles on BCP, you may ovulate on your own (that is, 2-3 cycles on the pill, then the 1-2 cycles after you stop the pill, you might ovulate). I'm trying to understand *why* that may happen. Also trying to figure out why the pills would help clear up the cysts?

[AnotherDreamer]

I've heard that too.

They stop your body from making the hormones, and instead gives them to you. Basically it takes over for your body, and stops the uterine lining from getting to thick and prevents ovulation because of the hormones.
The hormones are what cause the cysts, I believe, so when you're on the BCP it takes the problem away and will usually reduce the cysts.

I was just on BCP for four months, the doc told me I may have a chance to get pregnant after going off them. I was on a low estrogen/progesterone pill because I wasn't having AF. It gave me AF, and now I'm hoping it will give me a few cycles to TTC. She said there was a chance I could ovulate a cycle or two after going off of them... no guarantee.

[Sarah26]

I think different kinds of bc pills work in different ways. I used to take a low dose progesterone pill called Levlen, and my RE said it makes my body think it's pg for 3 weeks each month, so my ovaries and other parts don't try to ovulate or do anything special. Then, on the 1 week of sugar pills, the body thinks it's suddenly not pg and cleans itself out in preparation for the next cycle.