prodigalfan said:

That's OK.

Here are a few of the many sites that discuss the various forms of BCPs, and how those BCPs work. I have excerpted some relevent points made on a few of them:

http://scc.uchicago.edu/p...cpills.htm
"How it Works
Progestins may prevent pregnancy by:

preventing the ovary from releasing an egg.
thickening the cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering the Fallopian tubes to fertilize an egg.
changing the lining of the uterus, so a fertilized egg cannot implant and grow.
changing the contractions in the Fallopian tubes, so the sperm and egg cannot meet and travel to the uterus"


http://familydoctor.org/x2182.xml
"How does the progestin-only contraceptive work?
This contraceptive does three things. First, like regular birth control pills, the progestin-only pill makes your body "think" that you are pregnant and stops your ovary from releasing an egg. Second, the mini-pill causes changes in your uterus (where a baby grows) that makes your uterus is less likely to let a pregnancy get started even if an egg is released.

And third, the progestin-only pill thickens the mucus between your uterus and your vagina. (The vagina is the passageway from the uterus to the outside of the body.) Sperm have a hard time getting through the thick mucus to reach the egg."

http://www.4woman.gov/Glo...index.htm#: progestin : "progestin — a hormone that works by causing changes in the uterus. When taken with the hormone estrogen, progestin works to prevent thickening of the lining of the uterus. This is helpful for women who are in menopause and are taking estrogen for their symptoms. Progestins also are prescribed to regulate the menstrual cycle, treat unusual stopping of the menstrual periods, help a pregnancy occur or maintain a pregnancy, or treat unusual or heavy bleeding of the uterus. They also can be used to prevent pregnancy, help treat cancer of the breast, kidney, or uterus, and help treat loss of appetite and severe weight or muscle loss."

http://www.mckinley.uiuc....ipill.html

http://www.pamf.org/teen/...ipill.html
"The progestin-only pills do not prevent ovulation like the regular pill, but provide pregnancy protection by:

Thickening the cervical mucus, which prevents the sperm and egg from joining.

Preventing the uterine lining from thickening, which makes it more difficult for a fertilized egg to implant in the uterus and develop."

http://webcenter.health.w...te7775.asp
"How It Works

Progestin-only birth controlmethods, including pills, shots, and implants, prevent the ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulation), thicken mucus at the cervix so sperm cannot enter the uterus, and in rare cases, prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus."

http://www.uottawa.ca/hea...-oral.html

HOW THE PILL WORKS: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/a..._cycle.swf
(this site explains how the BCP works in a step-by-step way, but you need Shockwave to view it)

SnowQueen said:

hmm,
in one of your links, I went on to read this:

Progesterone plays an important role in postovulatory regulation of the menstrual cycle. Under the influence of luteinizing hormone, the corpus luteum secretes progesterone, which stimulates the endometrium to develop secretory glands. The corpus luteum produces progesterone for approximately 10 to 12 days of the cycle. If a fertilized ovum is not implanted, progesterone and estrogen levels decline sharply, resulting in menstrual bleeding.3 If fertilization occurs, progesterone supports implantation of the ovum and maintains the pregnancy.4


I am not sure what to make of this, since there are 2 different things being said about Progesterone.
I think I will ask an GYN about this.
thanks for the links

prodigalfan said:

If you do talk to a GYN about it, please do share what he/she says. I agree that the info is confusing and that there is so much seemingly contradictory information out there regarding women's hormones and their effects or roles in the body. Sometimes I think even the doctors don't really know or understand what specific hormones really do, because like you said, so often there are 2 different things being said about a particular hormone.

It's like trying to figure out what is right or true about hormone replacement therapy and whether that is "good" or "bad", etc. Everyone (meaning doctors and med. sites) says something else. Who do you believe? It's confusing.

SnowQueen said:

My sister is a nurse that works in a GYN clinic. I will ask her to ask her MD what is the skinny on the pill. The MD will tell me sister the 'real" deal since sis works in the office.
I will let you know what I find out.

prodigalfan said:

Thanks, prodigalfan.

This is another thread that's strayed from concerts--the topic of this forum--and is now better suited to our Politics & Religion forum, so I'm closing this one out and ask that the discussion be continued there. Thanks!