Drug Class: What is Ovral and why are Ovral prescribed?

Ovral is an oral contraceptive. Oral contraceptives are commonly known as \'the pill.\'

Ovral is also known as a birth control pill. Birth control pills contain a combination of hormones that is used to prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary). Ovral contains a form of estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and a form of progesterone (norgestrel), which are both female hormones involved in conception. Estrogen and progesterone regulate a woman\'s menstrual cycle, and the fluctuating levels of these hormones play an essential role in fertility.

Ovral also has other effects that inhibit pregnancy. Ovral causes the cervical mucous to thicken, which makes it harder for sperm to move toward the uterus, and they prevent the attachment of an egg to the uterus.