China has come a long way in recent years and everyone around the world has felt the changes in one way or another. But one big breakthrough that got very little notice is birth control. Enter any convenience store now and you'll find shelves of condoms. At any pharmacy you'll find oral contraceptives. No way was China this open and liberal 10 years ago.

Awareness of birth control and the many options available to women out there has grown considerably in just a few years. Beijing Vista Clinic is among the many medical facilities that promote safe sex and women's health. And while they stock an array of oral contraceptives, generally known as "the pill", it is important to see a doctor and find the most suitable ones for you.

[interview, different pills suit different types of people]

And for those who know little about the pill or are wary of the many forewarned side effects, they can discover that there are no long-term health consquences and that seeing a doctor is an important step in minimizing potential short-term ones.

[interview, side effects – short and long term]

Most birth control pills, with a combination of synthetic estrogen and progestin, trick the body into stopping ovulation. Without a mature egg, there's no risk of pregnancy. Short of more extreme surgical procedures, birth control pills are the most effective way of preventing unwanted pregnancies.