Oral contraceptives are one of the most widely used and effective methods of contraception worldwide .There are two main types of oral contraceptives which are the combined oral contraceptives consisting of a combination of an estrogen(ethinylestradiol) and a progestin of varying doses and the progestin-only oral contraceptives also called mini-pills. There are also emergency contraceptive pills available for use up to 72 -120 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse. Oral contraceptives act by suppressing ovulation, thickening the cerrvical mucus making it hostile for sperm penetration and also thinning the endometrium making implantation impossible. The major risks and side effects are seen with the use of the combined pills due to their estrogenic components and they include venous thromboembolism, breast and cervical cancer risk and risk of cardiovascular diseases. Different drugs tend to interact with oral contraceptives by interfering with their metabolism. Oral contraceptives are also useful in the prevention and treatment of other disorders such as ovarian and endometrial cancers, dysmenorrhea,premenstrual syndrome, endometriosis, hyperandrogenism, uterine fibroids, e.t.c.