Which of the following is incorrect regarding oral contraceptives?

The correct answer is Option (3) → They suppress the sperm motility and its fertilizing capacity

Option (1) These are small doses of progestogens or progestogen - estrogen combinations — A correct statement. Oral pills are tablets taken by the female. They carry small doses of hormones, either progestogens alone or progestogens with estrogens, and are taken daily for 21 days.

Option (2) They inhibit ovulation and implantation — A correct statement. The hormones of the pill stop ovulation and implantation in the female body. They also change the quality of the cervical mucus, so that sperms cannot enter easily.

Option (3) They suppress the sperm motility and its fertilizing capacity — An incorrect statement. This is the action of the copper ions released by copper IUDs (CuT, Cu7, Multiload 375), not of the pills. A pill taken by the female acts on her own ovary and uterus; it does not act on the sperms.

Option (4) They may contain non-steroidal preparation with few side effects and high contraceptive value — A correct statement. This describes Saheli, the new oral contraceptive for females developed at CDRI, Lucknow. It is a non-steroidal, once-a-week pill with very few side effects and high contraceptive value.

NCERT Extract:
Population Stabilisation and Birth Control – “… Oral administration of small doses of either progestogens or progestogen–estrogen combinations is another contraceptive method used by the females. They are used in the form of tablets and hence are popularly called the pills. Pills have to be taken daily for a period of 21 days starting preferably within the first five days of menstrual cycle. After a gap of 7 days (during which menstruation occurs) it has to be repeated in the same pattern till the female desires to prevent conception. They inhibit ovulation and implantation as well as alter the quality of cervical mucus to prevent/retard entry of sperms. Pills are very effective with lesser side effects and are well accepted by the females. Saheli–the new oral contraceptive for the females contains a non-steroidal preparation. It is a ‘once a week’ pill with very few side effects and high contraceptive value.”