When used consistently every day, birth control pills are a type of contraceptive that is 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. The pill includes hormones that control menstruation, reduce the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer, cure acne, and prevent endometriosis.
What Is Birth Control?
Birth control, also known as contraception, is a method of preventing pregnancy. There are different birth control options open to you, including the birth control pill.
What Are Birth Control Pills?
The birth control pill is a type of contraception that includes hormones that keep women from being pregnant. Because it comes in pill form, People call it “the pill.” Women take the pill once a day orally (by mouth). The pill is most effective when consumed regularly at the same time.
What Is The Mechanism Of Birth Control Pills?
When an egg released from your ovary (the organ that contains eggs) is fertilized by sperm, you become pregnant. The fertilized egg sticks to the uterus inside your womb, where it grows into an infant. Your body’s hormones control the egg’s release from the ovary, known as ovulation, and prepare the body to receive the fertilized egg.
Human-made estrogen and progestin hormones are present in all hormonal contraceptives (the pill, patch, and vaginal ring). These hormones work by interfering with the body’s hormones in several ways to prevent pregnancy.
Usually, hormone contraception prevents the body from ovulating. They also change the cervical mucus, making it more difficult for sperm to travel through the cervix and find an egg. They will also prevent pregnancy by manipulating the womb lining, making it impossible that the fertilized egg can be implanted.
On the market, there are several different kinds of birth control pills. If you’re thinking of using one of them, here’s what you should expect to make a smart choice.
How Effective Are Birth Control Pills?
Birth control pills, when taken correctly, are very effective at preventing pregnancy. According to the CDC, both the combination pill and the progestin-only pill have a 9%.
failure rate when used as a guide. That means that out of every 100 women who use the pill, 9 will become pregnant.
Progestin pills must be taken within the same three-hour time span every day to be fully effective.
Combination pills have a bit more flexibility. Also, you can continue to take combination pills at the same time of day. But you can take them within the same daily 12-hour cycle and still have pregnancy protection.
If you have diarrhea or vomiting, the pill could be less effective. If you’ve had a stomach illness, contact a doctor and see if you’re pregnant. Using a backup method of contraceptive until you are sure it is safe not to.
What Lowers The Birth Control Pill’s Effectiveness?
The biggest reason the pill does not work is that it is not taken regularly. Other factors, such as vomiting or diarrhea for more than 48 hours (2 days), can reduce the pill’s effectiveness in preventing pregnancy.
These Drugs Or Supplements Can Also Affect The Pill’s Efficacy:
- The antibiotic Rifampin (other antibiotics do not reduce the effectiveness of the pill).
- Griseofulvin, an antifungal (other antifungals do not make the pill less effective).
- Some HIV drugs
- Certain anti-seizure medications (these are sometimes also used to treat psychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder)
- The herb St. John’s Wort
Using condoms as a backup method if you take any of these whiles on the pill. If you are on them for an extended period, try switching to a new birth control form.
Your nurse or doctor can tell you if there is any reason that the birth control medication would not work for you.
What Side Effects Should You Expect While Taking The Birth Control Pill?
Some people can experience side effects from the hormones in birth control pills. However, this does not happen to everyone; many people do use the pill without any problem.
According to one study, birth control pills can cause several side effects, including weight gain and emotional volatility.
Some People May Experience The Following Problems After Starting The Pill:
- Migraine headaches
- Nausea
- Breast pain
- Changes in the menstrual cycle (early, late, or stopping altogether while on the pill)
- Spotting (bleeding between periods or brown discharge)
The good news is that these side effects typically go away within two to three months. So, if you’ve recently begun taking the pill and are having side effects, try to stay the course and give your body time to adjust to the hormones.
Birth control pills do not make you feel ill or uncomfortable. After a few months, if you don’t like how the medication makes you feel, speak with the nurse or doctor. They can recommend a different pill brand or a different form of birth control. Some people try a number of pills or birth control methods before finding the best one.
And remember: If you stop taking the pill and do not use any form of birth control, you will get pregnant right away.
How Do You Make The Pill Work Best For You?
Forgetting to take pills, misplacing the pack, and forgetting to renew your medication on time are the most common reasons that women get pregnant while taking the pill.
It’s a good idea to plan ahead of time and decide how to take the pill properly. Here are few tips to make you remember to take your pills regularly:
- Set the alarm on your phone or use our birth control reminder service.
- Keep your pill pack near anything you use every day (like your toothbrush or phone charger).
- Keep your pills in your bag so you can always have them with you.
- Make pill buddies for friends or family members who take medication daily to remind each other to remember.
- Your partner can help you with recalling.
Do whatever it takes to ensure that you take the pill on time, every time.
Do you want to make absolutely sure you do not become pregnant by accident? You can also use a condom whenever you have penis-in-vagina sex. You would also be safe from STDs in this way.
Are There Any 100% Effective Contraceptives?
Abstinence is the only method that is 100 percent successful in preventing pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STIs). Many other types of birth control have a chance of failure, even though it is minor.
However, if abstinence isn’t an option (and it certainly isn’t if you’re talking about contraception), other options don’t include the possibility of user error. An intrauterine device (IUD), a form of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), is one option.
All you have to do is ask your doctor to insert an IUD into your uterus. There it will remain for the next five to seven years, doing its magic without your interference. Another form of LARC is a contraceptive implant inserted under the skin in a woman’s upper arm, which works for three years. There are also surgical sterilization options.
You should consult with your doctor about each of these options’ advantages and disadvantages and then use that information to determine which option is best for you.
The Bottom Line
There are several birth control options available today, and the birth control pill being one of the best. However, the best birth control system for you is decided by several factors. Speak with the doctor to find a solution that works for you. Be sure to ask whatever questions you have.
