Birth Control Pills

The pill is becoming the most commonly used contraceptive in the world. Its effectiveness is 96-99%, while the effectiveness of birth control pills depends entirely on how they are used. Taking the pill at different times of day, missing days or skipping pills all decrease the effectiveness.

The pill is a tablet containing two female hormones- an oestrogen and a progestogen. These two hormones stop you from ovulating (producing an egg) each month. And if you don't ovulate, you won't get pregnant.

In addition, the hormones thicken the secretions around your cervix (womb), which acts as a mechanical barrier to sperm and offers some protection against organisms that cause uterine and tubal infections, thus also protecting against infection-related infertility.

But how do I get started?

Go to a GP or a family planning clinic to see the doctor or nurse and have a short check-up, discuss risk factors and possible side effects, and get a prescription.

You should ask for:

  • A low-dose pill
  • A second-generation pill.

How do I take it?

You'll be given a pack which usually contains 21 pills and you take one every day for three weeks. At the end of those three weeks, you 'break' for a week. During those seven days, you'll have your period. After the week's break, you start on your next packet. So it's three weeks on and one week off throughout the year. If you don't want to miss your pills, you can set your mobile phone so that it beeps at the same time every day, to remind you to take your Pill.

Am I going to experience any negative side-effects?

During the first few packs of the pill, some women get minor side-effects, such as:

  • Nausea
  • Breast discomfort
  • Headaches
  • Slight weight gain
  • There may be a premenstrual bloated feeling, due to water retention, but this is temporary and should not be present by the time you reach the third packet of the Pill.

These side-effects usually go away after the first few packs. If they don't, its very easy to get rid of them by simply switching to another brand. Cited: Netdoctor, 2011.

What are the positive side effects of pills?

  • Pills reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by 80% if used for eight years and beyond.
  • The pills also reduce an endometrial (uterine) cancer by 70% if used for more than six years.
  • The pill helps maintain bone mass, offering protection against osteoporosis, and prevents anaemia by decreasing blood loss by 30% to 50%.
  • The pill can also prevent and treat the most common ovarian cysts, decrease or eliminate period pain and improve acne.

Does anything make the pill less likely to work?

Forgetting pills, diarrhea or vomiting and taking antibiotics make pills less effective.

What precautions to take to keep them effective?

  • Take your pill at about the same time daily - decide whether you take them in the morning or evening. The fertility can be restored very quickly after stopping the pill, because it exits via your urine within 48 to 72 hours.
  • Always use extra protection if you miss tablets, if you are on antibiotics, or vomit within two hours of taking your pill, or have severe diarrhea or have breakthrough bleeding.
  • Consult with your doctor every time you start a new medication -for example, some anti-epileptics and drugs used for mood disorders interfere with the action of the pill.
  • Avoid the popular herbal remedy St John's wort while you are taking the pill. It reduces the effectiveness of the oral contraceptive, and you may get 'spotting' of blood.
  • NB, TB medication interferes with the metabolism of the pill and makes it less effective.
  • Should nausea occur, change the time of the day that you take the pill.
  • Remember the pill does not protect you against sexually transmitted infections therefore condoms are highly recommended.
  • The placebo (inactive or hormone free) pills are included so that women can have a sense of menstrual level, but are not essential. This means that if you want to use the pill continuously for a few months without having a period, it is safe to do this. Cited: Spice4life, 2011.

 

Sources:

 Page Updated: 15 May 2012

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