Birth Control Pill

What Is the Birth Control Pill?

The contraceptive pill is what most people think of as "the pill." It is a pill made with both estrogen and progestin. The woman takes one pill at the same time each day.

There are many types and brands of contraceptive pills. They come in different colors and in different kinds of packs. A clinician decides which type and brand is best for each woman.

The pill works well to prevent pregnancy, but it does not protect against HIV and other STDs. Use a condom every time you have sex to help protect against these diseases.

Effectiveness

Perfect user: A person that uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.

Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.

With perfect use, the pill is 99.7% effective.

This means that if 100 women use the pill exactly the right way, only 1 woman (and probably no women) out of that group will get pregnant in a year.

With typical use, the pill is 92% effective.

For women who don't always take their pill exactly the right way, 8 women out of 100 might get pregnant in a year.

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Advantages

  • The pill is easy to use.
  • The pill is very good at preventing pregnancy.
  • The pill makes periods lighter and less "crampy".
  • The pill may make acne better.
  • The pill does not interrupt having sex.
  • The pill helps protect against cancer of the ovary and cancer of the uterus.
  • Breasts may be less tender while taking the pill.
  • The pill does not cause serious health problems in most women.

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Possible Side Effects

  • Changes in bleeding
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Tender or full breasts
  • Mood changes
  • Skin changes
  • Hair growth
  • Slight headaches

Important: Some women stop taking the pill when they have any of these side effects. The side effects won't hurt you or stop you from having a baby in the future. They usually go away in 1 to 3 months. If they bother you, go back to your clinician so that you can be given a different pill that my not cause any side effects.

Remember: If you ever stop the pill for any reason, you can get pregnant right away.

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Possible Warning Signs

Some signs of possible serious side effects are:

  • Dizziness
  • Numbness in arms or legs
  • Abdominal pain that is severe
  • Chest pain
  • Bad headache
  • Eye problems
  • Bad leg pain, swelling, or redness

The chance of having these warning signs of a possible serious health problem is very low. However, if you should have one or more of them, go to your clinician or an emergency room right away.

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Important Warning

If you see a doctor for any reason, tell the doctor that you are using the pill. Some medicines may keep the pill from working as well. If you need to take one of these medicines, you may need to use a back up method of pregnancy prevention, like condoms, until you finish the medication. Your doctor will tell you if this is necessary.

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To Learn More

To learn more about how to use the pill, go to:

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