Avoid Pregnancy

About birth control pills

image credit by-fizkes

There are different methods available for birth control. But birth control pills are very effective, easily available and inexpensive methods among them.

2 types of pills are available

• This 21 tablets strip is for regular contraception pill and it should not be used for emergency purpose.

• And this strip which contains only one pill, which is also called emergency contraceptive pill which can be used for the emergency purpose.

 

Regular Birth Control Pill

Birth control pills can be prescribed for a wide age group. It is safe to prescribe this medicine to teenagers with less than 20 years of age and also can be given to adult women of age more than 50 years. The pack of birth control pills looks like this and it contains 21 pills. Most of the packs contain arrow marks for your convenience.

As we discussed, the pills should start within the 5 days of the period. Start taking the first pill from the left end of the pack and by following the arrow take one pill every day at the same time. You can fix a time of day and every day take pills at that time. For the pills to be effective it is not necessary to take pills immediately before or after sex. If you start taking the pills after the first 5 days of your periods then You have to take consideration of 2 things.

1. The first one is that you are not pregnant and 

2. The second one is you have to take additional precautions in the form of condoms for the first 7 days.

Because it will take 7 days to establish the pill's effectiveness.At the same time, you have to take one pill every day. By doing this your pills pack will finish in 21 days. After that, you have to take a break for 7 days and start taking a new pack from the 8th day.

Like this cyclically you have to take medicines for 3 weeks and a break for 1 week. again you have to take medicines for 3 weeks and a break for 1 week And you can follow this pattern until you don't want pregnancy. These pills can be taken for a long time and it is safe.  If you are taking the pills as per we discussed then the failure rate will be less than 1% ie, the chances of having a pregnancy and the failure of the pill will be less than 1 out of 100.

The biggest advantage of the pill is that as soon as you leave the pills your fertility will returns immediately from the next cycle. So if you are planning for pregnancy, stop taking pills and immediately from the next cycle you can plan for the pregnancy.

Now we will talk about missed pills
Generally, if you miss one pill the failure rate is less. Whenever you remember that on the next day, you can take the missed pill and also you have to take a regular pill of the day ie, you are taking two pills on that day. After that, you can consume the remaining pack by following the normal routine.

The failure rate is more when you forget to take 2 or more pills If it happens, then you have to consume the last missed pill.

For example, if you forget to take 3 pills and you remember that on the next day then you have to consume the last missed pill along with the regular pill of the day.That means you are taking two pills on that day and you have to take extra precautions for the next 7 days, which can be in the form of a condom.

Other than this, if intercourse happens then you can use emergency contraceptive pills also.

There are some side effects of taking these pills.

Most of the side effects are occurs in the form of headache, nausea, acidity, mood changes and breast tenderness. These side effects occur when you start taking the medicines and it will settle down with the passage of time. You can take birth control pills even if you are a thyroid patient and you are taking supplementation for that while you taking the medicines you have to check your thyroid function regularly.

And if it needs any dose adjustments that you can do with the help of an expert.

The pills will not be prescribed for those peoples who have-

1. overweight.

2. migraine.

3. hypertension.

4. liver or gall bladder disorders.

5. A past or current history of breast cancer.

 Emergency Contraceptive Pill

How does it work

Can work in many ways:

1. Delays release of egg
2. Prevents sperm and egg interaction 
3. Prevents zygote attachment in uterus

When to take the pill

Take it as soon possible after unprotected intercourse.

Recommended time <72 hours, that it work supreme >90% effective

Side effects

Emergency contraceptive is safety but sume commonly side effects are- 

1. Headache
2. Vomiting
3. Anxious
4. Stomach ache
5. Acidity

So it should be eaten with something (Should not be eaten on an empty stomach)

Effect on period cycle

1 sometimes cycle disturbed
2 Slight bleeding after taking pill
3 returns to normal after 1-2 cycles

Dose it cause weight gain

No! (emergency contraceptive pill causes weight gain 

Fact- Bloading due to water retention)So it should be eaten with something (Should not be eaten on an empty stomach)

Effect on period cycle

1 sometimes cycle disturbed

2 Slight bleeding after taking pill

3 returns to normal after 1-2 cycles

Dose it cause weight gain

No! (emergency contraceptive pill causes weight gain Fact- Bloading due to water retention)

Can it be used regularly?

No! Only meant for emergencies

1.     Unprotected sex

2.     Failure of regular contraceptive or rapture condom

3.     Missed regular birth control pill

Do not use regularly

1. Not as effective as regular pills
2. Disturbes period cycle (side effect )
3. No protection from sexually transmitted diseases

RememberOccasional usage- no long term effect

Regular usage- can affect future pregnancy

Point to member- Avoid taking 2 pills at a time (not increase benefit but same side effects increases)

But can take 2 pills in one period cycle.

Visit doctor in case of severe pain

Visit doctor if period delayed by 1 week