Birth Control Pill
Combined Oral Contraceptive (COC) and
Progestin-only Oral Contraceptive (POC)
Description
COCs are pills comprised of the hormones estrogen and progestin. POCs are pills that contain only the hormone progestin. Both act to produce changes in the uterus making it inhospitable for implantation of an egg and difficult for sperm to move anywhere in the female reproductive system. Neither pill prevents the spread of STDs/STIs.
Effectiveness
One major attribute of the pill is that it is nearly 100% effective when used correctly. Real effectiveness is actually about 92-95% due to occasional misuse (i.e., forgetting to take it).
Directions
The pill is either administered on a 28-day or 21-day cycle. The 28-day pill is given for each day of the period, 7 of which are really just ‘filler’ pills (placebos) containing no hormones. The purpose of these placebos is to ensure the woman is maintaining the correct schedule of doses. In the 21-day pack, there are 7 days a month in which you do not take a pill and the woman must remember to resume the dose schedule after the 7-day break. If you wish to use the pill as an effective method of birth control then you must make it a part of your daily routine. Please see your physician to find out more on the pill and if it is right for you.
Benefits
There are many pleasant side effects to the pill. Menstruation is usually lighter, shorter and less painful. For most women the menstrual schedule becomes very predictable with menstruation occurring when there is a drop in hormones. It is even possible to change the day your period starts by stopping before the end of a package or adding pills to the end. Please consult your physician before you attempt to change the day your period starts. Studies have shown that those who take the pill have a decreased risk in developing anemia, pelvic inflammatory disease and cancer of the uterus and ovaries. Furthermore, it can help deal with problems such as cysts of the breasts or ovaries, acne, irregular bleeding and endometriosis.
Drawbacks
Consult your physician if you experience any negative side effects while taking the pill. It is important to note that all of the side effects caused by the pill are not yet known.
Short-term effects
Some women find that they experience occasional headaches, mood changes, breast tenderness, fatigue, and breakthrough bleeding in the first few months of using the pill. Spotting or breakthrough bleeding is due to a lack of estrogen in the first half of the cycle and a lack of progesterone in the second half. Bleeding normally stops without the need for treatment. However, if bleeding does continue, your physician will likely recommend that you change to a different brand. If you have been on the pill for several years and experience spotting then see your physician immediately to determine the cause. These effects will usually dissipate after two to three months of using the birth control pill.
Long-term effects
The birth control pill can cause a variety of long-term complications. It is important to identify, with a physician, if you are at risk.
Women who have had a history of circulatory disease should question their doctor about whether they are at serious risk because blood vessel and blood clotting disorders are more common in users of the birth control pill. Specifically, those women taking the pill have a higher risk of developing blood clots in the leg or pelvis, pulmonary embolism and heart attack or stroke.
Those who suffer from migraines should also question the use of the pill. If the migraines worsen during use of the pill, then usage should be discontinued.
The addition of hormones into the body will cause certain tumors to grow faster. Therefore, anyone with a known or suspected cancer should not take the pill. It is important to note that the pill decreases the risk of cancer of the ovaries and the endometrium by half. The effects of the pill on skin cancer and cancer of the cervix are currently unclear.
The addition of extra hormones will also cause an increase in breast size. Those women with benign breast disease (tender or lumpy breasts) may see an improvement in their condition while others may experience no significant change. The pill will also affect the breasts by decreasing the amount of breast milk produced; the quality of the breast milk is not significantly affected. Women who want to take the pill during breast-feeding should consult their doctor.
Women who have had liver damage should not take the pill. The pill causes a small increase in rare tumors of the liver. For diabetic women, the use of the birth control pill may change insulin needs and it may also change the results of the glucose tolerance test.
The pill has been linked to causing depression, irritability and/or tiredness in some women. This problem is usually not recognized until the discontinued use of the pill, when the woman gradually begins to feel better. The pill can adversely affect any of the prescription drugs that you may be required to take, so please consult a physician on the subject. The pill will increase the affect of some drugs (such as alcohol) and decrease the affects of other drugs (such as certain painkillers).
The pill may also cause some unwanted physical changes such as water retention; which in turn can cause bloating, irritability, leg cramps and nausea. If you suspect that this is a problem, you should ask your physician about changing the brand of pill that you use. Some women may have dark rings around their eyes due to the increased estrogen levels. A weaker brand of pill will normally correct these problems. Some women experience weight gain and an increased appetite that can be controlled by switching to a pill with a weaker progesterone level.
what is the legal age to be put on birth control without legal consent and signing from your parents???
can a person walk into walmart and buy birth control pills without a prescription? do I have to talk to a doctor to get it?
When r u suppost to start taking it
so my drs say they wanna put me back on the pill to regulate my period and my bf knows that, but wen i told him that they were puttin me back on it, he said that i wouldent need it for awhile, and yet he has already tried to get me to do it 3 times so im confused because i told him that wenever he wanted i was ready. but it seems like all he relly wants ne more is a hj or a bj. wat do u think the problem could b?
Do you know have you can get on "the pill" without your parents knowing? Can you just go into a walk-in clinic?
Ok so my gf is on the pill well she took dint mean 2 but she took it early and we had sex and she was supposed 2 start her period the next day but she didn't is she pregnant or is it cuz she took 2 pills close 2gether that he period is out of wack
i missed 2 days in dec of my birth control and me and my husband have sex almost everyday... im used to getting a period on the 10th of each month and i still having had one. could the chances be im pregnant or just from missing 2 days my cycle is off ? i been having stomach pains everynight as well
I'm on my last week on my pills. I got a new pack from the clinics because they said I should change mine. When do I start it? After the current pack or stop the pills until I get my period again?
I would call your clinician and ask.
Im on my first packet of pills and I just started my period a few days ago. (I am not sexually active yet) My doctor says it is supposed to help with cramping and stuff, but my cramps have been worse than before starting the pills.
I called the doctor and talked to his nurse. She says this sometimes happens and it will take a while for my body to get used to the pills. So I'm just wondering... Have any other ladies noticed their periods being worse before they get better when they take the pill?
I have a question, it says that the pill is 100 percent effective is used correctly, does this mean if the male partner is not using a condom during sex or if he is using a condom? I ask because the forums say differently.
It means that if you use the pill correctly (not missing pills, taking it at the same time every day as directed) then it is about 99% effective. That is not referenced as used with a condom. However if you are in a new relationship or are not ready to raise a child then use the condom as a backup. Most women have some slight variation in when they take their pill. Even at 11:30 am one day then 12:05 pm the next changes the effectiveness. Instead of 00% it may drop a couple percent. Remember almost 100% is if you never make a mistake, never miss a pill and take it at the exact same time every day and as directed by a doctor or instructions.
I'm 17 (to be 18 in two months) and I have been on Femcon FE since October. My boyfriend lives a few states away for school reasons and we wanted to wait until I was a legal adult before sex. He had told me he wouldn't try to have sex without a condom (he's very responsible and I would have asked him to). Now, Femcon is a chewable pill and I'm on it because I am both anemic and cannot swallow pills. BUT, I'm afraid that maybe a small piece won't be swallowed or something and perhaps the condom will break. I am still a virgin and so my pregnancy fears are holding me back. I don't know if I'm ready and I definitely want to wait, but assuming I'm taking the pills 'wrong' what are the odds of me being pregnant?
soo.. i became active recently and i wana get the pill..
problem is i dont know how to get it without the parents finding out.. how can i get any without them finding out?
if you have an irregular period or really bad cramps thats how i got around to getting mine. just talk to your parents they will understand. mine did. and im still a virgin. but its always better to be safe than sorry.
go to a clinic. google your city/state and teen clinic and it should come upwith the place you need to go. they will give you the pills for free.
I'm going on birth control to help with a difficult period but (and this may seem a bit vain) im worried about gaining weight once im on it... any suggestions other than eating right and being active? because i kinda already have those down...
Then you should be fine. I'm skinny as a twig and have been on it for nearly a year. You might have bloating for a bit but it goes away. The injection method WILL make you gain weight though. The pills or patch are best.
My gf has been taking the pill for about 4 months now and she finished her packet last Monday (25th of January) and got the implant on the Tuesday but she hasn't had her period. What are the chances of her being pregnant? or has she just skipped it because she got the implant straight after her pill? Because I know you skip your period if you finish your packet then start the next one straight away. please comment back we are quite worried :(
You have nothing to worry about mate, I had exactly the same situation. Some girls don't get their period at all with the impant and some get it constantly and others, get a bit of spotting. Don't stress your little self. Hope I put your mind at ease.
My first time was about 8 months ago and we used protection because i was not on the pill. for the past month or so, i have been trying to have sex again but i want the guy to be able to ejaculate in me. i got my doctor to prescribe me birth control bc of actual pains i was having but when i showed my mother, she said there was no way. is there ANY way that i would be able to receive birth control pills without my parents knowing?? i want to tell them about my first time so they know i am active and would be more open to it. i just want to do it again but id rather use the pill. so how do i secretly get it?? help me.
Any Teen Health places (like plan parenthood) offer them for free, just walk in and tell them your concern. So long as you are 16 I think, they normally give you a free prescription. OR use a condom.
My boyfriend and I are relatively new to sex (started only about last October). Before we started having sex, we discussed it & talked it over, and I got on the pill about two weeks in advance. I have been taking it PRETTY regularly, but sometimes I don't hear my alarm go off and I have forgotten. On average, I'm late about 20 minutes (this happens maybe once a week). However, this doesn't usually happen, and it has never been put off for more than an hour (which has happened only on one occasion). A couple of days ago, I allowed him to enter me without a condom, and he pulled out before ejaculating. But I think some of his cum dripped down to the entrance of my vagina, and I've been worried that the inconsistency of my taking the pills could have made this something to worry about. Or, being as -generally- reliable as I am something to be assured about? Thanks in advance!
As long as you take the pills within at least two hours of your usual time you should be protected. But you should have waited for a complete cycle of pills before having unprotected sex. But then it does matter what bc you're on. Always, always, always use a condom no matter what. You'll be better protected because not only will it prevent pregnancy but it will also protect against STDs. The pill can't do that. Precum contains sperm so withdrawing before ejaculating really doesn't work-condoms do. Planned Parenthood has them for free so there's no excuse for not using them. Hope this helps you.
ok so me and my gf started haveing sex a while back. im 17 and she is 15. when we have sex we both dont like using condoms cause it takes away from the feeling for both of us. her parents found out that we are having sex but wont let her go on birth control. is there anyway for us to get birth control from a doctor without her parents knowing?? how old do you have to be to get it?? any advice??
the other two were right. Condoms are cheap and easy to get. We've come a long way from using the intestine of a sheep. My fiance's brother is in prison for stat rape (even though the girl consented).
Mate, if she's 15 and you're 17 you're commiting a form of rape. USE PROTECTION if you two must grow up so fast, you'll regret it if you don't, condoms may take feeling away, but is it really worth it?
Honey, if you're going to be a complete idiot and not use a condom PLEASE get your girl on the pill.
Have your girl approach her mother and tell her that because she's started having sex her periods are off and that she's scared. If she cries she might convince her mother to let her take it so she can get her periods back in order. If that doesn't work;
GO TO A WALK-IN CLINIC
I'm almost positive they can get her a 'script.
PLEASE stay protected! If you want a really thin condom try LifeStyles Skyn brand; they're supposed to be really thin.
Final note:
Stop being a total dick face and WEAR A FRAKING CONDOM!!
We don't need more children having children!
Is it true that if you are on birth control there isnt a medical need to have a period?
Ok so quick question. my girlfriend missed her pill today, and we had sex yesterday, just to put our minds at ease would it be safe to assume she wouldn't get pregnant
It depends how long she's been on the pill and where she is at on her cycle.
I am now 49, and for many many years I have been taking the pill back to back.
In the last few months, I have been experiencing muscular pain in my calf when walking and during a visit, my doctor assumed it was PAD...but ultrasound tests have proven otherwise. At the same time, she asked me to come off the pill. The 2 months after coming off, I had very light spotting. Two months ago, I had a period which lasted 3 weeks....2 days of which were heavy flows and I had light flows for a week afterwards. I was so fed up with the duration that I went back on the pill. I was still on the pill back to back until last week when my period started again...with light flows until now. Since I was still taking the pill and I was having a period, I decided not to take any pills....but I am totally confused as to why I am having a period despite going back on the Pill back to back...and at the same time, am pissed by my doctor's request to come off the pill as I was not having any such problems. Is there any explanation as to why I am having a period despite being on the pill??
Menopause.. being 49 I thought you would know this already.
most women get menopause at around early 40's so maybe its because you were on the pill that you staved off so long.
If you don't want to do permenant damage. Come off the pill now.
Your doctor knew what they were talking about when they asked you to come off the pill first time around. You were ignorant and foolish to continue to take it just because of a long period.
Me and my gf are young and I we wanted now how u can get the pill without parents Boeing.
in most states im pretty sure the law is that you need to be 16 to purchase the pill, you should be able to get condoms anywhere but if you are youner than that you might want to think about having sex
Wat should we think about?
Hmm, what should you think about...
I can name THREE things you should think about.
1) Should your girl become pregnant are you prepared to deal with the repercussions? (ie, raising the child, giving it up for adoption)
2) are you two dedicated enough to each other that you can trust the other not to go sleeping around now that you're active?
and
3) Do you realize that sex is something that's supposed to be shared between two who are in the deepest for of love that they have dedicated their lives to one another? is a blessed holy thing called MARRIAGE?
If you cannot answer all of those correctly; you shouldn't be having sex.
I agree to that!
birth control really works.
i've missed only one day before but i just took it the next day with the other one.
i've had sex without using a condom and he has ejaculated into me and im not pregnant! :)
so if you wanna have an awesome sex life without the worries of getting pregnant definatly use birth control, just make sure you take it everyday!
i'm fourteen i lied on here lol. shhh.
but, i'm on the pill.
and my boyfriend wants to have sex without a condom he's just scared too, and i really want too he could like pull out on my stomach or he could like 30 secs before he "cummed" he could in my mouth, and now he wants too but i know he'd be worried about me gettni prego no matter if i am on the pill.
what should i do to convince him not to worry that's why i'm on the pill.
rightt????
me and my girlfriend have been sexually active for a while now but have only started having sex in the past month. Shes on the pill and we were having sex the other day and i Ejaculation inside her twice. i know she's on the pill but what are the chances that she is pregnant?
please reply.
we're both really worried.
I'm on the pill too, and I've only been taking it since November. Ironically enough. That was when I met my boyfriend and he's ejaculated into me quite a bit and I'm still not pregnant. Usually as long as she takes it once a day, with food preferably or on an empty stomach. She'll be fine. If she forgets a pill, she has to take it as soon as she remembers, which means taking two in one day, but she should not take no more than one extra in any given week, because it can cause harm to her. I forget to take mine some days on schedule, so what I do is, I take it when I remember. Sometimes, it may be the next morning when I remember, but I take it then and then later that night, take the other pill on time. It's crazy, but as long as she doesn't start skipping doses, she should be fine.
ive had the same thing for me as well it freaked me out when my bf cummed in me even tho i was on the pill. honestly the chances of her getting pregnant are sooooooo small its crazy. ask her if she's taken the pill properly ie. once a day everyday. if she has then ur fine.
i'm still afraid if he cums in me. he'd freak out if i told him not to pull out he probably would anyways.
does it feel any different if he does cum in you?
I got a question. I've been taking birth control since 2006 and at first, me and my fiance were having safe sex but now we're not and we're sorda kinda trying for a baby but we know we can't support one right now without a job and without a house and all but I was wondering if you could get pregant while taking birth control? There have been times where we would have sex in the morning and I haven't taken my pill yet. So I was just wondering if you could get pregant while still on the pill.
As long as you take it regularly, one pill every 24 hours, you should be fine.
i have an alarm set on my phone so that i take my pill everyday at the same time. there have been a few times though that i have taken it a couple hours late. will this really affect anything. my fiance and i dont live in the same state right now but will be seeing eachother soon. am i safe to have sex without a condom? or atleast as safe as i can be with the pill?
I'm on Cerazette, I was on it for a month & a half, then stopped taking it, and now I'm back on it and I've read the leaflets it come with and whatever else, but it's a POC.
And I can't find information ANYWHERE on POC pills.
I've read what got posted up there ^^^^.
But I got told that the Cerazette brand can and will stop me from being able to have children.
Is this true or what?
wat bout using the pill and still cumming inside her? is that effective enough as it says?
If you can't figure this out on your own, you don't need to be having sex - obviously you aren't old enough.
-.- It's common sense. She takes the pill, you have sex and ejaculate inside of her there is a lower risk of her getting pregnant if she weren't on the pill hence BIRTH CONTROL.
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