Birth control pills use hormones to prevent pregnancy in several ways, depending on the type of pill. "Combination" birth control pills stop the release of an ovum (egg) from the ovaries, thicken cervical mucus to block sperm from entering the cervix, and thin the uterine lining to prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg. Meanwhile, progestin pills or "mini-pills" thicken cervical mucus and thin the uterine lining, and are also able to suppress ovulation. Although this type of contraception is often simply referred to as the "birth control pill," there are actually several types of birth control pills available. If you've never used birth control pills before and want to make sure you're taking them correctly (a must for maximum effectiveness), wikiHow is here to help.
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Method 1 of 4: Choosing the Type of Pills
Step 1. Talk to your doctor or health care provider about the options you have
Many safe and effective contraceptive options are available to women. Birth control pills are widely available and can be more economical, making them an attractive option. However, depending on your needs, health and existing medical conditions, there may be other options that are better for you. Therefore, it is important to discuss any birth control needs you have with your doctor.
- There are two main types of birth control pills. The "combination" pill uses a combination of the hormones estrogen and progestin. Another type, called the "minipill" or "minipill," uses only progestins.
- Combination pills also come in two types. The "monophasic" birth control pills all contain the same levels of estrogen and progestin. "Multiphasic" pills have varying amounts of hormones in a number of phases.
- Combination pills also come in "low-dose" pill form. This type of pill contains less than 50 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol. Women who are more sensitive to hormones, especially estrogen, may benefit from these low-dose pills. However, low-dose pills can also cause more frequent bleeding outside of your period.
Step 2. Consider your health condition
Combination pills are often prescribed, but are not always appropriate for every situation. The final decision rests with the doctor and yourself. However, if any of the following apply to you, your doctor may advise you to avoid taking the combination pill:
- You are breastfeeding
- You are over 35 years old and smoking
- You have high blood pressure
- You have a history of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis
- You have a history of breast cancer
- You have a history of heart disease or stroke
- You have medical complications related to diabetes
- You have liver or kidney disease
- You have unexplained uterine or vaginal bleeding
- You have a history of blood clots
- You have lupus
- You have migraine with aura phase
- You will have a major surgical operation that will leave you immobile for a long period of time
- You eat the St. John's wort, anti-seizure medications, or anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs.
- Your doctor may advise you to avoid taking the mini-pill if you have breast cancer, have unexplained uterine or vaginal bleeding, or are taking anti-seizure or anti-TB drugs.
Step 3. Consider the benefits of the combination pill
Combination pills offer a variety of benefits that make them an attractive option for many women. However, the combination pill also has some risks. In considering which type of pill is right for you, it's a good idea to consider both of these aspects. The benefits of the combination pill include:
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Effective prevention of pregnancy with proper use (99%)
About 8 out of 100 women will become pregnant within the first year of taking the pill due to improper use
- Reduce cramps during menstruation
- Can protect users from pelvic inflammatory disease
- Reduce the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer
- Can reduce the frequency and lighten the menstrual cycle
- Improve acne condition
- Can help increase bone mineral density
- Reduced androgen production caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Protects against pregnancy outside the womb (ectopic pregnancy)
- Reduce the risk of iron deficiency anemia due to excessive bleeding during menstruation
- Protects against breast and ovarian cysts
Step 4. Consider the risks of taking the combined pill
While combination pills offer many benefits, there are a number of risks that you should discuss with your doctor. While most of these risks are rare, they can also be serious. Some of these risks may increase if you have certain medical conditions or if you smoke. The risks of taking the combination pill include:
- Does not protect the user from sexually transmitted diseases or HIV (you must use a condom to protect yourself from this)
- Increases the risk of heart attack and stroke
- Increases the risk of blood clots
- Increases the risk of having high blood pressure
- Increases the risk of developing liver tumors, kidney stones, or jaundice
- Makes breasts more sensitive
- Causes nausea or vomiting
- Gaining weight
- Gives a headache
- Cause depression
- Causes irregular bleeding
Step 5. Consider the benefits of the mini pill
The mini-pill, or progestin-only pill, has less of a benefit than the combination pill. On the other hand, the mini-pill also tends to have fewer risks. You should discuss with your doctor to determine whether the mini pill is a good choice for you or not. The benefits of the mini pill include:
- Can be consumed even by those who have certain health problems, such as blood clots, high blood pressure, migraines, or the risk of heart disease
- Can be consumed while breastfeeding
- Reduce menstrual cramps
- Can relieve menstruation
- Can protect users from pelvic inflammatory disease
Step 6. Consider the risks of the mini pill
Although the risks of taking the mini-pill are less than that of the combination pill, it is possible to experience rare but serious side effects from it. Talk to your doctor to determine whether or not it will benefit you from dealing with the risks. The risks of taking the mini pill include:
- Does not protect the user from sexually transmitted diseases or HIV (you must use a condom to protect yourself from this)
- Potentially less effective than combination pills
- Need additional contraception if you forget to take a pill within 3 hours of taking the same pill each day.
- Causes bleeding outside of menstruation (more common with the mini-pill than the combination pill)
- Makes breasts more sensitive
- Causes nausea and vomiting
- Increases the risk of ovarian cysts
- Has a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy than the combination pill
- Can increase acne
- Increase weight
- Cause depression
- Makes hair grow unusually
- Cause headaches
Step 7. Think about your preferred options regarding your period
If you are healthy enough to take birth control pills, you have several options. If you choose the combination birth control pill -- like many women -- you can choose to reduce the frequency of your menstrual cycle if that's what you want.
- Continuous-dose pills, also known as extended-cycle pills, reduce the number of menstrual cycles you have each year. A female user can experience infrequent menstrual cycles, up to four times per year. In fact, some women stop having periods altogether.
- Conventional birth control pills do not reduce the number of menstrual cycles you experience. You will still experience menstruation every month.
Step 8. Be aware that certain medications can prevent birth control pills
With the help of your doctor, you can determine if you are taking medications or supplements that will hinder the effectiveness of your contraceptive method or not. Medications known to block the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives such as birth control pills are:
- Several types of antibiotics, including penicillin and tetracycline
- Several types of seizure medication
- Several types of drugs for the treatment of HIV
- TB drugs
- St. Plants John's wort
Step 9. Tell your doctor any medicines you are taking
Before deciding to take any type of birth control pill, tell your doctor about any medications and supplements you are currently taking. Several types of drugs inhibit the effectiveness of birth control pills, and many can interact negatively and cause side effects. Make sure that you tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- Thyroid hormone drugs
- Benzodiazepines (such as diazepam)
- Prednisone drugs
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Beta-blocker drugs
- blood-thinning medications (such as warfarin)
- Insulin
Method 2 of 4: Starting a Usage Schedule
Step 1. Follow the doctor's directions
You should always follow the directions given by your doctor. Different pills have different conditions. Some have to be started at a specific time and some have to be consumed at a specific time. Start by reading the commands provided and then follow the steps afterward.
If you don't take birth control pills as directed, they may become ineffective and you could become pregnant
Step 2. Don't smoke
With smoking, the use of birth control pills becomes very dangerous for your health. Doing these two things at the same time puts your risk of blood clots very high, and it can kill you easily. Women over the age of 35 who smoke should not use combination birth control pills of any kind.
If you are a smoker, quit smoking. In fact, smoking occasionally in social situations can also harm you. If you are not a smoker, don't start
Step 3. Start taking birth control pills
Depending on the type of birth control pill you are given, it is possible that you will have to start taking birth control pills at a certain time. Don't forget to ask your doctor when you need to start taking birth control pills. In general, you have several options:
- You can start using the combination pill on the first day of your period.
- You can also start taking the combination pill the Sunday after the start of your period.
- If you have recently given birth vaginally, you should wait three weeks before starting the combination pill.
- You should wait at least six weeks after giving birth before starting the combination pill if you have a higher risk of blood clots or if you are breastfeeding.
- You can start taking the combination pill as soon as you have a miscarriage or abortion.
- Always use your new pack of combination pills on the same weekly day as your first pack.
- You can start taking the mini-pill (progestin) at any time. If you plan to have vaginal intercourse in the first 48 hours after taking the mini-pill, use another method of additional contraception.
- You should take the mini-pill at "the same time each day." Choose the right time so that you always remember to take the pill, such as right after you wake up or before you go to sleep.
- You can start taking the mini-pill as soon as you have a miscarriage or abortion.
Step 4. Realize that it is possible to get pregnant in some cases
If you start taking birth control pills from the first day of your period, they will be more effective at protecting you from getting pregnant right away. If you start taking birth control pills on another day, you are more likely to get pregnant after unprotected intercourse.
- If you start taking the pill on the Sunday after your period starts, it is recommended that you use an additional method of contraception for 7 days afterward.
- If you start your use schedule at another time, it may take up to a full month before the birth control pill is fully effective.
- To prevent pregnancy, if you do not start taking birth control pills within 5 days of your period starting, it is recommended that you use an additional method of contraception for a full month, or for a full cycle of pill use.
Method 3 of 4: Using Birth Control Pills
Step 1. Take the pill at the same time each day
You can take it in the morning or evening, but most women find that they remember taking the pill more at night because the evening routine usually doesn't vary as much as the morning routine. If you fail to take the pill at the same time each day, you may bleed and you may not receive as much protection as you should.
- If you are taking the mini-pill, you must take each pill within the same 3 hours each day. If you don't, you will need to have an additional method of contraception for the next 48 hours. For example, if you normally take your pill at 8 p.m., but you forget to take it until midnight, you should take the pill as soon as possible, but continue to use an additional method of contraception, such as condoms, for the next 48 hours.
- Setting an alarm on your phone to remind you to take a pill or placing a pill next to your toothbrush can help you remember if you're forgetful.
- In fact, some phone apps can remind you to take birth control pills, such as myPill and Lady Pill Reminder.
- Take the pill about half an hour after eating to avoid nausea.
Step 2. Identify the type of pill you are using
Combination pills come in several different "phases". For some types, the hormone levels contained in the pill change throughout the month. If you are taking a pill other than the monophasic pill, there may be additional instructions specific to the pill you are taking if you miss your scheduled pill.
- Monophasic pills contain the same levels of estrogen and progestin in each pill. If you forget to take a pill at some point, take it as soon as you remember. Take the pill for the next day at your usual time. Examples are Ortho-cyclen, Seasonale, and Yaz.
- Biphasic pills change estrogen and progestin levels once per month. Examples are Kariva and Mircette Ortho-Novum 10/11.
- The triphasic pill changes estrogen and progestin levels every 7 days for the first three weeks of taking the pill. Examples are Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Enpresse, and Cyclessa.
- Quadrifatic pills alter estrogen and progestin levels four times in one cycle. An example is Natazia, the only quadrifasic pill that can be prescribed in the United States.
Step 3. Take the combination pill according to the schedule you choose
Your combination pill can be a conventional type or a continuous (or extended) dose. Depending on the type of pill you have chosen, you may be taking different pills at different times each month. Refer to the instructions provided to you.
- For the 21-day combination pill, you will take one pill at the same time each day for 21 days. For 7 days, you will not take pills. Usually at this time you will have your period. After 7 days, you will start a new pill pack.
- For the 28-day combination pill, you will take one pill at the same time each day for 28 days. Some pills do not contain hormones or contain only estrogen. You will bleed for 4 to 7 days while taking the pill.
- For the 91-day (3-month) combination pill, you will take one pill at the same time each day for 84 days. Then, you will take a pill that contains no hormones or only contains estrogen at the same time each day for 7 days. You will bleed within 7 days of taking the pill every three months.
- For the 1-year combination pill, you will take one pill at the same time each day for the whole year. You may have less frequent periods, or even stop having periods altogether.
Step 4. Allow your body to adjust to the hormone administration
Remember that you may experience pregnancy-like symptoms during the first month as your body adjusts to the hormones (swollen breasts, sensitive nipples, blood spots, nausea). Some types of birth control pills can also stop your period altogether, so make sure you and your doctor fully understand the type of pill you're taking so you can estimate the symptoms you may be experiencing.
If you are concerned that you may be pregnant, you can use a home pregnancy test kit. The test kit will remain accurate even if you are taking birth control pills
Step 5. Watch out for the appearance of blood spots
Watch out for spotting or extra-period bleeding if you are taking pills designed to prevent you from having your period every month. In fact, pills that allow you to get your period can cause spotting. This is natural. Your body needs some time to adjust to the new schedule, the spotting will stop occurring before 6 months have passed.
- Spotting or bleeding outside of menstruation is more common with low-dose combination pills.
- Bleeding is also more common if you miss a day of taking the pill or you don't take the pill at the same time each day.
Step 6. Make sure that you restock before they run out
Of course you don't want to run out of pills, so make sure you schedule an appointment with your doctor before you need to refill. Generally, you should schedule an appointment when you only have two packs left of the previous recipe.
Step 7. Try a new contraceptive if the first try doesn't work for you
Don't be afraid to try a different brand or another method of contraception. Talk to your doctor about other pill brands if you're bothered by premenstrual symptoms (PMS) or side effects from certain pills you're taking. In addition, there are many methods of contraception besides birth control pills, it is easier to deal with some of them.
- Other hormonal contraceptives include birth control patches (patches) that combine estrogen and progestin, and vaginal rings.
- Some of the long-lasting and highly effective methods of contraception include the spiral contraceptive device (IUD), implants, and injections.
Step 8. Be aware of negative reactions to the drugs used
Stop using the pill if you have jaundice, pain in the abdomen, chest, or legs, a severe headache, or vision problems. You should especially be aware of the problems that can arise if you smoke. It's a good idea to stop smoking while using birth control pills. Undergoing both at the same time can increase the risk of health complications, such as blood clots.
Step 9. Know when you need to see a doctor
Birth control pills are not without some risks. If you experience any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor as soon as possible:
- Intense and consistent headache
- Changed or lost vision
- Aura (sees bright and dazzling lines)
- Numb
- Great chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Coughing up blood
- Dizziness or fainting
- Severe pain in the calf or thigh
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
Method 4 of 4: Dealing with the Missed Pill Case
Step 1. Try never to miss a pill but compensate if you do
When you forget to take a pill, take it as soon as you remember and take the next pill at your usual schedule. Some types of combination pills, especially multiphasic pills, may have additional instructions that you must follow.
- For most types of birth control pills, if you forget to take a pill until the next day, it is recommended that you take 2 pills that day.
- If you forget to take your birth control pill for 2 days, take 2 pills the first day you remember and then 2 the next day.
- If you miss a pill at any point in your cycle, it's a good idea to use an additional method of contraception such as condoms until you've finished a pack of pills.
- If you forget to take your pills in the first week of using the pack, you may need to use an emergency contraception method to prevent pregnancy.
- If you are taking a progestin pill (rather than a combination pill), it is very important that you take it at the same time each day. Taking them at different times of just a few hours can make you potentially pregnant.
Step 2. Call the doctor
If you don't know exactly what to do after skipping a pill, or you want to know whether or not you should consider using emergency contraception, call your doctor. Tell your doctor exactly what happened (the number of pills you missed, the number of days, etc.)
How you treat a missed or forgotten pill depends on the type of pill you are taking. Therefore, contacting your doctor is never a bad idea
Step 3. Consider alternatives when you are sick
Use another method of contraception if you are sick and have vomiting or diarrhea, as this means the pills don't stay in the digestive tract long enough to take effect.
- If you experience vomiting or diarrhea within 4 hours of taking the pill, it is most likely not effective at protecting you against pregnancy. Use additional contraception as in the case of a missed pill.
- If you have an eating disorder and use vomiting or laxative medications, it's unlikely that oral contraceptives will be effective for you. Use an additional method of contraception. Contact your doctor or mental health professional for further assistance.
Tips
- Always tell your treating healthcare provider if you are taking birth control pills or have taken the morning after pill, including health care providers you don't think you need to know, such as a dentist.
- You don't have to be afraid to use birth control pills. The health risks it has are far less than the risks you can experience while pregnant.
