Birth control pills – what do you need to know before you take your first pill?

Among the many contraceptive methods available, one of the most popular is the birth control pill. To be able to use them, it is necessary to visit a gynecologist, because they are issued only with a prescription.

If you’re wondering whether they’re a method for you as well, we’ve compiled all of the most important information about them below so that you can clear up your doubts.

How does the contraceptive pill protect against pregnancy?

The contraceptive pill is one of the hormonal methods of contraception. The synthetic hormones they contain are derivatives of the naturally occurring ethinyl estradiol and gestagens. They are designed to inhibit ovulation, making the possibility of fertilization of a mature cell impossible

It is recognised that contraceptive pills are one of the most effective methods of preventing unwanted pregnancy. According to the Pearl index, which determines how many couples out of 100 using this method of conception get pregnant, it ranks between 0.2 and 1 couple, thus giving almost 99% effectiveness

It is also worth mentioning that the contraceptive pill is very often used in gynaecological treatment of

• premenstrual syndrome,
• menstrual cycle equalization,
• painful menstruation,
• polycystic ovarian syndrome,
• acne

Types of hormonal pills

Among the types of birth control pills, there are one-, two- and three-phase pills

With the monophasic pill, the amount of hormones in the pill is always the same, so it makes no difference which pill you take. With the two-phase and three-phase pills, however, the dose of hormones delivered to your body changes on specific days of your menstrual cycle. It is therefore important to make sure that you take them in the right order. The type of pill prescribed is always decided by your gynaecologist.

How do I take the contraceptive pill?

The contraceptive pill is usually 21 in 7, which means that you take it every day for 21 days and then have a 7 day break, during which you have a period, but not a menstrual period, known as a withdrawal bleed. After 7 days you should start taking tablets from a new blister again

It is best to take the pills at one fixed time, which reduces the risk of missing a dose. It is usually recommended to take the pills in the evening, however, not because they work better at that time but because of possible discomforts accompanying the first months of taking them, which may include nausea, headaches or sluggishness. This is a natural reaction of the body and usually disappears after about 2-3 months. However, if you take the pills in the evening, you do not have to deal with them during the day, because they will come to you while you are sleeping

Many women give up taking birth control pills for fear that they won’t remember to take them. However, simply using the following three protips can make regular consumption less of an issue

1. Set an alarm clock on your phone. The first method to help especially at the beginning of taking birth control pills to keep an eye on the regular time of taking them is to set a daily regular alarm clock to remind you to take your pills
2. Take the pills along with your regular activities. If you take the pill during your morning routine or your pet’s feeding time, it will be much easier to remember to take it.
3. Always keep a spare tablet in your wallet. Are you worried that the time to take the tablet might come when you are away from home? First of all, remember that a short delay of 2-3 hours will not affect the hormone action, but you should avoid gaps of more than 36 hours between tablets. Therefore, for each new pack, cut off one tablet from the blister and put it in your wallet in a place where it will not fall out. This way you will always have it with you in case you forget to take the whole blister with you to a friend’s house at night.

When using birth control pills, also keep in mind that although they are one of the most effective methods of preventing pregnancy, they in no way protect against STDs.

Read also What should hygiene look like during the period?

Main Photo: Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition/ unsplash.com