The “pill,” commonly referred to as birth control pills, is a widely used oral contraceptive for preventing pregnancy. When used regularly, the pill is a fairly effective method of birth control.
With perfect use, it is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, and with practically perfect use, it is about 91% effective, which is a more practical percentage for most women.
The more consistently you take the pill, the more effective it will be, but no approach is 100% effective, so it’s critical to educate yourself about the pill and appropriate birth control.
The birth control pill is discussed in this article along with how to determine if it is effective for you.
What is a contraceptive pill?
A hormonal kind of birth control that requires oral administration at the same time each day is the birth control pill. The pill is small, spherical, and simple to swallow. Even some medications can be chewed!
Combination birth control pills function by sending a small dose of oestrogen and progestin to the body, signalling it to slow or stop ovulation, thicken cervical mucus to block sperm entry, and thin the uterine lining to lessen the chance that an egg will be able to attach to the uterine lining if it is fertilised.
How to Know if the Pill is Working?
Based on what type of pill you are taking and when you start, your doctor can help you figure out how long it will take for your pill to start functioning.
Once you take the first dose, it may take up to seven days for the combination pill to start working and up to two days for the progestin-only pill to start working.
Use another method of contraception if you have sexual activity during this time after starting the pill to ensure that you are protected against unintended pregnancy.
Also read: 6 Things To Do After Having Sex for a healthy Vagina
If you are taking the medication at the same time each day and are not suffering any negative side effects, the pill should be effective even if there is no visible external evidence that it is.
It may take up to four months before you start to notice results if you are taking the pill for any other conditions, such as regulating erratic bleeding or hormonal acne. When your body becomes used to the new medication, be patient and continue taking it as prescribed.
Clearer skin, regular periods, and lighter, less painful periods could be long-term indications that the tablet is working.
How Can You Tell If Your Birth Control Isn’t Effective?
Birth control pills come in a wide variety of forms, so it’s probable that you’ll need to test a few before you find the one that works best for your body.
If the pill is giving you unpleasant side effects, you may need to switch to a new kind of pill with a different hormone dosage.
Speak with your healthcare provider about your birth control alternatives if you experience any adverse effects, such as headaches, nausea, irritability and mood swings, breast tenderness, or abnormal spotting or breakthrough bleeding. These adverse effects are frequent and can frequently be treated by a physician.