If you’re sexually active and want to prevent unwanted pregnancy Choma, then contraceptives are definitely recommended. I’ve spoken to you about the various contraceptive options before, which you can still read about here and here, but in this article I’ll be focusing on The Pill. The Pill is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when you use it correctly. If you’ve just started taking the pill, or are thinking about it, then you might be worried about what it means to take the pill correctly and what happens when you don’t.

Well, to help ease your mind about taking the pill Choma, here’s a bit of advice on how to take the pill properly to make sure that it’s effective.

About the Pill

First off, there are actually a few reasons why young women take the pill. So you might be taking the pill for a reason that has nothing to do with pregnancy, such as:

• Regulating your periods
• Controlling Acne
• To treat Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
• To treat Endometriosis (which is a condition that occurs when tissue similar to the inside lining of the uterus is found outside of its normal location)
• To treat menstrual cramps or PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)

How the pill works

The pill usually works by preventing ovulation (the release of an egg during your monthly cycle). If you don’t ovulate then you won’t get pregnant because there isn’t an egg to be fertilised.

The pill also works by thickening the mucus around your cervix, which makes it harder for sperm to enter you uterus and reach any eggs that may have been released, preventing pregnancy.

How the pill should be taken

Most birth control pills come in either a 21-day or 28-day pack.

With the 21-day pack, you would take the pill once a day (every day for 21 days) and then stop taking the pill for 7 days (around this time you would get your period).

With the 28-day pack, you would take the pill once a day, every day. For the first 21 days you would take the hormone pills and then for the remaining 7 days take pills without the hormone (around this time you would get your period). Taking the 7 “non-hormone” pills is simply a way to keep you in the habit of taking the pill every day.

What about the best time to take the pill?

Well Choma, the pill works best when taken every single day and at the same time every day – regardless of whether you have sex or not. Taking the pill at the same time every day also helps you to remember to take the pill. The best thing to do would be to consider the best time for you and then set your alarm to go off every day at that time.

You can also time it around the same time that you do other regular activities, such as right before or after you brush your teeth.

What happens if I forget?

If you skip the pill or forget to take the pill (even if it’s just one pill), then keep in mind that this puts you at risk of falling pregnant. You should use a back-up form of contraceptive, such as the condom, to prevent pregnancy.

You might need to contact your healthcare provider on what to do if you miss the pill, because this sometimes depends on what type of birth control pill you’re using. But usually Choma, all you need to do is take the pill as soon as you remember and then keep taking your pills as normal. Some say you should take the pill twice (the missed pill and the pill scheduled for that day) but you should definitely check with your healthcare provider before you do this.

If you find that you’re always forgetting to take the pill, then perhaps you should consider another form of contraception Choma.

Different types of birth control pills

There are a few different types of birth control pills available to choose from Choma. They might differ slightly in how they work or how they affect your body. The most popular birth control pills you’ll find in clinics are:

• Ovral
• Nordette
• Triphasal
• Hyan

Speak to your healthcare provider about the general side effects of each and about which one would work best for you.

Things to remember

While taking the pill Choma, there are a few things you need to keep in mind:

• The pill only helps prevent unwanted pregnancy, not Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). So it’s important to still use a condom while taking the pill.

• Certain types of medication, especially antibiotics, can affect the effectiveness of the pill. So if you’re on medication, speak to your healthcare provider who should be able to advise you on what to do.

• Healthcare providers usually tell you to wait 7 days to 2 weeks for the pill to be completely effective. During this time, you need to be especially careful to use both the pill and a condom.

• You may or may not experience side effects when you start taking the pill. If you do experience side effects, they usually disappear after some time. However, if you notice persisting problems Choma, speak to your healthcare provider who will then advise you on a different option or check for any other problems that could be causing you to experience these side effects.

The pill is a great option for anyone who wants to prevent pregnancy but it has to be taken properly in order for it to be effective. Do you have any more questions about the pill Choma? Simply ask me in the comments below or on Ask Choma.