What is the birth control pill?           

Birth control pills contain synthetic forms of the hormones estrogen and progesterone and work mainly by suppressing ovulation.  They may also prevent fertilization or implantation.

How effective is the pill?

If you take your pills consistently and correctly, the pill is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.

How do I take the pill?

Read the package insert before you start on the pill.  Pill packages usually contain 21 hormone pills and seven non-hormonal or "inactive" pills.  When you first start using the pill, you will begin on the first day of your period or on the Sunday following the first day of your period as instructed by your clinician.  Then, every day at the same time, you will take the next pill in the sequence untill all the pills are gone.

You will have to use back-up protection such as condoms and vaginal spermicide for two weeks when first starting the pill.

What should I do if I miss a pill?

Catch up on your pills by taking the missed pill as soon as you remember and the next pill at its regular time.  If you miss two pills, take two as soon as you remember and two again the next day.  If you miss three pills in a row, consult your package insert or your practitioner for instructions.  Missing any of the "inactive" pills will not increase your risk of pregnancy.

If you miss pills, you should use back-up protection for a week.  To further reduce the risk of pregnancy, you may take emergency contraception up to 72 hours after your missed pill.

Are there any side effects with the pill?

For the first one to three months, you may have certain common adjustment side effects.  These can include nausea, breast tenderness, and spotting or light flow (break through bleeding) between periods.  If you do have these side effects, they will usually go away within three months.

The risk of serious side effects is very slight for most women on the pill.  They may include high blood pressure, blood clots, stroke, heart attack, benign liver tumors, and depression.  These risks are higher if you smoke, especially for smokers over 35.

Side effects may include weight gain or loss, irregular menstrual bleeding, nausea, breast tenderness, changes in skin, hair loss, problems with contact lenses, increased vaginal infections, and minor mood changes.  If you experience any of these, contact your health care provider: sometimes a change in type or dosage of pills can alleviate such side effects.

Call your health care provider immediately if any of the following occur:

• chest pain, leg pain, severe abdominal pain
• sudden severe or persistent headache
• shortness of breath
• coughing up blood
• vision or speech disturbances
• sudden dizziness or fainting
• weakness or numbness in arms, legs, or face
• jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyeballs)
• severe mood changes, especially with difficulty sleeping and lack of energy.