Oral Contraceptives

Oral contraceptives, commonly known as 'the pill,' are taken by mouth to prevent pregnancy. They work by inhibiting ovulation, thickening cervical mucus to block sperm, and making it more difficult for a fertilized egg to implant in the uterus. For more detailed information on specific oral contraceptives, please use the search function below.

Advantages

Oral contraceptives are highly effective, with a success rate of 99.7% with perfect use, reversible, do not interfere with sexual activity, and may reduce or eliminate menstrual flow and cramps while decreasing premenstrual symptoms.

Disadvantages

Oral contraceptives can interact with medications, reducing effectiveness and causing side effects like irregular bleeding, breast tenderness, nausea, or headaches. They may also raise the risk of blood clots, and do not protect against sexually transmitted infections.

There are two kinds

Combined Oral Contraceptive (COC)

Contains estrogen and progestin

Advantages

Decreased:
• Acne
• Body/facial hair growth
• Risk of endometrial ovarian and colon cancer
• Risk of fibroids and ovarian cysts

Disadvantages

• Should not be used by individuals over the age of 35 who smoke

Progesterone Only Pill (POP)

Contains progestin only

Advantages

May be suitable for:
• Individuals who cannot take estrogen
• Individuals who are breastfeeding
• Individuals over 35 years of age and smoke

Disadvantages

Some users may experience
• Hormonal side effects: acne, headaches, breast sensitivity, mood Issues, unwanted hair growth

Starting your birth control pill

Day 1 Start

Combined Oral Contraceptive
• Take the first tablet in the pack on the first day of menses (Day 1)
• No backup contraception required

Progestin-only Contraceptive
• Take 1 pill anytime and continue taking one pill daily at the same hour.

Quick Start

Combined Oral Contraceptive
• Take the first tablet at any point in the cycle
• Use backup contraception for first 7 days

Progestin-only Contraceptive
• Take 1 pill anytime and continue taking one pill daily at the same hour.
• Use backup contraception for first 2 days

Missed Pills

Combined Oral Contraceptive (COC)

Missed COC Pills:

Missed one pill:
- Take it as soon as you remember and take the next pill at your usual time (you may need to take two pills in one day). No backup contraception is required.
Missed two pills in a row:
- Take two pills on the day you remember, and two pills the next day.
- Use backup contraception for 7 days.
Missed three or more pills:
- Discard the rest of the pack and start a new one.
- Use backup contraception for 7 days.

Progesterone Only Pill (POP)

Missed POP Pills:

If you are more than 3 hours late in taking your pill:
- Take the missed pill as soon as you remember.
- Continue with the next pill at the usual time (you may need to take two pills in one day).
- Use backup contraception (e.g., condoms) for the next 48 hours.
If you miss more than one pill: Talk to your healthcare provider about alternative contraceptive methods.