| Question |
Answer |
| Are all pills the same? |
No - there are around 30 varieties of the pill available, and each of them is slightly different |
| What does the pill contain? |
There are two main types of pill. The pill can contain two types of hormone - an estrogen and a progestin and some pills contain progestin only. When you become pregnant the body produces these hormones naturally, to stop you producing any more eggs. The combined pill mimics this action, so that even though you are not pregnant, ovulation is prevented. It also thickens the mucus in the cervix, which makes it difficult for the sperm to get through. The progestin only pill works by thickening the mucus at the entrance to the womb. In some women it may also prevent ovulation. |
| Are there any additional health benefits to taking the pill? |
Yes - as well as short-term benefits such as more regular, lighter and less painful periods, in the long-term the pill is known to reduce the risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer by as much as 20% and 50% respectively.
Guillebaud, J. Contraception: Your Questions Answered. Churchill Livingstone, 2009 |
| How reliable is the pill? |
The pill is one of the most reliable forms of contraception, giving a very high degree of protection against pregnancy when taken as instructed. |
| Are there any pills that offer extra benefits? |
Some pills can improve the condition of your skin and hair, others help with symptoms such as acne, PMS, and cyclical bloating. |
| Should I take a break from the pill? |
There is no evidence to suggest that the pill has any effect on long-term fertility or that it is necessary to take a `pill break`. |
| What if I don`t like the pill I`m on - can I switch? |
Lots of different pills are available, and they are all slightly different. If you find the pill you are on does not suit you, talk to your doctor. They will recommend an alternative contraceptive option. |
| Do I have to go to my doctor to be prescribed the pill? |
Yes, the pill needs to be prescribed by a doctor. |
| How do I start taking the pill? |
Talk to your healthcare provider and check the Patient Information Leaflet. You can also start on day two to five of your period, although if you do this, you should also use another form of contraception (e.g. a condom) for the next seven days. |
| Do I take the pill every day? |
It depends on the type of pill. Each pill works across a 28 day cycle including the pill-free or placebo interval, which means you have one pack for each cycle. With some you have to take a hormonal pill everyday of the cycle. With others you take a hormonal pill every day for 21 or 24 days of the cycle, and then have a hormone free break of seven or four days where either no pills are taken or a hormone free pill is taken. During this break, you will still be protected and you will have a menstruation-like bleed. |
| Is it safe to have sex during the four or seven day break? |
Yes - as long as you have taken the previous pills as instructed. Also, if you do have sex during the break, it`s important to start your next pack on time and make sure the pills are taken correctly. |
| Will my periods be affected? |
The pill usually makes your periods more regular, shorter, lighter and less painful. |
| Are there any side effects or health risks with the pill? |
The pill has been used since the 1960s. Some women may have side effects when they first start taking the pill, but usually these subside after about 12 weeks. Side effects can include bleeding between periods, headaches and breast tenderness. Some brands of combined pill contain a higher dose of estrogen. If you are on this type of pill and are suffering from side effects, it would be helpful to ask your doctor if you can switch to a low-dose estrogen pill. There are also different types of progestin available, so again, it is worth discussing the different options with your doctor. Different types suit different women.
A few women may suffer from thrombosis, but this is uncommon. The risk of thrombosis depends on a number of factors, including family history, age and body weight, and increases if a combination of risk factors are present. The relationship between thrombosis and the pill is far less strong than for other risk factors, is much less than the chances of developing thrombosis if you don’t use contraception and get pregnant and varies depending on the type of contraceptive pill you take.1 If you have ever had a blood clot, or you have a family history of thrombosis or circulatory disease, you should let your doctor know, as the pill may not be suitable for you.
You should also inform your doctor if you are a smoker, have diabetes or high blood pressure as these conditions also increase the risk of a clot. Being overweight or immobile (for example, wheelchair users), also increase the risk.1
See your doctor at once if you develop any of the following symptoms:
• severe pain and swelling in the calf of one leg
• severe chest pain and difficulty breathing
• severe abdominal pain
• severe, prolonged headache - especially if you have not previously suffered from migraine
• loss of vision or weakness on one side of the body
• yellow eyes and skin (jaundice)
Although these symptoms are worrying, it must be stressed that they are rare and will not affect most women taking the pill.
There might be an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
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| Do I need to take it at the same time every day? |
Yes, either morning or evening, it`s up to you, but you do need to get into a regular routine of pill-taking. If you forget to take your pill, with most types you`ll still be protected if you can take it up to 12 hours later - but it`s wise not to do this too often. Some progestin only pills can only be taken up to three hours late. |
| I`m on antibiotics - how does this affect my pill? |
Some antibiotics and other prescription drugs can reduce the effectiveness of the pill so always tell your doctor or pharmacist you`re taking the pill if you are prescribed medicine. |
| How should I protect myself from STIs? |
The pill does not offer protection against STIs (sexually transmitted infections), so, until you are sure of your partner`s sexual history or sexual health, it`s advisable to use a condom in addition to taking the pill. |
| Will the pill make me put on weight? |
Although some women on the pill weight gain, it could be due to the pill. However, with some pills you might put on weight when you start taking them, due to water retention, which makes you feel bigger. But there are recently developed pills which can avoid such water retention to some extent.
You may also find your appetite increases in the first three months of pill taking - and of course if you eat more you may gain weight! Watch what you put on your plate to make sure the pounds don`t creep on.
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| Will the pill give me spots? |
Actually some of the newer pills can help clear up your skin. Talk to your doctor about how the right pill could combat skin problems such as acne. Sometimes women do break out in response to their pill, and if this is the case you should consult your doctor. With around 30 types of pill available today, you should be able to find the pill which is best for you. |
| Will the pill make me feel sick? |
Some women do feel sick when they take the pill, but there are so many varieties available today - including newer, low-dose formulations - you should be able to find a pill to suit you. |
| Will I need to take a break from the pill after a few years to let my body recover? |
There`s no evidence or scientific rationale that this should be done. Doctors do recommend reviewing your contraceptive needs after around 15 years of pill-taking, or at the age of 35, but many women continue to take the pill until reaching the menopause. |
| Will long term pill use affect trying to get pregnant? |
Large studies have investigated this and there is no evidence to suggest the pill has any long term effect on a woman’s ability to have a baby, even if it is taken for a long period of time. |
| Isn’t it going to be difficult to remember to take the pill daily? |
Try to adopt a routine with your pill-taking to make it easier for yourself to remember.
If you are very forgetful, you may prefer to try an everyday pill. This type of pill is taken on each day of the month, instead of having the seven day break, so it’s easier to develop a set routine.
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