The contraceptive pill is a reliable form of birth control if it's used correctly. However, with typical use, women tend to miss pills from time to time, which reduces the overall reliability. Around 0.3% of women who use the pill perfectly will become pregnant each year Around 9% of women will become pregnant if they [...]
The pill should not be taken in the following circumstances ( there's quite a lot of information here, but it's important!) Increased clotting risk: obesity with body mass index (BMI) more than 35 a history of blood clots in your legs (also known as DVT/deep vein thrombosis), in your lungs (pulmonary embolism) or in your [...]
The contraceptive pill increases your risk of getting a blood clot, as compared to a woman who is not on the pill. We know that women who use the pill for birth control have a higher risk of developing blood clots Some forms of the contraceptive pill cause a higher risk of clots than others-depending [...]
Taking the pill increases the risk of some types of cancer but may protect against others Your overall risk of cancer is lower if you take the pill Breast cancer occurs more often in women who take the pill- all women are advised to check their breasts regularly, and see a doctor if they notice [...]
Most women who use the contraceptive pill for birth control do not get any side effects. Serious side effects from the contraceptive pill are very uncommon. However, from time to time, side effects can arise. The contraceptive pill may cause high blood pressure. You should have your blood pressure checked at least once a year if [...]
If you are breastfeeding, the pill is not recommended as birth control because theoretically it might reduce the flow of milk. There are other more suitable types of birth control available such as the mini pill.
It used to be advised that antibiotics reduce the reliability of the contraceptive pill,in terms of birth control. However, we now know that most antibiotics have no effect on the pill- the exceptions are some uncommonly used antibiotics such as Rifampicin and Rifabutin. For most commonly used antibiotics, there is no impact on birth control, [...]
Yes. If you miss a pill and are worried your birth control has been interrupted, it's possible to take the morning after pill. Speak to your pharmacist or doctor, and follow the instructions carefully. There are two types of emergency contraceptive pill in Australia Levonorgestrel (brands include Levonelle, Postinor, Postella, Postrelle and Norlevo ) is [...]
