5 myths & misunderstandings about the pill
Medically Reviewed by Dr Richard Bennett
Last updated on 19.06.2023
Does the pill make you gain weight?
A lot of women ask this question. So far, research shows no major effect of the contraceptive pill on weight. A review of 49 scientific trials in 2014 did not reveal an evidence of significant weight gain in women taking the pill. When the pill was first developed in the 1960s, the doses of oestrogen and progesterone were higher- it is possible this did have a bigger impact on weight, which may have contributed to the reputation the pill has for causing weight gain. The levels of hormones in today’s contraceptive pill are lower.
However, less commonly, it does seem that some individuals may be more susceptible to fluid retention or weight gain when taking hormonal treatments such as the pill. If this appears to be happening, your doctor will usually make sure there is no other cause, such as unhealthy diet or inadequate exercise- and may discuss changing to another pill or to a different form of contraception.
Does the pill affect your fertility?
No, not in the long term. Obviously, when taken correctly, day to day, the contraceptive pill prevents pregnancy. However, as everyone knows, even one missed pill can lead to a woman becoming pregnant. If you stop taking the pill, it leaves your system within days- there are no long-standing effects on fertility, though some women may find it takes a few months for their periods to settle back down. If there is any difficulty becoming pregnant after stopping the pill for a few months, you should speak to your doctor, as there may be another underlying issue.
Is it bad to skip the sugar pills?
Lots of women and girls skip their sugar pills (inactive pills) if they wish to skip a period. Some women will do this for several months in a row. Sometimes this is done to manage severe period pain, heavy periods, endometriosis, or other medical conditions. There is no long term health impact caused by skipping sugar pills on a regular basis- so if you need to do so for convenience or for medical reasons, it is OK- it’s an approach that is supported by many women’s health experts.
What about antibiotics and the pill?
The standard advice given to women in the past was that antibiotics would stop the pill working properly. This is now known to be untrue. Most antibiotics do not interfere with the pill, so no extra precautions are required. Antibiotics used to treat chest infections, sore throat, skin infections, urinary tract infections and other common illnesses have no effect whatsoever on the pill. There are rare exceptions which include uncommonly used antibiotics used to treat meningitis and TB.
Can you get pregnant on the pill?
The pill is a very effective method of birth control if used correctly all the time- but in reality, most women tend to miss a pill now and then, which reduces the reliability. About 0.3% of women who use the pill perfectly become pregnant each year. However, approximately 9% of women will become pregnant if they take the pill correctly most of the time. As most women fall into this second category, it means the pill is generally 91% effective. Of course, it’s important to note that more than 80% of sexually active women will become pregnant within a year if they do not use any form of birth control.
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