Maybe you've heard the story that taking birth control pills is not always effective at preventing pregnancy. Before blaming birth control pills, you should first know some things that can make the effectiveness of birth control pills decrease.
Birth control pills are actually more than 90% effective at preventing pregnancy, even up to 99% if used correctly and regularly. However, there are some things that need to be considered to prevent the effectiveness of birth control pills from decreasing.
Various reasons birth control pills are not effective
If you are using birth control pills and are not planning on getting pregnant, pay close attention to this. Here are some factors that can make birth control pills fail to prevent pregnancy:
1. Forgot to take birth control pills
Birth control pills work by maintaining the body's hormone levels. Forgetting to take birth control pills can make hormone levels drop rapidly. This condition can cause ovulation.
Ovulation, or the release of an egg, can increase your chances of getting pregnant. The risk of pregnancy increases if you have missed two or more birth control pills in a row. The same is true if you don't start taking a new birth control pill right away after the previous pack of birth control pills is finished.
2. Not drinking it regularly
Not taking birth control pills at the same time can affect hormone levels in your body and increase your chances of getting pregnant, especially if it's been more than 24 hours since your last pill.
3. The pill has not been absorbed by the body
Vomiting after taking birth control pills makes the hormone content in these pills not able to be absorbed by the body. If you don't get a replacement pill for vomiting, hormone levels will suddenly drop, which can trigger ovulation.
4. Take supplements or other drugs at the same time
The effectiveness of birth control pills can be compromised if you take them at the same time as other medicines, such as some types of anti-seizure drugs, antibiotics, and antifungals; or supplements, such as alfalfa, garlic, and supplements flaxseed.
5. Drink alcohol
In fact, taking birth control pills with alcohol does not affect the metabolism of birth control pills in the liver and increases the chances of getting pregnant. However, excessive alcohol consumption can increase the risk of forgetting to take your birth control pills on time and use condoms.
Tips for effective birth control pills to prevent pregnancy
So that the plan to delay pregnancy does not fail, there are several tips that you need to do to make the birth control pill effective, including:
- Take birth control pills on time, every day and at the same time. Set an alarm to remind you when necessary.
- Take 1 dose immediately if yesterday you forgot to take your birth control pill. Continue taking today's dose at the same time as usual.
- Immediately control to get a new birth control pill for the next 1 month, at least 1 week before the current birth control pill runs out.
- Use a backup method of contraception if you forget to take your birth control pills, for example with a condom. If necessary, avoid sexual intercourse for the next 1 week.
- Consult your doctor if you are taking any medication at the same time as birth control pills.
- Avoid or limit alcohol consumption.
Recognizing the things above is expected to make you more confident in using birth control pills to delay and plan pregnancy carefully. When you are planning to get pregnant, stop using birth control pills or other contraceptives.
The effects of birth control pills generally decrease about 2 weeks after you stop taking them. Some women may take longer. If you still need more information about using birth control pills effectively, don't hesitate to consult a doctor, yes.
