Combination pills contain both the hormones estrogen and progestin, which work together to prevent ovulation from occurring. They also cause the cervical mucus to thicken and the uterine lining to thin to further prevent sperm from reaching an egg. Some types of combination pills have 24 active and four inactive pills.
Women typically get their period during the week of inactive pills. For the best protection, take your combination pill at the same time every day. As long as you take them within the same hour period each day, however, you should be protected against getting pregnant. Progestin-only pills work primarily by thickening the cervical mucus and thinning the uterine lining. Mini-pills come in sets of 28 active pills. If you miss this window by three or more hours, you might begin ovulating.
Many women report experiencing some mild side effects after starting the pill, most of which go away with time. These can include:. Women with a history of stroke or high blood pressure or those who smoke might be at risk of more serious side effects such as blood clots, stroke, high blood pressure, and heart attacks. These include:. To prevent pregnancy, always use a backup form of birth control, such as condoms, diaphragms, sponges, or cervical caps, during the transition period after starting your birth control.
How Does the Pill Work? If you're cracking open your first pack of birth control pills, welcome to the club! Or perhaps you've been struggling to sort out which birth control method works best for you and are about to try yet another pill with a different blend of hormones. Either way, getting new birth control can be an exciting sort of experiment — at least, it's helpful to think of it that way. There are plenty of good reasons why people go on birth control , but the biggie is, of course, to prevent pregnancy.
So, how long does it take for the pill to kick in? It's a little complicated, and figuring it out starts with understanding exactly how pills do their thing in the first place. That means your ovaries won't release an egg. There are basically two kinds of hormonal birth control pills: a combination pill, which contains a blend of estrogen and progesterone, and a progesterone-only pill, which — you guessed it — only contains a synthetic version of progesterone.
They work essentially the same way and will "override your body's natural surges, to create a cycle yourself," Dr. Shirazian says. You're usually directed to start taking the combination pill on the first day of your period or within five days of the first day of your period because that will give it the most time to work before you would normally ovulate.
When taken that way, it'll start preventing pregnancy basically immediately, says Medline Plus. But you can also take it at any point during your cycle if you're willing to give it seven days to start working.
For those seven days, you'll also have to use a backup birth control method. The progesterone-only pill is a little more straightforward: You can start taking it at any point during your cycle and expect it to kick in after 48 hours. The oestrogen in the pill may cause your blood to clot more readily.
If a blood clot develops, it could cause:. The risk of getting a blood clot is very small, but your doctor will check if you have certain risk factors before prescribing the pill. The pill can slightly increase the risk of developing breast cancer and cervical cancer.
It can also decrease the risk of developing womb uterus cancer , ovarian cancer and bowel cancer. However, 10 years after you stop taking the pill, your risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer goes back to normal. Contraception is free to everyone through the NHS. Places where you can get contraception include:.
Find a sexual health clinic. If you need contraception, call your GP surgery or a sexual health clinic as soon as possible. Only go in person if you're told to. It can take longer to get contraception at the moment and some types are not widely available. You may only be able to get the combined pill if you've had your blood pressure and weight checked in the last 12 months.
If you cannot get the combined pill, you may be advised to use the progestogen-only pill or condoms for now. If you want advice about changing your contraceptive pill, you can visit a GP, contraceptive nurse sometimes called a family planning nurse , or sexual health clinic. You should not have a break between different packs, so you will usually be advised to start the new pill immediately or wait until the day after you take the last of your old pills.
You may also be advised to use alternative methods of contraception during the changeover, as the new pill may take a short time to take effect. Contraception services are free and confidential, including for people under the age of If you're under 16 and want contraception, the doctor, nurse or pharmacist will not tell your parents or carer as long as they believe you fully understand the information you're given and your decisions. Doctors and nurses work under strict guidelines when dealing with people under They'll encourage you to consider telling your parents, but they will not make you.
The only time that a professional might want to tell someone else is if they believe you're at risk of harm, such as abuse. The risk would need to be serious, and they would usually discuss this with you first. Page last reviewed: 1 July Next review due: 1 July Combined pill - Your contraception guide Secondary navigation Getting started How does the female condom work? Where to get contraception. What is emergency contraception?
Where can I get emergency contraception? Emergency contraception. Things to consider Age, health, lifestyle, side effects How effective is contraception at preventing pregnancy? Combined pill Progestogen-only pill Natural family planning fertility awareness. Condoms Female condoms Diaphragm or cap.
Condoms Female condoms. Female sterilisation Vasectomy male sterilisation. Contraception after having a baby. Using contraception effectively Will antibiotics stop my contraception working? What if my partner won't use condoms? Where can I get emergency contraception morning after pill, IUD? How effective is emergency contraception? When can I use contraception after a baby or while breastfeeding?
0コメント