Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills, also known as oral contraceptives
or the Pill, are one of the most popular and reliable methods
of birth control. Most birth control pills contain 2 types
of hormones - estrogen and progestin - that your body produces
naturally during your monthly cycle. The hormones in the pill
prevent pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation. They also thicken
the cervical mucus, making it more difficult for sperm to
pass through the cervix to fertilize an egg.
The pill does not protect against HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted STIs.
As with any medicine, there are risks and side effects and some women with certain medical conditions should not use the pill at all. You need to see a physician before starting to use the pill.
- Birth Control Patch
- Contraceptive Injections
- Reliability of the Pill
- Benefits of Using the Pill
- Possible Side Effects with the Pill
- Who Should Not Use the Pill
- Instructions for Use of the Pill
The pill is easy to use, reversible and, when used correctly (that means taken every day without missing a pill) they are 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. The pill requires no interruption before sex. Taking birth control pills should not affect your ability to become pregnant after you stop taking them.
- Less menstrual cramping and bleeding
- More regular periods
- Less low blood counts
- Less pain at ovulation
- Less acne
Decreased risk of:
- Pelvic inflamatory disease (PID)
- Ovarian cancer
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Endometrial cancer
- Benign breast tumors or ovarian cysts
Possible Side Effects with the Pill
- Bleeding between menstrual periods
- More vaginal infections
- Darkening of skin color
- Weight gain or loss
- Elevated blood pressure
- Worse acne
- Depression
- Headache
- Nausea
- Breast discomfort
Birth control pills may be associated with blood clots in the legs or lungs, strokes, heart attacks, gallbladder disease or liver tumors. These conditions rarely result in death. The risks of heart attack increase for women over 35 who smoke. To decrease your chances of serious problems, you should contact NDSU Student Health Service (701-231-7331), or go to an emergency room, doctor or clinic if you have any of the following symptoms (note that the first letters of the words spell out the word ACHES):
- Abdominal pain (severe)
- Chest pain or shortness of breath
- Headaches (severe)
- Eye problems - blurred vision, flashing lights or blindness
- Severe leg pain in calf or thigh
(click here for a map to all clinics and emergency rooms in Fargo)
The birth control pill should not be used if you have any of the following conditions:
- If you are pregnant, or think you may be pregnant
- A history of heart attack or stroke
- Blood clots in the legs (thrombophlebitis), lungs (pulmonary embolism), or eyes
- A history of blood clots in the deep veins of your legs
- Chest pain (angina pectoris)
- Known or suspected breast cancer or cancer of the lining of the uterus, cervix, or vagina
- Unexplained vaginal bleeding (until your health care professional reaches a diagnosis)
- Hepatitis or yellowing of the whites of your eyes or of the skin (jaundice) during pregnancy or during previous use of hormonal contraceptives
- Liver tumor (benign or cancerous)
- Severe high blood pressure
- Diabetes with complications of the kidneys, eyes, nerves, or blood vessels
- Headaches with neurological symptoms
- Disease of heart valves with complications
- Need for a prolonged period of bed rest following major surgery
- An allergic reaction to any of the components of oral contraceptives
- Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects. This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age. Women who use hormonal contraceptives are stongly advised not to smoke. (If you smoke and wish to quit, NDSU has a Tobacco Cessation Program that can help.)
How to Use Birth Control Pills
1. There are three satisfactory ways to start taking your birth control pills. You should use the approach suggested by your health care professional.
- Start on the first day of menstrual bleeding
- Start on the first Sunday after your period begins
- Start today if you are certain that you are not pregnant
2. Swallow one pill every day until you finish the pack.
- If you are using a 21-day pack, stop one week and then start a new pack.
- If your are using a 28-day pack, begin a new pack immediately. Do not skip any days between packages.
3. Try to associate taking your pills with some regularly scheduled activity like going to bed, eating a meal or brushing your teeth. This may make it easier to remember. Pills work best if you take one about the same time every day in order to keep the proper amount of medication in your system. This is especially important if you have bleeding between your periods.
4. If you miss no pills and skip a period, you should probably not worry too much. You may be pregnant, but it is very unlikely. It is rather common for women taking birth control pills to miss periods occasionally. You are fairly safe and can start a new package of pills at the regular scheduled time. If you are worried, call the Student Health Service or your health care provider.
5. Check your pack of pills every morning to make sure that you took your pill the day before.
- If you miss one pill, take the tablet as soon as you remember it. Take your next pill at the regular time. You probably will not get pregnant, but just to be sure, you may want to use a backup method for seven days after the missed pill.
- If you miss two pills in a row, take two pills as soon as you remember and take two pills the next day. Then return to your regular schedule and use a backup method for seven days after two missed pills.
- If you miss three pills in a row, you will probably begin your period. Whether or not you are menstruating, throw away the rest of your pack and begin your next pack as you did when you first started the method. For example, if you started on Sunday, begin your next pack on Sunday. If you started on any other day, you may start your next pack immediately. Use a backup method until you have been back on the pills for seven days.
- If the pills you miss are from the fourth week of a 28-day pack, throw away the missed pills. Continue taking pills from your current package of pills on schedule. The pills in the fourth week of a 28-day pack do not contain any hormones, so missing them does not increase your risk of pregnancy.
- If you miss one or more pills and miss a period, you should stop taking pills and use another method of birth control. Contact your clinic for a pelvic exam or a sensitive pregnancy test. Those sold in drug stores will not be positive this early in a possible pregnancy.
6. A backup method may not be necessary if you started the pills on the first day of bleeding. For a Sunday start, use another method of birth control as a backup for the next seven days. Keep a backup method handy all the time.
7. If you miss two periods, come to the clinic for a pregnancy test, even if you have taken your pills every day right on schedule. Bring a sample of your first morning urine in a clean container.
8. If you become ill and have several days of diarrhea or vomiting, use a backup means of birth control for the remainder of that cycle (until your next menstrual period starts).
9. It is not uncommon for women to have some spotting when they first start to use the pill. If it is heavy and occurs for two or more cycles, call the clinic.
10. If you decide you want to become pregnant, discontinue use of the pill. You may wish to use another reliable method of birth control until you have had two or three normal menstrual periods off the pill so that your date of delivery can be accurately calculated.
11. When you are seen by a clinician for other problems or are admitted to a hospital, be sure to mention that you are using birth control pills.
12. Antacids, Vitamin C and some prescribed medications may interfere with the efficiency of either the oral contraceptives or that particular medication. Consult Student Health Service your your health care provider before taking other medications.
13. You will be given an extensive pamphlet about your birth control pill to read. The pamphlet is produced by your birth control pill manufacturer. Read the whole pamphlet carefully.
14. It is your responsiblity to learn the side effects of the pill and the pill danger signals (listed above). Do not ignore these problems or wait to see if they go away. Call the Student Health Service or your health care provider immediately and explain your problem.