Birth control has been a priority with many newly formed families around the world. For causes that range from personal to societal, contraceptives have bagged a position of prime importance for couples who are a bit conscious of their priorities. Birth control pills are more often successful in accomplishing their task of contraception. However, due to instances of human error, the destined action of contraceptives may deft your destiny when it comes to combating an unintentional child birth.
Don’ts
Birth pills have their desired effect only when taken according to a prescribed dosage and timing. If you fail to do so, be prepared to get a small baby kicking your tummy sometimes in the near future. Another disturbing thing about birth control pills is that you cannot use a pill that is different from what has been prescribed to you.
Why it is wrong
Birth control pills are actually hormones, specifically estrogens or progesterone that are released in your blood stream within half an hour of consumption, and the effect of the pill lasts for a scheduled duration, depending on the pill that you are taking. The effectiveness of the pill decreases after the duration and it is mandatory to take in the next dosage approximately at the same time of the day. If in any case, under stressful forgetfulness, you forget to take your prescribed dosage, it is very much possible that you could get pregnant. Secondly, contraceptives start their contraceptive action only after being assimilated in your blood, which is half an hour after consumption. If you feel yourself losing out to your desires before that crucial half an hour is over, be prepared to face the unwanted. Birth control pills, if taken irregularly, can be a bit of annoyance because you could be getting your menstrual cycles irregularly apart from the fear of getting pregnant unintentionally.
The right way
So when you decide to have a hassle free sex life with your partner, a contraceptive could of course be your first choice, but to make it a continuous choice, it is important to take it on a routine basis. Remember to take a pill continuously, everyday, at an approximately same time for 21 days of the month. For the next 7 days, you need to take a break. To be in the habit of taking the pills, you can as well go for a 28 days pack, wherein there are 21 tablets containing hormones (known as active pills), and 7 more with no trace of any hormonal dosage (these pills are there just to remind you that taking a regular dosage is something that you simply cannot afford to forget). In case you have forgotten to take a pill, make it a point to take it as soon as possible and take the next dosage at the prescribed time. It is not generally advisable to disturb a schedule of contraceptives. In case you have been careless enough to skip two of them at a stretch, a medical advice would be a better option.
It is better always to have a backup plan along with intake of contraceptives, especially during the first seven days of pill consumption. Once your body gets accustomed to the hormonal spurts of the contraceptives, your chances of getting pregnant are as low as one percent. In cases of failure to observe a strict timing of intake, the chances of getting pregnant rise to seven or eight percent. Once you stop taking the pills, you resume your regular menstrual cycles after four to six weeks. If you do not get your cycles even after two to three months of stopping your contraceptive intake, the probability is that there is something sweet to be revealed to your ears. A complementary advice, which could be beneficial to women, is to keep a control on the urge to share your pills. Even if you forget to take your regular dosage on time, please do not ask your friend to lend you one. Every contraceptive has a different formulation. Your pill would suit your body. Don’t take the risk of inviting side effects by using something that your body does not recognize.
So, now that you know almost all about birth control pills or oral contraceptives, drop down your worries. Pop one into your mouth and set yourself free, of course after a bit of initial restraint. Just remember one thing; there is no method that can prevent pregnancy with a probability of 100%. It is always a good idea to be on the safer side by not depending on just one method. Now that male contraceptives are also available in the market, both you and your partner can take equal care of you not getting pregnant.