Decrease The Chance Of Oral Contraceptive Failure By Following These Four Tips
If you take an oral contraception --more commonly known as the Pill-- as a birth control method, here are four tips that will help you avoid oral contraceptive failure.
You Must Take The Pill Everyday
In order for oral contraception to work properly, you need to take the pill everyday at the same time. Your body needs to get the chemicals contained in the pill at the same time every day in order to prevent you from ovulating, which is how the pill helps prevent pregnancy.
You need to pick a time that you know you will be awake at every day and at a time where you can quickly take the pill. The pill is so small you can easily swallow it without a glass of water, so the key is just to be somewhere at the same time everyday where you can access the pill.
Often times, people will take the pill when they wake up; however, unless you wake up at the same time every day this may not be the best time to take the pill. If you oversleep just once and take the pill late, you increase the chance of failure. Try to pick a time in the middle of your day instead that you know you can stick to. Set a reminder or alarm to go off on your phone so that you never forget to take the pill.
Bring An Extra Pack When You Travel
If you know you are going to go out of town, pack an extra pack of pills with you. If you are traveling via plane, keep a pack on your person and on in your checked luggage. That way, if something happens and you lose the pills while traveling, you'll have a back-up. Also, if you finish one pack while traveling, you'll have a new pack.
Many doctors will allow you to fulfill your prescription for the pill in advance; if your doctor doesn't do this as a regular practice, explain that you will be out of town and need to fill your prescription early. Contact your local gynecology office like Mile High OB GYN for more information on this.
Use A Backup Method
Although the pill is highly effective, it is not perfect. If you want to increase the chances of success, you should always use a backup method of birth control. Common backup methods of birth control for the pill are male or female condoms.
If for any reason you skip a pill or take the pill later than you are supposed to during the day, you should also use a back-up method as a safety precaution against contraceptive failure until you complete your pill pack cycle.
You should also use a back-up method if you become sick during a pill pack cycle. Vomiting or extreme diarrhea could render your pill ineffective because it did not have enough time to actually work.
Check Your Medications
Finally, if you start taking a new medication, be sure to remind your doctor that you are on the pill and make sure that the medication does not make the pill less effective. Some medications do not react well with the pill. If this is the case with a medication you need to take, see if there is an alternative medication you can take or be sure to use a back-up birth control method while you are taking the medication.
By following the four tips above, you should decrease the chance of your oral contraceptive failing and increase the chance that it will work effectively.
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