BIRTH CONTROL PILLS

• Take one pill every day at the same time each day.
• There are type types of birth control pills- combination pills with both estrogen and progestin and the mini-pill that has only progestin.
• In each pack of combination pills, 21 pills have hormones, and the other 7 pills are placebos with no hormones.
• If you forget one day to take a pill that has hormones, take it as soon as you remember or take 2 pills the next day.
• If you forget to take your pills with hormones several days in a row, you will need to start a new pack.
• Use condoms if you have sex for 7 days after starting a new pack. If you forget to take one or more of the pills without hormones, just toss those pills and continue the rest of the pack.
• Some women take combination pills to control their period, lessen acne, or reduce menstrual cramps and PMS symptoms. You can use some types of combination pills to skip your period (totally safe).

• You may choose to take the mini-pill if you are sensitive to estrogen or want to breastfeed. All 28 pills in the mini-pill pack have progestin hormones, so your periods may not be regular. The mini-pill must be taken at the same time each day or it may not work as well to prevent pregnancy. If you forget to take one mini-pill, continue the pack but for the next 7 days, use a condom or don’t have sex.

• Easy to use and very effective.
• Do not have to interrupt sex.
• No loss in fertility after pills are stopped.
• Periods are usually lighter, more regular and have less cramping.
• May improve acne.
• Some pills, when used as directed, can allow you not to have a period for several months.

• No protection against STIs and HIV/AIDS
• Must get pills from a clinician.
• Not all women can take the pill.
• Must remember to take a pill every day.
• May have nausea at first.
• May have weight gain, headaches, breast discomfort, depression, or loss in sex.
• May miss periods or have irregular bleeding.
• Skin on face may darken (like sometimes in pregnancy).
• May not produce as much milk if breastfeeding.
• May get high blood pressure or blood clots (Rare).
• May not be a good choice for women who have had breast cancer, liver disease, stroke, diabetes or blood clots.
• Heart attack (Rare)
• Liver tumors (Rare)

See your clinician if you have severe abdominal pain, chest pain, headache, shortness of breath, changes in vision, or severe leg pain.

These are possible symptoms that usually clear up in 2 or 3 months:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Sore breasts
• Spotting between periods
• Some women take the pill every day to avoid periods. Spotting or bleeding the first 6 months between periods is normal. It may lessen or completely stop over time.

With perfect use, the pill is 99.7% effective. With typical use, the pill is 93% effective.