The Pill. More than 100 million women around the world use it, and the likelihood is, you’ve asked yourself whether you should be on it too. But how effective is the combined pill? And what does the pill do to your body while preventing pregnancy?
On this page, we’re going to answer your questions, and more, in detail, to help you decide whether the pill is the right choice of birth control for you, your body and your lifestyle.
The pill, or combined oral contraceptive pill, works by setting up certain conditions in your body which keep the egg and sperm away from each other. If the two don’t meet, the egg doesn’t get fertilized, and you don’t get pregnant.
There are a few different types of combined pill, and they’re all over 99% effective at providing birth control if you remember to take them at the same time of day, every day. Your contraceptive cover can be compromised if you don’t take the pill at the same time each day. If you don’t, like on the odd occasion when you’ve forgotten, the pill’s effectiveness drops to 91%.
So, what is a combination pill? A combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP), has two female hormones in it: estrogen and progestin. Estrogen and progesterone are naturally made in the ovaries, and the pill contains synthetic (lab-made) versions. Synthetic progesterone is called progestin, and the pill is called a “combined” or “combination” pill because it combines two hormones.
Estrogen and progesterone control how and when your body prepares for pregnancy, but more on how the pill stops you from getting pregnant in a moment. As mentioned there are several different types of combined pill. They’re all effective at preventing pregnancy.
The 3 main types of COCP:
Monophasic pills all have the same amount of hormone in each pill. One pill containing hormones is taken each day for 21 days and then “spacer” pills without hormones are taken for the remaining 7.
Multiphasic pills are organized into rows with 2 or 3 different colored sections. The pills in one colored section contain different amounts of hormones to the pills in a different colored section, and the amount of “active” pills containing hormones can vary.
Every day pills: have 28 pills in one pack. There are 21 active pills and seven dummy pills (although some can contain four dummy pills). One pill is taken each day for 28 days with no break.
The first commercially available contraceptive pill was made available in the US in the 1950s. By the 60s it was in full swing and being used by 1.2 million women in America. A 2019 United Nations report estimated that over 20 percent of women of reproductive age from 27 countries use the contraceptive pill.
So, what does the pill do and how does the pill work? There are three ways progestin and estrogen in the pill work in combination to prevent pregnancy.
Number one: The pill stops ovulation. Normally, your ovaries release an egg every month. If that egg meets a sperm it can become fertilized. The pill stops ovulation, no egg is released, sperm and egg never meet, and fertilization doesn’t happen.
Number two: The combined pill makes the mucus in your cervix thicker, so sperm have a much harder time penetrating the uterus and reaching the egg.
Number three: The pill thins your uterine lining. The uterine lining builds throughout the month and is what’s dispelled during your period. Normally, the egg is implanted into this lining where it can grow once fertilized. A thin uterine lining means less chance of an egg being implanted into the uterus. Another benefit of this is that the pill can make periods lighter and more manageable.
If you’re wondering, “how long does the pill take to work?” the answer is that you can start taking it at any time but how long it takes to kick in depends on where you are in your cycle.
So, if you take the pill within 5 days of the start of your period, you’re protected from pregnancy right away.
If you start at any other time during your cycle, you’ll be protected from pregnancy after 7 days of using the pill. If you have sex before thay you’ll need to use a condom to protect against pregnancy.
The pill does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, so if you’re starting out with a new sexual partner, it may be a good idea to use a condom whether you’re taking the pill or not.
There are two ways of measuring whether a pill is effective at preventing pregnancy. The first is done by “perfect use” which is when you take the pill exactly as instructed, every day, without missing a dose. Taken perfectly, the combined contraceptive pill’s effectiveness is 99%.
“Typical use” is when someone takes the pill but may occasionally forget to take a dose or take it late. With typical use, the pill is 91% effective at preventing pregnancy. This means that around 9 in 100 women taking it over a year will become pregnant. One clinical study concluded that the pill is “effective, safe and well-tolerated.”
In another study following 900 women in three different countries (Brazil, Egypt and China) there were only four unwanted pregnancies reported, and all four occurred because the pill wasn’t taken “perfectly” (every day at around the same time). Similarly, in a study of over 2000 women taking the pill for a year, 19 became pregnant and 15 of those pregnancies were due to regularly missing doses or taking doses late.
So, to answer “how reliable is the pill?” With perfect use, very reliable. However, missing the occasional dose or taking a dose late will affect your protection, increasing the odds of becoming pregnant to around 9%. The best way to ensure that the pill is as effective as possible at protecting against pregnancy is to take it at the same time every day.
Other things which can impact how effective the pill is include vomiting or diarrhea, the antibiotic Rifampin, the antifungal Griseofulvin, HIV medicines, anti-seizure medicines and the supplement St. John’s wort. Speak with your clinician if you take these and use a condom as backup protection.
Some combined pills can help make periods more regular, lighter and less painful and ease symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) in addition to being 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when taken correctly.
Some more advantages of the birth control pill include uninterrupted sex without the need to put on a condom; reduced risk of ovarian, endometrial and colon cancer; protection against pelvic inflammatory disease; and a reduced risk of fibroids, ovarian cysts and non-cancerous breast disease.
Some combined pills are also used to treat moderate to severe acne. Talk to your prescriber if you struggle with acne, are taking birth control pills and have already tried topical treatments and antibiotics. They may be able to recommend a combined pill that can help your acne. It is important to note that the mini pill (progestin only pill) may make acne worse.
There are three possible ways to get started on the pill:
On the first day of your period, also known as the First Day Start. Here you take your first pill the first day you get your period. You’re protected from getting pregnant right away, so you won’t need to use a condom.
The Quick Start is when you take the first pill in your pack five or more days after your period started. Because the hormones in the pill need time to build up in your body, starting this way won’t protect you during your first seven days on the pill, so you should use a condom if you have sex.
The Sunday Start means you start taking the pill on a Sunday. Many oral contraceptive pills are arranged in the pack by day, with each row starting on Sunday, so this method means you’ll use your entire first pack rather than starting mid-row. Wait until you get your period and take your first pill on the next Sunday — this could mean taking it on the first day of your period. Like with the Quick Start, you’ll need to use backup contraception for the first seven days.
If you’re not breastfeeding: 21 days after giving birth, but check with your doctor or prescriber. If they give you the okay, you’re safe to start and will be protected straight away.
If you are breastfeeding, you won’t be prescribed a combination pill. Instead, the progestin-only mini pill is a more suitable alternative.
If you’ve had a miscarriage or abortion, you’ll be protected against pregnancy immediately if you start taking the pill within 5 days. If you wait more than 5 days, you should use additional contraception (like a condom) for your first week on the pill.
Yes, the pill is safe. That said, it’s common to notice a few side effects when you start a new pill. These are usually mild and go away after two to three months.
A few side effects include nausea, headaches, tender breasts, changes to your mood, bloating and breakthrough bleeding. Breast tenderness and nausea can be reduced by taking your pill before bedtime.
Serious side effects like allergic reactions or blood clots are rare, but you should go to the hospital if you have any signs of these. Signs of an allergic reaction include hives, swelling of the face or difficulty breathing. Signs of blood clots include leg pain or swelling, sudden breathlessness, chest pain or irregular heartbeat. Further information on the pill’s side effects can be found in the patient info you’ll get with your prescription. If you get side effects that are intolerable or don’t go away after a couple of months, speak to your prescriber who may suggest a different pill.
Older research sparked scares over a link between birth control pills and an increased risk of cancer. In fact, the combined pill decreases your risk for ovarian, uterine and colorectal cancers with a protective effect that can last up to 15 years after you stop using birth control. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the pill’s potential side effects before you start taking it.
Yes. You are protected from pregnancy during your combined pill break as long as you start taking your pill again on the 8th day. You must take your pills as you were before (preferably at the same time of day) on the 8th day.
This is because we know that not taking tablets for 7 days weakens the pill’s main effect of preventing your ovaries from releasing an egg; this means that there’s an increased risk that your body will release an egg if you miss your pill on the 8th day.
During your 7 day break on the pill, a lot of women will get ‘withdrawal bleeding’ a lot like getting a period. It’s caused by a break in hormones and isn’t a ‘real’ period. Answering, can I take my pill break early? No. This will increase your likelihood of getting pregnant.
Can you take the pill without a break? Yes, it’s safe and can stop monthly bleeding in some women.
Regular monthly bleeds have been found to have no known medical benefits, and by taking the pill continuously you can stop them. Continuous pill taking can also reduce period pain, migraines, other headaches, and is very convenient if there’s a week of the month where you just don’t want to be on your period.
If you do take a break you will likely bleed, like a period, only it’s artificial (caused by a sudden drop in hormones – as you’re not taking them in from the pill) and does not mean that you are not pregnant.
We call this an ‘off-label’ use, which means that whilst the pill isn’t being used exactly as per the manufacturer instructions, it’s safe to use it in this way. Any side effects will be the same as if you were taking the pill with a 7-day break.
Speak with your prescriber before taking the combined pill continuously because your levels of protection can depend on the type of combined pill you’re taking. They’ll be able to answer any other questions you may have.
The combined pill can be used as birth control up until you reach menopause or turn 50 years old. This is the same for the regular method and the continuous method.
However, there are a few circumstances where it might be beneficial to stop taking the pill, or consider a different birth control method. For example, if you develop certain health conditions, there may be a risk that these will interact with the combined pill.
A few examples include blood-clotting disorders, high blood pressure, heart problems, breast cancer, liver problems, gallbladder disease, migraines with aura (you see bright lights right before your migraine starts) and diabetes.
If you are a smoker over 35 or have just given birth let your prescriber know as they may recommend another form of birth control for you, long or short term.
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FSRH press release: Updated FSRH guidance on combined hormonal contraception (CHC) highlights new recommendations – and reminds us of important messages about safety and effectiveness - Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. [online] [Accessed 27th of September 2021].
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