The birth control pill is like a boon to many modern-day women who want to delay pregnancy until they are ready. But the pills have their limitations. Popping a pill after you had unprotected sex the night before carries a fair chance of an accidental pregnancy in every eight women out of 100, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You sure don’t want to be among the unlucky eight. Here are 11 other ways to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
If birth control pills are your only form of protection, then you need to be very cautious. Ideally, you need to have your pill every day at the same hour to avoid an unplanned pregnancy. Remember, with this pill, timing is of the essence. Here are some myths about the pill that you need to know about.
Know your pill
Birth control pills are available in two forms – progestin-only pills and combination pills. The progestin-only pill increases the level of progesterone in the body whereas the combination pill increases the levels of both estrogen and progesterone. However, the effect of these pills is short lived – 24 hours. So you need to take them regularly every day without fail to keep the hormone levels from falling and preparing your body for an unwanted pregnancy. Here are10 quick facts about the morning after pill that you need to know.
The role of hormones
Both the hormones, progesterone, and estrogen work in their own ways to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. The increase of progesterone and estrogen in the body delays the release of an egg from the ovaries, make the cervical mucus thicker so that the sperm doesn’t unite with an ovum, in case the ovary releases one. Apart from this, they make the uterine lining thinner so that even if the sperm unites and transform into a fertilised egg, it fails to attach itself to the uterine wall. Here are three things you need to do after having unprotected sex.
Why you need to time your pill
Now, if you fail to take your pill on time or have sex after taking the pill right away, it gives your body enough time to revert to its fertile state and release an egg. It would also mean that the pill will have to fight your body’s fertility mechanism and it could be too late for it to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. So to prevent an unwanted pregnancy make it a point to have your pill at the same time every day. This will make sure that your body has requisite levels of progesterone and estrogen to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. Here are eight other contraceptive methods to save you from unwanted pregnancy.
Should you really worry?
Yes, if you have progestin pills there are reasons to worry because their effects fade out within 24 hours. However, it is not to say that missing combination pills are safe. If you miss two or more combination pills in a row your chances of becoming pregnant increase.
The backup plan
If you failed to take your pill on time or missed it for a day, ask your partner to wear a condom before you have sex. This will ensure that requisite protection is in place and reduces the risk of unwanted pregnancy.
