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If I miss a pill and have sex, do I need an emergency contraceptive pill?
If you have one missed contraceptive pill from an on-going pack or started a new pack with a gap of one day, you are still protected against pregnancy during your intercourse.
Here's what you should do:
- Take the last pill you missed immediately. Even if it means taking two pills in 24 hours.
- Continue your birth control medication as usual from the next day.
- Do not take any emergency contraceptive pill. It is not required.
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Which antibiotics affect birth control pills?
If you have been prescribed antibiotics for any reason, discuss the effect it can have on birth control pills with your doctor. Not all antibiotics interfere with the effect of contraceptive pills.
The only antibiotic which is proven, to make birth control pills ineffective is Rifampin. Rifampin lowers the level of oestrogen in the human body and could make you ovulate. Therefore, may result in an unwanted pregnancy.
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Which antibiotics affect birth control pills?
When two or more medications are taken together, the effects of one medicine may change or limit the effects of the other. This is called the interaction of medicines. Here is a list of medications proven to interact with hormonal contraceptive pills:
- Enzyme inducing medicines such as Rifampin (anti-biotic), epilepsy medication, HIV medication, some herbal remedies like St. John’s Wort.
- Anti-seizure drugs such as Modafinil (Provigil)
- Anti-fungal medications like Griseofulvin (Gris-PEG) and Ketoconazole.
Whenever you need to start a new medication, talk to your doctor about the kind of contraceptive pills you are taking and check if the medicines might hinder each other’s effects.
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Do any over-the-counter products interfere with the effect of the pill?
It is safe to take over the counter medication along with your contraceptive pills. The only over the counter medicine known to alter the effects of birth control pills is St. John’s Wort. Apart from that, over the counter drugs such as cold medications and pain relievers don’t interact with birth control pills.
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If I have a stomach-bug or diarrhoea, will my contraceptive pill still work?
If you have a stomach-bug or diarrhoea, your contraceptive pill may not be effective. Take an extra contraceptive pill if you vomit within two hours of taking your pill. Every 24 hours that you spend suffering from sickness and diarrhoea should be counted as a missed pill.
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Is it necessary to take the pill at the same time each day?
No. It is not necessary to take contraceptive pills at the same time every day. As long as you take one pill per day, you are protected from unwanted pregnancy. Although it is considered good practice to take the pill at the same time daily to develop a habit of remembering the pill.
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What contraceptive pill is the best to use right after having a baby?
After delivery, the best contraceptive pill to use depends on your health, lifestyle, and breastfeeding needs. If you are breastfeeding, it is best to avoid combination contraceptive pills that contain oestrogen. Combination contraceptive pills may reduce lactation and your supply of breast milk. Check with your doctor to find out which pill is best for you and when you can start taking it.
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How long can I stay on a contraceptive pill?
If you have been taking contraceptive pills for a long time without any side effects, then it is likely that you can take the pill for as long as you need. But it is always a good idea to check with your doctor to be sure that it is safe for you to continue taking the pill. For women in good health, birth control pills are safe to use for the long term.
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Can Birth Control Cause Infertility?
Contraceptive pills have no negative impact on the fertility of a woman. Some women may experience a delay in resuming ovulation after getting off the contraceptive pill but there is no permanent effect of using birth control pills on a woman’s fertility.
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Can taking one birth control pill delay period?
Combination contraceptive pills come in a mix of active and inactive pills. The inactive pills trigger menstruation. If you want to delay your periods you can skip the inactive pills in your pack and start taking the active pills from a new pack immediately. Or else, you can use an 84-pill pack which delays your period for three months at a time.
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How effective is birth control pills?
Contraceptive pills are 99.9% effective. If you are taking your pill as prescribed by your doctor without any problems, then you can trust your contraceptives to protect you from unwanted pregnancies.
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Do I still need to use a condom when I am on a pill?
Contraceptive pills can protect you from unwanted pregnancies but not from sexually transmitted diseases like HIV. Therefore, it is recommended that you should continue to use a condom during sex, especially with a new partner.
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Can birth control pills make breasts grow bigger?
Birth control pills contain hormones like oestrogen and progestin. Increased oestrogen in the body can make your breasts grow slightly when you’re taking the pill. The difference in size is marginal and this is a temporary effect. Your breasts come back to their actual size once you stop taking the pill or your regular cycle returns.
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Does the contraceptive pill stop periods?
Yes. Continuous use of combination contraceptive pills or the use of extended-cycle contraceptive pills alters the natural menstrual cycle and can delay periods for many months.
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When should I take contraceptive pills?
You can take contraceptive pills at any time and at any point in your menstrual cycle. As long as you take them regularly, you can be assured of protection against pregnancy.
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Is one pill sufficient to stop pregnancy?
Yes. When taking combination contraceptive pills or mini-pills, one pill per day is enough to protect you from unwanted pregnancy. In the case of emergency contraceptive pills, one pill within 72 hours of intercourse is sufficient to stop a pregnancy. None of these pills can stop a pregnancy if you are already pregnant.
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Does the contraceptive pill cause weight gain?
Combination Contraceptive Pills that contain the oestrogen hormone may cause weight gain in women. Weight gain is one of the most common side effects of the pill. However, there is no scientific evidence to support a contraceptive pill weight gainco-relation.
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Can You Get Pregnant on the Pill?
Typically, the usage of contraceptive pills is not perfect and there are some circumstances in which birth control pills fail:
- Missing more than two doses in a row
- Vomiting or Diarrhoea.
- Antibiotics such as Rifampin
- Obesity
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Is it safe to start taking the contraceptive pill during periods?
Yes. It is recommended to start taking a contraceptive pill from the first day of your period or the first Sunday after the first day of your period. This is true for both combination contraceptive pills and mini pills.
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How can I know I am pregnant while on the pill?
If you are taking a contraceptive pill but still get pregnant, the tell-tale signs of pregnancy are:
- Nausea
- Morning sickness
- Breast Tenderness
- Fatigue
- Change in stomach girth
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Can I lose weight when on birth control?
Contraceptive pills do not prevent weight loss. Regulating your diet, hydration, and getting enough exercise will help you lose weight while taking birth control pills. Contraceptive pills are not proven to cause weight gain.
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What effect do contraceptive pills have on my skin?
Birth control pills contain hormones such as oestrogen and progestin. Intake of both these hormones impacts the production of sebum in the skin. This could result in some women experiencing oil skin, clogged pores, and acne – as a side effect of contraceptive pills.
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Do contraceptive pills cause depression?
As of date, no link has been proven between contraceptive pills and the mental health of women. However, it has not been denied either. If you experience symptoms of depression after starting a contraceptive pill, consult your doctor and consider changing the pill.
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How many days after taking the pill am I protected?
For continuous protection, one contraceptive pill needs to be taken every day. If you happen to miss taking the pill for one day, you are still protected against pregnancy during your intercourse. However, a gap longer than two days is not advisable.
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How many safe days does a woman have?
Women are least fertile during a period and just after the period ends. However, you may conceive right after your period ends. And there is no specific count of days that can be given.
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Can the contraceptive pill cause thrush?
The risk of yeast infections has decreased in relation to what it was with the introduction of newer, low-oestrogen pill formulations, although certain women's risk of thrush has been found to increase.
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When do you get your period on birth control pills?
While you aren't taking any tablets, your menstruation will arrive during the fourth week. There are no reminder (hormone-free) pills in a 21-day supply, therefore it's crucial to take every dose. Even if you have sex during the week when you don't take any tablets, the hormone supplements will keep you from becoming pregnant.
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Does amoxicillin affect birth control pills?
Amoxicillin and other antibiotics have no effect on how well your birth control works. The lone exception is the antibiotic rifampin, also known as Rifadin and Rimactane, which can reduce the efficacy of the pill, patch, and ring.
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Can birth control pills cause anxiety?
Anxiety and despair are extremely prevalent among women using the pill. Nearly half of all women who start taking the pill cease using it within the first year due to unacceptable side effects, with negative mood swings being the most often stated one.