For women who are currently completely focused on avoiding pregnancy and have an active sex life, being concerned about contraceptive methods is essential. There is no other way to avoid pregnancy except by taking precautions. With this in mind, in the 1960s the contraceptive method was developed, offering women more safety and comfort, as well as sexual freedom.
Few people know the history of contraceptives, and so we delved deeper to understand why this method was developed and its importance in society. Surely you’ve heard that, in the past, sexual intercourse was seen specifically as a means of reproduction, where pleasure, especially for women, was not the focus. For this reason, it was very common to see families with 8, 10, or even 14 children, as it was hard to control male desires and this often led to multiple pregnancies for the wife.
Faced with this reality, a feminist and a businesswoman joined forces to develop a method for women that would be effective, safe, and affordable. This is how the contraceptive pill was created, now sold worldwide and currently produced by thousands of companies. Even with a long list of contraceptive methods available today, the contraceptive pill is still at the top of the list of methods most used by women.
What is the Contraceptive Pill?
The contraceptive pill consists of small tablets made from hormones that prevent ovulation from occurring during the menstrual cycle, so the woman does not go through her fertile period. Today, there are two types of contraceptive pills available: the combined hormone pill (estrogen and progestin) and the well-known mini-pill, which contains only the progestin hormone, the one most similar to the body’s natural female hormone, progesterone.
Like any other contraceptive method, the pill is not 100% effective and should be used consistently to maximize its effectiveness. That’s why its use is recommended only for women who are extremely disciplined and will use the method carefully and consistently—otherwise, it does not offer protection.
How to Use the Contraceptive Pill?
Since the main purpose of the contraceptive pill is to prevent ovulation, the tablets should be taken daily, preferably at the same time each day, until the pack is finished. After finishing, a break is allowed for menstruation to occur. This break can vary depending on the type of hormone used or the specific type of contraceptive. Ideally, you should follow the instructions in the leaflet that comes with each contraceptive and the recommendations of your gynecologist.
Most contraceptives have 21 pills and require a 7-day break, but some have 24 or 28 pills, which are for extended use or include non-active pills during the break, simply to ensure the woman remembers to take the pill at the right time. During this period of non-active pills, menstruation occurs as usual. If you’re starting the contraceptive pill for the first time, the ideal is to take the pill corresponding to the marked day on the pack starting on the first day of your period. When you finish the pack, take a 7-day break and start a new pack on the 8th day.
IMPORTANT: Please note that in the first month of taking the pill, other contraceptive methods should be used. Even though the effect is daily, doctors recommend this precaution to ensure an unwanted pregnancy does not occur. Therefore, use condoms during your first month of use.
What Is the Best Time to Take the Contraceptive Pill?
There is no perfect time to take the contraceptive pill, as this may vary depending on your routine and habits. The best thing is to choose a time you’re sure you won’t forget, and if you think you still might, a good tip is to set an alarm on your phone or use a period-tracking app that has this feature.
Most women prefer to take it before bedtime, especially if they stick to a routine and always go to bed at the same or a similar time. Keep the pack where you can see it or near your bed for easy access. In time, taking the pill will become a daily habit, just like bathing and brushing your teeth before going to sleep.
And What If You Forget to Take the Pill at the Right Time?
Obviously, at some point, you might forget to take the pill or simply not be able to because you don’t have it with you. For example, if you’re at a party and your pill time is at 10 p.m., you probably won’t run home just for this. To handle such situations, it’s best to always keep your pill pack in your bag, wherever you go, so you can take it on time. But if you do not usually carry it and missed the time to take it, the best thing to do is take it as soon as possible. As soon as you get home, take the pill. Don’t skip a pill on your pack and don’t leave it for the next day.
If you forget more than one pill or the gap is greater than 12 hours, the contraceptive pill’s effectiveness can be lost. In such cases, we recommend using condoms during this period to prevent an unwanted pregnancy.
And If Your Period Doesn’t Come During the Pill Break?
During the week-long break from the contraceptive pill, you are expected to get your period. But what if it doesn’t happen? This is a major concern among women taking the contraceptive pill because it raises fears of failure and an unintended pregnancy. In reality, several factors need to be evaluated!
If you took the entire pack correctly without missing a pill, there is no risk of the pill having failed. But if you skipped a day or took a pill very late, a fertile window may have opened during this time. It is advisable to take a pregnancy test to confirm! If you want, you can find highly sensitive pregnancy tests from Famivita here in our online store.
Injectable Contraceptives
In addition to contraceptive pills, there is another method that provides the same effect with less worry for those who tend to “forget,” which is the injectable contraceptive. Like the oral method, the injectable contraceptive is made of hormones intended to block ovulation; the only difference is in the way it is used.
Just like oral pills, the injectable contraceptive may contain estrogen and progesterone or only progesterone, which, once administered, starts to release small daily doses of hormones. Besides the monthly injection, there is a quarterly option that includes only progesterone, with a longer duration and slow absorption by the female body, offering a longer period of protection.
However, both oral and injectable contraceptives should be started together with another contraceptive method, such as condoms, since the first month is not fully effective.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Injectable Contraceptives
The most obvious advantage of injectable contraceptives is not having to remember to take a pill daily, so you don’t risk “losing a month” of protection by missing just one day. In this sense, it sounds perfect, right? But the truth is that this method also comes with disadvantages and can cause some discomforts, so it’s important to weigh the pros and cons to see what works best for you.
Injectable contraceptives are also at the top of the list for controlling PMS symptoms. For women who experience intense symptoms during this time, it can be a good choice. Another positive aspect is that this type of contraceptive helps reduce the risk of cervical cancer and ovarian cancer, diseases that have been alarmingly on the rise every year.
On the downside, the main complaint is body swelling, which gives the impression of significant weight gain. This is the top complaint among women who use this method, though not everyone experiences this effect—it depends on your individual body. Another disadvantage is breakthrough bleeding during the cycle caused by low progesterone levels in the body, which can happen unexpectedly.
What If You Forget to Get Your Contraceptive Injection on the Right Day?
Ideally, you should not forget and if possible set an alarm to remind you, but if it happens you should follow the recommendations for each type of contraceptive. For monthly injections, the maximum margin for applying the injection is 2 days, while for quarterly ones it’s up to one week. Remember, if the injection is delayed, a condom should be used as a precaution for at least the first 10 days after the injection.
If you have stopped taking the injection for a period and want to start again, the process must start “from scratch.” Wait for your next period and start the injection on the same day, beginning a new cycle. Don’t forget to protect yourself during the first month of use!
Photo: Ceridwen
