Medical Questions & Answers

Question: I am desperately worried that I might fall pregnant. I am on the oral contraceptive pill, but i really want to know how effective it is ?
The pill is the most effective form of reversible contraception known to medical science. If taken correctly, only one or two in every 1000 women will fall pregnant in a year of using the pill. By comparison, 120 women using the condom as contraceptive will fall pregnant in a year of use, 30 using the intrauterine device and between 5O and 200 using the rhythm method and its derivatives.
If no contraceptive is used, 850 out of every 1000 normally menstruating women would be pregnant after a year.
The only forms of contraceptive that are more effective are hormone implants and injections, vasectomy, tubal ligation and total sexual abstinence (the mos reliable of them all!).
Most women who have fallen pregnant on the pill have missed one (that’s all it takes), had diarrhea or vomiting (it doesn’t work if it doesn’t stay inside you) or used antibiotics (some may affect absorption of the pill into the body). The mini-pills (Noriday, Microlut, Micronor, Microval) have a higher failure rate than the normal two-hormone contraceptive pills. These must be taken very strictly as directed.

Popularity: 3%

Filed under: Contraception