Pregnancy pills how does it work

The final way that the pill works to prevent pregnancy involves the endometrium, which is the uterine lining. Hormonal contraceptives thin the endometrium and make it far more difficult for a fertilized egg to implant.

Without implantation, a fertilized egg cannot receive the nutrients and blood needed to survive and grow. Under normal circumstance, the endometrium will thicken during ovulation to create a place where a fertilized egg can implant and grow. Some hormonal methods include a placebo week, but not all hormonal methods have a placebo week.

Placebo week is a time when your pill pack contains placebo pills "sugar pills" with either no hormones or reduced hormones. The placebo week can vary based on the contraceptive types:.

The placebo week is important in that it helps you maintain a consistent habit of taking a pill every day, rather than stopping and starting. Moreover, you are likely to have your period during this week, which is comforting for many people. Even though you are being exposed to few, if any, hormones during the placebo week, the level of protection remains unchanged.

As such, you do not need additional forms of contraception to prevent pregnancy. The pill, as well as other forms of hormonal contraception, work in more than one way. They can prevent ovulation, they can lead to a thicker cervical mucus to hinder the passage of sperm through the cervix, and they can change the lining of the uterus in a way that inhibits implantation if fertilization occurs. The pill continues to work throughout the month, even when you are taking placebo pills—this means that additional forms of contraception aren't needed during the placebo time.

With that said, the pill does not reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases , including HIV. For this, condoms offer the best means of protection. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.

The Kaiser Family Foundation. Low-dose pills can result in more breakthrough bleeding than pills with more estrogen. Combination pills are categorized based on whether the dose of hormones stays the same or varies:. Consult your health care provider about a starting date. If you use the quick-start method, you can take the first pill in the pack immediately.

If you use the Sunday start, you'll take your first pill on the first Sunday after your period starts.

With either method, use a backup contraception method for the first seven days you take combination birth control pills. If you use the first-day start, you'll take your first pill on the first day of your next period. No backup method of contraception is needed. Follow your health care provider's instructions carefully. Birth control pills only work if you use them correctly, so make sure you understand the instructions.

If you're using conventional combination birth control pills and want to have regular periods, you will take all of the pills in your pack — the active and the inactive ones — and start a new pack the day after you finish your current one.

If you want to avoid monthly periods, ask your health care provider about how to take the pills and how many active pill packs you can take in a row.

Be cautious with missed pills. If you miss an active pill, take it as soon as you remember — even if it means taking two active pills in the same day. Take the rest of the pack as usual, and use a backup method of contraception for seven days if you missed your pill by more than 12 hours. If you miss more than one active pill, take the last pill you missed right away.

Take the rest of the pack as usual, and use a backup method of contraception for seven days. If you've had unprotected sex, consult your health care provider about emergency contraception. If you vomit within two hours after taking a combination birth control pill or have severe vomiting and diarrhea for two or more days, proceed as if you've missed a pill.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Young women who can remember to take a pill each day and who want excellent protection from pregnancy use birth control pills. Not all women can — or should — use the Pill. In some cases, medical or other conditions make the use of the Pill less effective or more risky. For example, it is not recommended for women who have had blood clots, certain types of cancers, or some migraine headaches.

It also might not be recommended for girls who have had unexplained vaginal bleeding bleeding that is not during their periods or who think they might be pregnant. Girls who are interested in learning more about different types of birth control, including the Pill, should talk to their doctors or other health professionals. A doctor or a nurse practitioner NP must prescribe the Pill. He or she will ask about a girl's health and family medical history, and do a complete physical exam, which might include a pelvic exam.

If the doctor or NP prescribes birth control pills, he or she will explain when to begin taking the Pill and what to do if pills are missed. The doctor or NP will usually ask the girl to come back in a few months to have her blood pressure checked and to see if she is having any problems. After that, girls who are having sex should get routine exams every 6 months to a year, or as recommended. Many health and family planning clinics such as Planned Parenthood sell birth control pills for less.

In addition, birth control pills and doctor visits are covered by many health insurance plans. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is It? How Does It Work? How Is the Pill Taken? Possible Side Effects The birth control pill is a safe and effective method of birth control.

As with combination pills, you take one pill at the same time every day. If taken correctly, birth control pills are very effective in preventing pregnancy.

According to the CDC, both the combination pill and the progestin-only pill have 9 percent failure rates with typical use. That means out of women using the pill, 9 would get pregnant.

To be fully effective, progestin pills must be taken within the same three-hour time period every day. There is slightly more flexibility with combination pills.

In general, you should try to take combination pills at the same time each day, but you can take them within the same daily hour window and still have pregnancy protection. The pill may also be less effective if you have diarrhea or vomiting. There are also benefits depending on the type of pill.

Combination pills may also provide some protection against:. Also, you have to remember to take your pill every day. And you need to make sure you always have a new pack ready to go when you finish a pack. If you miss a pill or delay starting a new pack after finishing a cycle, your risk of pregnancy increases. While birth control pills are safe for most women, they do come with some side effects and risks.

Every woman reacts differently to the hormones in birth control pills. Some women have side effects, such as:. If you have these side effects, they will likely improve after a few months of using the pill. They may suggest that you switch to a different type of birth control pill. A serious risk of using birth control pills, especially combination pills, is an increased risk of blood clots.

This can lead to:.