A combined Oral Contraceptive pill, sometimes known as the pill, is a kind of birth control method. The pills contain both synthetic estrogen and progestin. These are consumed orally and help in preventing pregnancy. You can also use these combined pills to reduce heavy menstrual bleeding or menorrhagia. These pills make the uterus lining thin and reduce the bleeding during your periods.
Combined pills are a reliable contraceptive method used by many people and work effectively. Up to 99% of pregnancies are prevented using these pills. Many forget to take this pill daily, so the effectiveness reduces to 92%.
Why take Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills?
You can rely on combined Oral Contraceptive Pills. The contraceptive can be changed any time you want. In case you stop taking the pills, you can become pregnant again.
A few other benefits of oral contraceptive pills are:
- These pills reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cysts or ectopic pregnancy can also be prevented.
- Reduces the amount of acne and facial or body hair growth.
- The pills make the extreme menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea less painful.
- The production of androgen hormones, which is the main cause of polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS, is reduced by the pills.
- The pills decrease the menstrual bleeding from uterine fibroids and also save you from getting anaemia due to iron deficiency.
- The pills are believed to treat Premenstrual Syndrome PMS.
- These pills can be used to control hot flashes and other effects during the perimenopause period.
How to Take Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills?
The pills have various types, including active and inactive, combined Oral contraceptive pills :
- The most common type of pills have 21 active pills and 7 inactive pills. These inactive pills do not have Hormones. The packs have 24 active pills and 4 inactive pills, termed as a shortened pill-free interval. Some pills might just have only two inactive pills.
You need to take a pill daily and switch to the new pack once it is over. Typically, the packs contain 28 days of pills. At the end of each month, when you take inactive pills, there is a chance of getting bleeding. So don’t get scared.
- A few packs might contain 84 active pills and only 7 inactive pills. This is an extended cycle pack. The seven days when you take inactive pills, i.e. only 4 times in the year, bleeding occurs.
- There is a continuous dosing pack of 375 days is also available. These pills either stop your periods completely or make them less significant and very small in number. In this dosing, you do not have to take any kind of inactive pills.
There are a few other benefits of using the extended cycle pills and continuous dosing pills :
- These pills prevent and treat excessive bleeding from uterine fibroids.
- The pills work great in reducing menstrual migraines.
- Reducing the worst effects of menstruation, like seizure symptoms.
- Pain relief from endometriosis.
These combined contraceptive pills work in 8 out of 100 people using them every year. There is a probability that 2 people might still get pregnant even after using this.
To get the best results from the pills, you need to take them daily, regardless of whether you are having sex or not.
What if you miss a dose of combined contraceptive pills?
In case you miss one pill, take it immediately when you remember and also take the next pill at the normal time. Taking 2 pills per day in case you miss a pill doesn’t cause any danger. You can still prevent your pregnancy after missing one pill.
In case you miss 2 pills or more, you may repeat the same method or use any other method to prevent your pregnancy.
Remember: In case you are sick and having vomiting or diarrhoea, the pills might not get absorbed and may not work. If you vomit within 2 hours of taking the pills, immediately take another pill.
Who must avoid taking Combined Contraceptive Pills?
These pills aren’t a great choice for everyone. Always consider your healthcare expert before starting any dose. The experts might give suggestions for other contraceptive methods suitable for you.
People having the following conditions must avoid taking birth control pills:
- Women during the first few weeks after giving birth, typically the period of breastfeeding, must avoid taking the pills.
- In case your age is above 35 and you smoke, the pills are not advisable for you.
- Patients having high blood pressure shouldn’t use three pills
- In case you have thrombosis, blood clotting in your legs, or pulmonary embolism, blood clotting in your lungs, you should avoid these pills.
- Having a record of a heart stroke or other heart-related diseases.
- In case you have breast cancer currently or in the past, do not take these contraceptive pills.
- Those with severe migraine should also avoid taking the pills.
- People with diabetes, kidney-related diseases, dysfunction, or eye diseases try to avoid the pills.
- Those with any kind of liver or gallbladder disease, or any severe injury or surgery, should also avoid taking the contraceptive pills.
People having the above conditions must avoid taking the contraceptive pills or must consult a healthcare expert before starting any dose. These pills might cause some adverse effects in such conditions. So, be extremely careful before starting any dose of combined contraceptive pills.
What are the possible risks of using Combined Contraceptive Pills?
- Combined contraceptive pills do not give you a guarantee of preventing 100% pregnancy prevention. You can get 9 out of 109 people taking these pills are found pregnant as per the studies. In case the pills are used perfectly, the rate of getting pregnant can be reduced to 1 in 100 people per year.
- The Combination birth control pills are useful in preventing early pregnancy, but as soon as you get to know about your pregnancy, stop using them. These pills might cause birth defects.
- Sexually transmitted diseases cannot be prevented by using combination birth control pills. For protection from these diseases, use protection while practising sex.
- There are many visible side effects of using this combination of birth control pills. You can get bleeding or spotting while taking active pills in continuous dosing or extended cycle pills.
- Other side effects of using the contraceptive pills are: Nausea, Headaches, Tender Breasts, Bloating, Increase in Blood Pressure, and Bleeding.
The combination of contraceptive pills leads to an increase in certain health risks.
-
- Clotting in the legs, called thrombosis, can be increased by using pills
- Heart attacks and other heart-related diseases may be triggered.
- Liver-related diseases can also increase.
When to call your doctor?
Contact your health care provider as soon as possible if you’re taking combination birth control pills and have:
- You must immediately contact a doctor in case of extreme cramps, vomiting, chest pain, or pain in the belly while consuming these contraceptive pills.
- In case you have severe headaches, speaking difficulty, blurred vision, or confusion, consult a healthcare expert.
- Changes in the skin colour or swelling of the legs are also symptoms of side effects that need to be addressed.
- Discoloration or yellowish colour in the skin’s eyes must be treated as a sign of the side effects of the pills.
- Even if you miss two periods or have any visible symptoms of pregnancy while taking the combination birth control pills, you need to reach out to the doctor.
Combined Oral Contraceptive pills are very effective in preventing pregnancy and other health issues. But you must talk to a healthcare expert before starting any dose. Always remember to take continuous packs, preventing pregnancy, and avoid break packs. In case of visible side effects, immediately reach out to the doctor. Avoid taking contraceptive pills in case of previous heart, liver, or kidney-related diseases.