Reasons For Birth Control Failure

The Pill’s Five Forms Of Kryptonite

Posted by: Simcha Whitehill Filed in: sex
2:15PM, Thursday July 31st 2008

The Pill is a miracle. It’s 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, which is almost as good as you’re gonna get from abstinence. We said almost. While 12 million American women rely on the oral contraceptive to stop them from going prematurely preggos (Ashlee Simpson must not have gotten the memo), it’s unfortunately not indomitable. There are still five ways you can get pregnant while pill popping. Have your cervix take notes.

1. Alcohol: Since spirits lodge themselves in your liver, just like the pill, binge-drinking affects the way the medication is metabolized there.

2. Time Warp: You must take the pill at the same time everyday, otherwise it takes your estrogen levels on a rollercoaster ride. [Ruh-roh.—Editor] It’s the control of those levels that stop you from becoming a mommy.

3. Skippity-Doo-Da: If you forget to take the pill one day, make sure you double up the next. If there’s any random bleeding involved, be sure to still use a condom.

4. Mixing Meds: While most pills are like Liz Claiborne’s collection (mix-and-match!) antibiotics and seizure meds actually render the pill powerless. Beware! If you’re still feeling frisky when you’re sickly, use a condom.

5. Cheapin’ Out: Generic pills often contain lower doses than their full-price counterparts. Shell out, or have your insurance shell out, for the good stuff. Isn’t it unfair how guys get away easy by just buying dinner? This is why birth control should maybe be a shared expense.

[Fox News]

comments

Rachel Kramer Bussel
wrote on July 31 2008 @ 05:12 pm: [report]

The same time and taking them every day are not that easy for me, so good to know. Am thinking of going back on the pill, even though most of me is just dying to get knocked up, but not exactly right now. I don’t drink or take meds so the rest should be okay.

ela
wrote on August 1 2008 @ 06:24 am: [report]

@RKB i never take my pill at the same time everyday either bc i don’t have a reg. every day routine! i’ve been really bad with my pills lately…but being on seasonique makes you feel invincible bc you don’t have your p for like 3 months… i should clean up my act or kiss my career good bye bye! (i also want a little giggly thing but i should wait too…got the perfect man, place but the time isn’t right!)

Amelia
wrote on August 1 2008 @ 06:27 am: [report]

Some people are more sensitive than others when it comes to the whole time thing—I, for one, usually take my pill right before bed, but have been known to forget and take it the next morning instead. And I haven’t gotten knocked up (yet—knock on wood!). But I have a friend who, literally, did the exact same thing i have done ONCE and she got pregnant right away. I think sometimes it depends how LONG you’ve been on the pill—if you’re body is super duper used to it, some people’s bodies may instantly react if anything changes.

LovesIt
wrote on August 1 2008 @ 06:50 am: [report]

@Amelia. Actually, it depends on the type of pill. If you’re on the mini-pill, it’s progestogen only and MUST—I repeat—MUST be taken at the exact same time every day to work. Plain pills, like Ortho-Tri Cyclen, are estrogen and progestogen and have a few hour window of leeway. Of course, you shouldn’t count on this window because your own body may be more sensitive to gettin’ knocked up.

One means of remembering that I’ve heard is to set your cell phone alarm to go off every day at pill time.

Budlight Lime Gal
wrote on August 1 2008 @ 07:34 am: [report]

this is why i love the depo shot, i only get checked up every 3m et don’t have my period.

Elle
wrote on August 1 2008 @ 09:52 pm: [report]

The pill is pretty darn effective even if you miss your window, but like Lovesit said it only applies to the progesterone/estrogen kind.

I was on Yasmin for a couple of years and there were plenty of times I forgot to take my pill or lost a pill at a bar (hey it happens!) and I never got knocked up. In fact, after going off the pill it took 3 solid months for my body to get back to normal.

ccruz
wrote on August 7 2008 @ 08:23 am: [report]

i take my pills only when i ve sex and i vent missed my period just dat i can ve my period twice or thrice in a month or three days after having sex when i take the pill. is this normal

LovesIt
wrote on August 7 2008 @ 09:52 am: [report]

@ccruz. No, that’s not normal. If I understand what you’re saying, you are mistakenly referring to breakthrough bleeding as having multiple periods in a month. Breakthrough bleeding is not a period—it’s basically your body’s way of saying it’s confused.

Also, taking the pill only after having sex does not work. The pill is dependent on the monthly cycle and being taken daily for 28 days straight… it cannot work just with a few pills taken here and there. The pill is a preventative means of contraception and you will get pregnant if you keep taking it incorrectly.

FabulousJoi
wrote on August 8 2008 @ 09:47 am: [report]

I take Quasense (generic for Seasonale). Those pills have saved my sanity. There’s nothing better than only getting a period every 3 months. And when I do get one, it only lasts 4 days tops. Granted, I pay about $45 (thanks Anthem), but that comes down to $15/month. MUCH cheaper than having/raising a dependent.

purplemonkeypaws
wrote on August 12 2008 @ 05:56 am: [report]

i need a good slap! i’m currently not on any form of bc….it’s been over three years since i have been.
I have a 5 y/o and i was on the pill when i got pregnant, i was also a heavy partier at the time, drinking a lot, which is why the pill did not work.
i’m also horrible at remembering to take it every day!!

i want to try depo, but i heard horror stories of girls who had bleeding for months….
so for now it’s rubbers, sigh, at least i know it works my bf and i have been using them for almost 3 yrs now

purplemonkeypaws
wrote on August 12 2008 @ 05:58 am: [report]

i lied condoms are bc….i need coffee…sorry guys lol

Ms Squishles
wrote on August 19 2008 @ 10:11 pm: [report]

Use condoms AND the pill together. Might as well protect yourself from STD’s while your at it, and the pill can’t do that.

No reason not to be extra cautious.

great!
wrote on September 16 2008 @ 03:50 am: [report]

I am so glad I researched that alcohol part because it freaked me out:

http://www.thesite.org/sexandrelationships/askthesiteqandas/sexualhealthqandas/poisonpill

So drink up! (Just don’t throw up)