Is the pill right for you? Find out.
Ask us anything. No judgments.
You don’t have to choose between condoms and birth control pills. When used together, you’re protected against both pregnancy and STDs.
Learn more about birth control pills.
Will hormones in the pill affect the results of a pregnancy test?
Someone asked us:
If I am on the pill, and I had to take a pregnancy test, would the hormones in the pill affect the result of the test?
Nope — pregnancy tests are 99 percent accurate, whether or not you’re on the pill or any other form of birth control. The hormone that a pregnancy test detects in your urine is called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and it’s only produced during pregnancy. It’s not found in hormonal birth control (which contains the hormones progestin and estrogen).
Taking a pregnancy test correctly usually means waiting to take it after your missed period, although some brands can be taken a few days before. You can read the label on the box to see when it becomes effective.
-Nina at Planned Parenthood
Someone asked us:
I’ve been on low dose birth control for a couple months now to regulate my period. My boyfriend and I have been talking about having sex sometime soon. Is this birth control an adequate way to protect myself? Or is a stronger dose safer?
Birth control pills are 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy when they’re taken correctly. This is true for all birth control pills – even those that are labeled as “low-dose” or “low-hormone.” If a birth control pill didn’t contain enough hormones to actually prevent pregnancy, it wouldn’t be on the market. As long as you’re taking birth control correctly, you can feel confident that it’s working to prevent pregnancy.
So why are some pills called “low-dose”? When the pill was first invented, it contained way more hormones than necessary to prevent pregnancy — up to 1,000 times more. Since then, scientists have figured out how to improve the pill’s formula, and there are lots of different kinds of birth control pills with different levels of hormones on the market. And they’re all effective at preventing pregnancy.
But no birth control pills provide protection against STDs — for that, condoms are your best bet. You can use both condoms and birth control pills together for increased protection against pregnancy and STDs.
-Nina at Planned Parenthood
Birth Control and Weight Gain
You might need to sit down for this one. It kinda goes against everything you’ve ever heard or learned or maybe even experienced. But it just so happens to be true. Are you ready?
There is no evidence that taking birth control pills causes you to gain weight.
I know, I know. Your cousin. Your best friend. Your dental hygienist. They’ve all complained about gaining weight while taking the pill. And maybe they did. But it wasn’t because of the pill.
Like most myths, it’s hard to figure out where this pill-slander originated. But the idea that the birth control pill makes you gain weight is everywhere—it’s among the most common reasons people choose not to use the pill. So where did this convincing urban legend originate?
Slate has some ideas, including the good ol’ “blame it on the hormones” excuse. But what we do know for certain is there’s no convincing scientific evidence that birth control pills make you gain weight. That’s right, none. Shout it from the rooftops!
-Nathan at PPFA
What’s the deal with the placebo birth control pills?
We’ve been seeing a lot of questions in our ask box about the placebo pills at the end of your birth control pack—so we wanted to clear some stuff up.
If you’re taking birth control correctly and consistently (check out a more detailed explanation of how to do that here) then you’re protected against pregnancy absolutely all the time, every hour of every day of every week of your pack. This includes the four or seven days of placebo pills, when you’re on your period. Same goes for when you’re taking placebo pills and might not have your period yet. You’re still protected.
So to rephrase—as long as you’re taking the pill correctly, and start every new pack the day after you finish the old one, there will be no gaps or decreased effectiveness in pregnancy protection. You’re good.
-Nina at PPFA
Someone asked us:
Q. I just started taking birth control about 3 weeks ago. It’s a very low dosage (Lo Loestrin) and I took it to regulate my periods. I’ve been getting spotting every day and I’m just curious as to if that’s normal and how long it will last. Also, I’m a virgin, I’m not sure if that’s relevant to the problem or not. I just want to know when I can stop feeling like I’m on my period everyday!
The pill works the same way on virgins and non-virgins, so you don’t have to worry about that. Spotting can be a normal side effect of the pill and usually will go away after the first three months or so. If the spotting doesn’t go away in a few months and really bothers you, let your doctor or nurse know what’s happening — you may want to switch to a different kind of pill. And you can always learn more about birth control pills on our website.
-Amy at PPFA
Birth control jewelry. A necklace that vibrates and reminds you to take your pill.
via epill.com
How soon do birth control pills start working?
Someone asked us:
I just started the birth control pill, will it be effective immediately? My boyfriend and I really don’t enjoy using condoms.
The answer to this depends on two factors: the kind of birth control pills you’re using, and the point in your menstrual cycle that you started them. Taking the combination pill? If you start the pill within five days after the start of your period, you’re protected right away. If you start at any other time during your cycle, you need to use a backup form of birth control — like a condom — for seven days.
Progestin-only pills, on the other hand, take 48 hours to become effective, regardless of where you are in your cycle when you start taking them. That means you need to use a backup birth control method for the first 48 hours.
Not sure what kind of birth control pills you’re using? Most people on the pill use the combination pill, but your health care provider can let you know for sure.
