Birth control pills, also known as oral contraceptives, are pills that contain low levels of certain hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone. These pills work to prevent ovulation, which is essential for pregnancy to occur. Oral contraceptives are sold in multi-pill packs. Although birth control pills can be effective at preventing pregnancy, they need to be taken properly for maximum effectiveness. As a result, it is important to know how to take birth control pills when you start a new pack.
Step 1
Identify the active pills. Most packs of pills contain two colors or types of pills. For example, a pack of birth control pills that has 28 pills may have 21 pills of one color and seven of another color at the bottom, according to the Center for Young Women's Health. The color of pill that makes up the majority of the pills in the pack correspond to the "active" pills, which contain hormones. The pills in the less common color are inactive or placebo pills, which exist only to help keep you on your routine of taking a pill each day. The number of placebo pills varies depending on the type of pill, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says. Some kinds of birth control pills have no placebo pills and all of the pills will be one color.
Step 2
Take one active pill at the same time each day. Taking the pill at the same time each day is necessary because it prevents the levels of the hormones from dropping too low in your body to be effective, the University of Iowa Hospital says. If you take your pills at different times during the day, the pill becomes less effective.
Step 3
Use backup birth control for the first seven days that you are taking the pill. Backup birth control, which includes condoms, spermicides and other barrier methods, is important because it will take some time for the pill to become effective. If you begin taking your new pack of birth control pills on the first day of your period, you will not need to use a backup method, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says. On the other hand, if you are past the first week of your menstrual cycle when you begin a new pack of birth control pills, you will need to use backup birth control for the first month.
Step 4
Take the placebo pills in the pack, if present. Although these pills contain no hormones, taking the placebo pills will help keep you in the habit of taking your pill at the same time each day.
