The contraceptive pill is used for a variety of reasons, the most common being the prevention of pregnancy. A number of different types of oral contraceptives exist, but this form of birth control typically comes in either a 21- or 28-day pack. Using these packs is fairly easy, but the instructions vary slightly depending on which brand you are prescribed.
Step 1
Women can choose when they will begin taking their contraceptive pills. The difference in the approaches is the effectiveness and the future timing of your menses.
Wellesley College Health Service states that you can begin your pack the first day of your period, the first Sunday of or immediately following your period, or the fifth day of your period.
Choosing to take your first pill on the first day of your cycle offers you immediate protection from pregnancy. If you wait until the Sunday during or following your cycle, you will never have your period on the weekend. Waiting until day five of your cycle holds no particular advantage, according to Wellesley College.
Women's Health Resource offers a fourth option: taking your first pill the day you receive your prescription. To do this though, you must be certain that you are not pregnant, and need to use a backup method of protection until your next period arrives, as it takes longer for the pill to be effective when using this approach.
Step 2
Take your pill at the same time each day to increase its efficacy. To make it easier for you to remember, associate it with another task, such as making your morning coffee, eating breakfast or brushing your teeth. Keep your pack in the area of the task you are associating it with.
Step 3
Know when to begin a new pack. For those who are prescribed a 21-day pack, you will take three weeks of pills, and then have a break for seven days. You begin your new pack on the eighth day.
Those who are prescribed a 28-day pack will take three weeks of pills with active ingredients (estrogen and progesterone) followed by one week of inactive pills whose only purpose is to keep you on your daily schedule. As soon as all the pills in the 28-day pack are finished you begin a new pack.
Step 4
Use a backup method of birth control, such as a condom or foam, during the first week of contraceptive pill use. This is because the pills may take one full week before they are completely effective.
The pill does not protect from sexually transmitted diseases. Unless you have a single partner, and you have both been tested, a backup form of protection is the only real defense you have against a sexually transmitted disease.
Should you ever be prescribed an antibiotic you should use a backup contraceptive until you complete your prescription. This is because antibiotics reduce the efficacy of the pill.
Step 5
If you miss a pill, take it as soon as you remember, followed by the next pill at its regular time.
In the event you miss two pills, take both of those pills as soon as you remember, followed by the next pill at its regular time. At this point, you also want to use a backup form of birth control.
For those who miss three pills in a row, Women's Health Resource states that not only should you use a backup form of birth control, but should consider a different form of birth control completely. The pill is only effective when taken everyday on a consistent basis.
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