Can You Get Pregnant on the Pill?
Pregnant despite the pill? We will tell you how pregnancy can occur despite taking birth control pill regularly – and what you need to watch out for!
The pill is considered one of the safest contraceptives. In concrete terms this means that the probability of becoming pregnant despite the contraceptive pill is about 0.1 to 0.3 percent according to the Pearl index. In the USA almost every second woman trusts in the protective effect of the pill. Nevertheless, it happens from time to time that the contraceptive fails – despite regular use. How can this be?
Getting pregnant on the pill: The most common intake mistakes!
- One of the most common mistakes is simply one’s own forgetfulness. Between one and three percent of women forget to take the pill at least once a month – a faux pas that can quickly end in pregnancy. At least if the time of taking the pill has been postponed for more than twelve hours. It is best to always take the pill at the same time so that the hormone level in the blood remains constant.
- Smoke! Anyone who smokes more than ten cigarettes a day and takes the pill at the same time not only has to fear a higher risk of thrombosis and cardiovascular disease. Heavy cigarette consumption is also supposed to contribute to the fact that the protective effect of the pill is cancelled out and one can become pregnant despite taking the pill. As a general rule, a heavy smoker should better use other contraceptives, as the health risks are simply too great.
- Many drugs can reduce the effect of the birth control pill. These include not only prescription drugs, but also preparations made from St. John’s wort, which can be bought in drugstores. In addition, antibiotics, antifungals, antihistamines and anti-epileptics influence the protective effect of the contraceptive pill. The same applies to other hormonal contraceptives such as the hormone patch or the vaginal ring. So, be careful of the interaction!
- Another reason for the pill to fail is gastrointestinal problems. If you get diarrhoea or vomiting within the first four hours after taking the pill, the hormonal contraceptive may not work. This is because the time is necessary for the body to absorb the hormones.
In addition to these errors in taking the pill, there are of course other possible causes which can impair the effect of the pill. Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, underweight or an unbalanced diet throw the metabolism out of kilter – and thus endanger the effect of the pill.
Incidentally, the first signs of pregnancy are:
- Increased appetite
- Tiredness and dizziness
- Feelings of tension in the breasts
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Mood swings
- Nausea
- Altered sense of smell and tast