The Pill
The contraceptive pill is usually called ‘The Pill’.
The contraceptive pill is a tablet that a woman takes every day. It releases hormones into your body. This prevents you from becoming pregnant.
This is how you take the pill
21-day blister strip (Monophasic and phasic pills):
You swallow a pill every day at the same time. After 21 days, there are none left in the blister strip. For the next 4-7 days you won’t take a pill. During this pill-free week, you will bleed. You’re still protected against pregnancy. After a maximum of 4-7 days, you start a new blister strip. Tip: the pill is more effective if you start again after 4 days.
28-day blister strip (Every day pill + the mini pill):
You swallow a pill every day at the same time. After 28 days, there are none left in the blister strip. Then you start on a new one. You don’t have a break between pills.
Tips for use
- Take the pill at the same time every day (except in the pill-free week).
- Choose a pill that suits you. There are different types of pills.
- Carefully read the instruction leaflet. If you do not understand the instructions, ask the pharmacist or your doctor.
- If you have diarrhea or vomit within 3 hours of taking a pill – take another one quickly!
Period/menstruation
- You don’t want to bleed every 4 weeks?
Then you could skip the pill-free week. That means you just continue to take the pills. - Do you want your period to be shorter?
Just shorten the pill-free week and start taking pills again sooner. You’ll then bleed less. The pill is still reliable and it won’t affect your health. - Not sure? Ask your doctor.
Not a real period
In the pill-free week you’ll bleed a bit. It seems like a period and it feels like that too, but you’re not really menstruating. How does that work?
Every month there is a new egg in your uterus. This happens during ovulation. During a proper period, that egg is discarded. If you take the pill properly, you don’t ovulate. So, there’s no egg to be discarded. That’s why you’re not really having a period, just a small bleed.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages
- If you use the pill correctly, it’s very reliable.
- You’ll know when there will be bleeding.
- You can plan your bleed whenever you want.
- You’ll often have less pain during a bleed.
- Sometimes you’ll have less acne.
Disadvantages
- You might forget to take the pill.
- Sometimes you may have side effects.
- The pill doesn’t protect against STIs.
Are there any side effects?
When you start taking the pill, you might have some side effects. That’s because your body has to get used to the hormones the pill contains. Possible side effects are:
- Headaches
- Irregular blood loss
- Painful breasts
- Nausea
- Low moods
- Weight gain
- Reduced sex drive
Usually, the side effects disappear after a couple of months. If you’re having trouble with side effects, get in touch with your doctor.
When do you run the risk of pregnancy?
- You’ve forgotten to take the pill.
- You started your new strip too late (so your pill-free week is longer than 7 days).
- You’ve had diarrhea or vomited.
- You haven’t taken the pill for a while because you haven’t had sex.
STIs
Remember: the pill doesn’t protect against STIs. To prevent STIs, you need to use condoms.
“Regardless of what you do, people will talk and judge anyway. Just do you, sis. Protect yourself, a whole world awaits!”
Chelsea, 16 years old
Why waste your money on a morning-after-pill if you can use the contraceptive pill instead covered by your health insurance? save that money you would use to buy morning after pill and order yourself something nice online. Then you also don’t have to buy a pregnancy test and stress out around the time you should have your period. Using contraceptives is for me the best way if you are having sex and don’t want to have children right now. And about people finding out. Regardless of what you do, people will talk and judge anyway. They will talk based on how they think you look or act. So basically, just do you, sis! This is about you, and no one else. Protect yourself, a whole world awaits!
