Can I Stop Taking the Pill and Start Again?

April 23, 2022 Post a Comment

The combined oral contraceptive pill is ofttimes merely chosen "the pill". It contains bogus versions of female person hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which are produced naturally in the ovaries.

If sperm reaches an egg (ovum), pregnancy can happen. Contraception tries to terminate this happening normally by keeping the egg and sperm apart or by stopping the release of an egg (ovulation).

At a glance: the combined pill

When taken correctly, the pill is over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. This means that fewer than 1 in 100 who use the combined pill equally contraception will get meaning in i year.
The standard way to have the pill is to take ane every day for 21 days, then have a pause for 7 days, and during this calendar week you have a bleed similar a period. You start taking the pill once again afterward vii days.
You may be able to take some types of pill with no or shorter breaks (a tailored authorities), which may reduce some side furnishings. Speak to a doctor or nurse most your options.
You need to take the pill at effectually the same fourth dimension every day. You could get pregnant if you practise not practice this, or if yous miss a pill, or vomit or have astringent diarrhoea.
Some medicines may make the pill less constructive. Check with your doctor if you're taking any other tablets.
If you lot take heavy periods or painful periods, PMS (premenstrual syndrome) or endometriosis the combined pill may help.
Modest side effects include mood swings, nausea, breast tenderness and headaches – these usually settle downward in a few months.
There is no testify that the pill will make you gain weight.
In that location'due south a very low adventure of serious side effects, such as blood clots and cervical cancer.
The combined pill is not suitable if yous are over 35 and smoke, or if you have certain medical conditions.
The pill does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so use a rubber as well.
There may be a link between the pill and depression just evidence is mixed and farther research is needed.

How the combined pill works

How it prevents pregnancy

The pill prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg each calendar month (ovulation). It likewise:

thickens the fungus in the neck of the womb, and so information technology is harder for sperm to penetrate the womb and reach an egg
thins the lining of the womb, and then in that location is less run a risk of a fertilised egg implanting into the womb and existence able to abound

The pill is over 99% effective if used correctly. Other methods of contraception are improve at preventing pregnancy, such every bit the IUD, IUS, implant and injection.

There are many dissimilar brands of pill, made upward of iii main types:

Monophasic 21-solar day pills

This is the most common type. Each pill has the same amount of hormone in information technology. Ane pill is taken each day for 21 days and and so no pills are taken for the next 7 days. Microgynon, Marvelon and Yasmin are examples of this blazon of pill.

Phasic 21-day pills

Phasic pills contain 2 or 3 sections of unlike coloured pills in a pack. Each section contains a different amount of hormones. I pill is taken each day for 21 days so no pills are taken for the side by side 7 days. Phasic pills need to be taken in the right order. Logynon is an case of this type of pill.

Every day (ED) pills

There are 21 active pills and seven inactive (dummy) pills in a pack. The two types of pill look different. One pill is taken each mean solar day for 28 days with no break between packets of pills. Every solar day pills need to be taken in the correct lodge. Microgynon ED is an case of this type of pill.

Follow the instructions that come with your bundle. If yous have any questions, enquire a physician, nurse or chemist.

It'due south of import to take the pills as instructed, considering missing pills or taking them at the same time as certain medicines may make them less constructive.

How to take 21-day pills - standard regime

Take your 1st pill from the packet marked with the correct day of the week, or the 1st pill of the 1st colour (phasic pills).
Continue to accept a pill at the same time each 24-hour interval until the pack is finished.
Stop taking pills for seven days (during these 7 days you will get a bleed).
Start your adjacent pack of pills on the 8th twenty-four hour period, whether you are nonetheless bleeding or not. This should exist the same twenty-four hours of the week equally when you lot took your 1st pill.

How to have every twenty-four hours pills

Take the 1st pill from the section of the packet marked "start". This volition be an agile pill.
Proceed to have a pill every solar day, in the correct order and preferably at the same time each day, until the pack is finished (28 days).
During the 7 days of taking the inactive pills, yous will go a bleed.
Start your adjacent pack of pills later you have finished the 1st pack, whether y'all are even so bleeding or not.

Tailored regimes

You tin can too take the combined pill as a tailored regime. This may include taking the pill for 21 days and stopping for iv, or taking the pill continuously without a pause. For more information speak to a doctor or nurse.

Starting the combined pill

You tin can normally start taking the pill at any point in your menstrual cycle. There is special guidance if you have only had a baby, abortion or miscarriage. The guidance may as well be different if you have a curt menstrual cycle. Get communication from a doctor or nurse if you need it. Yous may need to employ additional contraception during your 1st days on the pill – this depends on when in your menstrual cycle you offset taking information technology.

Starting on the 1st day of your period

If you showtime the combined pill on the 1st day of your period (twenty-four hours 1 of your menstrual bicycle) y'all will be protected from pregnancy straight away. You will not need additional contraception.

Starting on the 5th day of your cycle or earlier

If yous start the pill on the 5th 24-hour interval of your period or earlier, you lot will still be protected from pregnancy straight away.

Starting after the 5th day of your cycle

Yous will not be protected from pregnancy straight away and will need boosted contraception until y'all have taken the pill for 7 days.

If you start the pill later the fifth twenty-four hours of your bike, brand sure y'all have not put yourself at take chances of pregnancy since your last menses. If you're worried you're pregnant when you start the pill, take a pregnancy test iii weeks after the last time you had unprotected sexual activity.

What to do if y'all miss a pill

If you miss a pill or pills, or y'all start a pack late, this can brand the pill less effective at preventing pregnancy. The chance of getting pregnant afterwards missing a pill or pills depends on:

when the pills are missed
how many pills are missed

Find out what to exercise if y'all miss a combined pill.

Vomiting and diarrhoea

If you vomit inside 3 hours of taking the combined pill, information technology may not have been fully absorbed into your bloodstream. Have another pill straight abroad and the next pill at your usual time.

If yous continue to be ill, keep using another form of contraception until you lot've taken the pill again for vii days without vomiting.

Very severe diarrhoea (6 to 8 watery poos in 24 hours) may likewise mean that the pill does not work properly. Go on taking your pill as normal, just use additional contraception, such as condoms, while you have diarrhoea and for 2 days afterwards recovering.

Speak to a GP or nurse or phone call NHS 111 for more information, if your sickness or diarrhoea continues.

Who can apply the combined pill

If there are no medical reasons why you cannot have the pill, and you do not smoke, you tin can have the pill until your menopause. However, the pill is not suitable for everyone. To find out whether the pill is correct for yous, talk to a GP, nurse or pharmacist.

The pill may non be right for y'all if you:

are pregnant
fume and are 35 or older
stopped smoking less than a year agone and are 35 or older
are very overweight
take certain medicines

The pill may too not be correct for you if you take (or have had):

claret clots in a vein, for example in your leg or lungs
stroke or any other disease that narrows the arteries
anyone in your close family unit having a blood clot nether the age of 45
a centre abnormality or heart disease, including high blood pressure
severe migraines, especially with aura (warning symptoms)
breast cancer
affliction of the gallbladder or liver
diabetes with complications or diabetes for the past 20 years

After having a baby

If you have just had a baby and are not breastfeeding, you can most likely start the pill on day 21 after the birth but you lot volition need to check with a doctor. You lot will exist protected against pregnancy straight away.

If you first the pill subsequently than 21 days afterwards giving nascence, you volition need additional contraception (such as condoms) for the next 7 days.

If you are breastfeeding, you're not advised to accept the combined pill until 6 weeks after the nascence.

After a miscarriage or abortion

If you lot take had a miscarriage or ballgame, you can start the pill up to v days later on this and you will exist protected from pregnancy direct away. If you starting time the pill more than five days after the miscarriage or ballgame, you'll need to utilise additional contraception until you have taken the pill for 7 days.

Advantages and disadvantages

Some advantages of the pill include:

it does not interrupt sex
it unremarkably makes your bleeds regular, lighter and less painful
it reduces your risk of cancer of the ovaries, womb and colon
information technology can reduce symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome)
it can sometimes reduce acne
it may protect against pelvic inflammatory disease
information technology may reduce the take a chance of fibroids, ovarian cysts and non-cancerous chest affliction

Some disadvantages of the pill include:

it tin cause temporary side furnishings at beginning, such every bit headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and mood swings – if these do not go after a few months, it may help to change to a unlike pill
it can increase your blood pressure level
information technology does not protect you confronting sexually transmitted infections
breakthrough bleeding and spotting is common in the starting time few months of using the pill
information technology has been linked to an increased risk of some serious health conditions, such as blood clots and chest cancer

The combined pill with other medicines

Some medicines interact with the combined pill and it does not work properly. Some interactions are listed on this page, but information technology is not a complete list. If you desire to check your medicines are safe to have with the combined pill, you can:

ask a GP, practice nurse or pharmacist
read the patient data leaflet that comes with your medicine

Antibiotics

The antibiotics rifampicin and rifabutin (which can be used to treat illnesses including tuberculosis and meningitis) can reduce the effectiveness of the combined pill. Other antibiotics do not have this consequence.

If you are prescribed rifampicin or rifabutin, yous may be advised to change to an culling contraceptive. If non, you lot will need to apply additional contraception (such as condoms) while taking the antibiotic and for a short fourth dimension later on. Speak to a doctor or nurse for advice.

Epilepsy and HIV medicines, and St John's wort

The combined pill tin interact with medicines called enzyme inducers. These speed up the breakdown of hormones by your liver, reducing the effectiveness of the pill.

Examples of enzyme inducers are:

the epilepsy drugs carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, primidone and topiramate
St John's wort (a herbal remedy)
antiretroviral medicines used to care for HIV (research suggests that interactions between these medicines and the progestogen-only pill tin can bear upon the safety and effectiveness of both)

A GP or nurse may suggest you to use an alternative or additional form of contraception while taking any of these medicines.

Risks of taking the combined pill

There are some risks associated with using the combined contraceptive pill. However, these risks are pocket-size.

Claret clots

The oestrogen in the pill may cause your blood to jell more readily. If a blood clot develops, it could crusade:

deep vein thrombosis (clot in your leg)
pulmonary embolus (jell in your lung)
stroke
center attack

The hazard of getting a blood clot is very small-scale, but your doctor will check if y'all have certain risk factors earlier prescribing the pill.

Cancer

The pill tin slightly increment the risk of developing chest cancer and cervical cancer. It can besides decrease the risk of developing womb (uterus) cancer, ovarian cancer and bowel cancer.

Still, 10 years later on you end taking the pill, your risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer goes back to normal.

Where you tin can go the combined pill

Contraception is gratis to everyone through the NHS. Places where you lot tin can get contraception include:

community contraception clinics
some genitourinary medicine (Mucilage) clinics
sexual health clinics – they also offer contraceptive and STI testing services
GP surgeries – talk to a GP or nurse
some young people's services (call the Sexual Wellness Line on 0300 123 7123 for more data)

Find a sexual health clinic

Getting contraception during coronavirus

If yous need contraception, call your GP surgery or a sexual health clinic equally before long as possible. Only go in person if you're told to.

It can accept longer to get contraception at the moment and some types are not widely available.

You may only be able to get the combined pill if you've had your blood pressure and weight checked in the last 12 months.

If yous cannot become the combined pill, y'all may be advised to use the progestogen-only pill or condoms for now.

How do I change to a different pill?

If you want advice about changing your contraceptive pill, you lot can visit a GP, contraceptive nurse (sometimes called a family planning nurse), or sexual health clinic.

You should not have a interruption between unlike packs, and then you lot will ordinarily be advised to start the new pill immediately or look until the twenty-four hours afterwards you lot take the terminal of your one-time pills.

You may also be advised to use culling methods of contraception during the changeover, as the new pill may take a short fourth dimension to accept effect.

If yous're under 16 years old

Contraception services are free and confidential, including for people nether the historic period of 16.

If you're under 16 and want contraception, the doctor, nurse or pharmacist will not tell your parents (or carer) as long as they believe y'all fully sympathise the data you're given and your decisions.

Doctors and nurses work under strict guidelines when dealing with people nether 16. They'll encourage yous to consider telling your parents, but they volition not make you.

The only time that a professional might want to tell someone else is if they believe yous're at run a risk of harm, such as abuse. The take chances would need to exist serious, and they would usually discuss this with you first.

More data

For more than information most the pill visit:

Sexwise'south folio virtually the combined pill
Contraception Choices' page near the combined pill

Page last reviewed: 1 July 2020
Next review due: one July 2023

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Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/combined-contraceptive-pill/

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