In real life, birth control pills have a 9 percent failure rate. If women follow the exact instructions for taking birth control pills - every day, at the same time - they prevent pregnancy in 99 percent of all cases. 'When you're pregnant, you don't ovulate, and the cervical mucus is thickening to prevent anything from easily getting into your uterus.' 2) Lots of women take birth control incorrectly Vanessa Cullins, Planned Parenthood's vice president of external medical affairs. 'There is some truth to the idea that birth control pills trick your body into thinking you're pregnant,' said Dr. In a way, birth control mimics the body's response to pregnancy. All of them work by doing two things: They prevent women from ovulating, and they cause the cervical mucus to thicken, which makes it more difficult for a sperm to penetrate and make contact with an egg if the woman is ovulating. Others contain two hormones, progestin and estrogen. More informationįor more information about contraception, see Family Planning NSW and Jean Hailes for Women's Health.1) Birth control pills prevent pregnancy through two different mechanismsĪll birth control pills use hormones to prevent pregnancy. Some medicines or herbal remedies may also prevent the pill from working, so you should ask your doctor or pharmacist about how any other medicines you need to take might affect it.

Vomiting and diarrhoea can prevent the pill from being absorbed properly. But as mistakes often happen, about 7 in every 100 women who use the mini pill may have an unplanned pregnancy. The mini pill works very well if you take it properly. There are 4 brands of mini pill available in Australia: Keep taking the pills as normal, and use another form of contraception (like a condom) for the next 48 hours until you have taken 3 consecutive doses of the mini pill. If you are more than 3 hours late taking the mini pill, take the pill you missed. What should you do if you forget to take the mini pill? The mini pill won't protect you from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV only condoms can do that. needs to be taken at the same time every day, with only a 3-hour window either side.is a low dose pill that does not contain oestrogen, so has less risk associated with it than the combined pill.can be used by most women, including many who cannot take the combined pill.

The main advantages of the mini pill are that it: What are the advantages and disadvantages of the mini pill? In some women, the mini pill also prevents the ovaries from releasing eggs in the first place. The mini pill works by thickening the mucus at the entrance to the uterus (womb), which stops sperm from getting through and fertilising the egg. The mini pill is useful for many women who can't take the combined pill, either because they are breastfeeding or for other health-related reasons. Unlike the combined pill, which contains oestrogen and progestogen, the mini pill contains only one hormone, progestogen. The mini pill is different to the other type of daily contraceptive pills, the combined oral contraceptive pill, and to the emergency contraceptive pill. You need to use condoms for 48 hours if you miss a pill. If you take it more than 3 hours late it might not work. You need to take the mini pill at the same time every day, without a break. Its proper name is the progestogen-only contraceptive pill. The mini pill is a type of oral contraceptive that you can take daily to avoid getting pregnant.

Related information on Australian websites.

What should you do if you forget to take the mini pill?.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the mini pill?.

Taking birth control 2 minutes late