Birth Control Pills

Birth control pills are a popular method of contraception. Make an appointment to get a prescription or find out more.

Birth control pills are also known as:

The Pill
Oral contraceptive pill (OCP)
Oral contraceptives (OC)

Make an appointment to get birth control pills, or for help choosing the best birth control for you.

The Pill in detail

How the birth control pill works

Birth control pills are a dose of hormones (estrogen and progestin) that a female takes once a day to prevent pregnancy. The birth control pill is about 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when used perfectly. It is one of the most popular and effective methods of birth control.

The birth control pill works primarily by preventing the ovaries from releasing an egg each month (ovulation). It also thickens the cervical mucus, which acts as a barrier and helps to immobilize sperm. And lastly, it thins out the lining of the uterus (endometrium), which makes it difficult for a fertilized egg to implant itself into the wall of the uterus.

The pill does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.

Birth control pill side-effects and advantages

Possible side-effects are usually minor

For most women, the pill is safe, effective and convenient. Some women may experience minor side effects such as midcycle bleeding, bloating or moodiness when starting the pill. These side-effects should disappear within the first 3 months.

If you have persistent side-effects, your doctor may recommend trying a different brand of pills to reduce them.

There are some rare but serious risks associated with hormonal contraception (blood clots, stroke, etc). The risks of using birth control pills are smaller than the health risks associated with pregnancy. See the danger signs below.

However, there are some women who may not be able to use the pill because of their health history (for example, women who have migraines with auras need to use other methods instead).

Advantages of birth control pills

regulates periods
reliable (99% effective when taken correctly)
convenient
reduces risk of ovarian cysts, benign breast disease, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian and endometrial cancer

How to get birth control pills

Make an appointment at any of our clinics to see a doctor about getting a prescription for birth control pills.

Once our doctor has determined you can safely take the pill and has recommended a good brand for you to try, you can buy your pills right here at our clinic! We will teach you everything you need to know about the pill and answer any questions you have.

Using birth control pills properly

It is important to take your pill at the same time everyday, for it to be most effective.
Be sure to start your new pack immediately after finishing your last, without missing a day, even if you still have bleeding. You will always start your new package on the same day of the week.

If you are new to the pill, the doctor will probably start you on a 28 day package which means you will be taking a pill everyday for 4 weeks.

The last week of your package contains placebo pills or sugar pills which are inactive (they contain no hormones). This placebo week is when you will get your period. You are still protected from pregnancy even during this placebo week provided you have taken your pills correctly during the cycle.

A period or bleed outside this week is not uncommon. If midcycle bleeding persists, speak to a physician.

Starting the birth control pill

If you take your first pill on the first day of your period, you are protected right away against pregnancy.

You may also do a “quick start” method which means you start your pills as soon as they are prescribed, regardless of where you are in your cycle. With this quick start method, you should use a back-up method of birth control, such as condoms, for at least the first 7 days.

When to use backup birth control

Vomiting & diarrhea

If you vomit within two hours of taking your pill, take another pill as the first pill may not have been absorbed properly by your body. Use a back-up method for 7 days.

If diarrhea persists for more than a two days, continue to take the pill but use a back-up method for the rest of the package.

Conflicting medications

There are some medications and herbal remedies that may make the pill less effective. Some of these include:

some antibiotics
Rifampin and Griseofulvin
some anti convulsants (Barbituates including phenobarbital and primidone, Phenytoin, Carbamazepine, Toprimate, and Vigabatin)
St. John’s Wort

If you are not sure whether the medication you are taking interferes with the pill, call us or a pharmacy, and use a back-up method for the rest of the package.

If you miss a pill

It is important to take your pill everyday at approximately the same time in order for it to be effective. There is evidence that ovulation and pregnancy risk can occur if birth control pills are missed for as little as 12 hours.

If you have unprotected sex after missing any pills contact the clinic at 592-3479 to discuss taking the “Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP)”. It is possible to obtain the ECP in advance from our clinic to keep “on hand” for such an occasion and we recommend this. You may also obtain Emergency Contraception from pharmacies in BC without a prescription. The sooner you take the ECP the more effective it is at preventing pregnancy.

Island Sexual Health Society recommends the following guidelines for clients who have missed pill(s).

There are two different sets of instructions based on whether this is the only episode of missed pills in your current package or if there has been more than one episode of missed pills in your current package. Please ensure you are following the correct set of instructions. The Missed Pills Guide [pdf] will help you figure out how best to deal with a missed birth control pill.

Danger signals for birth control pill users

Call your doctor or go to the nearest medical treatment centre if you have any of the following symptoms while taking birth control pills:

A – Abdominal pain, severe
C – Chest pain (severe), cough, or shortness of breath
H – Headache (severe) or increased frequency or intensity of headache, dizziness, weakness, or numbness
E – Eye problems: vision loss or blurring, speech problems
S – Severe leg pain in calf or thigh