Im Pregnant And I Dont Want To Be
First and foremost, take a deep breath and know were here for you. Many people face an unintended pregnancy at some point. You are not alone, and as many as 1 in 4 women will have an abortion in their reproductive lifetime. If think you want an abortion and arent sure which option is best for you, you can research abortion options here as well as learn more about the differences between the abortion pill and the carafem procedure. Call us anytime at SAY-CARA and well help you figure it out.
Ready To Try For A Baby Heres What You Need To Do Next
Youve stopped birth control. Youve started to track your cycle. Now what?
In addition to these steps, we recommend that you make a preconception appointment. A preconception appointment is like an annual physical, but also includes additional care and focus on family planning and pregnancy. You can also check out our robust pregnancy and parenting resources page, which includes all kinds of tips and information for every stage of pregnancy including planning.
It may take a few weeks to get an appointment, so schedule your preconception checkup early on. During your visit, youll also be able to talk about any specific questions or concerns you have.
Were ready if youre ready. Schedule a preconception checkup today.
When To See A Doctor
Women should speak to a doctor as soon as possible if they suspect that they are pregnant or have had a positive result on a pregnancy test while on birth control.
Conversely, if a woman misses a period and gets a negative pregnancy test result, she should also seek medical advice unless she is taking a form of birth control that prevents regular periods.
Although they are rare, false negatives are possible. There may be other underlying conditions causing missed periods or other pregnancy symptoms.
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You Missed One Or Several Pills
Missing one or several birth control pills is one of the most common reasons for hormonal birth control failure.
Birth control pills prevent pregnancy by releasing certain hormones into your bloodstream. For example, combination birth control pills release a combination of ethinyl estradiol and progestin hormones to stop your ovaries from releasing eggs.
In order to keep your levels of these hormones consistent, youll need to take your pill every day without failure.
When you miss a pill, the amount of these hormones in your bloodstream drops, increasing your risk of becoming pregnant. Your risk of pregnancy increases even more if you miss several pills in a row.
What Happens If You Get Pregnant With An Iud
If you get pregnant with an IUD, it’s important to see a doctor and have it removed as soon as possible. Because there is an increased risk that you will have, what’s called, an ectopic pregnancy, says Butler Tobah.
Ectopic pregnancies happen when the fertilized egg implants itself in the fallopian tube instead of in the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies can be life-threatening and may require surgery as soon as possible.
Even if you have a normal pregnancy with an IUD, it may be important to have the device removed within the first trimester of pregnancy, if possible. Talk to a doctor about your options.
“Contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you think you might be pregnant, even while on a form of birth control,” Butler Tobah says, adding that you can also start by taking an at-home pregnancy test.
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How Long Does It Take For Birth Control Pills To Work
The time it takes birth control pills to work depends on when you start taking them and what type of pills you use. You may begin taking the birth control pill any day of the month. It is however, advisable to use a backup birth control method, such as condoms, for about a week once you start taking the pills.
Combination oral contraceptive pills
- When started within five days after the first day of your period, the combined pill will protect you from pregnancy right away.
- If you get your periods on a Monday morning and you start taking the combined pills any time before Saturday morning, you will be instantly protected from a possible pregnancy.
- If the pills are started at any other time, it is best to use an additional method of birth control, like a condom, for the first week after you start taking the combined pills.
Progestin-only pills
- Progestin-only pills, POPs or mini pills can be started any day of the month. They will protect you from pregnancy after 48 hours of taking the first pill.
- In this case, you must use another method of birth control to prevent pregnancy during the first two days.
You must always discuss with your nurse or doctor about which birth control pill option would be best for you.
Im On The Pill Is It Safe To Have Sex During The Week I Get My Period When I Dont Take The Pill
Ive been taking the pill for a few months, and today my boyfriend is round, and we want to have sex, but Im about to start my period, so Im not taking my pill Is it okay to have sex?
Yes. When youre on the pill, its okay to have sex anytime, even during your period week the week when you dont take the pill or take placebo pills instead. As long as youve been taking your pill every day and starting your pill packs on time, youre protected from pregnancy even during that off week.
The pill works by preventing your ovaries from releasing eggs a process called ovulation. If ovulation doesnt happen, then no egg is present for sperm to join with – a process called fertilization. If fertilization doesnt happen, then you cant get pregnant. So even during the week that youre not taking the pill, youre protected from pregnancy.
Tags: period, birth control pills, placebo pills
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Getting Pregnant With The Patch Ring Or Shot
There are a few more options when it comes to birth control, and these include the patch, the vaginal ring and the Depo-Provera shot. Black says the failure rate for typical use of the patch and the ring is the same as the pill: eight percent. The Depo-Provera shot has a failure rate of just six percent with typical use.
With all three types of contraception, adherence is the biggest risk factor. They need to be used as directed to work effectively. Costescu says with the patch, which you replace once a week , one issue is that it may accidentally fall off. With the ring, he explains that replacing it on time is key. And it can only be removed for short periods of time if you want it to remain effective. Some women choose to remove the NuvaRing when theyre sexually active, and we recommend that it only be removed for up to three hours so, it cant be taken out, for instance, for an overnight date, he says.
Black adds that the same medications that make the pill less effective would have a similar effect on the patch and ring.
With Depo-Provera shots, Costescu notes, you must visit a health-care provider every three months to get the shot. He also says that the shot may be a good option if youre on anti-seizure medication, as the high dose of hormones that come with this type of birth control means those medications may not interfere with its effectiveness.
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Chances Of Pregnancy After Tubal Ligation
Tubal ligation, colloquially referred to as having one’s tubes tied, is a surgical procedure to block or close the fallopian tubes so that the sperm cannot reach the egg for fertilization.
Most are permanent, resulting in less than a 0.5%chance of getting pregnant after tubal ligation. However, some women might undergo a tubal ligation reversal to achieve pregnancy or relieve post-procedure side effects.
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Taking Pills As Birth Control
About 62 percent of women of reproductive age use some form of birth control, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Twenty-eight percent of those women who use contraceptives use birth control pills.
Many of these women have questions about their birth control, but forget to bring up their questions to their healthcare provider. If you are sexually active and want to prevent an unplanned pregnancy, here are answers to what you want to know about birth control pills.
Did You Miss A Day
For the most effective protection against pregnancy, your birth control pills should be taken daily. Heres a helpful tip: taking your pills at the same time each day may help you to remember to take them regularly. If you accidentally miss a pill or two or start a new pack late, its possible your pills will not work as well. What should you do? First, take the missed pill as soon as you remember it, and then keep taking the rest of the pills as usual even if this means taking 2 pills in one day. If you miss more than 2 pills in a row, take the missed pill as soon as possible, leave any other missed pills in the pack, then finish the rest of the pack of pills. In this case, you should use another form of birth control, with your pills, like condoms, any time you have sex in the next seven days. Bedsider has a super helpful guide for protecting yourself from an accidental pregnancy if you miss a pill. They also have a free birth control reminder app if you want some help staying on top of your daily BC routine.
Most pill packs have reminder pills at the end of the pack. These pills have no active ingredients in them, so no need to worry if you miss any of them. Your doctor can confirm if your pills contain a week of reminder pills that do not impact pregnancy prevention if they are late or missed.
If you are worried about getting pregnant, remember you can always call us at SAY-CARA to discuss the best birth control options for you and your lifestyle.
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Can You Get Pregnant On Birth Control
It is possible to get pregnant while taking birth control pills. If taken exactly the way the doctor prescribed, it is very effective in preventing pregnancy. How you take the pill depends on what kind of pill it is.
There are 2 types of birth control pills, the combined pill and the progesterone-only pill. The combined contraceptive pill is taken for 21 days and then stopped for 7 days. In these 7 days, you will have your menstrual period. Combined pills should be taken in the right order at around the same time each day. If you forget to take one, you have a 24-hour window to make it up and still be protected against pregnancy. The effectiveness decreases only if you miss 2 or more pills.
The progesterone-only pill should be taken in the order specified on the pack. They have to be taken without fail within 3 hours of the same time each day. If you miss it, you will not be protected from pregnancy.
So How Soon Can You Get Pregnant After Stopping Birth Control
Some women conceive within the first one to three months of being birth control-free. For others, it may take several months. Why the difference?
Your overall health and age and your partners fertility are important factors for getting pregnant. But timing is big, too.
To increase your chances of pregnancy, youll want to become intimately familiar with your menstrual cycle. Understanding your cycle is the best way to identify your fertile window. So, if youre ready or getting ready to try for a baby, its a good idea to start tracking your menstrual cycle now.
The good news is there are apps for that. A fertility tracker app can make it easier to understand your patterns, so you can plan your baby-making sessions with confidence. There are dozens of apps to choose from, so you should be able to find one you like. Popular fertility apps include Clue, Flo, Fertility Friend and Premom. Some apps even pair with ovulation test kits for extra-easy tracking.
Also, getting pregnant isnt easy for everyone, and its important to prepare your body for it. Taking care of your physical, mental and emotional health can increase your chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy. To help you get ready, weve also put together a preparing-for-pregnancy checklist.
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Can Birth Control Be Harmful For Your Baby
You can get pregnant on birth control pills. Research has shown links between birth control during early pregnancy and abnormal urinary tract, premature delivery, and low birth weight. However, these have not been proven beyond doubt. It is still very important to stop taking birth control pills immediately after you realise that you are pregnant.
Birth control pills are a highly effective way of preventing unplanned pregnancies if taken correctly. These pills also help in treating other conditions like painful menstrual cramps and acne. If not taken correctly, the pills become ineffective. Being well informed about all the reasons that can make the pills ineffective can help you avoid birth control failure.
You Took Your Pill At The Wrong Time
Birth control pills come in two different types. Theres the combination pill, which contains a mix of ethinyl estradiol and a progestin hormone. Then theres the progestin-only pill, or mini-pill a lower-dose birth control pill that only contains a progestin hormone.
Some women prefer the progestin-only pill to the combination pill due to its reduced risk of side effects. Weve looked at the advantages and disadvantages of each type of pill in our combined vs. progestin-only birth control pill guide.
If you use the progestin-only birth control pill, taking it at the wrong time of day could cause your hormone levels to drop, increasing your risk of becoming pregnant.
If you use a different form of hormonal birth control, such as the patch, ring or injection, its also possible to increase your risk of becoming pregnant by mistiming use of your birth control.
For example, if you use the birth control patch, youll need to replace it after seven days to keep your hormone levels consistent. If you keep your patch on for too long, or take it off and forget to replace it, you may have a higher risk of becoming pregnant.
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What Should I Do If I Think Im Pregnant While On Birth Control
If you think you are pregnant while taking birth control pills, speak with your doctor as soon as you can. You will need to start caring for your growing baby if you plan to continue the pregnancy. This means you may need to stop taking oral contraceptives and start taking prenatal vitamins. You will also need to start preparing for your upcoming delivery.
If you decide to terminate the pregnancy, you will need to start the process right away. Depending on where you live, laws may prevent you from terminating your pregnancy after a certain point.
Is There Any Way To Make Sure The Pill Is As Effective As Possible
Don’t freak: There are ways to maintain that 99 percent effectiveness ratemainly, again, by taking your pills at the same time each day, says Dr. Greves. “Thats recommendation. If you do not, thats when it increases the risk for you of getting pregnant, Dr. Greves says. It could be worth your while to set an alarm on your phone to go off at the same time everyday as a reminder. Or, if you usually go to sleep at the same time each night, think about designating bedtime as pill-taking time.
Even if you’re stringent with your birth control, there’s still that one percent chance you’ll get pregnantin which case, even more protection comes into play, says Dr. Greves. If you are extra-nervous, a condom with a birth control , she recommends. She adds that this can decrease your risk of contracting a sexually-transmitted infection from your partner, too, which oral contraceptives don’t protect against.
And if you’re just really bad at remembering to take the pill, there are other birth control methods that might be better for you, says Dr. Greves. An intrauterine device , is a good choice, says Dr. Greves, since it has a much lower failure rate and can last up to 10 years, depending on the kind. The IUD takes out the need for you to remember to take it, Dr. Greves says. Other birth control options that are lower-maintenance include the Nexplanon, an implant that goes in your arm, and the NuvaRing, a small ring inserted into the vagina.
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Can I Use St Johns Wort
St. Johns wort is a popular over-the-counter herbal supplement. Many people use it for depression and other problems. Researchers are still trying to figure out if St. Johns wort causes contraceptive failure. Again, you may want to use backup contraception while taking St. Johns wort.
Asking the right questions about getting pregnant while on birth control can help you avoid unwanted pregnancies. For more information about getting the most out of your birth control method, talk to your health care provider.
