When To Take Pregnancy Test On Birth Control Pills

Possibility Of Getting Pregnant When On The Pill

When the pill is taken as directed, it is 99 percent effective, according to WebMD. This means that even if taken properly, there is a one percent chance of getting pregnant.

The chances of getting pregnant go up when women do not take the pill per what the instructions state. As such, per the publication, the chances of women getting pregnant raise to nine percent. While not a large percentage, it is increased from what it is when taken properly. Meaning that women have a better chance of conceiving when this happens.

Where Can I Find More Information

Your paediatrician, family doctor, pharmacist or local public health department will have more information about this topic. In some provinces, pharmacists can give out emergency contraception without a prescription. On the Internet, you can try ec.princeton.edu or look for the Canadian Paediatric Society position statement on emergency contraception prepared by the Adolescent Health Committee on the Societys Web site.

What Are The Side Effects Of Emergency Contraception

The most common side effects of ECPs are nausea and vomiting, especially with the Yuzpe method. If your doctor gives you this form of ECP, they will also give you medication to prevent vomiting. If you throw up within an hour of taking the first dose of ECPs, you need to take more ECPs. Some women also have tender breasts, bloating, irregular bleeding, and headaches. These do not last long.

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How Does It Work

The pill alters the menstrual cycle using man-made versions of the female hormones, oestrogen and progesterone.

It works by:

• Stopping ovulation
• Thickening the cervical mucus to make it difficult for sperm to penetrate the womb
• Thinning the lining of the womb to minimise the chances of a fertilised egg being able to grow

There are different types of contraceptive pills available, which work in slightly different ways.

Common pill brands include:

Do I Need Any Exam Before Getting Birth Control Pills

You should have pelvic exams and Pap tests based on your age and health history. But you dont need an exam or Pap test just to get a prescription for birth control pills.

Before you get birth control pills, your doctor should always do a basic medical exam and:

• Check your blood pressure.
• Ask if youve ever had blood clots.
• Ask if you smoke.

High blood pressure, blood clots, and smoking are risk factors. If you have a risk factor, you should consider other forms of birth control. Birth control pills may not be a good choice.

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I Missed My Period But I Am On The Pill What Does This Mean

If you have been taking your pills correctly every day and you are not on any prescription medications which might interfere with pill effectiveness , you are not pregnant. Many of todays low dose pills stimulate very little lining of the uterus to develop and, in some circumstances , there is minimal to no bleeding. Keep taking your pills. If you miss a second period, you should take a pregnancy test just to be sure.

If you cannot tolerate not having a period, we can change your pill however, many women see this as an added benefit and it is not unhealthy to not menstruate as long as you are on birth control.

When I Can Test For Pregnancy

You can and should take a pregnancy test every time you may be suspicious of a pregnancy. Still, the chances for getting a false negative pregnancy result may be lower if you wait until the first day of your missed period.

If you`ll take the pregnancy test before this particular day, it may offer you a positive pregnancy result if you are pregnant. However, you might also receive a false negative pregnancy result if you haven`t had sufficient time between the moment of conception and the moment you are taking the test. You need the pregnancy hormone to build up to levels that can be detected by the test.

If you are on the pill, you`ll find out from the pack when your period may come. Still, some pills limit their number during an entire year. If you may suspect a pregnancy while being on the pill, take the pregnancy test 12 14 days after the suspected moment of conception and you can be confident that you`ll get a reliable positive or negative pregnancy result.

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Changes In Eating Patterns

Suddenly developing food aversions may be a symptom of early pregnancy. Sense of smell is heightened in early pregnancy, and your taste for some foods might change. Food cravings can develop, too.

The hormones in birth control pills can also change your eating patterns, so it may be hard to determine whats causing your sudden palate shift.

Heres how to ensure you get the most accurate result possible:

When You Need Tests To Get Birth Control Pillsand When You Dont

Before you get birth control pills, your doctor may want you to have a pelvic exam with a Pap test. Your doctor should get a complete medical history before giving you a prescription for birth control pills. But you usually dont need a Pap test and pelvic exam, especially if you are a teen. The tests can even be harmful. Heres why:

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Getting Pregnant With An Iud

IUDs are a very effective method of birth control, says Costescu. The copper IUDs failure rate is a mere 0.8 percent, while a hormonal IUD has a failure rate of just 0.2 percent. A copper IUD is immediately effective when placed, and the hormonal type is effective within five days after being placed, he explains. And, since you dont have to do anything after its in place, and youve had a follow-up to make sure it was inserted properly, theres no chance for user error.

The one risk is that over the five-year life of your IUD, there is a three to five percent chance it may be expelled by your body. If someone does notice they suddenly have heavy bleeding with clots with an IUD inside, that could be a sign that the IUDs been expelled, Black explains. If this happens, do a string check to make sure the IUD is still in place if you cant find the string, make an appointment with your health-care provider so they can make sure everything is where it should be and, in the meantime, use backup birth control, such as condoms.

If you suspect youre pregnant, take a home pregnancy test. If its positive, its important to see a health-care provider as soon as possible to get an ultrasound. Its an urgent matter because if you get pregnant with an IUD there is a higher chance that it will be an ectopic pregnancy, which means the embryo has implanted in one of your fallopian tubes rather than in your uterus, which can be dangerous, and needs to be treated right away.

Contraceptive Pearl: Who Needs A Pregnancy Test When Starting Contraception

Many clinicians or clinic protocols require a pregnancy test for patients who are starting contraception or receiving contraceptive care. However, a routine pregnancy test is not necessary for everyone starting contraception it can act as a barrier to telehealth care and a negative test can provide false reassurance in some situations.

The US Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contains guidance to help assess whether someone is at risk for pregnancy . Box 2 in the US SPR has a simple list that allows a clinician to be reasonably certain that their patient is not pregnant if they have no signs or symptoms of pregnancy and meet any one of the criteria below:

• Is 7 days or less from the start of a normal period
• Has not had vaginal-penile sex since their last period
• Has been correctly using a reliable contraceptive method
• Is 7 days or less from a spontaneous or induced abortion
• Is within 4 weeks postpartum
• Is less than 6 months postpartum and chestfeeding for at least 85% or more of feeds

A systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of this list compared to a urine pregnancy test, and found that this list correctly ruled out pregnancy with a negative predictive value of 99-100% . Depending on the clinic workflow, these questions can be integrated into patient intake paperwork, can be asked by nursing staff during triage, or can be asked by the clinician during the visit.

Resources:

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I Missed My Period And I Dont Want To Be Pregnant

Ok, we can help. First and foremost, take a deep breath and know you are not alone. Abortion is a common thing that 1 in 4 people who can get pregnant will experience in their reproductive lifetime. Its a good idea to get as much information as soon as possible about your options. Reviewing our website or calling carafem is a great place to start.

Our staff will often start the call or ask online if you know the day your last period started. This is how we can date how far along you are in your pregnancy so we can provide you with abortion options specific to your needs. You can also access our website for information about choosing the abortion pill vs. an in-office abortion procedure.

Teens Usually Dont Need The Pap Test

Teenagers generally dont need a Pap test. They rarely have cervical cancer.

Also, Pap tests in teens have unclear results. Something might seem abnormal, but usually it gets better on its own. Your doctor may want to do tests for sexually transmitted diseases , but these tests can be done using blood or urine samples. They do not require a pelvic exam.

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Causes Of An Incorrect Test Result

Though pregnancy tests are highly accurate, theres still room for error. A few issues can affect your results, but your birth control pill isnt one of them. The hormones in your birth control pill dont affect a tests ability to detect hCG.

Some possible issues are described below. There are other, less common reasons not listed here.

What Symptoms Do You Feel When Your Pregnant

The most common early signs and symptoms of pregnancy might include:

• Missed period. If you’re in your childbearing years and a week or more has passed without the start of an expected menstrual cycle, you might be pregnant. …
• Tender, swollen breasts. …
• Nausea with or without vomiting. …
• Increased urination. …

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Getting Pregnant On Birth Control

There are many reasons that getting pregnant on birth control is possible. The main reason is user error. Examples of this include not properly using your birth control and/or not always using your birth control.

The condom you used may have broken, or maybe you missed too many birth control pills. Other reasons that you may get pregnant while on birth control include:

• If you use certain medications that interfere with the effectiveness of your birth control
• If you don’t properly store your birth control or use it past its expiration date.

So, you see, it is possible to get pregnant while on birth control. But keep in mind that these typical user errors are factored into the failure rate of each birth control method. When you look at these rates, you typically see two numbers.

The higher number is the effectiveness with perfect use and the lower number is the effectiveness with normal use . So, even though getting pregnant on birth control can happen, the chances that it does are still fairly low. And don’t worry, if you do get pregnant while on the pill , taking the pill while pregnant will not harm your baby.

How Would You Know If You Were Pregnant While Taking The Pill

Pregnancy indicators on the birth control pill The following are some signs that you should look out for if you are concerned that you might be pregnant: experiencing feelings of illness, nausea, and/or vomiting Having a feeling that is different from your typical level of fatigue, exhaustion, or emotion: Breast discomfort or tenderness.

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Ultrasound To Determine Pregnancy

If your home pregnancy test or beta-hCG blood test is positive for pregnancy, the next step will be to confirm the pregnancy with an ultrasound. An ultrasound is typically planned for 5-6 weeks past the missed period. The ultrasound will confirm where the embryo has implanted, if there is more than one, and if the heart is beating.

Learn more about when and why ultrasounds are performed during pregnancy.

How K Health Can Help

Do you know you can access affordable primary care with the K Health app? If you have any concerns about the efficacy of your birth control method or would like to get an experts opinion about how to prevent pregnancy, speak to or chat with one of our doctors at K Health.

to check your symptoms, explore conditions and treatments, and if needed, text with a doctor in minutes. K Healths AI-powered app is HIPAA compliant and is based on 20 years of clinical data.

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Free Pregnancy Testing Services

If you have any reasonable suspicion you could be pregnant, the best course of action is to take a pregnancy test. You should never forego taking a test just because youre not sure or because you dont want to admit you could be pregnant. Its always better to know and be ready, even if the result isnt what you were hoping for.

At Hope Clinic, we provide free pregnancy testing services at our clinic for all women. If you think you could be pregnant, simply schedule an appointment with us to take a pregnancy test. Our services and your results are completely confidential and 100% free. Call or text 669-500-TEST to schedule your appointment now.

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What Are The Types Of Birth Control Pills

There are two different types of birth control pills. Both types contain hormones that prevent pregnancy.

• Combination pills contain estrogen and progestin.
• Progestin-only pills are also called the minipill. Theyre better for some women, such as those who are breastfeeding or have a history of blood clots and strokes and shouldnt take estrogen.

The pill comes in different dosing packets from 21-day pill packs to 90-day pill packs, to even 365 days of active pills. Traditionally, depending on the brand and dose, you take at least three weeks of active pills followed by two to seven days of hormone-free pills. This is called cyclical dosing. Most women have a menstrual period during the inactive pills. Some brands do not provide any inactive pills at all in the pack . With the 21-day packs a woman does not take any pills for a week. During this time, youll have your period, similar to what happens when taking the inactive, hormone-free pills.

Some formulations offer continuous dosing, which means you do not have any inactive pills, and a woman takes an active pill daily. Alternatively, extended cycle dosing is when inactive pills or breaks in the active pill regimen only occur three to four times per year. Skipping the inactive pills prevents menstruation. Your healthcare provider can discuss the best option for you.

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When In Doubt Test

Sexually active women in their reproductive years have a chance of pregnancy every month, even when using protection. There are certain signals your body might send that should prompt you to take a pregnancy test.

For the best results, take the test after you think youve missed your period. Test during your first morning bathroom visit, or hold it for several hours to increase the concentration of the HCG hormone that the test measures.

Testing early helps to ensure that you get proper care for yourself and, if applicable, prenatal care for your baby. In the event of a positive result, contact your doctor as soon as possible to discuss your options and potential next steps.

What Is The Best Time To Take A Pregnancy Test

A woman on birth control also needs to take a pregnancy test early morning. Pregnancy tests detect the level of hCG hormone in your urine. The placenta after embryo implantation produces hCG. This pregnancy hormone starts coming in your urine.

A woman on birth control may not get pregnant, but if it fails, then she will also have hCG in urine. Urine pregnancy test on birth control will detect the hCG to test pregnancy.

In the early stages of pregnancy, the body needs time to produce enough hCG. Once the levels of hCG pick up then, you can take a pregnancy test on birth control.

Birth control doesnt give false pregnancy test. They dont interfere with pregnancy tests. Taking pregnancy test on birth control is not much different from the usual home pregnancy test.

You should ideally take a pregnancy test early morning. Early morning urine has high levels of hCG because the urine concentrates overnight.

High concentration of hCG helps the pregnancy test detect pregnancy easily.

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