What happens if you continuously take the pill

In continuous cycling, women simply take The Pill every day, without any breaks. Note: The minipill, a form of oral contraceptive, is progestin only and does not have a sugar pill component. You can take it every day and it will not impact your period. For that reason, this article is mainly discussing the use of combined contraceptive. This is the most common question asked by women when it comes to extended or continuous pill-taking.

While no contraceptive is completely foolproof , studies of continuous and extended cycling have shown it is as effective, if not more effective, than traditional cycling. One US study in reported 0. There are no long-term side effects of continuous pill-taking, compared with traditional 21 day use. However it can take a while for some women to menstruate again after stopping The Pill. The most common side effect of continuous or extended pill-taking is breakthrough bleeding, or spotting.

However, the frequency of spotting decreases over time , and most women stop bleeding entirely within one year. However, if you do experience any serious breakthrough bleeding where pads or tampons are needed for three days or more, you should take a break for days before resuming The Pill.

Read more: What are my options if The Pill isn't right for me? Is it safe to take anitbiotics while on The Pill? How easy is it to get The Pill around the world? Other benefits? A lot of women also find it easier to remember The Pill when they take it every day. It definitely looks that way. To prevent your period with these pills, don't take the inactive pills and start right away on a new pack. As soon as you ovulate again, you can get pregnant.

If this happens during your first cycle off the pill, you may not have a period at all. Take a pregnancy test if you've had unprotected sex and your period hasn't returned. Conceiving immediately after stopping the pill does not increase your risk of miscarriage or harm to the fetus.

The hormones in birth control pills don't remain in your system. Usually periods start again a few weeks after stopping the pill. However, if your periods were infrequent before you started taking the pill, they will likely be that way again after you stop taking the pill. It may take a couple of months before you return to regular ovulation cycles. After stopping the pill, if you're not ready to conceive, consider using a backup form of birth control. If you don't have a period for several months, you may have what's known as post-pill amenorrhea.

The pill prevents your body from making hormones involved in ovulation and menstruation. When you stop taking the pill, it can take some time for your body to start producing these hormones again.

Menstrual periods typically resume within three months after you stop taking the pill. But if you took the pill to regulate your menstrual cycles, it may take several months before your period comes back. If you don't have a period within three months, take a pregnancy test to make sure you're not pregnant and then see your doctor. You can get accurate results from a pregnancy test while you're on the pill.

Pregnancy tests work by measuring a specific pregnancy-related hormone — human chorionic gonadotropin HCG — in your blood or urine. The active ingredients in birth control pills don't affect how a pregnancy test measures the level of HCG in your system. Don't worry if you kept taking your birth control pill because you didn't know you were pregnant. Despite years of this accident happening, there's very little evidence that exposure to the hormones in birth control pills causes birth defects.

Once you learn that you're pregnant, stop taking the birth control pill. It's possible to use standard estrogen-progestin birth control pills for emergency contraception, but check with your doctor for the proper dose and timing of the pills. Certain types of pills are specifically designed to keep you from becoming pregnant if you've had unprotected sex. These medications are sometimes referred to as the morning-after pill.

Levonorgestrel pills are available over-the-counter to anyone of any age. Levonorgestrel pills work best when used as soon as possible — and within three days — after unprotected sex.

Ulipristal acetate is a nonhormonal medication available only by prescription. This medication is taken as a single dose within five days after unprotected sex. A copper intrauterine device IUD or an IUD containing 52 milligrams of levonorgestrel may also be used for emergency contraception. Ideally, these IUDs should be placed by your doctor within five days of unprotected intercourse. If you are considered obese with a body mass index BMI of 30 or more, emergency contraception may not be as effective — especially if you use levonorgestrel.

You could still become pregnant after using levonorgestrel for emergency contraception. BMI is not as much of a concern when using ulipristal. Use of an IUD for emergency birth control is not affected by body weight.

In terms of your overall health, it makes little difference when you stop taking the pill. When you finally do stop the pill, you can expect some bleeding, which may change the rhythm of your menstrual cycle. But you can stop at any time. Taking the inactive pills doesn't put you at higher risk of unintended pregnancy. But if you miss a pill — or several pills — during a cycle, you might be at higher risk of unintended pregnancy during that cycle.

To be safe, use a backup form of contraception, such as a condom, especially if you miss several pills during a cycle. This is a common thought. But studies have shown that the effect of the birth control pill on weight is small — if it exists at all.

Instead, you may be retaining more fluid, which can make you feel as if you've put on weight, particularly in your breasts, hips and thighs. The estrogen in birth control pills does affect fat adipose cells, making them larger but not more numerous.

Scientific evidence suggests using birth control pills for longer periods of time increases your risk of some cancers, such as cervical cancer, but the risk declines after stopping use of birth control pills. Regarding breast cancer risk, the results are mixed. Some studies show a link between birth control pill use and a slight increase in breast cancer risk, but the risk is very low. Other studies have shown no significant increase in breast cancer risk.

Risk appears to decrease over time after discontinuing birth control pills. How do I take my pill continuously? These videos can help explain how to continuously take your pill. The Positives It gives you better contraceptive protection than regular use It lets you control your period.

You can choose when you have your period, if you decide to have it at all It can help people who have long, heavy or painful periods Not having a monthly period can help people who suffer from endometriosis or anaemia.

Talk to your doctor or nurse about this option. This usually goes back to normal over time as your body gets used to the change. Some people find they begin spotting after a few months, in which case they take the inactive pills and have a period. Will taking my pill continuously affect my fertility in future? Are there any side effects to taking the pill continuously? Find a clinic. Ask for an appointment Visits are free if you are under 22 NZ residents only.

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