A
female
age
36-40,
*nnovate
writes:I've just started dating a new guy and have gone on the pill. We've both been checked out and are looking to not use condoms soon. I'm just worried about the possibility of getting pregnant. I know that the pill is 99.9999999% effective - but what does this mean in reality? In general, does it protect you? Should you really use condoms at the same time (or at certain times are you more likely to fall pregnant?)? I just can't believe that a tiny pill will stop me from getting pregnant... Thanks!
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condom, the pill Reply to this Question
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male
reader, Danielepew  +, writes (13 October 2011):
 Why don't you use both until you know that your boyfriend does not have any disease?
A
female
reader, OctoberQueen17  +, writes (13 October 2011):
If I were you, I'd SO have a condom! I mean, who said they were true? It could work opposite, because you're body is different than other girls or young women. If you're not married don't do it! You don't wanna be a slut, do you?
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (12 October 2011): The pills are effective in preventing pregnancies. Safety however is another issue. Too many recalls and it affects your long term health negatively especially over a long period of time. The pills taken today may be recalled in 5 years and if you've been on them already for six years you may be affected. The shot I'm not sure about. But I did a lot of research while in college for classes on birth control treatment. In the long run condoms are safer but maybe less effective. If you opt to use the pills I would continue condom usage and still use the withdrawal method while using condoms. Also find out what naturally and momentarily lowers sperm count I.e. hot baths, smoking, less vitamin c, excessive running and cycling. And if all else fails take the emergency morning after pill, its way better than constantly subjecting yourself to pills every other day and placebos. Enjoy sex, and safe sex but not at the cost of your future health.
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A
female
reader, person12345 +, writes (12 October 2011):
 The pill is more effective than condoms, though IUDs are generally thought to be the most effective (also expensive). What you do really also depends on what would happen were you to get pregnant. You and your partner should talk that bit over since you're having sex to make sure you're on the same page about that.
You really don't need to double up the pill and condoms. The pill works by preventing ovulation and changing your mucus to make it inhospitable to sperm and making it difficult for an egg to implant and is 99% effective with perfect use.
Someone mentioned drug companies versus doctors, the sheet with the pills is correct.
It's a good idea to set an alarm on your phone so you will take it at exactly the same time every day and bring your pills with you if you think you'll be out during that time. Most women find it works best to take them later in the day so you won't have to wake up early to take your pill on the weekends.
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A
female
reader, chigirl  +, writes (12 October 2011):
 The pill is saver than a condom. If that helps you relax. The number of 99.999999% is there because, as with all things in life, nothing is guaranteed. There's also a problem with misuse of the pill, people who claim to have been on it and gotten pregnant when in reality they forgot to take their pill etc. That lowers the safety percentage. That's also the main reason the condom has a lower safety percentage, there are more chances that you will misuse a condom than there are chances you will misuse your pill. There are just more things that can go wrong with the condom (being put on wrong, scratches, product error, slipping off), and with the pill the only real thing you can do wrong is forget to eat it.
That is why the hormonal shot is EVEN SAFER than the pill, because you take a shot every 3 months and the chances of you messing it up or misusing it are even slighter.
Generally it comes down to people not using the product correctly, and that makes the statistical number go up. However, there are occurrences you can not predict. Maybe you had stomach issues one day and the pill wasn't effective. Maybe you used a medicine that affected the pill. Maybe you had semen, unknowingly, on your hands before using the condom. Then you got pregnant. There's just no way anyone can ever give you a 100% guarantee you wont get pregnant, because there's alway a chance of pregnancy when you have sex.
The only 100% safe thing is to not have sex. But 99,999% safety isn't too bad either. And come to think of it, getting pregnant is like russian roulette. You can have unprotected sex your entire life and never get pregnant. Or you can have it once with condoms and birth control pills and still something goes wrong and you are pregnant. It's just that both cases are unlikely, yet, no one can guarantee it will never happen.
The pill is safe if all the right conditions are in place. So is the condom. Using both is even safer, because just in case one or the two has a misuse the other will cover for it. If you understand what I mean.
The pill alone is fine. But, if there is some medical reason for why you shouldn't be pregnant, you shouldn't use only the pill. Just for the sake of complete protection, you should use two methods of contraception, both the pill and the condom. Alternatively you can have a procedure to remove your uterus and use condoms at the same time. But that's only for cases where a possible pregnancy is lethal.
When you have sex you are always taking a risk for pregnancy. When two people have sex they are accepting that risk. If you are not willing to accept that risk then don't have sex.
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A
female
reader, k_c100 +, writes (12 October 2011):
 I've been on the pill since I was 16, and once I and my new sexual partner have been tested for STD's we dont use condoms. Not once have I ever had a pregnancy scare (I'm 24 now).
It is nothing to do with the size of the pill - you can get many small pills that can kill you, that is irrelevant. The fact is the pill stops you from releasing an egg, in that little pill it packs in a LOT of hormones which are effective in stopping you from releasing an egg. So if there is no egg, there is no chance of a baby.
If you dont take them correctly though that is when you put yourself at risk. It needs to be roughly the same time every day without fail, if you take it more than 12 hours later than your normal time you need to use condoms for 7 days. If you are on antibiotics it wont work, again use condoms for 7 days. If you are sick or have diarrhea then this could reduce its effectivenes, again use condoms for 7 days after.
Try not to worry about this - millions of people worldwide take the pill and yes there are a few stories where the pill hasnt worked, but you dont know exactly how they were taking the pill at the time and whether they were taking it properly. For the majority of pill users it works perfectly and there is no need to worry about it.
I hope this helps and good luck!
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female
reader, carebare  +, writes (12 October 2011):
So_Very_Confused is totally right. I'd just like to add that you should make sure you've been taking the pill long enough before you start having sex without a condom.
Most drug companies will state in their literature that the pill is effective after 7-14 days of taking an active pill but most dosctors recommend finishing a whole pack (1 month) before it is safe to stop using secondary protection. Those are generally the guidelines but check with your doctor to be 100% sure.
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female
reader, bardia +, writes (12 October 2011):
 I actually know of someone who was on one of the pills--there was a 3% chance it could fail. She's extremely responsible--took it as directed. Guess what happened...
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female
reader, So_Very_Confused +, writes (12 October 2011):
 If you take the pill the way you are supposed to (every day at the same time never missing a day) and avoid all the meds that make it ineffective (antacids and antibiotoics come to mind) you should NOT ovulate.
IF you do not ovulate you cannot get pregnant.
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A
female
reader, Honeypie +, writes (12 October 2011):
 The PILL is 99% effective is used correctly 100% of the time.
Honestly, the best way to avoid pregnacies is using both the pill & condom.
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