How to Maximize the Effectiveness of Birth Control Pills

Birth control pills are one of the most popular forms of birth control in the United States. It is also, being up to 99.91 percent successful, one of the most effective forms of birth control available. However, this rate of effectiveness can be compromised in many ways. To be as protected as possible, you must adhere to certain guidelines.

Instructions

• 1

  Take your pill at the same time every day. This is a common way that women inadvertently decrease the effectiveness of their birth control pill. The pill offers the most protection if it is taken at the exact same time every single day. Set your cell phone alarm, take it at your regularly scheduled lunch break, or when you brush your teeth in the morning. If your pack includes seven sugar pills--the inactive pills you take on your week off--do continue to take those. While they may not be hormone pills, they will help you stay in a routine.

• 2

  Understand what to do if you miss a pill. Even with a routine in place, it is possible to mess up and miss or delay taking your pill. Read the information that comes with your birth control pill--there will always be instructions about how to handle a missed dose. If you are not sure, consult your doctor and use a back-up form of contraception.

• 3

  Be mindful of possible drug interactions. When your doctor asks if you are on any other medications, don't forget to mention that you take birth control pills. Certain medications, such as some oral medications used to treat yeast infections, can decrease the effectiveness of birth control. If your doctor does not ask you, then you will need to ask your doctor or pharmacist about how your pill will interact with any other medications that have been prescribed. Even homeopathic remedies, such as St. John's Wort, can alter the effectiveness of the Pill.

• 4

  Assess your overall level of health. The pill works by releasing hormones into your bloodstream. If you have an illness, from bulimia to Crohn's disease to a simple stomach virus, your body's ability to absorb the medication may be compromised. Make sure you talk to your doctor about your overall health before you begin taking birth control pills. For temporary bouts of vomiting or diarrhea, you will need to use a back-up method of birth control.