Pill question

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-04-2004
Pill question
3
Sat, 10-23-2004 - 5:05pm
Hi. I recently started taking birth control pills, I'm on Mercette. it's a low hormonal pill and I had to be put on that one rather than a higher hormonal pill, because of a family history of breast cancer. I guess it highers the risk of getting cancer if you're on a higher hormone pill. I recently read an article on Cosmopolitan about secrets your doctor doesn't tell you about contraception. In the article is said that women taking a low hormonal pill that weigh 155 or more are 60 percent more likely to have the pill fail. I weigh around 150-155..and am taking a low hormonal pill.. I was just wondering if any of you know if this is true? or if anyone else is taking mercette or another low hormonal pill and have that weight range or more.. or know anyone? My SO is coming in a week (i'm in a LDR) and I just started the pill..so i can't really change the pill I'm on.. and can't really go on a higher hormonal one because of the history. After reading the article I'm really worried...and I don't know what to do. Is it even worth it that i'm on this pill if it's just going to fail me? Please help! Anything anyone knows would be much appreciated. I'm extremely confused and worried. Thanks.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
In reply to: newsgalmeg
Sat, 10-23-2004 - 5:35pm
The vast majority of pregnancies that occur while taking birth control pills are from forgetting pills and not bothering with backup. If you're taking the pill exactly as directed, then your chances of it failing you are extremely slight. Even if what you read is true, then 60% more of a failure chance from perfect use isn't much extra of a risk. So maybe instead of 1 woman out of 1000 getting pregnant with perfect use, perhaps it's 2 out of 1000. For women who don't use birth control, it's something like 850 out of 1000 who would be pregnant within a year. That is still very good protection.

What you can do to have better luck with the pill is take it as close to the same time every day as possible. If you miss a pill, then take it when you remember and use a backup method like condoms for the next week. The chances of getting pregnant with perfect use is 0.1%, but for typical use is closer to 5%. That's 50 times higher, so forgetting pills and not using backup is not something you ever want to do.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
In reply to: newsgalmeg
Sat, 10-23-2004 - 6:44pm
Hi newsgalmeg, welcome!

The article in Cosmo has caused a lot of concern and question on this board. I think only the patch has been shown (it's mentioned in the Ortho Evra prescribing information) to be less effective for women above 195 lbs. For a medical perspective on the question of weight and the effectiveness of oral contraceptives see: http://www.contraceptiononline.org/contrareport/article01.cfm?art=261

You should definitely continue your pills. User failure, failure to take your pills correctly, is the reason most unintended pregnancies occur. Since you are new to oral contraceptives you might want to read some of the posts in the FAQs about the pill, especially 'Taking your pill correctly' which has tips on things to do and to avoid doing to get the most from your pills. As long as you are taking your pills correctly you should be fine. If you're still worried you might want to have a talk about your concerns with your doc. Thanks for posting.

Take care,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: newsgalmeg
Sun, 10-24-2004 - 10:18am
The other thing too, to remember with Cosmo, is that they don't exactly give the most technically accurate information. That one article that appeared last October or the October before is what made me get a Cosmo subscription, just to keep an eye on what they were telling people! I have a whole lot of issues with them reporting on that ONE study that hasn't been replicated by anyone else (yet). There is another study related to BMI and pill effectiveness, but otherwise the evidence is still pretty thin.

The 20mcg pills that they're talking about potentially being a problem are Alesse and its generics. Not only is the estrogen dose very low, but the progestin dose is also very low, and the only recommendation is that doctors with overweight patients consider moving them to a different pill, not taking them off the pill altogether.

For a method that's 99.5% effective, a 60% increase in failure takes the effectiveness down just slightly. 60% of 1/2%... I figured it out once...it's still more effective than most other methods of contraception if used absolutely correctly, and is better than the typical-use effectiveness.

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control