Let me say it this way, birth control pills work very well if a woman follows directions she is given by her health care provider exactly on how to take the pill. If a woman takes her birth control pill every day as directed, the chance of getting pregnant in a year is less than 1 out of 100 (99+% effective). The reality is, though, many women using the pill are what we call “typical users.” That means, they sometimes forget to take their pill. Even missing just one pill out of a pack increases the chance that a woman will become fertile (ovulate). For “typical users,” the numbers are not as good – 8 out of 100 women (92% effective) will get pregnant in a year on the pill.
The only method of birth control that is 100% effective is to not have sex. But, if you are going to have sex and want to use the pill for your birth control, if your provider says it is a safe method for you, the best way for it to work best is by taking it every day without fail. It is also important to remember that pregnancy is not the only thing to think about if you are considering having sex with someone. The pill does not protect against STDs – like gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, HPV, and HIV. If you are thinking about starting a sexual relationship, BEFORE you have sex with him, you need to make absolutely sure he has tested negative for all STDs (make him show you all his test results) and is willing to make a commitment to you that he will not have other sex partners .
