Can taking extra birth control pills prevent a pregnancy?

Do you know what’s worse than cramps, bloating, and mood swings? An unwanted pregnancy. Whether we’re talking about being unable to afford or accommodate one – the possibility is never fun. As someone who has gone through their fair share of female struggles – I think we can all agree that it’s essential to be well-informed when it comes to contraceptive methods.

Nowadays, there are plenty of options available if you’re looking for ways to avoid getting pregnant. From hormonal injections and intrauterine devices (IUDs) to condoms and various types of pills – it’s easy for women these days! But most importantly – do they work as claimed?

Let us walk through this important question with a pinch of humor because trust me; birth control discussions can use some laughter!

The efficacy of Regular Birth Control Pills

First things first: does using regular birth control pill correctly guarantee 100% protection against an alarming surprise like conception? Well – A big fat nope! Not even close.

No matter which brand/type you choose- Oral contraception provides an excellent level of security but isn’t 100%. For optimal protection from pregnancy, consistency in administering the birth control pill is key.

Taking your regular dose every day at roughly the same time (within a two-hour window), could only provide up to 99% effectiveness.

But among typical users (aka humans), they say ‘consistency’ might not always stay committed on their agenda…ouch

Double Dosing Diaries

It begins à This negative attitude toward oral contraceptives that dampens many people’s spirits/sex lives/literal lives! So let’s break down why doubling-up inevitably arises as an idea in our heads sometimes.

As mentioned earlier, certain commonly-found behaviors such as inconsistency while taking your ‘regular’ prescribed dosage make folks feel skeptical about its reliability.
The idea behind it is that if one birth control pill can prevent conception, then two pills should do double the work. Right?
There might be certain situations when double does not equal to twice as nice

‘Can I take more than a single birth control pill for extra effectiveness?’

Yes and no. Taking an additional contraceptive tablet within a couple of hours won’t ideally provide any protection against unwanted pregnancy – so don’t tempt fate!

Betty Smith FAANP, PA-C explains that “doubling up on birth control pills is not recommended…one missed dose occurs from user error or forgetfulness rather than something medical like vomiting.” Should you accidentally skip taking your regular dosage – fret not! There are alternatives such as Plan B that can provide emergency prevention If taken immediately.

Now let’s say- your enemy isn’t forgetfulness at all but perhaps the very depressing fact – That condom just broke (gulp). Considering we’re still in precarious territory with regards to another baby stepping into this world uninvited – grabbing another oral contraceptive too soon/in quick succession will only mean flooding your system with unnecessary hormones which could lead to intense nausea, dizziness & essentially make things worse.

“Too much estrogen particularly increases the risk of blood clots,” Says Sherry Ross MD, OBGYN and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. To avoid adding insult to injury – Skip doubling-up; stick to damage-control measures like next-day/ emergency contraception (if necessary) instead

The Takeaway:

  • There are many types/options available in contraceptives; Oral tabs being among them.
  • Consistency while consuming prescribed dosages plays a significant role in providing maximum efficacy
  • Taking extra ‘regular’ doses for added security/protection against unwanted pregnancies-only works hypothetically!
  • Doubling-up would increase hormone intake leading to adverse effects described above ensuring you’re safe.
  • In emergency situations such as condom breakage, it’s best to take time-bound measures like Plan B instead of flooding your system with oral pills which may not work.

So the complete conclusion is that taking more than your prescribed ‘regular’ dose will not do any heavy lifting in pregnancy protection – stick to what you know when preparing for some sexy along with security!

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