ASK MAYA APA
Dear Maya Apa,
I am a 25-year-old female and newly married. My husband and I do not want to start a family just yet. My sister takes contraceptive pills but it seems very complicated. Can you please tell me more about this?
Dear Reader,
Thank you for your question.
Congratulations on being newly married. There are many types of contraception available now in Bangladesh that can let a couple choose the right time to start a family.
Taking a pill may seem quite complicated but once you know how and why, it will seem a lot simpler.
There are two types of contraceptive pills - The Combined Contraceptive Pill (COCP) and the Progesterone Only Pill (POP). The COCP is the most common amongst young women. The POP is usually taken by older ladies who have a history of smoking or those who are breastfeeding.
Let us focus on the COCP. COCP contains a combination of two female hormones - oestrogen and progesterone. You should take one pill everyday at the same time. Every packet contains 21 pills so you have one each day for 21 days. After 21 days, you will have a period. This can last from two to seven days.
After seven days, whether the period has stopped or not, you should start the next packet. During your period you can lose iron and many contraception companies provide seven iron pills to be taken during this time. These are usually a different colour. If the COCP is taken properly then this is more than 99 percent effective.
However, we are all humans and tend to forget things from time to time. If you miss one pill then take the missed pill as soon as possible even if that means taking two pills on the same day. You will still be protected.
If you forget two pills then take the most recent missed pill even if it means taking two pills in one day and use condoms for seven days.
As it is important to take the pill at the same time everyday, we recommend women to take it when doing something they do every day such as brushing their teeth or setting a reminder on your phone.
Other than preventing pregnancies, there are other benefits to using the COCP. It can decrease the duration and heaviness of your period as well as alleviating premenstrual cramps.
As with all medication, there are side effects as well and it is important to note that the medication affects different women in different ways. Some women do not get any side effects at all but others can experience breast tenderness, weight gain or headaches.
If you are considering the combined oral contraceptive pill as a method of contraception then you should always consult your doctor beforehand.
I hope this information has helped you and clarified the matter of how to take the combined oral contraceptive pill. If you have anymore queries please contact Maya Apa again.
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