
Image: Knocked Up.
Last week, the news that detox teas could interfere with the contraceptive Pill — and potentially result in an unplanned pregnancy — came as a shock to many of us.
It was an all-too-real reminder that falling pregnant while taking the Pill can happen, although thankfully it’s relatively uncommon. According to Family Planning NSW, the combined Pill is 99.7 per cent accurate with perfect use — perfect being the operative word here.
RELATED: Don’t panic about the Pill – it’s safer than driving to work.
When you’re a woman living in The Real World and not a scientific lab, it’s likely your Pill-taking behaviour is a little less than perfect. You might accidentally run out of pills, or experience vomiting or severe diarrhoea during your cycle. These things happen, and they’re considered part of ‘typical’ or ‘real world’ Pill usage.
With 'typical use', effectiveness drops back to around 91-92 per cent. It's a case of 'be alert (and educated) but not alarmed' — there are a number of factors that can impact on the efficacy of oral contraception, so here's a quick refresher.
1. Inconsistency
According to Associate Professor Stephen Robson, Vice President of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the biggest risk factor with the Pill is simply forgetting to take it every day.
"The combined pill works by stopping the release of eggs. For the combined pill to be effective it has to be taken regularly, and to be absorbed properly... Missing as few as two pills in a row, particularly just before or just after the period, can potentially lead to unexpected pregnancy," Associate Professor Robson explains. With the mini Pill, which needs to be taken more precisely, missing just one day could put you at risk.