The pill – when taken correctly – is considered the safest way to prevent pregnancy. It is usually well tolerated and thus side effects occur only rarely. Although the pill is often taken for years, there is uncertainty among some women: What happens if I forget a pill? Am I also protected if I take antibiotics? And what do I have to consider if I want to stop taking the pill? We answer the most important questions about the pill.
The pill – the safest contraceptive
Pill, condom, coil or diaphragm: the choice of different contraceptives is large. By far the most popular contraceptive is the birth control pill. Over 50 percent of German women choose the pill to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
This is mainly because it is considered particularly safe: statistically, for every 100 women who take the pill, less than one becomes pregnant. By comparison, the number of unintended pregnancies using a condom is between two and twelve percent. However, a condom also protects against sexually transmitted diseases – which is why it is best used in combination with the pill.
Effect of the contraceptive pill
The pill contains artificially produced sex hormones that influence those body functions in the body that are important for conception and pregnancy. Depending on the preparation, the birth control pill contains either only progestins or a combination of estrogens and progestins. The artificially supplied hormones cause a regular cycle to develop.
Taking the pill has the effect of simulating pregnancy to the body. This signals to the body that no more egg cells need to mature or be allowed to implant in the uterus. The progestins contained in the pill also cause the mucus plug at the cervix to thicken, creating a natural barrier against sperm.
Taking the pill correctly
If the birth control pill is prescribed for the first time or again after a break, it is started on the first day of menstruation. If it is a common combination preparation, the pill is taken for 21 days before a break of seven days. In the case of a mini-pill, on the other hand, the pill is taken without interruption.
The pill should be taken at the same time each day if possible. In the case of combined preparations, the intake can be exceeded by a maximum of twelve hours without the contraceptive effect diminishing. With some mini-pills, however, the time window for taking the pill is much smaller.
If you are traveling on vacation to a country that is in a different time zone, you should still try to take the pill every 24 hours. So take the pill on vacation according to the respective time difference at a different time than usual. At home, the time of taking the pill is then again the same as before the vacation.
Who pays the costs
Who covers the cost of the birth control pill depends on the age of the woman as well as the indication. In general, for women under 18, the cost of the pill is covered in full by the statutory health insurance. For women between 18 and 20 years of age, the health insurance also covers the costs, but a co-payment is due. This amounts to ten percent of the costs, with a minimum of five and a maximum of ten euros.
In the case of privately insured women, the health insurance company does not usually contribute to the cost of the pill – they have to pay the costs themselves, regardless of their age. Women with statutory health insurance must also pay for the pill themselves from the age of 20. However, exceptions apply to those who take the pill not primarily for contraception, but for medical reasons. Here, the costs can also be covered by the health insurance beyond the age of 20.