I understand that the pill is anywhere from 95-99% effective against pregnancy. But how is that apparently 3 out of every 100 women taking birth control pills still get pregnant?
2007-06-17 09:32:54 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Women's Health
The effective rate is WHEN TAKEN AS DIRECTED. Women who get pregnant on the pill frequently have not taken it at the same time every day, have forgotten one or two pills in the cycle, etc.
2007-06-17 09:41:00 · answer #1 · answered by jurydoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
USUALLY those pregnancies happen when a woman forgets to take her pill or takes it late... it's considered part of the error rate, like a condom slipping off, but it not being defective.
Even with perfect use, a very very small percentage of women will still get pregnant. My husband's cousin had his second kid when his girlfriend was on the mini-pill (progestin only) following the birth of their second kid... those have a higher rate of error than the combined pills, though. I had chronic ovarian problems and I could still ovulate (eventually... took several months, still) on the combined pills and ultimately had my ovaries removed. It's very very unusual, but it happens to some people.
2007-06-17 09:39:47 · answer #2 · answered by Violet 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋