Why do women have to take the birth control pills at the same time every day?

Question

I dont understand why we have to do this I mean as long as it gets in the body does it really matter if you take it at 10 am every single day?

Answer 1

the pill has hormones in it which tell the body to stop with the normal reproductive systems. this needs to be at a certain level all the time otherwise, the body won't get the message and will start producing eggs and building up the lining of the womb.

most pills only work for 27 hours i.e. the hormone level drops if it goes beyond this time, causing the body to start functioning normally. you have to keep topping up the hormone level at a certain time each day, otherwise it will drop too far.

with most new pills, you can take it anytime within at 3 hour slot i.e. between 9 and 12 for you. with the combined pill you can take it anytime within a 12 hour slot because the hormones are stronger, work better, and don't drop as quickly. however, there is some variation so always read the instruction leaflet in your box

Answer 2

With the new lower dose pills it is very important that you take your pill at the same time every day. ESPECIALLY if you are on a progestin only pill. This allows the amount of hormone to stay consistent in your body over the 24-hour timespan. If you miss your pill by more than 8 hours, you *can* become pregnant (for both progestin and combo pills). In addition, vomiting, diarrhea and the like, as well as taking your pill with certain OTC medications, like antihistamines and some "tummy" remedies can effect the effeciay of the pill. As manufactures have lowered the amount of hormones in the pills to reduce the side effects, it has left less room for error.

Answer 3

If you have too much variation in when you take the pill, then hormone levels begin to change as the effects of the last pill wear off. If you do this frequently, it increases the chance that an egg will develop and be released, and can also increase the likelihood of bothersome breakthrough bleeding.

Answer 4

According to the insert, which you should have read, the efficiency of the birth control goes down the longer you don't take your pill. So it's only at 99.9% efficiency, and postponing it makes it more likely that you'll get pregnant. You need to keep a steady supply of those hormones in your body which prevent pregnancy. Drops in those hormone levels make pregnancy more likely.

Answer 5

The idea is to have a consistent level of the hormone in your body at all times. If you take the pills too far apart the hormone levels may drop to levels that won't appropriately prevent conception.

Answer 6

The real reason is so that you are less likely to forget it. If you do it at a certian time each day it becomes a habit. As long as you do it within 4 or 5 hours of the time you normally take it, you are fine.

Answer 7

I think it's more for the pharmecutial company to cover themselves more than anything, to ensure '24 hour coverage'. Also depending how late you leave it, you can sometimes experience small amounts of spotting or discharge, which isn't particularly desirable! I don't worry about an hour out here or there (it's always taken say 3-4 hours later than usual on a weekend!)
Also I think they probably reccomend it in order for you to build a routine to keep it in mind, to make sure you don't forget for a day or longer, which can cause interference to the cycle (proper full-on bleeding earlier than 'scheduled' etc).

Answer 8

Most birth control as usually take a medicine as same time in each day, Doctor will tell you about the birth control. If I were you to ask your doctor about this.

Answer 9

The idea is to have a consistent level of the hormone in your body at all times. If you take the pills too far apart the hormone levels may drop to levels that won't appropriately prevent conception.

Answer 10

The idea is to have the drug in your system ALL of the time at a steady dose. Take one pill in the morning and by the next night- you dont have much of the pill still effecting you.

p.s. i would take it at night. I always had horrible side efffects- and the only way i could get through the sick to my stomach feeling- was to take it at night.