Similarly, women should be aware the current packaging of the Pill (21 active pills, seven day pill free interval) was developed primarily for acceptability reasons and not because of any physiological reason. Indeed, contraception expert John Guillebaud explains "When you think about it we have here a bizarre contraceptive: one that we providers actually instruct the users not to use - for 25% of the time" (4). As Guillebaud suggests, the pill free interval is the 'Achilles heel' of the Pill's efficacy as it can contribute to pill failure. To stop ovulation from occurring a woman needs to take seven consecutive active pills. In addition, if more than seven days are missed a woman risks ovulation and, if unprotected intercourse occurs, pregnancy. The lengthening of the pill free interval is one of the most common causes of pill failure and is often associated with a woman starting her new Pill packet late. It is very easy to start a pill packet late with women either simply forgetting or not having their new packet with them.
Similarly, if some of the active pills near the end of the previous packet or active pills near the start of the new packet are either missed or not absorbed properly (due to vomiting, diarrhoea, use of antibiotics) this can also mean that there has not been enough pills taken overall to prevent ovulation. Women who miss pills towards the end of their packet often mistakenly believe it does not matter because they are having their 'period' soon. They do not realise that missing pills near the pill free interval may mean they have not taken enough pills to prevent ovulation in the next month. The most dangerous time to miss a pill is at the end or beginning of a packet (because it lengthens the pill free interval beyond seven days).
...I'm finding out so much new stuff.
Last edited by Sterla; September 23rd, 2008 at 12:38 PM.
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