Can a person get pregnant while taking the pill?

What are the chances of getting pregnant on the pill?

How likely you are to get pregnant on the pill comes down to how you use it. If you use the pill perfectly, you have a less than 1 in 100 chance of becoming pregnant each year while taking it. However, most people don’t use the pill perfectly, and this group has more like a 7 in 100 chance of becoming pregnant on the pill over the course of 12 months. 

How effective is the pill?

The difference between how the pill is intended to be used and how it’s actually used is categorized in two percentages known as typical and perfect use effectiveness. With perfect use, the combined pill is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. However, with typical use (that’s taking user error into account), the pill is 93% effective, meaning that on average, 7 out of 100 women a year will get pregnant while using the pill.

If you’re taking mini pills, also known as the progestogen-only pills or POPs, these are just as effective as the more commonly prescribed combined pill. That said, it’s important to understand that instructions for use will vary depending on the kind of contraceptive pill you’re on, so make sure you check the specific guidelines for your brand or variety of pill. 

What makes birth control less effective?

If you want to be as protected as possible, then you should always try to use your birth control perfectly to minimize the risk of unintended pregnancy. Using the pill perfectly gives you more than 99% effectiveness. However, nobody is perfect, and that’s why it’s important to know what’s considered typical use, and the things that can make your birth control pill less effective, these include: 

• Forgetting to take the pill for a day or more
• Taking the pill at different times of the day
• Having diarrhea or vomiting (especially if you have recently taken a pill)
• Taking medications that can interfere with the pill 

How does the pill compare to other birth control methods?

Comparing birth control methods side by side isn't simple because the studies that measure effectiveness are carried out with different cohorts of women over many years. On top of this, everyone has different preferences, and how well you use a birth control method comes down to how well it suits your lifestyle and routine. That said, if you’re thinking about switching birth control, it’s still worth investigating each method’s effectiveness, alongside other factors like what’s required from you, and whether the method has side effects. 

The pill is less effective than some long-acting methods, such as IUDs and implants. This is because once inserted, these highly effective birth control methods require zero work from you. They also offer protection for a long time (in some cases up to ten years).

The pill is more effective than some barrier methods like condoms. The male condom is 87% effective with typical use, and 98% effective when used perfectly. Keep in mind though, that condoms can protect you from sexually transmitted infections (which the pill can’t do), and the two methods can be used together to boost your protection. 

Like the pill, Natural Cycles is 93% effective with typical use, but it’s also a hormone-free method, meaning no unwanted side effects. The NC° algorithm is based on body temperature, helping the user find their fertile days so they can abstain from sex or use protection during this window. Natural Cycles is 98% effective with perfect use. Perfect use is defined as not having unprotected sex on a day when the app tells you you’re fertile.

Early signs of pregnancy on the pill

If you’re on the pill and worried you may be pregnant, we know this may be a stressful time. It’s worth keeping in mind that there are a number of things that can cause changes to your cycle, and stress is one of those! If you’re worried you might be pregnant, it’s a good idea to take a pregnancy test. Signs of early pregnancy include:

• A late period (this is often the first symptom of pregnancy)
• Spotting or light bleeding is a symptom of implantation in early pregnancy, this can happen around ten days after unprotected sex
• Nausea is a common symptom of early pregnancy, known as morning sickness this can start within a few weeks of conception
• Tiredness is a common symptom of early pregnancy, but is also associated with PMS
• Tender or sore breasts are also a sign of pregnancy, but also a symptom of PMS

Reasons other birth control options can fail

It’s important to highlight that no birth control method is 100% effective. Even if you opt for a highly effective method or choose sterilization, there is still a very small chance you can get pregnant. This can happen if the method isn’t fitted properly, or the procedure isn’t properly conducted. The chances of this are very, very small – less than 1%. 

Most of the time, birth control methods fail because of human error. Take condoms for example, they have specific guidelines about how they should be used and stored. If you use one that’s out of date, or hasn’t been stored properly, then you’re not using it perfectly and there’s an increased chance the method may fail. 

There are other hormonal methods, other than the pill, that require weekly instead of daily work. These include the patch and the vaginal ring. Like the pill, the failure of these methods is most often down to human behavior. For example, using a patch longer than it is intended to be used, or forgetting to change the ring. 

Fertility awareness methods (FAMs) have a reputation for being less effective than other birth control methods. In some cases, this could be linked to how inconvenient they can be to use. For example, for most FAMs, like the calendar or rhythm method, you are required to follow a three month monitoring period before you can use the method as birth control. 

Unlike traditional FAMs, Natural Cycles doesn't require you to do a monitoring period (or chart your own fertility). The NC° algorithm does the hard work for you! As long as you use protection on a Red Day (when the algorithm predicts you may be fertile) you are using it perfectly.

Everyone makes mistakes, and that’s why it’s so important to consider both typical and perfect use effectiveness when deciding your birth control options. Talk to your doctor about what’s required for typical and perfect use, and ask yourself if you think you’ll be able to use the method as it's intended to be used for the majority of the time you’re using it. 

Considering a natural birth control method?

There are many reasons people choose to switch to natural birth control, whether it’s because they want a method that’s free from side effects, or they plan on starting a family soon. At Natural Cycles, we’re passionate about birth control choice and want you to know about all your options! 

Both the condom and the non-hormonal IUD offer a hormone-free alternative to the birth control pill, but so does Natural Cycles. The FDA Cleared birth control app uses temperature data to learn the pattern of your cycle so you know exactly when you’re fertile and can prevent (or plan!) pregnancy completely hormone-free.