Switching Birth Control
Question
My girlfriend just switched birth control prescriptions (the one she switched to was Demulin). Will the new pills be effective immediately? Also, she missed the first pill of the month and took two the second day. How reliable is the birth control pill?
Answer
Last Updated: June 9, 2013
You do not state in your question if the birth control pills are being used for contraception or another purpose. If they are being used for contraception, changing the type of pill can temporarily result in a higher chance of pregnancy, especially if one is switching from a stronger pill to a weaker pill. If your girlfriend missed one or two pills, this further increases her chance of pregnancy.
I believe it would be in the best interests of both you and your girlfriend if she were to discontinue birth control pills altogether for several reasons. First of all, one percent of women who take the pill never spontaneously ovulate again EVER without medication. Secondly, use of the pill affects the mucus glands of the cervix permanently, which can have an adverse effect on fertility. Use of the pill can diminish sex drive, cause depression, weight gain, and headaches, as well as increasing the risk of gall bladder disease, blood clots, and possibly breast cancer. If she is taking the pill for acne, there are better and less risky therapies. We also have a concern that the pill over time creates a thin lining of the uterus that prevents the fertilized egg from implanting if there is breakthrough ovulation. This is a micro-abortion!
It would be better for the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of you and your girlfriend to abstain from sex until you are married, avoiding the unpleasant side effects of contraception as well as the possibility of pregnancy before you are ready if your contraceptive fails (which they all do at times).
When you are ready to have sex, but need to prevent pregnancy, you can use natural family planning (NFP). Modern methods of NFP are superior to all forms of contraception healthwise, relationally, and spiritually, as well as being very effective.
Dr. Mary Davenport
I believe it would be in the best interests of both you and your girlfriend if she were to discontinue birth control pills altogether for several reasons. First of all, one percent of women who take the pill never spontaneously ovulate again EVER without medication. Secondly, use of the pill affects the mucus glands of the cervix permanently, which can have an adverse effect on fertility. Use of the pill can diminish sex drive, cause depression, weight gain, and headaches, as well as increasing the risk of gall bladder disease, blood clots, and possibly breast cancer. If she is taking the pill for acne, there are better and less risky therapies. We also have a concern that the pill over time creates a thin lining of the uterus that prevents the fertilized egg from implanting if there is breakthrough ovulation. This is a micro-abortion!
It would be better for the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of you and your girlfriend to abstain from sex until you are married, avoiding the unpleasant side effects of contraception as well as the possibility of pregnancy before you are ready if your contraceptive fails (which they all do at times).
When you are ready to have sex, but need to prevent pregnancy, you can use natural family planning (NFP). Modern methods of NFP are superior to all forms of contraception healthwise, relationally, and spiritually, as well as being very effective.
Dr. Mary Davenport
Answered By:
Mary Davenport, MD, MS
Mary Davenport, MD, FACOG, an obstetrician/gynecologist from the Oakland Region of California, offers telehealth services over MyCatholicDoctor.com She graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed her residency at UC San Diego. Dr. Davenport is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and serves on the Advisory Board of the California Association of Natural Family Planning.
