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| Pill Talk Here what it can do: It can clear up your acne. It can east menstraul cramps. It can make your period lighter and more regular. It can even ward off bad PMS moods. But the only way it can do its primary job- preventing pregnancy- is if you take it right away. And accoring to a study, every year, almost a million teens, or about two out of every three girls who are on the Pill, don't take it as directed, putting themselves at risk of unwanted pregnancy if they're sexually active. What if I... Throw up a pill or lose one? You'll need to take the next pill in your pack, which will cause you to get your period a day early. But use a condom (you should know that anyway!) for the rest of your cycle. What if I... Have to take antibiotics? Most antibiotics do not interfere with the Pill. But to chech on a particular prescription, call the toll-free help line on your pill packet or the pharmacy where you got the Pill. What if I... Want the pill without the required exam? At some clinics, you can get a Pill prescription without a pelvic exam-- at least initially. But an exam is a good idea if you're sexually active so your doc can check you for STDs. What if I... Forget--can I take a friend's pill? No. Don't just think you can "borrow" pills. If your friend has a different prescription, you may get the wrong dose of hormones, which could cause spotting. Plus, she'll be a pill short! What if I... Take my pill at different times? The Pill is most effective if you take it at the same time daily to keep hormone levels steady. But as long as you do it within a three-hour window every day, you should be fine. What if I... sometimes bleed between periods? Light spotting (a.k.a. breakthrough bleeding) is common during your first three months on the Pill. But it can also happen if you aren't taking your pill at the same time every day. |