To ask about getting pregnant on the pill

[Chattycat78]

Does this happen to a lot of people? Or are they missing pills/taking other meds/vomiting?

The internet seems to be full of people who were apparently taking their pill properly and still got pregnant.

I'm worried about this because I'm currently taking the mini pill. I feel like I don't trust it but I have no other choice until I've finished breastfeeding. I also have no idea where I am with cycles because I've not had a period for months (since being pregnant) and I have no idea if my fertility would have come back by now. The mini pill also prevents periods it seems (or it has with me) so I would have no idea if I was late or if something was amiss which bothers me.

I also had a slight bought of diarrhoea a few weeks ago which set me panicking about the mini pill failing. All the info online talked about "severe" diarrhoea being an issue and that wasn't what I had, so I was left clueless as to whether I should be concerned or not.

Am I just paranoid? I have to say that I probably am, because I absolutely do not want to get pregnant, and also because the lack of cycle means that I have no clue what's going on with my body. realise that I could use condoms as well as the pill, but when you've been married for years that hardly seems ideal, hence the question about whether the pill really isn't that great, or whether it's people not using it properly.

What do people think?

27 years on the pill. No unwanted pregnancies as yet. Came off it to get pregnant and fell without 3 weeks.....

All pills are only as good as the person who takes them, there is no disputing this, sorry

Just to update you ( and your GP), the FSRH have recently change the guidance regarding COCP and breastfeeding. Now not a contraindication. COCP is more reliable with less 'operator error' than the POP. I would suggest change to COCP or LARC if you are worried.

fpa.org has lots of advice

Please don't fall into the trap of listening to anecdotal information

10 years of pill use and no pregnancy, followed by 9 years of copper coil use with no pregnancy.

Had coil removed. 5.5 weeks later, I had a positive pregnancy test. I would say that both the pill and coil are very effective at preventing pregnancy!

The pill manufacturers accept that even if you take them correctly they have a fail rate of approx 0.03%. Very low but not unknown.
The coil can also fail. If that hasn't happened to you its by good luck not good judgment.

Chatty I was suggesting the, now old school, depot injection. No implant involved just an injection from the GP practice nurse 4 times a year.

Just use condoms as well.

Have you thought about sterilisation OP?
That and endometrial ablation have been the best things ever.

First time I wasn't taking the pill correctly would miss a day take two at a time and so on

The second time I was absolutely taking it properly would set my phone alarm

I stay away from hormonal contraceptives now

The pill manufacturers accept that even if you take them correctly they have a fail rate of approx 0.03%. Very low but not unknown.
The coil can also fail. If that hasn't happened to you its by good luck not good judgment.

I wouldn't call it good luck. I would call it the likely outcome, according to research and statistics.

I did exercise good judgement in choosing statistically effective contraception.

Most people attracted to post on this kind of thread have either been pregnant while using the pill or know someone who has.
Another one for balance here, in the 13 years I've been sexually active ive used condoms alone, the COCP, the injection and the implant. I've never been pregnant.

'That and endometrial ablation have been the best things ever.'

Ablation is a treatment for heavy periods, not a contraceptive. You can't just rock up and ask for it.

I managed to get pregnant with a coil fitted...who da thunk it!

I didn't want to rely on the pill as I'm quite ditzy so I have the patch, similar hormones but only change it once a week and it has a 12 hour window :)