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Birth control pill FAQ: Benefits, risks and choices

Do I need special pills or can I use ordinary birth control pills to prevent having a period? If I plan to have a baby, how soon after stopping the birth control pill can I conceive? Can I get pregnant during the week of nonactive (placebo) pills? Can women older than age 35 continue taking birth control pills? Content Can I use birth control pills to delay or stop my period? To prevent having a period, can I use ordinary birth control pills or do I need special pills? If I plan to have a baby, how soon after stopping birth control pills can I conceive? Is there an advantage to waiting a few months after stopping the pill before trying to conceive? What happens if I stop taking the birth control pill and my period doesn't come back? Will a pregnancy test be accurate if I'm taking the birth control pill? What happens if I take birth control pills while pregnant? Can I use several birth control pills at once for emergency contraception? Does how much I weigh reduce the effectiveness of emergency birth control pills? I have taken birth control pills for years and want to stop. Can I stop at any time or should I finish my current pill packet? Can I get pregnant during the week of inactive pills? Do birth control pills cause weight gain? How do birth control pills affect cancer risk? Do birth control pills affect cholesterol levels? Do birth control pills affect blood pressure? What is the risk of blood clots when taking birth control pills? Can I continue taking birth control pills if I'm older than age 35? Can antibiotics decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills?

Can I use several birth control pills at once for emergency contraception?

It's possible to use standard estrogen-progestin birth control pills for emergency contraception, but check with your doctor for the proper dose and timing of the pills.

Certain types of pills are specifically designed to keep you from becoming pregnant if you've had unprotected sex. These medications are sometimes referred to as the morning-after pill.

Morning-after pills contain either levonorgestrel (Plan B One-Step, EContra One-Step, others) or ulipristal acetate (ella, Logilia).

Levonorgestrel pills are available over-the-counter to anyone of any age. Levonorgestrel pills work best when used as soon as possible — and within three days — after unprotected sex.

Ulipristal acetate is a nonhormonal medication available only by prescription. This medication is taken as a single dose within five days after unprotected sex.

A copper intrauterine device (IUD) or an IUD containing 52 milligrams of levonorgestrel may also be used for emergency contraception. Ideally, these IUDs should be placed by your doctor within five days of unprotected intercourse.

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