• Home
  • Contact Us
  • MyChart
  • Careers
Washington Township Medical Foundation
  • About
    • Vaccine
      • Services
        • Find a Doctor
          • Locations
            • Appointments
              • Patient Information
                • Patient Testimonials
                  • Call Today Call Today
                  • Email Us
                  • Our Map
                  • Menu
                    Home
                    About
                    Vaccine
                    Services
                    Find a Doctor
                    Locations
                    Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine
                    Contraception
                    Appointments
                    Patient Information
                    Non-Discrimination Policy
                    ADA Notice
                    Contact Us
                    Blog
                    Events
                    Privacy Policy
                    Careers
                    Site Map
                    Patient Testimonials
                    Video Center
                    Refer a Friend
                  • Mission, Vision & Values
                  • Making a Telehealth Appointment with a WTMF provider
                  • Meet Our Leadership
                  • Find the Right Doctor for You
                  • Request An Appointment
                  • Patient Feedback
                  • Privacy Policy
                  • OB Hospitalists Program
                  • Cardiology
                  • Cardiothoracic Surgery
                  • Endocrinology & Metabolism
                  • Ear, Nose and Throat/Otolaryngology
                  • Family Medicine
                  • Gastroenterology
                  • General Surgery
                  • Immigration Physicals
                  • Infectious Disease
                  • Internal Medicine
                  • Neurosurgery
                  • OB/GYN
                  • Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine
                  • Pediatrics
                  • Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
                  • Primary Care Centers
                  • Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
                  • Pulmonary Disease
                  • Thoracic & Foregut Surgery
                  • Urology
                  • Vascular
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Internal Medicine & Infectious Disease
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Cardiology Non-Invasive
                  • Cardiothoracic Surgery
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
                  • Washington Women's Health Specialists
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Gastroenterology
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Multi-Specialty
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Otolaryngology
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Family Medicine
                  • Bell Neuroscience Institute of Silicon Valley
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Orthopaedics
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Internal & Family Medicine
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Pediatrics
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Family Medicine
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Family & Internal Medicine
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Cardiology
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - General Surgery
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Urology
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Vascular Surgery
                  • Thoracic and Foregut Surgery
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Center Medical Group
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Primary Care
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Internal Medicine & Infectious Disease
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Cardiology Non-Invasive
                  • Cardiothoracic Surgery
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
                  • Washington Women's Health Specialists
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Gastroenterology
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Multi-Specialty
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Otolaryngology
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Family Medicine
                  • Bell Neuroscience Institute of Silicon Valley
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Orthopaedics
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Internal & Family Medicine
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Pediatrics
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Family Medicine
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Family & Internal Medicine
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Cardiology
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - General Surgery
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Urology
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Vascular Surgery
                  • Thoracic and Foregut Surgery
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Center Medical Group
                  • Washington Township Medical Foundation - Primary Care
                  • MyChart
                  • Pay My Bill
                  • Appointment Request
                  • Request an Appointment
                  • Get the Phone App!
                  • Office Hours
                  • Telephone Calls
                  • Forms
                  • Insurance
                  • Prescription Refills
                  • Patient Education
                  Search Close
                  Blog 2006 October Improving Contraceptive Effectiveness
                  Oct 28, 2006

                  Improving Contraceptive Effectiveness

                  Last month we mentioned the eye-opening statistic that half the pregnancies in the United States each year are unplanned. Theoretically birth control pills are 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, yet the real-world failure rate of 5% per year catches many couples by surprise. Here are some strategies you can use to improve these odds.

                  Quick Start can be implemented with contraceptive pills, Ortho Evra® patch, Nuva Ring® [vaginal], or Depo-Provera®. These contraceptives are started immediately during the office visit in which prescribed, regardless of the day of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Studies of Quick Start have found that it eliminates much of the confusion regarding when to start a method, continuation rates better than those observed with traditional starts times, and produces no differences in the effect of bleeding patterns. It is usually recommended to use a back-up method, such as condoms, for the first week.

                  Forgetting to take oral contraceptive pills at the beginning of a cycle produces the greatest risk of breakthrough ovulation. One reason is being unable or forgetting to obtain a new pill pack in time to begin a new cycle. It is very important to start your birth control pills on time and not extend the hormone- free interval (some recently introduced pills have even shortened this interval to 4 days eg. Yaz® and Lo-Estrin 24®). Also try to get your prescription for a one-year supply, preferably in 3 pack allotments (unfortunately some health insurance companies prohibit this time-saving practice, while others only allow it though their mail-order pharmacies).

                  For couples using condoms consider obtaining a written prescription for Plan B® emergency contraception in advance, also known as the “morning after pill,” in case you need it and to avoid any confusion at pharmacies until it becomes universally available over-the-counter. Finally, you should always call your doctor before discontinuing any prescription medication, including contraceptives.

                  Hopefully you’ll find these tips helpful enhancing your protection against an unplanned pregnancy.

                  Forgetting to take birth control pills at the beginning of a cycle produces the greatest pregnancy risk.

                  Categories

                  • OBGYN
                  Previous Next

                  Recent Posts

                  • Pain Relief - And a New Lease on Life - Local Resident's Successful Back Surgery
                  • Find Your Joy with a Fresh Approach to Life and Health
                  • Feeling Sad? It May Be the Time of Year
                  • Wildfire Smoke Exacerbates Poor Air Quality
                  • Are You Getting Enough Sleep?
                  • How to Fight Off the Flu - Simple Preventive Steps
                  • Washington Hospital's Nakamura Clinic in Union City Welcomes Longtime Fremont Physician
                  • Washington Sports Medicine Doctor Shares His Exceptional Views of "March Madness"

                  Categories

                  • Blog (1)
                  • Neurosurgery (3)
                  • News (16)
                  • OBGYN (52)

                  Archives

                  • 2019 (3)
                  • March (1)
                  • January (2)
                  • 2018 (8)
                  • November (2)
                  • October (1)
                  • March (2)
                  • February (1)
                  • January (2)
                  • 2017 (5)
                  • October (1)
                  • March (1)
                  • February (2)
                  • January (1)
                  • 2014 (1)
                  • December (1)
                  • 2012 (2)
                  • April (1)
                  • March (1)
                  • 2011 (12)
                  • November (1)
                  • October (2)
                  • September (1)
                  • August (1)
                  • July (1)
                  • June (1)
                  • May (1)
                  • April (1)
                  • March (1)
                  • February (1)
                  • January (1)
                  • 2010 (9)
                  • December (1)
                  • October (1)
                  • August (1)
                  • July (1)
                  • June (1)
                  • April (1)
                  • March (1)
                  • February (1)
                  • January (1)
                  • 2009 (9)
                  • December (1)
                  • October (1)
                  • August (1)
                  • July (1)
                  • May (2)
                  • March (1)
                  • February (1)
                  • January (1)
                  • 2008 (11)
                  • November (2)
                  • September (1)
                  • August (2)
                  • July (1)
                  • June (1)
                  • April (3)
                  • March (1)
                  • 2007 (3)
                  • September (1)
                  • June (1)
                  • January (1)
                  • 2006 (5)
                  • December (1)
                  • October (1)
                  • August (1)
                  • May (1)
                  • April (1)
                  Washington Township Medical Foundation
                  2500 Mowry Avenue, Suite 255 | Fremont, CA 94538 | (510) 248-1000

                  ©2016 Washington Township Medical Foundation

                  • Privacy Policy
                  • Careers
                  • Non-Discrimination Policy
                  • ADA Notice
                  • Contact Us
                  • Site Map
                  Powered by Scorpion Healthcare