What are the odds? - Birth Control Message Board

Swayze711 · 06-20-2005, 10:09 AM

I have been on oral contraceptives for approx. 8 years now and have been sexually active for 7. Without using any other form of contraception or the removal method, what are the chances that I haven't gotten pregnant (accidentally) by now? I know what birth control pills are supposed to do, but thinking back...when i was younger i was extremely irregular with taking them. Sometimes a day apart. My husband and I are not trying yet, but im starting to wonder if we shouldnt get started. I'm scared to wait now. I think everyone i know that was on the pill has gotten pregnant after years. It sounds silly, but it seems like i would have gotten pregnant by now with skipping pills, being late on them, sex for years..so on and so forth. What do you guys think? Anybody been on pills for a long timewith some irregularity in taking them and still had an okay time getting pregnant when trying?

thanks

Daisies4monkeys · 06-20-2005, 11:17 AM

The point of the pill is to keep you from getting pregnant.

Missing a pill here or there puts you at typical use, which is around 92-95% efficiency. That's still pretty high.

If you've had exams and everything seems to be in working order, then I'd say you just got lucky when you were younger in not getting pregnant. As for now, if you're taking it as you are supposed to, then the pill is just doing what it is supposed to, and keeping your uterus baby-free.

If you're worried, however, you could always have a more thorough pelvic exam to make certain everything works, and you can go off the pill and try.