Failure rate of the Pill

When the studies were done on the pill that I was previously taking (Ortho-TriCyclen), it was said to be 99% affective. But apparently, that's just overall. In teenagers (14-19, basically), the failure rate is 5%. That's one in twenty chicks. My she-doctor just politely shared this information with me today.
What the fuck?
I've been on it for about a year and a half and JUST found out that shit today. I wish that someone had shared it with me sooner, so I'll share it with others now.
=D

 

Crazy. I bet the group it was especially good on was the over 50s =P

 

Lol.
Menopause, ftw.

But I was at my gyno the other day and she said 'Could you possibly be pregnant?' as one of the standard questions that they ask. I was like 'God, I hope not. I'm on the pill so there's like a one percent chance I'm preggorz, right?'
Then she proceeded to tell me that, no I have a 5 percent chance of becoming preggorz. So I need to also use a raincoat.
It's weird because I know 20 chicks on it. So one of us is gonna end up pregnant because of the pill failing.

 

I think reason that it's 5%...is that people in that age bracket often don't take the pill as regularly as they should, miss a few here and there and in general just aren't as responsible about taking it.

 

I got pregnant while on Ortho Tri-Cyclen.

 

Well, it's because I'm the most fertile now as I will ever be in my life. I should be popping out kiddies right now, apparently. I've never missed a pill ever and I've been taking the Ortho for about a year and a half. I've started Seasonique, and haven't missed yet. Sooo.
Yeah.
Haven't been knocked up yet, though.
:cheers2:

 

The numbers are based on a "perfect use" rate and a "typical use" rate. Also the percentage chance of failure is the chances of becoming pregnant in a one-year period, not from a single act of intercourse.

1% failure is closer to the "perfect use" rate, meaning you use it exactly as directed. The doctor probably said 5% is the failure rate for teenagers because as LegLover notes, many don't take it quite correctly in practice. This is a really good chart that compares the perfect use and typical use failure rates for many different types of birth control. According to Wiki's sources, the perfect use rate for the contraceptive pill is actually only 0.3% failure, but the typical use failure rate is as high as 8%. It is still one of the best methods that don't require surgery.

By contrast, the perfect use failure rate for condoms is 2% and the typical use failure rate is 15%. (This is due to the fact that often condoms can slip off, they can be on only part way, they can break, especially if there is not enough lubrication, etc.) Perfect use failure rate for coitus interruptus or the "pull-out method" is 4%, with a typical use failure rate of 27%. Yeah, people suck at that and I don't recommend it as a birth control method.

 

Wow, it's kinda crazy how close pull out method percentage is to that of using the pill.

 

Not really. I was pointing out how disparate they are. The typical use failure rate of the pill is 8% (according to these sources) but 27% for pulling out. That's a huge difference. Even the perfect use rate of 0.3% for the pill vs. 4% for pulling out is big. But really, nobody pulls out perfectly. It's a huge roll of the dice, whereas the pill is at least somewhat reliable.

 

and like how safe is the pill with the pull out method combined

 

I am pretty sure Ortho-TriCyclen is the shittiest pill to get. I was on it four about six months. It basically would give me my normal period, plus one full sized one in the middle of the pack, and then spotting the rest of the time. I took it properly and tried to give my body time to get used to it. But I got sick of waiting for it to work and worrying and bleeding. I switched to the NuvaRing and have been on it for a year and a half. So nice. No worrying about pills, no spotting between periods.

 

reason to have backup methods that are used every time...

 

The reason the failure rate is so high is because teens are usually less adamant about taking the pill on time. If taken correctly in people of your age, the pill is still 99 percent effective. So, you should be fine . I took Tri-Sprintec for six months and it really messed with me, so I just threw it away...

 

The pull-out method give you a 100% chance of enjoying sex less.

 

Definately, I was on Yaz and got pregnant.
Took the pill everyday, just guess I was that .1%

 

Make sure to research each pil you go on. That one that you're on I have known 4 grown females whom got preg on it. 2 of them were financially stable to handle a baby with their partner. The other 2 couldnt. So research this pill.. I personally would not recommend it.

Now look at the levels of est and post. The higher the better - but not too high.. anything of est level being from 30-40 is in the good range.. anything from 20 I would consider higher AFTER a year since you're body adpats to these chemicals. I started with 20 to 35-45. Do use a back up method; condoms. You;re still young and having a kid even if its a small % you should not go through that.

Also know, which pills, drugs and such affect your BC. Antiboitics do... so remember to use extra protection while on them. I started the BC 3 years ago.. started with a level of est of 20.. I started having sex w/o a condom after 6m on this pill - nothing. I upgrade to higher dose now 2 years later - still nothing. But do be careful. Always get regular check ups and remember always read reviews on which pill you are on. I picked one of the best ones that has a low chance of pregs while tested.