Hatrack River Forum: CT or other experts on The Pill

This is topic CT or other experts on The Pill in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/main/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=026078

Posted by Mean Old Frisco (Member # 6666) on :

Is it true that the pill is 99% effective or 100% effective on 99% of women? And if the latter, does the fact that the pill is performing its intended duty (regulating of period) mean that it's performing at 100%?

I'm not pregnant or anything, just arguing elsewhere. [Smile]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Statistically, yes.

No, I don't think that is proof that it is working. (Wouldn't that imply that breakthrough bleeding, a not uncommon Pill side-effect was proof that it WASN'T working?)

Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :

Look at it this way:
Number of pregnancies per 100 women during first year of use is 0.1-0.5 if the pill is taken exactly as directed every single day.

You can also say that the theoretical effectiveness is 99.5-99.9% and the actual effectiveness is 97% since almost all women make a mistake occassionally.

And no, you can't tell by how regular periods are how well it is going to work. Progestin only birth control is slightly less effective than birth control containing progestins and estrogens. Birth control overall appears to be perhaps slightly less effective in obese women than normal weight women.

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

Hi Theca! [Wave]