Many Women Are Still Uncertain How To Take The Pill Correctly

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Fertility
Article Date: 17 Mar 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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New research reveals that over eight out of ten women using the progestogen-only pill are not aware that it must be taken within three hours of the normal time of intake. The findings suggest that many women are unwittingly putting themselves at risk of pregnancy.

These results have emerged from a survey* involving more than 5,700 women throughout Europe and North America conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Organon.

Although pill users should always try to take their pill at the same time everyday, there is some flexibility in the event of accidental delay determined by its mechanism of action. Traditional progestogen-only or mini-Pills work mainly by altering the thickness of the cervical mucus. As a result, reliability is compromised if pill intake is delayed by more than three hours - more than 28 hours since the last pill. By contrast, the combined Pill and the estrogen-free Pill - Cerazette® - work mainly by inhibiting ovulation (egg release). This makes them more reliable than the mini-pill and means women have a 12-hour time window in case of delay.

Overall, 44% of women were using the Pill (and 28% the condom) although 26 % of pill users were not sure which type they were using (combined or progestogen-only). One quarter thought it did not matter when they took their pill; and 85% of women who claimed to be using the progestogen-only or mini-Pill were not aware that the specified time window for this pill is just three hours. In fact, the average specified time window given by mini-Pill users was 8.3 hours.

The survey, which examined attitudes to sex and contraception on holiday - also highlighted other problems associated with pill use. Nearly seven out of ten women said they forget pills at home and nearly half said they forget pills on holiday. Only a minority followed instructions on what action to take to avoid pregnancy. The survey also showed that over half of women had experienced a stomach upset, vomiting or an illness requiring antibiotics while on holiday but nearly half were unaware this compromised the reliability of the Pill.

For further advice and information on sexual health, well-being and safety, visit the Summer Loving website: http://www.summer-loving.com.

Organon - with shared head offices in Roseland, NJ, USA and Oss, The Netherlands - creates, manufactures and markets prescription medicines that improve the health and quality of human life. Through a combination of independent growth and business partnerships, Organon strives to remain or become one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in each of its core therapeutic fields: gynecology, fertility, neuroscience and anesthesia. Organon products are sold in over 100 countries, of which more than 60 have an Organon subsidiary. Organon is the human health care business unit of Akzo Nobel.

http://www.organon.com