What Can Make Micronor Less Effective?

There are a number of things that can make the pill less effective. The main way that increases the risk of pregnancy is forgetting to take the pill on time. If the pill is more than three hours late, you will not be protected from pregnancy. This means you cannot miss even one pill without running the risk of becoming pregnant.

Medications can also affect the contraceptive pill and the pill can have effects on other medications. Certain interactions will cause the contraceptive pill to be less effective so if you are using any medications, you need to tell your doctor so that they can make sure that the pill will still protect you from pregnancy. Most medications used to treat epilepsy will lower the effect of the pill. Also, HIV medication, antibiotics, anti-fungals like griseofulvin, medication for high blood pressure or sedatives will render the pill ineffective. If you are going to be using any of these medications in the short term, the doctor may tell you to simply use additional protection but if these medications are for the long term, you will probably have to change your method of contraception. Herbal remedies such as St Johns wort can also affect the pill so make sure you report any of these to your doctor as well.

If you experience vomiting or severe diarrhoea, you will not be protected from pregnancy. Being sick will disrupt the amount of hormones that you have put into your body because the pill may not have been fully absorbed into the bloodstream. If you have been sick less than three hours later since you took the pill, take another pill from a spare strip and carry on as normal. If you are sick after three hours of taking the contraceptive pill, you will not be protected from pregnancy and you should continue with your pack as normal and use additional contraception for the two days following your full recovery.

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