Take your pill at the same time every day. Each dose should come no more than 24 hours after the last dose. Avoid smoking cigarettes while taking birth control pills.
Smoking greatly increases the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or blood clot.
The pills contain a form of estrogen and a form of progesterone, which are both female hormones involved in conception. Birth control pills also have other effects that inhibit pregnancy. They cause the cervical mucous to thicken, which makes it harder for sperm to move toward the uterus, and they prevent the attachment of an egg to the uterus. Birth control pills are used to prevent pregnancy. Birth control pills may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.