One pill is taken every day for 21 or 28 days, depending on the brand. For most healthy young women, especially non-smokers, the pill is a very safe, effective method of birth control.
Studies show that for almost all women, the pill carries fewer risks than pregnancy and childbirth.
There are rare but serious side effects connected to oral contraceptives. If you develop any of the following symptoms while on the pill, you should call you health care provider right away. Not every woman has side effects while taking the pill. Of the women that do, it is usually limited to one or two. These often temporary side effects usually disappear within two to three months.