Pregnancy & Baby 

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Pregnant on the Pill?

For a variety of reasons, it is very possible to get pregnant on oral contraceptives. The most common is missing a pill, especially in the first few days of a cycle, when ovulation - once triggered - cannot be stopped by the rest of the pills. If you have had an illness, causing vomiting or diarrhoea, you may have thrown up your pill or it may not have been absorbed. Antibiotics, especially those in the penicillin family, may interfere with the absorption and metabolism of the pill.

Even if combined pills are used perfectly (same time every day with none of the above problems) about one in 1,000 women will get pregnant within the first year.

There is no hard evidence that the pill will cause problems for the foetus. You should also start to take a folic acid supplement. I know it is hard to believe but probably true. Go and see your GP, confirm the pregnancy test results and then consider all your options. Your GP will be able to give you advice and support at this time.

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