Medication Errors—Birth Control

Also called: Contraception

Birth control, also known as contraception, is designed to prevent pregnancy. Birth control methods may work in a number of different ways:

• Preventing sperm from getting to the eggs. Types include condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, and contraceptive sponges.
• Keeping the woman’s ovaries from releasing eggs that could be fertilized. Types include birth control pills, patches, shots, vaginal rings, and emergency contraceptive pills.
• IUDs, devices which are implanted into the uterus. They can be kept in place for several years.
• Sterilization, which permanently prevents a woman from getting pregnant or a man from being able to get a woman pregnant

Your choice of birth control should depend on several factors. These include your health, frequency of sexual activity, number of sexual partners and desire to have children in the future. Your health care provider can help you select the best form of birth control for you.

NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

• Birth control – slow release methods (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Birth control and family planning (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Birth control pills – combination (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Birth control pills – overview (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Birth control pills – progestin only (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Condoms – male (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Deciding about an IUD (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Female condoms (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Intrauterine devices (IUD) (Medical Encyclopedia)

Medicines cure infectious diseases, prevent problems from chronic diseases, and ease pain. But medicines can also cause harmful reactions if not used correctly. Errors can happen in the hospital, at the doctor’s office, at the pharmacy, or at home. You can help prevent errors by

• Knowing your medicines. Keep a list of the names of your medicines, how much you take, and when you take them. Include over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements and herbs. Take this list to all your doctor visits.
• Reading medicine labels and following the directions. Don’t take medications prescribed for someone else.
• Taking extra caution when giving medicines to children.
• Asking questions. If you don’t know the answers to these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• Why am I taking this medicine?
• What are the common problems to watch out for?
• What should I do if they occur?
• When should I stop this medicine?
• Can I take this medicine with the other medicines on my list?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• 6 Tips to Avoid Medication Mistakes (Food and Drug Administration)
• How and when to get rid of unused medicines (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Keeping your medications organized (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Medication safety during your hospital stay (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Medication safety: Filling your prescription (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Storing your medicines (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Taking medicine at home – create a routine (Medical Encyclopedia)