What type of pill is Apri?
Apri is a birth control pill that combines two hormones, which is why it’s called a “combined oral contraceptive pill” or COCP. It is primarily prescribed to prevent pregnancy but it’s also used to help with acne and to regulate periods.
How does Apri work?
Apri works in three ways to protect you from becoming pregnant.
The birth control pill affects ovulation. Ovulation is when an egg is released from the ovary. The pill might stop ovulation completely but it’s not a guarantee.
Apri has an effect on the mucus in your cervix too. When you’re using the pill, it thickens the mucus so it’s harder for sperm to get through, and then reach an egg.
The hormones in Apri also impact the uterine lining. This lining, when you aren’t using hormonal birth control, builds up naturally over the month. When the lining comes away, this is when you have your period. But when you’re using Apri birth control pills, this lining doesn’t build up as normal. As a result, your lining is much thinner and your period tends to be a lot lighter than it normally would be.
How effective is Apri?
If you use it exactly as instructed, Apri is over 99% effective. This means that fewer than one in 100 women using it over a whole year will get pregnant.
The effectiveness of Apri will drop when the pill is taken typically, which includes the occasional late or missed pill. In such a case, its effectiveness drops to around 91% (so nine in 100 women per year using the pill typically will get pregnant).
The best way to make sure Apri works as well as possible is to follow the instructions as closely as you can.
How long does it take Apri to become effective?
When you first start taking Apri as your method of birth control, it can take around seven days for the pill to become effective (unless you take it on day 1 of your period).
So when you first start taking Apri, you should use another method of birth control whenever you have sex. This shouldn’t be another hormonal method (like the patch or the ring) because there are specific amounts of hormones in each product that make it safe to use.
Using multiple methods and having more hormones in your system can have a harmful impact on your health. Instead, use condoms or a diaphragm whenever you have sex.