Why do birth control pills contain placebo pills?
Context Many birth control pills contain a combination of hormones to prevent pregnancy. However, a portion of the pills in a pack are placebos, meaning they contain no active hormones. A common question is why these placebo pills are included if they don't prevent pregnancy, and whether pregnancy risk increases during their use. The perceived reason of maintaining a regular pill-taking routine needs further clarification. Simple Answer Birth control pills often have placebo pills to mimic a regular period. Taking pills every day helps women stick to their routine and remember to take the pill. Even though the placebo pills don't stop pregnancy, the hormones from the previous active pills remain in your system. The hormone levels gradually decrease, leading to your period during the placebo week. The risk of pregnancy is slightly increased during the placebo week, but it's still lower than not using birth control. Detailed Answer The inclusion of placebo pills in birth con...