• Published on: Nov 03, 2021
  • 2 minute read
  • By: Second Medic Expert

Can A Person Get Pregnant While Taking The Pill?

  • WhatsApp share link icon
  • copy & share link icon
  • twitter share link icon
  • facebook share link icon

Can a person get pregnant while taking the pill?

Your doctor originally prescribed it for one reason, to prevent pregnancy

Many women use hormonal contraceptives in conjunction with other forms of contraception for added protection, but that's up to the individual or couple. Methods like condoms or diaphragms may also be more suitable for contexts where a woman is more concerned about STDs than about getting pregnant, such as same-sex relationships or long-distance relationships.

Birth control pill does not protect against STDs or other infection. The pill should be used in conjunction with a condom to prevent pregnancy and STDS. Women should also take precautions when consuming beverages containing alcohol while taking the birth control pill. This is because high levels of alcohol can interfere with contraception and increase a woman's risk of unprotected sex. Drinking a few alcoholic drinks doesn't mean you won't get pregnant, so it's important for women to always practice safe sex too.

Withdrawal bleeding, the monthly menstrual cycle, and ovulation all happen because of a hormone called progesterone. A person typically takes pills for 21 days followed by a pill-free period of seven days. During that time, their body doesn't produce any progesterone and levels gradually rise until they reach the maximum level in the middle of the cycle. The estrogen levels in her body will also increase during this time, which is what helps keep her reproductive tract in shape to support pregnancy. Pregnancy depends on cells lining up just right but that can't happen if there's no risk of exposure to sperm or if there are enough artificial hormones in play to disrupt them when they have lined up well enough.

If an egg is released while the woman is on her period and sperm can make their way to it, fertilization may occur; this is called ovulation. Pregnancy will not necessarily be avoided by using a contraceptive such as a pill if sex during your period occurs at some point when you are on active pills and ovulating.

If a person who is taking hormonal contraceptives is sexually active and also ovulatory, and there was unprotected intercourse around the time of ovulation, they can get pregnant. And contraceptive pills with estrogen do not sterilize women. If a woman is considering using the pharmaceutical as an option to not get pregnant, she must still think about other methods such as surgical sterilization or IUDs as well as having two forms of birth control every day-a form for prevention of pregnancy and another form for STD protection. If you take off your condom but use no other contraception you can get pregnant! Be safe :) And try always wearing a condom even on oral sex!

About 1 in every 4 pregnancies are the result of women who are taking oral contraceptives - which means, statistically speaking, it could happen to you! The birth control pill is designed to work primarily by preventing ovulation. A woman's estrogen and progesterone levels do not need to be low for her to become pregnant because she can still release eggs even while on birth control- although these eggs will most likely be immature and won't produce a fertilizable zygote that will attach to the uterine wall.

There is a short time space during which the woman taking birth control pills can get pregnant, and this time-space varies from 4-6 days depending on the type of pill that she's taking. Pregnancy is a possibility any time you have unprotected sex, or even when your birth control fails for whatever reason. The pill does not provide protection from STDs and the female birth control shot may also have unwanted side effects like weight gain and menstrual changes. Coworkers of mine got pregnant while still taking the pill because they forgot to take them one day (sleepy-time effect).

It's possible to get pregnant while on the pill if there is no condom used during sexual encounters between two people who are sexually active with each other because pregnancy can happen at any point in a woman’s monthly cycle. It has been proven that some babies will be born missing parts of their bodies.

The only foolproof method of not getting pregnant while taking the pill is to stick to one type and take the pills in the right way every day so that no "mistakes" can occur. The pill does not always block ovulation, so the person could get pregnant even while taking the pill. In fact, 5-8% of women on oral contraceptives get pregnant each year and evidence suggests this is because their pills aren't working properly. The chance of pregnancy while on birth control pills is also increased if a woman misses two or more consecutive doses due to less hormone in her system that week.

Read Blog
Healthcare Insurance in India: Protecting Health, Empowering Lives with SecondMedic

Healthcare Insurance in India: Protecting Health, Empowering Lives with SecondMedic

Health is priceless, but healthcare can be expensive. In a country where medical inflation rises by nearly 12% every year, healthcare insurance has become a necessity, not a luxury.

SecondMedic bridges medical protection with digital convenience — giving Indians a smarter, simpler way to stay covered and cared for.

 

What Is Healthcare Insurance?

Healthcare insurance is a financial safety net that covers hospitalization, treatment, and medical expenses. It ensures you get access to top-quality hospitals without worrying about unexpected bills.

Modern health plans now go beyond emergencies — they cover preventive care, teleconsultations, home diagnostics, and even digital wellness programs.

 

Why Healthcare Insurance Is Essential in India

A 2024 report by IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) found that over 70% of Indians pay medical bills out-of-pocket. One hospitalization can wipe out an entire year’s savings for a middle-income family.

Healthcare insurance:

  • Protects against medical inflation

  • Enables cashless hospitalization

  • Provides tax benefits under Section 80D

  • Encourages early detection via preventive checkups

  • Supports virtual consultations and chronic care follow-ups
     

 

Types of Healthcare Insurance Plans

1. Individual Health Plans

Covers one person — ideal for self-employed or single professionals.

2. Family Floater Plans

A shared sum insured for the whole family — cost-effective for parents and children.

3. Senior Citizen Plans

Customized for people aged 60+, including chronic disease and home care support.

4. Corporate & Group Insurance

Employer-provided coverage with wellness programs and digital consultation access.

5. Top-Up & Super Top-Up Plans

Extend existing coverage limits at low cost.

 

SecondMedic’s Role in Smarter Health Coverage

SecondMedic doesn’t just help you buy insurance — it helps you live healthier under it.

Our integrated Digital Health + Insurance model provides:

  • Cashless virtual consultations

  • Coverage-linked diagnostics (home or lab-based)

  • E-prescriptions & discounted pharmacy

  • AI-based health score tracking

  • Doctor guidance for claims and follow-ups
     

This ensures that insurance is used proactively, not just in emergencies.

 

Preventive Care + Insurance: A Winning Combo

Insurance companies now reward preventive care. By getting regular SecondMedic checkups, your health data helps keep premiums lower and claim-free bonuses active.

A NITI Aayog 2024 report found that preventive health monitoring reduced hospitalization risk by 28% among insured individuals.

 

Digital Health Meets Insurance

With SecondMedic’s tech-driven model, your insurance can now include:

  • Online doctor consultations

  • Chronic care management

  • Home sample collections

  • Telemedicine coverage

  • Digital health reports for easy claims
     

You can view your policy benefits, upload claims, and access your medical records — all through your SecondMedic dashboard.

 

How to Choose the Right Healthcare Insurance

  1. Assess your medical history and family needs.

  2. Compare premiums, claim ratios, and network hospitals.

  3. Choose plans with telehealth, diagnostics, and preventive cover.

  4. Check waiting periods for pre-existing conditions.

  5. Use SecondMedic’s plan comparison tool for expert-backed guidance.
     

 

Conclusion

Healthcare insurance is not just a policy — it’s peace of mind.
By combining medical coverage with digital healthcare and preventive wellness, SecondMedic ensures that protection is proactive, not reactive.

Whether you need basic health cover or a comprehensive family plan, SecondMedic makes the journey simple, transparent, and fully online.

Compare and choose your healthcare insurance plan today at SecondMedic.com — because your health deserves both care and security.

 

Real Data & References

  • IRDAI Report 2024: 70% of Indians still pay medical bills out-of-pocket.
    irdai.gov.in

     

  • NITI Aayog 2024: Preventive health reduces hospitalizations by 28%.
    niti.gov.in

     

  • WHO India 2023: 50% of health issues preventable through early care.
    who.int/india

     

  • SecondMedic Data (2025): 67% users prefer health plans with digital consultations.
    secondmedic.com

See all

Live Doctor consultation
Live Doctor Chat

Download Our App & Get Consultation from anywhere.

App Download
call icon for mobile number calling and whatsapp at secondmedic