“Yes, you can become pregnant on any form of contraception.

“No contraception gives 100% protection. The pill will only work as well as you are good at taking it!

“Common reasons for getting pregnant on the pill include all the ‘Ds’!

“Didn’t take – forgot to take it.

“Delay – took it later than recommended, or, a delay in starting a new pack of pills.

“Drugs – taking other drugs that might interfere, such as enzyme-inducing drugs, for example, anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, or the herbal remedy St John’s Wort.

“Diarrhoea and vomiting – generally, if you vomit within two-four hours of taking a POP or a COC, this counts as a missed pill. Another pill should be taken as soon as possible, and the ‘missed pill rules’ followed.

“If you have severe and protracted diarrhoea, you will need to take additional contraceptive measures whilst you are ill and for the first seven days of your normal pill taking.

“However, every contraceptive pill may have different suggested duration times classified as a missed pill, and everyone taking a contraceptive pill should check their specific patient information leaflet.

“Sometimes true pill failures do occur.

“If you ever suspect you might be pregnant, it’s always best to do a pregnancy test.

“This might be if you develop any pregnancy symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness or breast tenderness.

“Also, you can experience changes in your period such as irregular periods or stopped periods altogether. But as long as you have been taking the pill as recommended, it is unlikely that you are pregnant. Although, if you generally have a period on your POP, but your periods stop, do a pregnancy test to be sure.

7 of the most-Googled questions about the pill answered by an expert