However, these are just suggestions — it's crucial to check in with your doctor before you assume that your birth control has you completely covered, or before you decide to give up on it. Birth control is great, but it's not completely perfect at protecting against pregnancy, and the pill doesn't protect against STIs, Dr. Shirazian says. "Birth control [pills] need to be taken exactly correctly and at the same time to be 99.9% effective," she says. "In general, the problem that we have with the pill is human error." In other words, it's on you to remember to make the most of your birth control by taking your pill at the same time, every damn day.