The Patch and Penicillin
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The Patch and Penicillin
| Wed, 03-31-2004 - 9:56pm |
I've been on the Ortho Evra patch for about 6 months now. Last month during the first patch of the cycle I was on penicillin. I talked to my gynocologist and she advised me to use backup protection for the rest of my birth control cycle, which I faithfully did. I took the 3rd patch of the cycle off on March 15th (Monday), got my period on the 19th (Friday), put on the first patch of the new birth control cycle on the 22nd (Monday), and my period finished on the 24th (Wednesday). Here's where my question starts: I know that when you first start using the patch, the instructions advise you that unless you put on the patch on the first day of your period, you should to use backup the first week. My concern is that I had sex a few times after my period ended (Thursday the 25th, Friday the 26th, and Sunday the 28th) without a condom (I'm in a monogomous relationship and we're positive that neither of us has an STD), forgetting those instructions. I'm worried that I was supposed to treat this birth control cycle like it was my first since the penicillin made the birth control less effective last month and thus should have used back up protection the first patch week. Is this a valid concern; should I be worried that I could be/get pregnant?
Signatures On
| Wed, 03-31-2004 - 11:43pm |
To be on the extremely safe side, it wouldn't be a bad idea to go ahead and use protection through the first week of the new cycle - but that's more an extra precaution than a "requirement".
