EC, Seasonale, and forcing period

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-16-2003
EC, Seasonale, and forcing period
3
Thu, 04-29-2004 - 3:58pm
Ok. I just had an appointment with my doctor today so he could write me a prescription for Plan B. I was worried because I was late with a few pills. He said it really didn't matter since none of them were missed for more than 12 hours and since I am on my 7th week of Seasonal that there was very little chance I would become pregnant, but he wrote me the prescription anyway since he knows i stress and worry over little things. One of my question is do you think I should take the Plan B? I only have another day to decide.

I also talked to him about the spotting and break through bleeding. He told me at anytime if it become annoying I could stop taking it for 2 days and no more than 7 days. Is this ok to do? I trust what he is saying, and I really don't have sex so it doesn't matter. (Yes I know I just got a prescription for emergency contraceptive, but it was the first time in 6 months, and I highly doubt it is happening again anytime soon) He told me I need to wait at least 7 days since the condom broke and I am worried there is a chance I will become pregnant. I really would like to do it just because it is getting heavier, and I usually do have very heavy periods, so I feel like it needs to be done. I can live with the spotting and BTB, I just would be happier without it. He said it would not effect how I adjust to the pill, just that it will help make the BTB go away. He said after I take the 2-7day break I just start taking the pill again. He said he prefered I only went off for 2-3 days though, does anyone know why so few?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 04-29-2004 - 4:37pm
Hi crys9876,

I think your doc's right - there is very little chance you would become pregnant from late pills, but there probably is some, and taking your pills late isn't a good practice to get into. You might want to ask your doc, but I think he is suggesting that you induce your period by taking only 3 days off active pills because that should be enough and it will keep the overall level of hormones in your body at a higher level than if you took the entire 7 days off hormones. Let us know how you do, ok?

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-16-2003
Thu, 04-29-2004 - 5:33pm
Well late wasn't really late. I was consistently late for 3 weeks, so I pretty much gave myself a new time. I wanted a 5pm time, which became 6pm, but it was too hard to keep if I forgot to take hte pills to work, so it would usually be at 8 or 9pm that I took it. I was consistent and made that my time. he said unless is was a significant amount of time it didn't really matter. He also said there wasn't enough research to say exactly how much it goes down with time, but I shouldn;t really worry aboutt a few hours. He said it usually doesn't go down until after 8 hours. he said Seasonale offers more protection from a missed pill than the regualr 21 day pill, is that correct?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 04-29-2004 - 8:15pm
"Seasonale offers more protection from a missed pill than the regualr 21 day pill, is that correct?"

Since the formulation of Seasonale is the same as the 21/7 regimen pill Nordette it would be interesting to know on what he based his comment. Perhaps it is that when taking 84 active pills consecutively there the likelihood of forming a stronger pill-taking habit and less chance of user error during the placebo week (forgetting to begin active pills on time) than with a conventional 21/7 regimen pill. If you have an opportunity to ask your doc about his statement we would be interested in knowing what he says.

Good luck

      Jill