plan B and birth control pills
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plan B and birth control pills
| Mon, 05-03-2004 - 11:11pm |
I recently used plan B about 30 hours after a broken condom incident. The doctor that prescribed it for me suggested I start ortho tri-cyclen the day after plan B because my system would already be altered so I shouldn't have to wait for the first day of my period which was supposed to be 2 days later. My period ended up being a week late, and I have now been on the pill for a little over a week. The flow is much lighter, and there seems to be less blood, more the color of regular discharge. I have never used plan B or a birth control pill and wanted to make sure these effects were normal. I don't think I am pregnant, but wanted to know if i should worry still, or if this is how my period will be from now on. I hear the pill makes it lighter, but is the color change normal as well?

If you aren’t already familiar with the EC site take a look at http://ec.princeton.edu/ The ‘Questions’ link at the top of the page will take you to a lot of good information about EC and what to expect afterward such as: periods late or early, changes in flow and consistency etc. Beginning oral contraceptives can also change your flow (often making it lighter) and from now on your pill-period will be under control of the hormones in your pills. It usually takes 3 cycles or so on OCs for your body to become adjusted to the hormones in your pills. Any side effects you might experience (nausea, breast tenderness, irregular bleeding etc.) should disappear by your 3rd or 4th cycle. While you are learning to take your pills correctly you should use back-up for the entire first pack. That way if you forget a pill or AF is late or different from when you were cycling naturally you will know you were still protected and won’t have a pg-panic attack.
This board considers taking combined oral contraceptives correctly to mean taking them on time (within +/-2 hrs. of your normal pill-time) and using back-up if you forget a pill or are sick and vomit or have diarrhea within 2 hours after taking your pill (considered a missed pill) and if you are taking medicines or supplements that could reduce the effectiveness of your pills. If you forget a pill or have been sick you should use back-up for at least 7 days afterward. If you are taking medicines or supplements then you should use back-up while taking them and for at least 7 days after taking the last dose.
And, if you think you might have trouble remembering your pill-time you can set the alarm on a clock or watch or set a reminder message on your cell phone or computer to help remind you.
Good luck
Jill