Birth Control / Late starting new pack

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Birth Control / Late starting new pack
5
Thu, 05-06-2004 - 1:53pm
I'm on the Ortho Tricyclen-Lo BC pill and when I was supposed to start the new pack I totally forgot and ended up being way past the time I was supposed to take it. I went ahead and took a pill when I remembered and was bad again the next day but now I'm back on my normal schedule. I noticed yesterday the stringy ovulation type mucous and was just a little concerned, did I totally screw up? I was about 12 hours off my time I should've taken the pill and now I don't know if I'm capable of getting pregnant right now or if I'm okay since I didn't technically miss any pills but they were very late..

So confusing, it's my first time on the pill.


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Gen & baby #1 EDD 01/27/05

My Two babies
Natasha & Baxter




iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 05-06-2004 - 3:05pm
Hi crims0n, welcome!

Not starting a new pack on time can be a problem. You shouldn’t go more than 7 24-hour days between active pills to retain you protection. I don’t know if you are ok or not. Personally, I wouldn’t take the chance. If you noticed stringy mucus several days after forgetting your pills it is possible that your body is preparing to ovulate. It would be a very good idea if you used back-up for the rest of your pack. And if you have had IC without using a condom since you noticed your stretchy mucus you might want to consider EC. EC decreases in effectiveness the longer you wait after the event so if you have an EC situation the sooner you take it the better. If that is a possibility see the EC site http://ec.princeton.edu/ If you are having trouble remembering your pill time you can set the alarm on a clock or watch or a reminder message on your cell or computer to remind you at pill-time. Let us know how you’re doing, ok?

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 05-07-2004 - 8:03am
I agree with Jill--starting a new pack late is one of the more common causes of pill failure (along with taking pills irregularly)! It's very important to get that first pill on time, but missing it (12 hours is a miss) just requires that you use backup protection (RELIABLE backup, something you'd use for bc if you weren't on the pill at all) until you've taken at least seven active pills on time.

Mistakes happen! Not to worry...and if you've had intercourse between now and the start of the pack, you might want to check into emergency contraception (doctor, clinic, etc.), it's more effective earlier, but can be taken up to 5 days later (effectiveness decreases each day).

Good luck!

Judie

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Sat, 05-08-2004 - 10:42am
Thanks for the Replies. Well I contacted my gyn that day and then while looking at the pack, I noticed that I had started earlier, saturday, instead of sunday, because I was going to be on the road and didn't have my computer to remind me so she said it was ok. And then we decided that since I didn't actually miss any, and only thought I had, that I didn't need the EC. My memory is bad about events that happen so I kinda messed that one up.

So with me thinking everything was okay, we had IC a few times without anything else since my doc said that I'm probably still protected and the change is mucous is just my body still adjusting to the pills, a friend has had the same type for years so it seemed just fine. Well I was kinda sick from something else and was having blood-work done to make sure I was getting my nutrients and that my liver was functioning ok. Well we got the results back and I was low on some things but ok and he wanted to give me some medication, but that turned out to be a no go. I never realized that diarrhea makes the pill not absorb and I always take the pill with food.. (I was having diarrhea consistently for about a week)

After discussing this with my GP, I went and got some EC since that was recommended and have to alter my diet so I can get my normal food processing back.. So after talking to my gyn about this, we agreed that I probably ovulated and who knows what's going to happen now. Unfortunately, everything happened at exactly the right time if I wanted to get pregnant, so hopefully the EC will work, but I guess we won't know until I'm due for my next period.. :/

So in the end when I thought I was the one who screwed up with the pill-taking time, it was my body doing the screwing up with the diarrhea.. sigh, just can't win. But we're using condoms and reducing our activity until I'm ok in the stomach part and I'm protected again.


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Gen & baby #1 EDD 01/27/05

My Two babies
Natasha & Baxter




iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Mon, 05-17-2004 - 3:36am
Well just a few more days until AF is due to greet me, and I think I'm suffering from great paranoia or I'm PG..

I did everything I could but now people seem to be analyzing every little thing in me and stuff just hit me hard yesterday and today.. I'm having nightly nausea now, getting dizzy/lightheaded (when moving around), tired fast, but some insomnia, sore breasts, darkening areolas, slight cramping, and My mood is swinging all over the place.. I think it's just the stress of the whole situation but hopefully she'll arrive on thursday and I can quite all my silly worrying.

If AF doesn't arrive how long should I wait before a test? I was thinking a week because I'm afraid to jump the gun and it just happen to start.


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Gen & baby #1 EDD 01/27/05

My Two babies
Natasha & Baxter




iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Thu, 05-20-2004 - 12:59pm
Well here's I guess the final update.

I took a PG test last night and it was positive. I'm now going on to the expecting board!

I guess this is proof that diarrhea isn't good when you're on the pill, I really wish I had known. EC isn't as effective for me as I'd hoped it would be.


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Gen & baby #1 EDD 01/27/05

My Two babies
Natasha & Baxter