BCP ??

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-01-2003
BCP ??
5
Wed, 05-12-2004 - 1:41pm
Hi!

My fiance and I have recently started to have sex w/o condoms. I have been on Ortho-Tri Cyclen for about 5 years and I take my pill at the same time everyday (sometimes I forget but am no more then 2 hours late). However, I am still nervous about getting pregenant even though I enjoy the sex so much more w/o using a condom. I have also been recently taking Co-Enzyme Q10, which is an herbal supplement...could this affect my pills? I realize that pills are 99% effective but you still hear the stories about the people who get pregnant on the pill. Guess I just need so reassurance that I am taking my pills correctly and everything will be fine.

Thanks!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-17-2003
In reply to: klo1335
Wed, 05-12-2004 - 1:59pm
Well nothing is 100% except for abstinence, but the pill is the best you can get.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
In reply to: klo1335
Wed, 05-12-2004 - 10:40pm
Hi klo1335, Welcome!

I agree with the other poster, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist about the possible interaction of Coenzyme Q10 and your oral contraceptives. Taking your pills correctly includes being cautious about taking concurrent supplements. Supplements don’t have to undergo clinical trials and be approved by the FDA so there is a lot that isn’t know about many them. If Coenzyme Q10 acts on the Liver to speed up metabolic processing of foods and medicines taken orally then it could decrease the effectiveness of your pill. Let us know what your doctor says, ok?

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-01-2003
In reply to: klo1335
Thu, 05-13-2004 - 8:47am
Well I have decided to stop taking Q-10 because I have noticed that for some reason it makes my breath smell...for some strange reason I don't know and because of how it could affect my pills.

I do have another question to add.....reading in some of the posts people were saying that if you shouldn't get a discharge when you ovulate if you are on the pill. Is this correct? Or did I just misread something?

Thanks, Katie

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
In reply to: klo1335
Thu, 05-13-2004 - 10:25am
Hi Katie,

You shouldn’t ovulate if you are taking your pills correctly and the vast majority of women don’t ovulate while on the pill. In the rare situation where you do ovulate, the pill has two other mechanisms that reduce the chance of pregnancy. It thickens cervical mucus to make it less likely that sperm will reach any egg and it also changes the lining of the uterus making it difficult for an egg to implant. If you do ovulate you will usually have slippery, stretchy egg-white fertile cervical mucus several days prior to ovulation. If you are concerned about your pills effectiveness you could chart your basal body temperature and watch for a temp. rise at ovulation. Several members have done that for peace of mind when switching methods just to make certain that everything was working properly. A super book about your cycle and charting is Toni Weschler’s Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-01-2003
In reply to: klo1335
Thu, 05-13-2004 - 11:29am
Jill,

I really don't get a muscas but a slight discharge right before my period starts.

Sorry for asking so many questions and thanks for answering them!