Confused about birth control pils

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-13-2004
Confused about birth control pils
5
Thu, 05-13-2004 - 6:25pm
I first started taking Yasmin birth control pills about one year ago. This was my first time taking birth control pills ever. I thought I understood them until I was talking to a friend and now I'm confused. I'm too embarassed to ask my doctor or friends. Maybe someone here can help me. I stopped taking the pills a few days ago and plan to start them again with my next period.

Do the last 7 white pills have no birth control in them at all? Am I supposed to start my period on the first white pill? And should my period last for the full 7 pills? What if it doesn't? Before when I was taking them, my period didn't fall on the white pills. I thought I was doing it correctly and my period finally became regular after 13 years. If I start my pills the first day of my period, my next period won't be on the white pills. Ususally my periods have been lasting about 5 days.

I hope this didn't sound too crazy or too confusing. I didn't know where else to go. I would appreciate any help!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 05-13-2004 - 9:33pm
Hi mustang8828, Welcome!

The 7 placebo pills are completely inert. The prescribing information says: “YASMIN provides an oral contraceptive regimen consisting of 21 active film coated tablets each containing 3.0 mg of drospirenone and 0.030 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 7 inert film coated tablets.”

You will start your period whenever your body decides to based on how it is affected by the hormones in your pills . Typically that is between days 2 and 5 of the placebo pills. After a few cycles Aunt Flow’s arrival will settle down and that will become what is normal for you on Yasmin. Many women experience lighter and shorter periods than when they were cycling naturally but some don’t. After about 5 or 6 cycles what ever length and consistency your periods are then is probably what will be normal for you on Yasmin. Some women don’t get their periods until they begin the active pills in the next pack. If that is the case for you on Yasmin and it bothers you, you can talk to your doctor about a pill switch. That’s one of the great things about Oral Contraceptives they can stabilize irregular periods. Does this help?

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-13-2004
Fri, 05-14-2004 - 2:07pm
So it is normal for me not to have my period during the inactive pills? Do I need to use a backup method of birth control during the inactive pills? It never worked out that I had my period during those inactive pills so I figured I must be doing something wrong. I read over the insert many times with no answers. I usually get my period during the 3rd row of active pills.

Thank you so much for your help!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Fri, 05-14-2004 - 9:13pm
Hi mustang8828,

If you have been taking the same brand of pills for a year and you are consistently having your period during the third week of actives then that is ‘normal’ for you on that pill. However, that is not how the pill was designed to work. What is supposed to happen is that when you reach the placebo pills (the 4th week) the drop in hormones will trigger withdrawal bleeding (your pill-period). Bleeding usually begins for most women between the 2nd and 5th day of the placebo week. Talk with your doc about a pill change to move your pill-period to your placebo week. A pill with a bit more progestin activity would probably work better for you. See http://www.fpnotebook.com/GYN87.htm Your protection against pregnancy shouldn’t be affected if you are taking your current pills correctly. Let us know what s/he says, ok?

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2004
Sun, 06-06-2004 - 7:18pm
Hi,

I know you posted this message over two weeks ago but I wanted you to know that you are not alone here. I have my period on either the second or third week of active pills every single month and have never had it on the sugar or inert pills. I thought I was doing something wrong too but no, that is just my system. I am seeing my doctor this week to ask if I need to get a pill change or if it is okay for me to have periods on different weeks and still be 100% protected. I personally would like to stay on them if I am still protected because I have already gone through the initial side effects that you get when first starting the pill and I would hate to start all over again. Take care.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-08-2004
Tue, 06-08-2004 - 3:45pm
Hi mustang8828,

I am soo happy that you asked the question. I am going thru the same thing and I wasn't sure my patch was working correctly. The answers really helped me out.

Thanks again,

Andrea