Am I at risk?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2004
Am I at risk?
5
Sun, 06-06-2004 - 11:38am
Hi,

I forgot to ask this question with my last post... As a quick update, I have not been getting my period while I am on the sugar pills of my birth control packs (I'm currently on pack 3) I get them during the active pills only. Anyhow, I know that having sex while on the sugar pills is as safe as when you are on the active pills if you have been taking them every day at or around the same time. My question is, as I didn't get a period during my sugar pills and went ahead and started my active pills on the following Sunday as scheduled, would I be at risk of getting pregnant during the first week of active pills because the week before I didn't take any hormone pills and didn't get a period? Is not getting a period like missing the active pills thereby the need for added protection? Also, is it unsafe to take the pill and another form of birth control such as Encare suppositories or the VCF film? I am so paranoid about getting pregnant that I always go for extra protection but wonder if this is unsafe. Anything you can tell me to help me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 06-06-2004 - 2:18pm
Hi lucygirl2004,

There are different mechanisms that control ovulation and bleeding so there should be no additional risk of pregnancy from IC during your placebo week, even though you are bleeding before reaching it. You are going to see your doc about a pill change, right? It is perfectly safe to use more than one method of birth control. Although hormonal contraceptives are very effective (98-99% when used correctly) some women do use an additional method of contraception for peace of mind while on OCs. Let us know how you are doing, ok?

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2004
Sun, 06-06-2004 - 4:36pm
Thanks so much for your reply, I suppose my question was really if there were any risks of getting pregnant if you have sex the first week after you go back to the active pills immediately following the placebo week because during those sugar pills you hadn't gotten a period. I started my sugar pills beginning on May 23 and went back on the hormone pills on May 30 but I had sex on June 2. I worry that because I didn't have 7 days of hormone pills in my system but only 4 because the week before pills were non-hormone, I might be at risk of getting pregnant.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 06-06-2004 - 5:04pm
Hi lucygirl2004,

No method of contraception is 100% effective, except abstinence. However, hormonal contraceptive pills are 98-99% effective which is very close. If you have been taking your pills correctly then after taking 21 active pills you will be protected for the seven placebo days. If you go no more than 7 24-hour days between active pills then your protection is uninterrupted when you begin the next pack. You should be fine and have been well protected during your 6/2 IC. Does that answer your question?

Good luck

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2004
Sun, 06-06-2004 - 5:12pm
Yes! Thanks so much. I cannot thank you enough for your quick reply... maybe I'll be able to sleep tonight. :-)
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2004
Tue, 06-08-2004 - 4:02pm
Hi Jill,

Thanks again for answering my questions... I went to the doctor today and she told me the same thing you did, that I am protected even if I don't get a period on the placebo pills, regardless of when I have sex so long as I take the pill every day without fail at or around the same time. She offered to change the pills if my not having a period during the active pills bothered me too much but added that I should stick it out because the side effects I have been getting with this pill (I'm in the middle of my third pack) should go away by next month and a new pill with a bit more estrogen might give me another 3 months of side effects. Again, my thanks to you for making me feel more at ease before my appointment.