How long before sex should...

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2004
How long before sex should...
3
Tue, 06-22-2004 - 12:50pm
Hello everyone! I just want to say that this is now my favorite site! I am on the computer at work all the time and always have this site open and pop back and forth to it.

I have a question, I don't know that much information about birth control (I have never had sex before and am saving it for marriage), here's the thing.....I am getting married in October 2004, I want to take birth control:

1) How long before "the night" do I have to begin taking birth control for it to be effective?

2) Do I have to consult my doctor before choosing which pills to take?

3) I am also on Effexor XR....does anyone know if this affects being able to take birth control.......hopefully I should be off of it by September sometime...?

Thanks for your input........also if anyone knows of any sites that have lots of information on different types of birth control pills that would be great.

Thanks so much

ur lil tigger

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 06-22-2004 - 2:34pm
Hi lil tigger, welcome!

Congratulations on your forthcoming wedding!

1) How long before "the night" do I have to begin taking birth control for it to be effective?

It depends on the method. If you start oral contraceptives on day one of your period you are protected immediately. If you start the Sunday after your period you need to use back-up for a minimum of 7 days. For transdermal methods (the Patch and Ring) you should use back-up for a minimum of 7 days regardless of when you start. Barrier methods: Diaphragm, cervical cap and condoms are effective immediately as are spermicides.

If I were you, and wanted to be on hormonal contraceptives, I would begin now. That is because it can take 3 or so cycles for your body to adjust to the hormones and for any side effects (breast tenderness, irregular bleeding etc.) to disappear.

2) Do I have to consult my doctor before choosing which pills to take?

Yes. S/he will want a medical history and you should have a pelvic exam and pap as baseline before you become sexually active. Your doctor’s experience with his patient s will be helpful in choosing the right method or pill for you.

3) I am also on Effexor XR....does anyone know if this affects being able to take birth control.......hopefully I should be off of it by September sometime...?

I checked a drug advisory database: http://www2.eckerd.com/content.asp?content=pharmacy%2Fdrugadvisor&cookie%5Ftest=1 and didn’t see a reference to an interaction between Effexor XR and hormonal contraceptives. However, I would ask that question of your pharmacist and doctor.

4) also if anyone knows of any sites that have lots of information on different types of birth control pills that would be great. See:

About methods: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/bc/cchoices.html

Method effectiveness: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/bc/bcfacts2.html

About pills: http://www.ivillagehealth.com/library/nwh/content/0,,215912_269246,00.html and http://www.fpnotebook.com/GYNCh14.htm

Which pill is right for me: http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr13.htm

If you have more questions, please ask. Let us know what you decide, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Tue, 06-22-2004 - 2:37pm
Yes,you should see a dr before starting birth control.Different pills and some meds don't mix well--I don't know about the one you're on.Your dr could tell you.Some pills have to be taken for a full month before they are "effective" and you don't have to use "back up".Others are effective from day one.Also some pills contain more hormones than others and that should be taken into consideration.KUDOS for you for waiting for "the right man and marriage"-I did too....Congrats!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-25-2004
Wed, 06-23-2004 - 4:28am
I don't know anything about the RX you are taking, but I know it takes 2 weeks of perfectly taking the pill, (almost same time, every single day) for it to be effective, but almost all Dr's recommend that you take it for a whole month, one whole pack. Your Dr should recommend a brand of pills to you, and you can always try another if that one doesn't agree with you.

Also, congrats on your wedding, and saving yourself for your husband to be! :)