help about birth control!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2004
help about birth control!
3
Tue, 06-29-2004 - 10:45pm
so my doctor said to begin taking ortho trycyclen lo on any day, so i began taking them on a random sunday about a month ago (my doctor said nothing about having to wait for my period to start the pills, he just said begin right away). during most of the month, my boyfriend and i used condoms. By the 2nd day of the "inactive" pills i got my period, but when it ended, and i was still on the inactive pills, i had unprotected sex without any back up method. was i still protected? im freaking out becasue everywhere i look it says you HAVE to wait until you have your period to begin taking the pills, and yet my doctor said to just use a back up method for only the first 7 days. does anyone have any advice or expereince with this situation? im really worried becasue i do not want to have an unplanned pregnancy at my age!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 06-29-2004 - 10:59pm
Hi bebe808, welcome!

If you had been taking your pills correctly, then yes, you were protected during your placebo week. It is best to wait to start OCs until you begin your period as that indicates that you aren’t pg when you begin them. Also, if you start at the first of your cycle the adjustment to the hormones may be a bit easier on your body as you won’t be putting the hormones from your pills on top of the ones your body is making in increasing quantities as your cycle progresses. Since you are new to birth control pills let me mention some things that will help you use them most effectively.

This board considers taking combined oral contraceptives correctly to mean taking them on time (within +/-2 hrs. of your normal pill-time) and using back-up if you forget a pill or are sick and vomit or have diarrhea within 2 hours after taking your pill (considered a missed pill) and if you are taking medicines or supplements that could reduce the effectiveness of your pills. If you forget a pill or have been sick you should use back-up for at least 7 days afterward. If you are taking medicines or supplements then you should use back-up while taking them and for at least 7 days after taking the last dose. And, if you think you might have trouble remembering your pill-time you can set the alarm on a clock or watch or set a reminder message on your cell phone, computer or PDA to help remind you. Some things to remember when taking oral contraceptives:

• Combined oral contraceptives have a 4 hour window, progestin-only pills have a 1/2-1 hour window for on-time

• Medicines are typically antibiotics, antifungals, anticonvulsants and some other prescription drugs, if in doubt, check with the pharmacist. Over-the-counter medications like pain relievers or allergy medications do not change the effectiveness of the pill.

• Supplements may cause changes in the metabolism of the hormones without your knowledge. St. John's Wort has been known to cause pill failure, but because supplements are not regulated by the FDA, there is no systematic testing to determine which will compromise the effectiveness of the pill.

• You can also set your pill time at the same time as another activity that you do every day, whether it's brushing your teeth, watching a particular TV show, having breakfast...

• The patch and the ring have the same requirements as far as use of medications, though timing isn't an issue, nor is diarrhea or vomiting.

The pill, when taken consistently and correctly, is 99% effective. Anything that deviates from perfect use will reduce the effectiveness by an undetermined amount. The most important step you can take to make sure the pill is as effective as it can be is to take it at the same time every day. THanks for stopping by.

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2004
Tue, 06-29-2004 - 11:15pm
thanks for the reassurance! its just that ive had one unplanned pregnancy before and its not anything i EVER want to go through again, so im just so paranoid that its going to happen again if im not most careful. For some reason i thought that the pills may not have been working or something becasue i didnt start it during OR directly after my period. So i was very nervous when he came in me for the first time without a condom on AND during the first cycle of placebo pills... but im glad you gave me some information that is easing my mind a bit. Im just so nervous that im going to get pregnant again becasue i didnt wait an ENTIRE month to have unprotected sex while on the pill, but i guess i just have to trust modern medicine and the advice of others :) I think im going to use foam in addition to the pills from now on the be EXTRA safe... i just hope its not too late!!--- there i go again, getting paranoid and worked up again! well... thank you so much for the advice and information, its making me feel better!
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-25-2004
Wed, 06-30-2004 - 3:52am
Hi there! I started taking the generic pill for oc in March, and the Dr at PP told me to start taking it on that very same day. She also told me I had to take it for 2 weeks straight before I was protected. From my experiences, after you have taken the pill on time for over 2 weeks, you are protected to have sex anytime you want to, whether the pills are active or placebo. I never had any pregnancy scares, either. :)