Pregnant while on the pill???

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2004
Pregnant while on the pill???
5
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 7:02pm
I've been taking Ortho- Tri Cyclen for going on 6 months now but I've had a bit of a scare recently. I know what the chances are for getting pregnant while taking the pill correctly but I think that I might be. My period since I've been on the pill always starts on the 3rd day of the green pills, and it did this time too however it was much lighter though I've been experiencing regular PMS symptoms (headache, nausea, cramping). I am quite sexually active with my boyfriend on a very regular basis and did do a few things that might have jepordized the effect of my pill. I've been using a topical antibiotic cream for my face, I've taken Co Q 10 which is suppossed to increase metabolic rate, and I've been a little bit bad about taking my pills at exactly the same time everyday-- most of the time I do but every few days I'll be late an hour or so and once was late by almost half a day. I did take a pregnancy test (First Response) today while on the 4th day of my green pills but it came back negative. I'm not sure but I still have doubts since my period has been very odd this time and because of the extraneous factors. Do many people get pregnant while on Ortho Tri Cyclen? I know it says in the package it's 1 woman in 100 per year but... it seems so possible, especially without backup birth control methods. What does this sound like?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 07-08-2004 - 8:45pm
Hi somnio_amoris, welcome!

I was on OTC for three years and it worked very well for me, other that almost killing my libido. It, like other OCs is very effective (98-99%) if taken correctly. If AF arrived, whatever state she was in, that's a good sign. However I think I'd ditch the supplements or start using back-up for every act of IC. As far as taking your pills on time, this board considers on time to be +/-2 hrs. of your normal pill time. Half a day late is not a good thing, as Martha would say. You are probably ok but if I were you I'd work on taking your pills on time and stop the supplements. If you are still concerned you might test again in a week for peace of mind. Let us know how you're doing, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2004
Fri, 07-09-2004 - 9:55pm
Hmm well I know it has been posted on here before but what exactly are symptoms one could experience if they were pregnant? Ever since I first thought I might be pregnant I looked up multitudes of information online about symptoms and people's experiences and how the birth control pill works. From what I understand the bcp stops ovulation completely ( I suppose in everyone?) however, I wondered what would happen if the days that you ovulated (though rare) were on the days of your period which would in turn be your 'reminder pills'? Would you be protected? I just thought of that when I looked online to discover everyone has different experiences and so many people have had some miraculous ones at that! People's hpt's coming back - for months into their pregnancies etc. Another thing I noticed today was that my nipples are very tender (just PMS?) and that my appetite has been unsatiable along with a realization that for the first time in my life a smell I have always enjoyed almost made me sick. Also, I Don't know if this could happen due to pregnancy, but my palate (or tastes for things) have changed drastically. Tastes I remember as being one way taste another, and certain items are more tasty that never were. Anyway... just out of curiousity since I was wondering if anyone might have any ideas :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sat, 07-10-2004 - 12:09am
Even if you did ovulate while on the pill there are two other mechanisms of the pills that reduce the likelihood of pregnancy. The hormones thicken the cervical mucus to prevent sperm from entering the uterus and thin the lining of the uterus to reduce the likelihood of implantation. Smell and taste can be changed appreciably by pregnancy and those aren’t usually mentioned as symptoms by posters here who are concerned after being late with a pill. When did you notice the changes, before or after you read about them during your research? The mind is a powerful instrument and it could be setting you up with symptoms and you could be freaking yourself out. (Like medical students thinking they have the symptoms of diseases they are studying.) Given the changes in your senses of taste and smell it might be a good idea to test again and see where you are. I hope you get the result you want. Let us know how you’re doing, ok?

(((Hugs)))

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2004
Sat, 07-10-2004 - 2:16pm
Thanks for the info.! It has been so good to have somewhere to voice what has been going on with me since I am not familiar with it. I'm planning to make an appointment with the doctor to discuss these changes and have an examination-- as I figure it, it couldn't hurt to be checked up and make sure everything is going okay! I plan to mention the change in tastes too because I noticed that days before I even considered that I might be pregnant. The smell was after the research, so perhaps my mind did play tricks on me there, though it was a powerful sensation. I just appreciate having feedback, thanks so much! :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-01-2003
Tue, 07-13-2004 - 1:16pm
You sound just like me about 3 months ago. In May I had sex for the 1st time with just my pills as the method. Around that same time, I was also taking Co Q10. I stopped taking it about a week before I had sex when I heard about the whole herbal supplements and the pills effectiveness...I never knew that before! I also didn't know about cervical discharge and the difference when you ovulate and what is normal vaginal discharge. But I had myself such a nervous mess! I looked up all this stuff online about pregnancy and once I read the info, I started having the symptoms! It got to the point that I couldn't function at work! I took 4, yes thats right, 4 pregnancy tests! They all came back negative. However, that still didn't calm my mind. I finally just went the the Gyno to get checked out and he confirmed I was fine and not pregnant. It has taken me about 2 months to finally feel normal again and have the anxiety go away.

I am still a little nervous about just using my pills as a form of protection because you hear all the stories about the woman who gets pregnant when on the pill and "took it perfectly." And you hear the stories of women who get pregnant and they don't know how it happened. I mean are these women not using any protection or does their method fail?! I still don't know the answers to those questions. But I have my yearly at the Gyno at the end of the month and have a bunch of questions to ask him :)

Good Luck!

~Katie