Pregnancy and your Period

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2003
Pregnancy and your Period
13
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 5:38pm
Can you get pregnant if you have been on the pill for about 8 years and you missed 2 pills and started your cycle and then had intercourse at the very end? Please help!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 8:47pm
Hi mlvincent26, welcome!

It doesn't make any difference how long you have been on the pill, if you take them incorrectly you lessen the effectiveness of your protection by some unknown amount. Missing 2 pills can be pretty serious. When did you have intercourse in relation to the missed pills? Did you use back-up protection and have you taken the rest of your pills correctly?

When you miss pills you should take them as soon as you remember them. The patient information leaflet that comes with your pills will tell you exactly how the maker of your pills recommends you take missed pills. If you missed the last 2 pills in your pack you should advance your start day for the new pack by 2 days to prevent going more than 7 days with out hormones. Once you go more than 7 days without taking active pills you loose your protection. You should also begin using back-up as soon as you find you have missed a pill and continue using back-up until you have taken 7 consecutive active pills correctly. If you need help in remembering to take your pills you could set the alarm of a sports watch for your pill time and carry it with you. Or, set a reminder message on your cell phone, PDA or computer. Let us know how you're doing, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2003
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 9:41pm
This is how it happened. I missed the last two pills in the 28 day pack. I had my period as usual starting on Tuesday. I had unprotected sex on the Saturday following and then started taking my pills that Sunday because I am a Sunday start. Just curious. I have not set my cell phone to alarm at the same time every night. So I don't think that this should be a problem anymore. I am already a single mother and am not ready for another child out of wedlock. Any advice. Thanks!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 10:05pm
If the 2 pills you missed were the last 2 placebos (pills 27-28) and you began the next pack when you should have, then you are golden! Pills 22-28 have no hormones (that affect your protection) in them and are used as placeholders to help you remember when to start the new pack. In a very few brands some placebos have a tiny bit of estrogen in them to help minimize any estrogen withdrawal or a bit of iron, but the placebos can be safely skipped without compromising the effectiveness of your protection. Better now?

Take care,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2003
Thu, 10-07-2004 - 10:53pm
I wish that were the case. I missed pills 19-20. Then I started my cycle as usual on Tuesday. And was finishing up on Saturday when I had the unprotected intercourse. Then started taking my pills on Sunday.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 12:02am
Ah, well, I’m sorry. Missing active pills 19-20 puts us back to my initial response:

“When you miss pills you should take them as soon as you remember them. The patient information leaflet that comes with your pills will tell you exactly how the maker of your pills recommends you take missed pills. If you missed the last 2 pills in your pack you should advance your start day for the new pack by 2 days to prevent going more than 7 days with out hormones. Once you go more than 7 days without taking active pills you loose your protection. You should also begin using back-up as soon as you find you have missed a pill and continue using back-up until you have taken 7 consecutive active pills correctly.”

What did you do with pills 19-20? And did you advance your start day by 2 days? I think, even if you took pills 19-20 when you remembered them it was probably too late to build up your hormones again before your pill free week. If you advanced your start day for your next pack you may be ok. If you went 8 or 9 days with out hormones you are at risk of ovulation and if you were fertile by the time you had IC you may be at considerable risk of pregnancy. How long ago did all this happen? Hormonal EC is only effective up to 72 hours after the event and somewhat effective for up to 5 days. Insertion of a copper IUD is effective as EC for up to 8-10 days after the event. If I were you I’d discuss my options with my doctor as soon as possible. Time is not on your side.

You said “I have not set my cell phone to alarm at the same time every night. So I don't think that this should be a problem anymore.” Did you mean to say you have set your cell phone alarm? Keep in touch and let us know how you’re doing, ok?

Hugs,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2003
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 9:20am
i just did not take the last two and started my cycle. The IC happened on Saturday the 25th of September. I had started my cycle on the Tuesday. So that would mean that I did not take the Friday pill or the Saturday pill and I would have 9 days with no hormones. That happened 13 days ago. Is it too soon to take a Home Test. I know I have something to worry about but is it really likely. If so what should I start looking for as far as signs or such. I did set my cell phone. It must have been a typo. I have had scares like this before and I think that I just worry myself into thinking the worst and then it makes me sick. What do you think?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 10:05am
If the IC of concern occurred within 7 24-hour days of taking the last active pill (#18?) that you took from that pack then you may be ok. No one can say what your chances are at this point. I'm curious, what happened to active pills 19, 20 and 21 (there are 21 active pills in a pack) that you didn't take? Most test kits are accurate when used 2 weeks after the event of concern or after your period is late. Hon, I know it’s easier said than done but try not to worry you can make yourself sick doing that. Symptoms of early pregnancy can vary widely between women and even between pregnancies for the same woman. Fatigue, nausea and breast sensitivity can be some signs but they are common to other things as well.

If you have had scares like this before you might want to consider switching to a lower maintenance method such as Ortho Evra http://www.orthoevra.com/ the patch, which is changed weekly for 3 weeks and removed for 1, or NuvaRing http://www.nuvaring.com/Consumer/index.asp the ring, worn continuously for 3 weeks and removed for one for your period. As I said, if your IC was within 7 days of taking your 18th pill, then you might still be ok. Let us know how you’re doing, ok?

(((HUGS)))

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2003
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 10:36am
Pills number 20 and 21 are the ones that I did not take. That would have been Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th. I still have them I did not take them. I just started my cycle on Tuesday the 21st possibly Wednesday the 22nd. Then the IC happened on Saturday the 25th when I was finishing up. Then on Sunday the 26th I started taking my pills again as usual. In response to the patch, I have used it before and did not like it because it always falls off. The Nuvaring I have not tried but I do not know what it is. Please help!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 12:55pm
Take a look at the NuvaRing site http://www.nuvaring.com/Consumer/index.asp NuvaRing is a 2 inch soft plastic ring worn in the vagina for 3 weeks and removed for one for your period. It continuously releases a small dose of estrogen (the lowest, 15mcg, of any method in the U.S.) and progestin so the dosage delivered to your body is far more uniform than taking a pill every 24 hours and you don’t have to worry about method failure due to vomiting or diarrhea. Another nice thing about the ring is that you can leave it inserted for 28 days and still retain full protection. That allows you to more easily reschedule your period when necessary than if you were taking pills. A lot of members using the ring like it although like anything else some find it’s not for them. You can search the archives by typing NuvaRing or ring in the search box at the top of the screen to see what members have posted about it. Let us know what you decide, ok?

Take care,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2003
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 4:56pm
Thank you for the information on the Nuvaring. But you did not respond to the issue at hand. Please tell me what you think.

Pills number 20 and 21 are the ones that I did not take. That would have been Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th. I still have them I did not take them. I started my cycle on Tuesday the 21st possibly Wednesday the 22nd. Then the IC happened on Saturday the 25th when I was finishing up my cycle. Then on Sunday the 26th I started taking my pills again as usual.

Is it possible or am I just worrying for nothing? Please help me?

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