Using a new kind of birth control pill

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-2004
Using a new kind of birth control pill
13
Wed, 10-27-2004 - 7:53pm
I recently switched from taking Estrostep to Ovcon My medical insurance doesn't cover birth control, and my doctor had a lot of extra samples at her office that she was willing to give me so that I could continue to be protected.

My fiance and I are sexually active and continued to be while I switched over. We don't use other forms of birth control. My period is a few days late, and now I'm starting to worry. Could switching pills have lowered my protection and caused me to become pregnant?

I've been on birth control for almost 9 years and since then my period has come like clockwork. Help!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-14-2004
Thu, 11-11-2004 - 10:18am
Well, I know that stressing about getting your period can certainly delay it...

Since this is your first month on it, it may just be that it`s off-schedule. It certainly can happen. Usually, even skipping one month of a period isn`t always indicative of a pregnancy. Two missed periods are generally the rule on that.

But, the thing about pregnancy tests. It could be too soon for a positive result to show up. I`m not trying to be scary, but sometimes it happens. If, in a few days, you haven`t gotten your period, test again. Two weeks is the earliest that the hormones will show positive on a home pregnancy test - it can take longer. If you used antibiotics (I`m guessing a 10-day round?), that means that you needed to use back up for those 10 days, or however long your round was, plus until you`d taken 7 more pills consistently and correctly. That`s possibly 17 days that your protection may have been lowered. If it`s been a few weeks since the end of that 17-day interval or whatever and a home pregnancy test didn`t show a positive, it could be correct. Like I said, I`m not trying to scare you or anything!

Oh, disregard most of that last statement. :P I just read your old post where you said that you did use back-up during that time.

If this is really worrying you, call your gyn, doctor, or stop by a health clinic. They can perhaps ease your mind about your period showing up or do a blood-drawn pregnancy test, which are more sensitive. If anything, it can help to ease your mind so that you know what`s going on. I bet that you`re not pregnant - these are just adjustments that your body`s making.

As for your period coming, possibly around your wedding day... If you stay on the pill, your cycle will theoretically be controlled by the pill, with it coming on your placebos as planned. Just because it was off one month doesn`t necessarily mean that it`s going to be all screwy the next, especially since this is your first month on a new birth control pill. Is your wedding next month? If this period has been delayed, you may have prolonged spotting or something throughout your next cycle.

I hope this helps, some at least. Let us know how you`re doing!


Edited 11/11/2004 10:21 am ET ET by clannanceilidh

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2004
Sun, 11-14-2004 - 9:45am
Ok I will have to say that my AF finally decided to visit on Thursday. It is weird though I had no sign of cramps all day at work. I got home and laid down to rest and started feeling a few cramps. And got it that afternoon.

The weird thing is that when I wake up each morning since I have had it, my period does not seem to be there and then as soon as I get moving during the day there my period is. I am guess my body is trying to adjust to the new set of hormones I am on. I think this month I will definitely make sure that I monitor how I talk my pills. I had even considered going back to my Estrostep pills which would be on today, but not sure exactly what to do because those really kept my period on target. I am not sure what to do though.

Can someone help me.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 11-14-2004 - 10:03am
I'm glad your AF arrived! If I were you I'd try to give OTC at least another 2 cycles to see how you do. It usually takes 2-4 cycles for your body to adjust to the hormones. If after that it isn’t working well for you then you have given that pill a good try and can talk to your doctor about a pill switch.

Take care,

      Jill

    

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