More Q's about BCP

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
More Q's about BCP
2
Mon, 11-15-2004 - 8:49am

Hi again everyone.

Hugs, Vicky

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-14-2004
Mon, 11-15-2004 - 10:12am
>>So now I'm wondering about the effectiveness of it. How can you be protected from Day 1? Do the hormones go into action that quickly?<<

On the first day of your period, your body`s natural hormones are at their lowest point. This is also the beginning of your body`s natural menstrual cycle. At this point, it`s easiest for the hormones in the birth control to "override" your natural ones and reshape your cycle to one where ovulation is prohibited.

You are protected from pregnancy, as long as you`ve taken your pills correctly and consistently (+/- 2 hours from your regular pill time, haven`t vomitted one or had diarrhea, haven`t taken antibiotics). Because you`re not ovulating while on the pill, sperm - no matter how many there are, a few from pre-ejaculate or millions from a full on ejaculation - really can`t do anything. There`s nothing there for them to hook up with to produce a baby. Millions of women all over the world, and many of them on this board, rely solely on birth control pills for protection against pregnancy and haven`t had an unwanted one.

>>Why do you need this exam?<<

I thought it was standard procedure to give all women pelvic exams _before_ they`re prescribed birth control! Well, I guess it`s different with some doctors. I had one when I was first prescribed birth control and I wasn`t yet sexually active.

BUT! Anyways, I`m rambling. The purpose of the pelvic exam is to check for any abnormalities in your pelvic region. This includes cervical cancer, polyps, cysts, STDs and a number of other things. It`s just to make sure that everything is okay, functioning as it should, and that there are no conditions that might need medical attention. After you become sexually active, it`s important to get these exams yearly to detect for STDs especially, which are often extremely treatable if caught early.

And don`t be nervous about your exam, either. They`re not too bad. I had one doctor who was very gentle and it didn`t hurt at all, and one doctor who was a little more rough and caused me to grimace a few times, but even then it was over before I knew it. It`s really not too rough and it`s a good precautionary procedure to make sure everything is all good.

Hope this helps!

Lena

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 11-15-2004 - 2:18pm
Hi snowy_nites, welcome back!

Just to add a bit to what Lena said. It's a good idea to have a pelvic before you become sexually active so you will have a baseline for comparison with future exams. It is a very good idea to use condoms with your partner until the two of you are tested for STDs and found to be clean. No other method will protect against STDs. Many STDs have no symptoms at first, especially in males, so if he is experienced it is important for both of you that he be tested and found clean before you have genital contact without using a condom. You'll let us know how you're doing, right?

Good luck,

      Jill