A question - What should I do?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-30-2005
A question - What should I do?
3
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 3:13pm

Hi, I hope you can give me some suggestions. I am taking OTC, have been for about 1.5 years, and take them at 2:00 pm every day.

Today, at about 3:40, I had an episode of loose stools. I really don't know if it classifies as diarrhea, because I thought diarrhea was an episode of like three or more loose bowel movements. At any rate, I had the urge to go, and I did, and don't feel the need to anymore. So, I had this almost, but not quite, two hours after I took my pill. Last week, I had an episode of loose stools again (not quite as loose as today) about 40 minutes after taking my pill. So, last week, I just figured I needed to take 7 more active pills and my protection would be restored, if it was ever comprimised in the first place.

I have two more active pills to take, then my placebos start, and AF comes along. I'm wondering, should I start a new pack on Friday, right into my active pills again, or should I take my two last active pills, and start a new pack in a week, like I'm supposed to? Or, should I just take an extra pill today?

What would you do in my situation? Thanks in advance!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 6:24pm

Hi pie_squared, welcome!

From what you have posted I don't think your episodes of loose stools were severe enough to have decreased your protection in any meaningful way. However, if you want to use back-up and delay your period that's fine. Better safe than sorry, right?

If you do want to use back-up there are two ways you can do that. When on a triphasic pill like OTC you stand the best chance of skipping successfully if you keep the hormone levels from week to week either at the same level or increasing each week until you take your hormone free week for your period. So, if you want to delay your period for a week what you should do is to start the third week pills from the next pack immediately after finishing the third week pills in your current pack. That would keep weeks three and four of the extended cycle at the same level of hormones. After week four you could take your hormone free week to get your period, and then start a new pack. Keep the partial pack for emergencies, in case you lose or vomit a pill. The other option for back-up is to continue using back-up during your hormone free week and until you have taken at least 7 active pills from the new pack.

Thanks for posting. If you have more questions, please ask. Let us know what you decide and how you’re doing, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-30-2005
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 6:37pm

Thanks for your information! My initial thought was to just take my hormone free week as usual, use back up if needed, and then start my next pack as usual, a week from this Friday. However, now thinking about it, is it really okay to take an extra week of active pills? Will I get my period in two weeks during the placebo week? Will everything be fine after that? (I've never delayed my period using pills before)

I have one more question, will it still be effective (my protection, that is) if I take these two pills, have a seven day hormone free interval, than take seven active pills? For some reason, I think that you have to take seven pills, with no placebo pills in between, to keep your protection up. I think back to the day I started the pills, which was on the first day of my period, and for some reason, I can't figure out why starting those active hormone pills after my period ends and taking them for seven days afterwards will keep me protected.

Maybe I'm not getting something?

Thanks again!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 03-28-2006 - 7:41pm

>>is it really okay to take an extra week of active pills? <<

Yes, not all women can but many women successfully skip or delay their periods and Seasonale with the same formulation as the 21/7 regimen pill Nordette, is repackaged in an 84/7 regimen so you only have 4 periods a year. So skipping or delaying periods is routinely done.

>>Will I get my period in two weeks during the placebo week? <<

Yes, you should.

>>Will everything be fine after that?<<

Yes, it should be.

>>will it still be effective (my protection, that is) if I take these two pills, have a seven day hormone free interval, than take seven active pills? For some reason, I think that you have to take seven pills, with no placebo pills in between, to keep your protection up. <<

From what you posted in your original message, I don't think your problem was severe enough to decrease your protection to begin with. If that is the case then there shouldn't be any decrease in your protection by taking the two remaining actives and then your hormone free week.

However, as I mentioned in my previous message, if you want to use back-up and not delay your period then: "The other option for back-up is to continue using back-up during your hormone free week and until you have taken at least 7 active pills from the new pack."

Are you with me now? Let us know what you decide to do.

Take care,

      Jill