early period-keep pill schedule?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2005
early period-keep pill schedule?
6
Fri, 06-16-2006 - 11:20am

My period came 5 days early (I suspect because of 2 Rxs I've been taking that interfere with effectiveness and have been using backup) with Ortho-cyclen. Should I continue taking the pills as normal even though my period is now almost done and I am now due to start the inactive pills this morning (withing an hour of writing this message but I don't take them)? Should I skip to the active pills or would that screw my cycle up more at this point?

I suspect I am not protected anyways and have a gyno appointment in a couple weeks. Thanks for the help!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sat, 06-17-2006 - 5:02pm

Hi tortoisegirl, welcome back!


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2005
Sun, 06-18-2006 - 1:38am

Thanks for the help...I'm sticking on the regular schedule for the Ortho-cyclen...the meds are going to be ongoing for headaches and migraines and seem to be helping a lot (Topamax and Fiorinal/Coedine).

On a side note, anyone have info/advice on switching to a progestrin-only pill? That's what I want to do as both those meds interfere with estrogen-containing pills. If my pill aren't regulating my period and I don't know how much they are protecting me, I think it's time for a change!

I have no problem with taking them on-time (I know that is important with P.O.P.s), but wonder what percentage of women get the breakthrough bleeding, and would it likely stop after a certain length of time? If my periods used to be regular, would I have a better chance of having regular periods on a P.O.P.? They seem to be my only option. I'm only 20, no children, and don't want to have any for a very long time. When switching from an estrogen-containing pill, can you switch anytime, or do you have to do it at a particular time in your cycle?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 06-18-2006 - 9:43am

Hi again tortoisegirl,


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2005
Sun, 06-18-2006 - 5:19pm

That answered all my questions...if my gyno agrees with me I think I'll go for the P.O.P.s when I have an appointment next week. My cycle is all messed up right now--my period started 6 days early, and has been really different than usual as far as flow rate, color, etc. I thought it ended one day, and then all of a sudden, it started again. It's been 6 days so far and so end in sight--longer than I've ever had one. I hope it stops so I can have a regular exam. If it doesn't, would I just call them up and ask to change my exam to a consultation instead, and hope that he would allow me to get a new pill prescription without an exam?

I read about IUDs, and even though I'm in a monogamous relationship, it just doesn't sound like something I'd like because of the high rate of expelling them, and having a foreign object in me would be odd. I guess I'm kinda a control freak and taking a pill every day comforts me. I might rethink it though.

Thanks for the link!

Anyone else have personal experience from P.O.P.s? I kinda want to know what I'm getting myself into.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 06-18-2006 - 7:20pm

>>I hope it stops so I can have a regular exam. If it doesn't, would I just call them up and ask to change my exam to a consultation instead, and hope that he would allow me to get a new pill prescription without an exam?<<


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2005
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 9:48pm

So, more research and I found out that even progestin-only pills interfere with my meds. That IUD is looking even better. Especially if I would get a Paragard without any hormones and I wouldn't have to worry about backup the couple times a year I inevitably need antibiotics, buying pills, etc. The stats on it look pretty good as far as protection. The only thing I'm worried about is the high number that expel it. I'd freak if it just fell out of me and I'd had sex the night before...

The boyfriend doesn't know it yet, but we'll be discussing this to see what to do...condoms aren't really a long-term solution in my eyes. If I need to stay on the headache meds and can't take the pill anymore, an IUD sounds good.

P.S. My period finally stopped after 9 days--that's a record. I've never gone over 5! Thank goodness for Costco-sized boxes of Tampax. ;)

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