Will my sex be safe?

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2006
Will my sex be safe?
5
Mon, 01-23-2006 - 6:27am
I am so confused!!!!!!!!! I have been on the pill for over a year. Last month, I missed one pill, but didn't have sex. This new cycle was started a bit weird. I took the first pill on the first day of my period. But I missed the 2nd pill (last Thursday) of my birth control and I plan to have sex this Saturday - It will be 7 days after that missed pill. I also did not have a full 7-day rest interval from the active pills of my last cycle, but instead, I began taking this pack after only 4 days of placebo pills. Not to mention that I took a pill in those four days to see if I could stop my period - So I am concerned that my pill cycle was started then instead of my actual 1st day of my period. My partner and I do not want to use a back-up method of birth control, will it be safe to have sex by Saturday by just relying on the pill even though I missed one at the beginning of pack? I have been taking my pills correctly since then and will do so until this Saturday.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 01-23-2006 - 1:02pm

Hi sultrybelle85, welcome!

As long as you have taken 7 active pills in a row after the miss and before you have intercourse you should be protected. If you won't have taken 7 actives in a row by then you should use back-up or abstain if you want to be safe.

Your pill cycle started on the 4th day of your placebo interval when you began taking your active pills consecutively, so you have changed your start date. Does this help? For more about taking your pills correctly see: http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-bhcontracept&msg=12785.1&ctx=0

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

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2006
Mon, 01-23-2006 - 4:02pm
Thank you for replying to my question. I do know I changed my start date but it is because I wanted to change the date my next period comes, and I did get my period that same day I started the pack so I allowed enough time for this period to start. I did not think it would be a problem. I was thinking exactly the same thing as you - that as long as I take 7 active pills in a row, I should be fine. I just get very paranoid about these things so I was even considering getting the Morning After pill just to be safe because my partner and I have everything planned out for Saturday...Do you think this would be a good idea? or maybe I'm just overreacting because of my fear of pregnancy.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 01-23-2006 - 5:49pm

Hi again,

I don't think you have any need for emergency contraception as long as you Have been taking your pills correctly. I hope you and bf have a great weekend!

Take care,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2006
Mon, 01-23-2006 - 6:25pm
Thnk you for your wishes! Your replies really put my mind at ease!
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Sat, 01-28-2006 - 7:59am

You should be fine since you have taken 7 pills consecutively since missing. Make sure you read your pill instructions. Whenever you miss a pill, you should take it as soon as you remember even if that means you're taking two at the same time the following day. What to do varies depending on how many pills you missed and when in your cycle you missed them.

Something I wanted to mention though, emergency contraception is really for emergencies. If you miss pills, then you need to do what the instructions that came with your pills say to do and use a backup method. Emergency contraception is not foolproof. If you really don't want to become pregnant, then you're much better off using a condom as a backup method rather than deliberately having sex when it's not safe and relying on emergency contraception. There's also issues with it being kind of expensive, having the possibility of side effects, and potentially messing up your cycle that make it where you really wouldn't want to use it unless you had to, such as a situation where a condom broke unexpectedly.