Birth Control question!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2003
Birth Control question!!
6
Sun, 08-17-2003 - 5:50pm
Hey everyone! ;) I just received my birth control prescription, and I was wondering: how important is it to take the pill at the EXACT same time every day? Like what if I take it 5 minutes later or 10 minutes earlier? Also, say I take the pill at 10 PM every day and then visit a country that is 6 hours ahead of me. Would it be okay to take the pill at 10 PM their time? I hope I didn't just confuse everyone with the time thing. Thanks a bunch!!

~Anna

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2003
Sun, 08-17-2003 - 6:23pm
According to my doctor, it's best to keep it within 4 hours of your normal time. I traveled to Guam from Seattle (MAJOR time difference, like 18 hours ahead or something like that b/c of the date line), I was worried about it, but what I did is kept a watch on my wrist set to local time, and one in my pocket (cheap digital, like $5) set to my normal time with an alarm going off when I was supposed to take it.

Hope that helps. :-)

Lori

(lurker on this board...will probably be on it more and more in November when my husband gets back from his LENGTHY deployment and we start TTC!)

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-27-2003
Sun, 08-17-2003 - 7:01pm
Wow, so it's okay to take it *around* the same time every day? I always thought that if you didn't take it on the dot every day you were doomed. ;)

~Anna

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-12-2003
Sun, 08-17-2003 - 9:58pm
Just be sure you check with your doc...if you have a mega low dosage, your time window could be smaller. My doc said 4 hours is the rule of thumb, but don't take my (or her) word as gospel. :) I used to worry about taking it 10 minutes out of schedule, but then I asked and it's so much easier knowing if I'm 20 minutes late it won't kill me. LOL

Lori

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Sun, 08-17-2003 - 10:24pm
Anna,

I never took my pill at the same time!! I tried to keep it in a window of a few hours, but sometimes that didn't happen. I know that its possible to ovulate within hours of not taking your pill, but it all depends on your body. (And its highly unlikely that you'll become pregnant if you take it at a later time) Anyway, just try to keep it around the same time everyday and you'll be fine!

Camille
Lilypie Lilypie

 <

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-11-2003
Mon, 08-18-2003 - 4:40am
Hi Anna,

I was on the pill this last time for 1 year, before that 3 years with unprotected sex. I took my pill within 1-6 hours time each day. Even if it is late in the day you should be in the clear. I've forgotten and taken mine at 2am instead of 6pm my normal time.

If you are worried talk to your DR. but I am sure you'll be fine as long as it is within 12 hours.

I never got pregnant on the pill and have a VERY fertile family :)

Claire

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-11-2003
Mon, 08-18-2003 - 4:43am
Thinkinbabies,

My best friend's husband is going to be deployed to Iraq this week. He was in Afghanistan but came back early because their baby died at birth. She is TTC now again, is your husband in the army?

Claire


P.S. I'm just curious. I'm hoping she joins this board soon :) She could use another deployment wife as I friend I'm sure. I cannot completely understand the feelings you are going through.