pill effectiveness

[Gauri Khan]

I'm 22 f LA.. me and my boyfriend are using condoms for past 2 years and we havent faced any pregnancy issues till date!.. he's not satisfied with the condom method and neither am I.. we are planning to start with pills.. there are soo many myths about pills.. can we go without condoms as soon as I start taking the pills? and I am pretty sure I will be taking the pills regularly (no issues regarding punctuality).. will that mean, we can just be safe with JUST the pills??.. we're sexually hyper-active and will the pills alone work for us??.. we have sex twice a day and an hour a piece.. could you suggest if pills(perfect usage guaranteed) are for us or do we need extra protection??

hoping for a reply from the Stalwarts of this forum like Branbye, DancingDoc and other many more experienced hands in this forum..

[Brandye]

If 100 women are sexually active for one year and taking the pill as directed, three will become pregnant. This compared to about fifteen with condoms alone or also three with condoms plus vaginal spermicide.

Genrally, I recommend condoms with vaginal spermicide to women having occasional sex; the pill (or other hormonal method) to women having regular sex in their twenties. Sometime later, sterilization could be considered. Short answer: I would recommend the pill, ring or IUD for you - pending exam, of course.

[demonbuttercup]

Plus, the packet insert on the pills will say sometimes you are protected the first day, others after the first week.
My DR, and brandye also I think, suggests using a back up method for one complete pill pack...that gives your body time to adjust to the hormones and such.
I had breakthru bleeding almost for my first whole pack, so I used a backup method for 2mths (2 packs), b/c I knew my system was wacky.

[Gauri Khan]

thank you Brandye and demonbuttercup for your useful gyan on my query.. so, as I understand - 'he can ejaculate in me while I start taking the pills(without condoms or spermicides) and it would still be a safe bet for me not to get pregnant?'.. because we are planning to give up Completely on condoms or any other contraceptives as such.. we will be strictly on pills and he can cum in my vagina and still I would fall into that 3% chance of getting pregnant?

[demonbuttercup]

Right, he can cum inside you and as long as you always take your pill correctly (don't miss pills or take them late) and watch for medications that can interact w/ BCP.. like antibiotics...then you'll be good.

Just continue to use condoms all the way thru that very first pack of pills... just to be on the safe side

I have been on the pill for about 4 yrs probably. I take them religiously. My b/f cums in me sometimes...and sometimes cums on me... but either way.. I haven't had any problems or scares.

[Gauri Khan]

thanks again dear demonbuttercup.. so should I go for double protection (i.e condoms and pills) for the first month till my body gets enough harmones and gets eventually used to them??

[demonbuttercup]

Yeah, I would.
Like I said, some packs say you are protected after the first week....but it does usually take one cycle to get accustomed to the pills.

[Gauri Khan]

and what about the periods?.. can we have sex during my periods?..

[demonbuttercup]

Yeah you can have sex during that time. Some people think they aren't "protected" during that week, since the week you have your period is when you take the placebo, or fake pills.
The other 3 weeks of hormone pills prevents you from ovulating. That week of no hormone pills is just so it allows your body to menstruate.

[Gauri Khan]

u've been REALLY helpful demonbuttercup!!.. first of all thanks a LOT..
-does alcohol cosumption decrease the pills' effectiveness at all??
-coming to smoking, I have read that women over 35 and who smoke have other side effects ranging from strokes to heart diseases.. what about me, I'm 22 can I smoke 1 or two?.. because we smoke while having sex and its almost like a routined flavor thing among us!!..

please help me out with the drinking and smoking things..