The pill question

[arutha]

My gf recently started on Yaz, now the pill packet says if you miss a pill you are not protected for the next week (fair enough) but also that you are not protected for the previous week. Is that really true? If she misses a pill and we have had unprotected sex in the past week what should be done about it? I am not sure I completely trust the pill as an effective form of birth control on its own, but she is more than willing to just use it and doesn't want to go back to using condoms as well...

I am also not completely sure how it works, it says it prevents ovulation... But when she takes the sugar pills she obviously gets a period. Is it still safe all the time even then? What is it really doing, just preventing sperm from getting to the egg?

[demonbuttercup]

Ive never heard that before.....Here I found this from the Yaz site.
Yaz
Its a PDF, on page 12.
Basically, if u miss one, u take it as soon as you remember.. then the next one at its normal time... even if this mean you take 2 in one day.
Only if you miss 2 pills in a row... do you really need to use a back up method. Find Brandye's article called "Take as directed" in this forum section....it explains a lot about what to do if you miss a pill, side effects, and how the pill works.

Yes the pill prevents ovulation, then the days you take the placebo, the hormone levels drop so you can have your period. It also thins the lining of the uterus so that if somehow an egg did make it out, the lining isn't sufficient for implantation or an fertilized egg to grow.... hence why a lot of women have lighter periods.

[Brandye]

They are addressing a rather esoteric situation. If you have had unprotected sex in the past week, there may be some live sperm still swimming around the uterus. Four days is a more likely case. There is really nothing to be done about this except be careful for the rest of the month and hope for a regular and normal period. This risk is real but not high.

Demon, as always, is correct. Please take her advice and read Caution: Take Only as Directed. Read the entire thread and you will have a better understanding of how the female body work. Perhaps she should read it as well.

Most women in stable relationships taking the pill use no other form of birth control. About three women of a hundred will become pregnant each year using the pill alone. Women not in permanent or married relationships should use condoms as well. The condom reduces the chance of disease transmission. The pill does not. And the combination of the pill plus condom gives protection that approaches nil as a risk.

[EvilEvilKitten]

Arutha - you don't entirely trust The Pill and yet you don't use condoms?

You, sir, are an IDIOT.

In addition to the above, you're also not a man. Why? Because you will let her take the risks associated with pumping her body full of hormones and yet you, big tough guy, cannot wear a simple condom? FOR SHAME.

"Man up or get out."

[Danzgrl4eva]

I agree, if u dont trust it use a condom or get it out!! My husband won't trust it and I HATE condoms out of respect for him thats the only way we have sex...no condom = no sex.

[EvilEvilKitten]

I was on The Pill for years and never a problem. If my *ahem* widely varied experience 'road-testing' it doesn't allay your mistrust- then nothing will.

[arutha]

Originally Posted by EEK

In addition to the above, you're also not a man. Why? Because you will let her take the risks associated with pumping her body full of hormones and yet you, big tough guy, cannot wear a simple condom? FOR SHAME.

That is what I said to her. She said that she hates condoms and didn't want to use them, so I decided despite not being 100% comfortable with them that I would trust them since lots of people use them successfully, and thought that this thread would allay my fears. Also:

Originally Posted by Brandye

Most women in stable relationships taking the pill use no other form of birth control

We are in a stable monogomous relationship and have both been tested. So don't rave about me needing to make my contribution to birth control.

Thanks for the info, I will read the sticky threads. One final question, she has just started a course of antibiotics, the doctor said this would nullify the effects of the pill. How soon after she stops taking the antibiotics will the pill start working again? And I assume she keeps taking the pill even though it isn't working, yes?

[sera300]

Originally Posted by arutha

That is what I said to her. She said that she hates condoms and didn't want to use them, so I decided despite not being 100% comfortable with them that I would trust them since lots of people use them successfully, and thought that this thread would allay my fears. Also:



We are in a stable monogomous relationship and have both been tested. So don't rave about me needing to make my contribution to birth control.

Thanks for the info, I will read the sticky threads. One final question, she has just started a course of antibiotics, the doctor said this would nullify the effects of the pill. How soon after she stops taking the antibiotics will the pill start working again? And I assume she keeps taking the pill even though it isn't working, yes?

The doc can tell her...read the pack. Generally one full cycle.

BTW: If you are comfortable with pill failure or contracting a STD; skip a condom. WHY? Greatest risk has been from my spouses. People are not always honest.

And you asked about the pill & failure. If you are concerned; use a condom. If not you assume the failure rate; read & understand what you are getting into, especially if she is missing a pill here & there...

[Brandye]

I do not appreciate being told not to rave about your responsibilities when I said nothing of the sort.

She remains taking the pill but must use a backup form of contraception for at least a week after the antibiotic regimen is complete. I usually recommend until beginning her next pack of pills.

Of 100 women regularly and properly taking the pill and having frequent and regular sex, 3 will become pregnant in a year. Missing pills increases this greatly.

[EvilEvilKitten]

Arutha - no, that wasn't Brandye, that was me.
And we look nothing alike.