Hello,
This past weekend (May 7-9) I got to see my girlfriend for the first time in a month plus. We of course had sex :) She has been taking Yaz since after her period in March and had been on it for 5 weeks and 5 days as of the 7th. Her last period was about 2 weeks and 4 days before the 7th. We decided to have sex without a condom as various sources said Yaz was effective after 30 days (though their own site says 7 days which does not seem trustworthy at all) I came inside of her on all three days. Each day she took the pill at the same time she normally takes it and has done so in the days since the 9th. She has not missed one pill since she began in March. Yesterday, the 12th she had spotting. She has not had spotting before. However, both Yaz's site [url=http://www.yaz-us.com/consumer/using_yaz/what_to_expect.jsp]What to Expect From YAZ (para. 11-13) and other resources I have read on the internet have said that spotting may occur when a woman first starts the pill. This site [url=http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/preconception/110634]Spotting in the Menstrual Cycle: Assessing the Health Risks Associated with Unexpected Vaginal Bleeding has dates during a woman's cycle when spotting may occur Despite this both she and I are worried she might be pregnant :( I have two questions: Is spotting normal at such a time during her cycle as the above article suggests? (though she isn't really in any of the times suggested by that article) What are the odds of her being pregnant? Any other advice/input is greatly appreciated
Thank you
I am on the same pill, we call it Yasmin here in the UK. It says on there that you should take it on the first day of your period when you first take it and you are protected immediately. You take it for 21 days, then have a pill free break. She, in that time, will have what looks like a period- that is because the hormone levels have dropped. It says that you should have a 7day break, but I only have a 4 days break.
It says that if there was no problems during the 21 days- like sickness, diarrhoea or missed pills she should be ok.
Caramel: IF IT SAYS A SEVEN DAY BREAK, TAKE A SEVEN DAY BREAK. See the sticky Caution Take Only As Directed.
Gonth: Whatever pill a woman is taking, spotting can be expected, especially during the first few months. This spotting can occur at any time but is a bit more likely on the dates that site shows. If one hundred women use the pill exclusively, but properly, for one year, three can be expected to become pregnant. If your g/f is as diligent and disciplined as you describe, and all women should be, you have nothing (or very, very little) to worry about. The vast majority of women using hormonal birth control (pill, ring, shot, patch, implants) AND in a stable, monogamous relationship, use no other contraception.
Effectiveness does not depend upon taking the pill any specific day; it is dependent upon taking the pill every single day as directed. Fertility is not controlled by hormones day by day but, rather, cycle by cycle. The biggest caution is be very careful using other medications or supplements, some of which may affect the efficacy of the pill.