Birth Control Forum - Going On a Trip Not Sure What to Do With Birth Control, Help

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Q: Going On a Trip Not Sure What to Do With Birth Control, Help

asked by: Sunshine333 on October 22nd, 2007

New User

Right now I'm on Ortho Tricyclen (so the 3 different colored pills- white, light blue, blue). I usually get my period earlier than when I should stop taking the pills. (Usually 3-4 days before I'm actually done taking them).
I am going on a trip Nov 16 for a week and don't want to get my period over that time. If my schedule is the same as usual I should get my period exactly during the time of my trip Sad

I have read different things -
1. Skip it by just starting to take the pills over again as soon as the other ones are done..
This probably won't work for me because I get my period even before the pills are done in the first place.
2. after this period.. wait a week before starting the next pack
This might not work either - because if I get my period the 3-4 days before the end again... it'll just be like getting my period over that week anyways.

I was wondering if I could - after my period is done this week - or even during it? Start a new pack of pills so that I'll *technically* get my period BEFORE the week of my trip..
So either skip the 1 week of white pills and start with the 2 week of light blue pills... or skip the dark blue pills?
Does this make sense? Let me know if I can be more specific with my question... thanks!

Replies(12)

Georgia59

replied on October 24th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

Yeah, you could try skip this week's period and just start a new pack. It might work. But don't skip any of the pills, ever, at all. You can shorten the placebo week, but not the active weeks or you will not be protected from pregnancy.

Sunshine333

replied on October 24th, 2007

New User

Thanks Georgia59.. Few More Questions..

Ok... well I just got my period today and I have 4 blue pills left.
Does that mean if I skip the last 4 pills I"m not protected from pregnancy? Cause I've been doing this for like 5 years now :S

Also, since I still have 4 blue pills left and I"ve already started my period, could I start the new pack today?

Thanks for your reply! That was a close one - I was going to just skip the first week of pills!

Carifairy

replied on October 24th, 2007

Extremely eHealthy

You can skip the PLACEBO/PERIOD WEEK pills, but you should NEVER for any reason skip the active pills.

Sunshine333

replied on October 24th, 2007

New User

Even if my period starts before I'm done the pills? I should just finish them till they're done? Wow I'm lucky I'm not pregnant then!
My Dr. said it was normal to get my period before the pills were done - that my body had "enough" hormones... and so it was ok to stop taking the pills and then just start a new pack (I don't have placebo ones) in a week....
Is this wrong?

Georgia59

replied on October 24th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

I pm'd you... but here is some more information that I didn't include....

Since you don't have placebo pills, like Cairfairy said, you should never skip any pills. Never. You can shorten the time in between packs, but don't skip pills.

It is normal to get your period before the pills are done, but that doesn't mean anything since it's not an actual period, just bleeding. If you stop taking the active pills before they are done, you will not be protected against pregnancy. I don't know why your doctor said that.

Sunshine333

replied on October 24th, 2007

New User

Wow.. this is really good to know. Thanks everyone... I really don't care if I get my period on my trip anymore... I'm just glad I learned this...
Like I said - I'm lucky I'm not pregnant because I've been skipping these last couple pills (the active ones) for about 5 years now..
YIKES!

Georgia59

replied on October 24th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

Well it probably doesn't lower your risk to 0% effective, but it does make it less. Good thing to know huh?

Sunshine333

replied on October 25th, 2007

New User

Yes definitely a good thing to know - but also brings up a million other questions!
Like:
Since it's not really a "real" period - could you be pregnant even if you do "bleed"? I know that's sorta a stupid question... but ya!
Also, I've been reading different discussions on here and is it true that you don't actually ovulate on the BC pill?
Is this even healthy at all?

Georgia59

replied on October 25th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

Sunshine333 wrote:

You can't be pregnant if you continue to get normal periods (for most women). Even though it is not shedding an egg, it is shedding the tissue that lines the uterus. Since the fertilized egg usually embeds in that tissue, if you're bleeding it out, you couldn't really be pregnant, could you? Some women have light bleeding when they are pregnant (a small minority of women) but if you are getting periods just like you always have, you are not pregnant. A missed period is always the first sign of pregnancy, because when an egg is fertilized, it sends out a hormone to stop the lining from shedding so it can make it's home their.

You don't ovulate on the combined birth control pill, most of the time. This is because your body usually goes through crazy ups and downs of hormones throughout your cycle, and it's the crazy ups and downs that cause the things like ovulation and your period. All the pill does is add a little bit of the same hormone every day so that your hormone levels stay even instead of going through such big ups and downs. Therefore, you don't ovulate. It is perfectly healthy because eggs don't mature until they are ready and during the time they are ovulated. You are born with all the immature eggs you will ever have, and it won't hurt them to stay tucked away in there, undeveloped, for a few more years, right?

Sorry if this sounds really simplistic but it's easier to understand this way lol.

If you want to see a really cute and informative explanation of all this, go to planned parenthood's website, under the tab pregnancy and then "how pregnancy happens" or something like that, and there is a really cute flash video about it.

Sunshine333

replied on October 25th, 2007

New User

Haha thanks a ton!! I'll check out that video - although asking all these questions makes me feel like I'm in Elementary again - oh well - back to the basics it is!
I really appreciate it Smile

It's nice to come on here and find all this information - that obviously my Dr. was wrong about - or just informed me wrong!
Thanks everyone!

Sunshine333

replied on October 25th, 2007

New User

Oh and for those not in Canada - Elementary school is like kindergarten Smile

Georgia59

replied on October 25th, 2007

Especially eHealthy

Don't feel bad. Lots of people don't know this stuff. You'd be amazed at the questions we get on here.

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