Efficiency And Birth Control

Hi mic0hell0e,

i've been on the pill for about a year also, also taking it faithfully everyday at approximately the same time, never missed one, etc. From everything i've ever read (and I researched a lot before I started on it), the pill is 99.X% effective when used correctly (like you seem to be doing). This means that, out of 100 women taking it correctly for a year, less than 1 will get pregnant (or, to look at it another way, 1 or 2 out of 1000 will get pregnant). But, those that don't use the pill 100% correctly are more likely to get pregnant.

From what my doctor told me (and she's a doctor on a university campus, so pretty much all she deals with is young women who are concerned about pregnancy, so I trust what she tells me), the main reason to use condoms in conjunction with the pill to to prevent against stds. So, if you're in a monogamous relationship, and you have both been tested for stds and were negative, then, while condoms are an added protection incase you fall into that <1% who will get pregnant with perfect pill use, you would probably be safe not using one. But again, this is a risk you have to be willing to take - there is a very small chance that you could get pregnant, but it is a chance nonetheless. My boyfriend (monogamous relationship, no stds) and I do not always use condoms. It depends on our mood, and how i'm feeling (i'm allergic to latex - sometimes I can handle it, sometimes I can't). I have not gotten pregnant. Granted, the first time that we didn't use a condom, I was scared out of my skin, and was convinced that I was having early pregnancy sypmtoms until my period came (which just goes to show how much faith I really had in the pill). So pretty mucn, if taken correctly, the pills prevent pregnancy. Like everything else, nothing is perfect, so there is a slight chance that you could get pregnant (but hey, if you just use condoms, the chance is even bigger). People do get pregnant when on the pill, but most because they didn't take them 100% correctly. And those that did take them right and still got pregnant fell into a very slim percentile. Like I said, you have to weigh the risks, and it's a decision only you and your partner can make.

Also, it doesn't matter what day of your pill pack that you have sex without a condom on - when you're on the pill, you do not ovualte. The hormones in the pill trick your body into thinking it's already pregnant, so no eggs are released. That's why you have to take your pills everyday - to keep up the hoax. If you miss pills, then you may ovulate, and you might get pregnant. If you take your pills correctly, then you are equally protected at any time of the month, including your week on the placebo pills, or your week with no pills (depending on if you have 21 or 28 pills).

I hope all my ramblings have helped a bit!

Good lord that was perfect!
Thank you so much, I just needed to hear it. I think I trust myself to do it. I thought it'd be cool to try it before I started my placebos so I wouldn't have the time to sit and be paranoid about those elusive fake early pregnancy symptoms that come from paranoia lol.


I'm still thinking about this though. I mean, I only have the opportunity to have sex on this upcoming saturday (which is the last day of my pack) ... And i'm just wondering if that since sperm can live inside you for a bit, that if I have unprotected sex on the last day of my pack, and then start my sugar pills (mind you, it takes 3 days for me to actually start my period), if that increases my risk of getting pregnant.

Hmm.. Maybe I should give le doctor a quick call.

If you're still worried, then definitely the best thing to do is call your doctor.

But the pill is, however, supposed to keep you covered no matter what day of the pack (or placebos) that you are on. You are supposed to be able to have sex on the first, last, middle, and placebo days, and any days inbetween. Like I said before, if you've taken them correctly, and you're not in the slim fraction that gets pregnant while taking them correctly, you have not ovulated - no egg, no baby. It doesn't matter when you have have sex, nor what day of your pill cycle you are on - with correct use, the pill keeps you protected 24hours/day, 7 days/week - everyday, all day. If you use it right, you are 99.X % protected on absolutely every day of your cycle, including when you are taking the placebo pills.

Ok thank you!

I probably should learn a lot more about sexual health if i'm having these questions, eh?

I'm going to look up some stuff on ovulation now. Because I thought that since I get my period on the placebos, then I must be ovulating

*shakes away paranoia*

i've decided that if I decide to, i'm going to use a spermicidal lubricant or something. That way, no condom, but still.. Little added protection.
But again, thank you so much, I really do appreciate this.

I'm happy to help :d

yeah, when I started on the pill I was confused about how it worked if you still got a period. My doc told me that the "period" that you get isn't really a real period. It's more like a "withdrawl" bleed caused by the sudden drop in your hormone levels. That's why periods are lighter and shorter on the pill. It's also why, if you're on monophasic pills (pills with only one hormone level), you can just not take the placebo pills, and go right into the next pack (this will delay your period by 3 weeks). You're not releasing an egg, so there's no real need for your body to shed the uterine lining every month. But you can only do this with monophasic pills (triphasil is triphasic).

Good decision with the spermicidal lubricant! If you're worried, but don't want a condom, then it's definitely a good choice! I've never tried it myself, but i've heard that it's good.

Good luck!!!!

hi there.

Can you please give me more info on the birth control pill, Triphasil. I want to know whats the effects it can have on me. I've used Nordette before and that made me gain weight and get acne. Please inform me a.s.a.p

Thanks alot

I agree with everything "bloodredsky" said. The pill is VERY VERY effective at preventing pregnancy when taken correctly. You are protected every day of the month no matter what as long as you always take your pills.

There are, of course, a few things to keep in mind that may effect your pill without you knowing it:
-Some medications interact with the pill (I can send you a full list if you'd like) and may make it less effective.
-Vomiting and diarrhea may make your pill less effective as the actual pill may not have had time to absorb. There are instructions on what you should do if this may happen to you.
-If you are taking a combined pill, you have a good time frame of 12 hours to take your pill before the efficacy becomes compromised. For the minipill, you only have a 3 hour window.

With that being said, the pill is one of the best and most effective methods of preventing pregnancy. I know it's a little hard to trust that taking a pill will ensure that you don't get pregnant, but as long as you take it correctly, it's ALMOST impossible that you will get pregnant.

http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/1997/conc eptbl.html

this chart always reassures me.

can you please send me that list rockon0159

which list?

hey rockon0159, can u please post the list for the medications that will make the efficiency of the bcp less??

Aminoglutethimide (Cytadren®)
Antibiotics (No actual clinical data, except for TB drug Rifampin®)
Aprepitant (Emend®)
Barbiturate medications, such as:

Amobarbital (Amytal®)
Butalbital (Fioricet®, Fiorinal®)
Pentobarbital (Nembutal®)
Phenobarbital (Luminal®)
Secobarbital (Seconal®)

Many seizure medications, such as:

Carbamazepine (Carbatrol®, Epitol®, Equetro™, Tegretol®)
Felbamate (Felbatol®)
Lamotrigine (Lamictal®)
Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®)
Phenytoin (Dilantin®, Phenytek®)
Topiramate (Topamax®)

Modafinil (Provigil®)
Protease inhibitors, such as:

Amprenavir (Agenerase®)
Atazanavir (Reyataz®)
Fosamprenavir (Lexiva®)
Indinavir (Crixivan®)
Nelfinavir (Viracept®)
Ritonavir (Norvir®)

St. John's wort.