TresSugar

I Forgot to Take my Birth Control Pill, What Should I Do?

DearSugar — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 08:00:00 -0700

One of the complaints I hear from women about the Pill is that they have a hard time remembering to take it everyday. So what happens if you forget?

Being even 12 hours late taking your birth control pill could increase your chances of getting pregnant. If you miss any of the first 21 pills in your pack, you need to use a backup method of birth control (condoms) until you have taken 7 consecutive days of pills.

If you miss 1 pill, take it as soon as you remember. Take your next pill at the regular time.
If you realize when taking your pill that you skipped 1, take the pill you skipped AND the new 1 together. It's okay to take 2 pills at once.
If you miss 2 pills, take 2 pills each day for the next two days, and then go back to 1 pill each day at your usual time. You could get pregnant if you have unprotected sex for the next 7 days, so make sure to use a backup method.
If you forgot to take 1 pill during the 3rd week of your pill pack, finish the pills for that week, skip the last week (inactive pills) and begin a new pack. Understand that you probably won't have another period until the 4th week of this new pill pack. Use a backup method of birth control until you have taken 7 consecutive days of pills.

What if you forgot 3 or more pills in a row? To find out read more

If you forget 3 or more pills, call your doctor for advice. They may suggest to take one pill daily until Sunday and then start a new pack, or to discard the rest of the pill pack and start over with a new pack that same day. Be sure to use a back up method of birth control method each time you have sex because you are no longer protected against pregnancy. After you've had 7 days of pills, then you are protected against pregnancy.

Dear's Advice: It's always a good idea to talk to your doctor if you have any questions. If you think there could be a chance that you are pregnant (and you don't want to be), Emergency Contraception (Plan B) is always an option. It is available in many pharmacies over the counter without a prescription if you're over 18. Something that I have always found to be effective is to set the alarm on your cell phone or outlook calendar to remind you!

Source

Dear Quiz: What Should I Do if I Miss a Pill?

DearSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0700

Last week you learned all about the pros and cons of popular birth control methods, so now let's test your knowledge on one of the most widely used - the pill.

For it to be 99.9 percent effective, we all know that it must be taken at the same time every day, but since we are all human, it's easy to forget. So what should you do when that happens? Take this quiz to find out if you're doing the right thing when you miss a pill.

Source

Take the quiz

Group Therapy: I Missed My Pill!

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 03:00:00 -0800

I recently started on the pill and had a question. What is considered "missing" your pill? If I take it the same day, how much later than my normal time is it worth worrying about? I'm usually good about it, but over breaks (i.e. Thanksgiving) I did not do so hot.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: To be involved in more GROUP THERAPY, click here]

Source

Myths About the Pill: Last Five

DearSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:00:00 -0700

I hope I set your mind at ease by debunking the first five myths about the pill yesterday. If you've been waiting to hear more, check the last five:

Women who smoke cannot use the pill: It's a fact that if a woman smokes cigarettes and uses the pill, she has a higher risk of having a stroke or developing blood clots. If she's 35 or older, the risk is even greater. A doctor will not prescribe regular dose combination pills, but a woman who smokes can take lower dose hormones or estrogen-free pills instead.
The most risky time to miss a pill is in the middle of the pack: If you happen to miss a pill, the most risky time is actually at the beginning or the end of the pack. That's because a woman needs to take seven consecutive pills in order to prevent ovulation and it's actually possible to miss the next seven days without the risk of pregnancy. But if a woman misses pills toward the end of the pack, she may not have enough hormones inside her to prevent ovulation the next month. The bottom line here though is to try your hardest not to miss any pills.

To see the rest, read more.

The only use for the pill is as contraception: While the number one reason women use the pill is for pregnancy prevention, many women take it for other reasons. There are pills that clear up acne, decrease PMS symptoms, prevent cramps, and lighten menstrual flows, which helps to lower the risk of anemia. The pill can also protect against ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease, osteoporosis, excess facial hair, and some types of migraines.
Women over 35 can't use the pill and teens need permission to get the pill: Age doesn't play into the equation, only health. If a woman has normal blood pressure and no increased risk of heart attack or stroke, then she can use the pill until she hits menopause. As for teens, they don't need permission from their parents to acquire the pill. If they choose to go on it, they only need to get a prescription from their doctor or a clinic.
The pill causes cancer: Actually, one-third of pill users are less likely to develop ovarian or uterine cancer as compared to non-pill users. The longer you use the pill, the more you are protected, and it's recommended to stay on the pill for at least five years to reap these benefits. Most experts agree that taking the pill does not cause any types of cancer, even breast cancer.

Source

Some Reasons the Pill Could Lose Its Effectiveness

DearSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 07:30:00 -0800

Of all the birth control options, aside from abstinence, the pill is the best choice if you want to prevent pregnancy. It claims to be about 97 to 99 percent effective, which is just about perfect. Still, some women say they have accidentally gotten pregnant while using the pill, even though they used it correctly (with no missed pills). So how can that be? What many women don't know is that there are certain reasons the pill can lose effectiveness, so it's possible to become pregnant while on the pill if . . .

You take the pill at different times of the day. In order to be most effective, you should take each pill at the same time every day, whether it be in the morning, lunch time, before bed, or whenever. To help you remember, write yourself notes or set your alarm.
You're sick. Illness can affect the way your body works and the way medications work. Also, if you vomit or have diarrhea, the hormones in the pill may leave your body.

To see more reasons why the pill could lose its effectiveness, just read more.

You're taking other medications. Certain sedatives, antifungal meds such as griseofulvin, and antibiotics such as penicillin or tetracycline can reduce the pill's effectiveness.
You're taking an herbal supplement such as St. John's Wort. Herbal and over-the-counter drugs can affect your pill, so if you have any concerns, tell your gyno what you're taking so they can let you know if you need to use a backup form of birth control.

Source

Link Time!

DearSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:00:00 -0800

If you're giving a sex-related gift this year, check out these ten rules of gift-giving etiquette - Daily Bedpost
Are the pill users sexually satisfied? - Jezebel
Be sure to investigate these six date traits on a first date - The Frisky
Check out these tips on how to meet a guy at a holiday party - Lemondrop
Is skipping your period with your birth control safe? - gURL sex ed blog
Do you keep old photos of your ex-boyfriends? - Glamour.com
If you found $97K, would you return it? - The Huffington Post
Don't miss these nine tips for making going home for the holidays bearable - Divine Caroline
Do you ever feel like men are just boys trapped in men's bodies? - Truehookupconfession.com

Birth Control Pill Cases Complete With Alarm

DearSugar — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:00:00 -0800

If you are on the birth control pill, chances are you absolutely love that they are so effective at preventing pregnancy and regulating your period, but you hate having to remember to take it everyday. Missing even one pill can really screw up your cycle and cause unplanned pregnancies, so it's important not to forget to pop your pill at the same time every day.

I just came across a clever little gadget that may help you remember. Not only do these cases hold your birth control pills in a discreet way, but they also have an alarm you can set to beep when it's time to take your pill. They're made by pillpacks.com and they come in a variety of styles to fit the kind you take. They cost about $20 and hey, aren't we all for anything that helps us to remember something important?!

I'm On The Pill And I'm Spotting

DearSugar — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 07:38:22 -0700

Dear Sugar
For about a year and a half, I've been on the Pill. Occasionally I will have my period early or late, but mostly is it on schedule (to my pills). I had my scheduled period 2 weeks ago, but then a couple of days ago I started to bleed again.

It wasn't like a normal period; it was just random bleeding although it was enough to have to wear a tampon for what seemed like forever. I'm not sure if I should be worried about this and talk to my doctor or just let it run its course.

I stopped taking my pill a few days ago because I thought it would be a good idea to go off it for a month while this bleeding is going on - and then start it again the Sunday after I have my normal period. Do you have any idea what could be going on? Bleeding Blair

Dear Bleeding Blair
Did you miss any pills a few days before you started to randomly bleed? You should call your gynecologist ASAP.

The lining of your uterus thins the longer that you are taking the pill, so random bleeding isn't entirely uncommon, but you've only been on it for a year and a half and your spotting seemed to have lasted for a very long time. You doctor will probably want to do a sonogram to check for anything unusual.

Next time, call your doc right away - don't mess with your pills like this by going on and off them as you like. You are only going to: screw up your next cycle, your moods will be affected and you will increase your chances at pregnancy by 100%.

The bleeding, or spotting may be a number of different things so don't worry unless your Gyno is concerned.

This Week With DearSugar

DearSugar — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0700

How much do you really know about the big O? Take this quiz and find out!
Why are you on the pill? For period control or to prevent pregnancy?
Don't miss out on our Olympic coverage!
Is cutting your hair after a breakup a good idea or a bad idea?
Check out my top five picks for where to meet an eligible bachelor before the end of Summer!
Are there certain touchy subjects you avoid in your relationship?
Have you ever dated someone your friends and family disliked?
Concerned Cara is scared to have kids with her boyfriend, who she loves, because of his ADHD. She's worried their kids will get it too. Do you have any advice for her?
Your boyfriend wants you to be a stay-at-home wife and you want to work. How would you handle it?
Who is more of a slob in your relationship?
Do tell, have you ever been jealous of a friend's engagement?
Is bad sex a deal breaker?
Buying jewelry for yourself: a do or a don't?

Source

This Week With DearSugar

DearSugar — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0700

If you have a big date this week, be sure to check out my tips on how to prepare!
Don't miss out on our Olympic coverage!
Have you ever been with an uncircumcised man?
Did you lie about your weight on your driver's license?
Are these condom ads too much or straight to the point?
Would you have a problem dating someone shorter than you?
Do you know what's in your pill?
Your pregnant and happy about it, and he's not. How would you handle it?
How often do you pay in your relationship?
Have you ever had a rumor spread about you?
How do you feel about lying to your family?
What would be worse: If he put on weight or you did?
Have you talked about marriage in your relationship?
Are nicknames for your period a do or a don't?

Source