Answers to Sexual Health Questions - Birth Control: The Pill

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Information about Emergency Contraception

NOTE: Many readers have questions about when they are fertile and when it's possible to get pregnant.  If your question isn't already listed below, see if it is answered when visiting Ways to Chart Your Fertility Pattern or when visiting: Go Ask Alice!: Fertile times?

For information on Effects of Zoloft and other drugs, including pot, on the efficacy of birth control pills   

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Ask the Staff is moderated by Edward Lifshitz, M.D., Director of Busch-Livingston Health Center

Hi, Yesterday I stopped by Hurtado to buy "Plan B". I had never taken an EC pill so I was given directions   to take both pills at once. Later,  reading the "Plan B" package I noticed that it says for me to take the first pill ASAP and then take the second one 12 hrs later.  Did I do it wrong? Will the pill work either way? 

I am getting my wisdom teeth pulled and was told you are given an antibotic afterward. I am on Nordette birth control. How long should I use a back-up method of birth control while taking the antibotic?

I am bulimic and I take birth control pills everyday. How long does it take for the body to absorb the Pill? Does this mean I won't be protected from pregnancy because I am vomiting?

A naturopath suggested I take flaxseed oil, reparen, and sarsaparilla. I am on the Pill (Triphasil 28) and was wondering if these herbal remedies will interfere with my birth control.

I have taken Ortho Tri-Cyclen for two years. I recently called my doctor's office to get a new prescription, and when I picked it up at the pharmacy I was given TriNessa. I have tried to research TriNessa online and found very little information. What can you tell me about it? I have been told there are not a lot of differences between brand-name and generic pills.

I started taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo in September. Last month I left for vacation while I was on my period and forgot to take a new pack of pills. Because of this, I didn't take any pills for the month of March. I just started my period yesterday (Friday). Can I start my new pack of pills tomorrow (Sunday)? When I started the Pill I was told to begin on the first Sunday of my period, which would be tomorrow. Is that right?

Does smoking cigarettes decrease the effectivness of birth control pills?

I am on Ortho Tri-Cyclen. This month when I started my pills, I began with "Week 2" (the light blue pills rather than the white ones I should have started with). I took all of the light blue pills and dark blue pills before realizing what I'd done. What are the chances of getting pregnant by taking the pills out of order?

I have recently switched birth control brands from Alesse to Ortho Novum 1/35. How long do I have to wait to have unprotected sex again? Do I need to wait at all? I take the Pill regularly and am with the same partner (no STDs).

I have been on Ortho Cyclen for four years. I missed about four days of pills due to the pharmacy not refilling my prescription in time (days 1-4). I had unprotected sex on Saturday after taking three days worth of pills. How likely is it that I could be pregnant? When is the earliest I would be able to take a pregnancy test?

I am currently taking Avaine birth control and my boyfriend is planning to visit me. I have not seen him for two months. I am due to get my period when he comes up, and I wanted to know if there is a way to postpone my period. I heard if you take three weeks of hormone pills, then skip the week of reminder pills and start a new pack of pills, you will skip your period. Is that true? Is it safe to do that? Does it affect the effectivness of the pill?

What are the risks associated with birth control pills and women who have a history of breast cancer? My mother is a survivor of breast cancer, and many other family members have been diagnosed with some form of cancer. My boyfriend and I always use condoms, but I would also like to be on birth control just in case. I have heard that the Pill (even low-dose forms) can increase the risk of breast cancer if you already have a history of it. Is there an increased risk of breast cancer with birth control pills? Is that risk inherent with all birth control pills, or do some exist without that risk? Is taking the Pill worth the risk?

I am currently taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen. When it comes time to take the green (sugar) pills I don't usually take them and turn my dialpak each day so I'll know when to start a new pack. Will this affect my chances of getting pregnant?

I have a serious sweating problem and was wondering if my birth control (Ortho Tri-Cyclen) would have any effect on that. I do not have B.O. and I've tried every deodorant out there, but I still continue to sweat. my roommate takes the same birth control as me and has the same problem. Is it because our birth control? If so, what do you reccommend?

I have been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen for four years and recently came off it to give my body a rest. I have been off the Pill for three months and have not had my period. Is this common?

What are the affects of expired/old birth control pills?

My girlfriend missed the first day of her birth control pill, so she took two the next day around 4:30 pm. Around 2 am she said she woke up and threw up. Is it common to get sick from taking two pills at the same time? Does that mean that she threw up the pill and is no longer protected? Should we not have sex for awhile?

I have been on Ortho Cyclen for almost a year, and I just missed the first two active pills of a new pack. My boyfriend and I had sex on both of those days without protection. Is there a high possibility I could be pregnant?

My girlfriend has been on the Pill since July 30th. We do not have sex but we do fool around and on one occassion my penis has been considerably close to her vagina but nowhere near penetration. She started her sugar pills on Sunday but she still hasn't gotten her period. Is anything wrong?

What is the difference between Ortho Cyclen and Ortho Tri-Cyclen? My doctor gave me Ortho Cyclen, but all of my friends take Try-Cyclen. Is one better than the other?

My girlfriend is in her second week of taking the Pill. Is it safe to have intercourse without a condom?

I might be pregnant and am on the Pill. Is it dangerous to keep taking the Pill until I take a pregnancy test? Can birth control pills cause a miscarriage?

If a person is on the Pill, is it safe for her partner to ejaculate in her? Can she still get pregnant?

I know the Q&A page says the Pill is not an abortifacient. However, I have found other websites saying it is. On what basis can you state the Pill does not induce an abortion? I am having a moral dilemma over whether to start the pack of pills prescribed to me. Can you explain the differences between abortifacients and the Pill?

I have not had a period for four consecutive months while taking Loestrin FE 1.5/30. I've taken pregnancy tests which came out negative. Is this normal? I've always had a light flow, even before taking birth control pills. I have been on the Pill for approximately seventeen months and think I should quit taking it. Any suggestions?

I am on birth control pills (Ortho Cyclen). I'm almost done with my first month and was wondering how long after I start the second pack it will become effective. My boyfriend and I don't want to use condoms anymore (we've both been checked recently for STDs) and I don't want to get pregnant.

I am using the birth control pill Ortho Tri-cyclen. I have an appointment with a gynecologist on Wednesday but I am ready to start the green pills on Sunday, which means I should get my period sometime next week. I was wondering how I can go about using the Pill in order to delay my period until after my gynecologist visit (after my last blue pill from this pack). Can I start taking white pills from a new pack for a week and then continue the green pills the week after my visit?

What are the possible side effects of switching from Loestrin 1/20 to Triphasil 28? I've been gaining weight and my hormones seem really out of wack. My face has been breaking out and it never used to. Could this be as a result of going from a low-dose pill to a higher one? Please help!

How does the birth control pill (specifically Triphasil 28) work? If taken correctly the Pill is meant to prevent pregnancy, but is it also an abortifacient when taken normally?

I'd only been taking birth control pills for three days when I had sex. My partner ejaculated inside of me. This happened seven days after the first day of my period. Is there a strong possibility of pregnanct?

My girlfriend was on Ortho Cyclen until her last period a month ago. We had unprotected sex twice within the first two weeks after her cycle. Her cycle was regular when on the Pill but not regular before the pill. Her period is late, and I was wondering if this is just her irregularity kicking back in. Should we wait until she is a couple weeks late to get tested for pregnancy?

I have been on the Pill for ten months and never missed a period or had irregular periods since being on it. I took the last of my active pills on Thursday and started the sugar pills on Friday. I usually get my period on Sunday or Monday, but it is so light that I'd say I haven't gotten it yet. Could I be pregnant or does this happen sometimes? I have not missed any pills and I have not been sick.

I just started taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen eighteen days ago. Today my boyfriend ejaculated in me for the first time without a condom. Do I need to take the Pill for a month for it to start working, or is it already working? Is all the sperm inside of me dead?

I recently began taking birth control pills (this is my first month). I'm currently on my third week of active pills, and have been bleeding lightly for the past two days. Is this my period? If so, why is it coming now and not during my inactive pills? Does this mean that my pills are not working?

If I begin taking Triphasil 28 about a week and a half before I usually get my period, will the pills be effective? Will I still get my period at the regular time?

Does Triphasil 28 suppress ovulation but make your body think you ovulated so you get your period? I was told by my doctor that the seven pills I take during my period are "dummy" or sugar pills. Will they cause me to release an egg and ovulate? Condoms are the birth control method my boyfriend and I will be using with the Pill.

I started taking my Ortho Tri-Cyclen pills on Sunday, October 7th this year. I got my period on October 31st. My boyfriend and I had sex on November 4th while I was on my last green pill. What are the chances I am pregnant?

I have been on Ortho Cyclen for four months, and I understand that it is necessary to take the Pill at approximately the same time every day. Is the effectiveness decreased if the Pill is taken about two hours after the usual time? Is a greater risk of pregnancy if you have unprotected sex on the day of the last blue pill?

I have been on Triphasil 28 for seventeen years. I have decided I want to go off it. I just turned 34 and do not need to be on the Pill any longer. Do I just finish this pack (I currently have my period) and not start again? What side effects will I experience?

How long do you have to be on Ortho cyclen before it is effective to have unprotected sex?

My girlfriend is on the Pill and just recently got over her period (three days). If we had sex without a condom, could she be pregnant?

I am on the Pill and sexually active. My period did not come on schedule this month (five days late). I took a pregnancy test and it was negative. Should I still start my new pills this Sunday although my period didn't come? Is there a chance I am pregnant and should not start the pills?

I am interested in taking birth control (the Pill) and was wondering if you could fill me in on the process. Is there a certain health center I have to go to? Is there a physical examination? Will this show up on my parents' insurance?

I \just finished my first pack of birth control after switching brands, but I haven't gotten my period at all. (This has happened a few times before I started taking birth control.) I am sexually active and use condoms as a back-up method. I know the chances I am pregnant are very small. Do I still need to take a pregnancy test?

If you start a pack of birth control pills between menstrual periods will they still be effective? If there's usually a two to three month gap between menstrual cycles and a pack of pills is started a month after the last one, would the next menstrual cycle come early or by the end of the birth control pills? Or will it still come in two months as it would normally because the pack wasn't started at the beginning of menstruation?

I have been on Ortho Cyclen for more than a year now. I was wondering if I should be using another form of birth control when I am on the week of the green pills (my period week). I stop taking the blue pills on a Saturday and usually start my period on Tuesday. Can I get pregnant if I have unprotected sex on Sunday or Monday?

I recently switched to a lower dose birth control pill (Alesse) because of my blood pressure. I've been on Alesse for two months. Is there any risk in switching birth control pills?

I am on the Pill and was wondering if it's okay to have sex during the "reminder" or placebo pills. Am I still protected against pregnancy?

I take Ortho Cyclen and just took my last placebo pill today, which means my period should end tomorrow when I start a new pack. I had sex tonight. We used a condom, but it wasn't dry. We were in the bathtub when he put it on but we didn't have sex in the water. Does the condom being wet make it useless?

If you are on birth control pills, can you postpone your period by beginning your next pack without taking the week of reminder pills? If so, are you still protected against pregnancy?

Exactly how effective is the Pill when it is used properly? If neither my partner nor I have an STD and she is on the Pill, is it okay to have unprotected sex without spermicides, jelly, etc.?