Norethisterone, pregnancy, young and very confused! Any advice appreciated!!

**florence18** · 07-15-2011 08:01 AM

i don't really know where to begin. my boyfriend and i haven't used condoms at all in about six months, and we have had sex (and still do) a LOT of the time. whenever i'm not having a period, we're having sex at least every other day and it's been like this for about a year. but, we haven't been using contraception for a few months now because the pill made me sick so i went off it, and we don't enjoy condoms so we just haven't been using them for months. i'm his first sexual partner and he's my second, we don't have any stds or anything, we're educated and we're very happy together, we're not being silly so please no mean comments, we've agreed that pregnancy wouldn't be the worst thing if it did happen and that's why we're fine with no protection

i just wanted to clarify to avoid being called silly or stupid or something

moving on to my problem! i've had very regular periods since i was eleven, i've never missed a month since then and they're normally around 30/31 days apart. my last period started around the 19th of may 2011, and i was expecting one around then last month because i was hoping it'd finish by the 30th of june for a holiday i was going on, and i waited and waited until about the 27th where i thought oh no, if i get it now it'll ruin half my holiday, and so i went to see my nurse the same day and she gave me norethisterone to delay it. but i wasn't feeling very period-y anyway, i just wanted to make sure i didn't get my period. i started taking norethisterone that day and stopped taking it on the 7th of july, this month. i've been told that a period is meant to come 2-3 days after you stop taking it but it still hasn't arrived. it's been over a week now and i haven't had any bleeding since the 19th of may, i've had some small cramps now and then over the last week or two but thats it, not painful like my period ones either. what else, is that around the 30th i started feeling really sick and it kept coming and going, the food on holiday put me off constantly and i could barely eat anything other than plain noodles. i then actually vomited on the 7th in the evening after a meal and felt very sick/was sick for the next two days. i don't feel as sick anymore but i still find some food off putting, and thinking or looking at meat or cheeses makes me feel queasy. i used to eat just about everything. i'm also quite tired now and then, my breasts have been really swollen and tender for about 2/3 weeks now like before a period, but obviously no period has arrived yet. i have noticed that i've been urinating a lot lately, but i'm not sure if its from the fluids i've had or....
i'd just really like some advice or thoughts on what could be going on with me?

i don't want to take a pregnancy test yet because last time i thought i was pregnant i wasted a lot of money on tests and it turned out i was just psyching myself up. i'm actually hoping i'm pregnant as i haven't had any luck yet, but i'm due to go on to university in october so i'm not sure how that would pan out. please any thoughts are appreciated!! i'm desperate! x x x

**BabyGirl** · 07-15-2011 08:54 AM

I am so hoping that the Nurse did a Pregnancy test before giving you this medication.
But here is a little more information on it, Side effects and also possible Damage to a Fetus, should you have been Pregnant when you took this Pill.

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Norethisterone is a contraceptive drug sometimes called Norethindrome. Norethisterone is more than 99.5 percent effective at preventing pregnancy when taken correctly, reports RxList. Norethisterone works by blocking the process of ovulation, changing the quality of cervical secretions to block the entry of sperm and altering uterine lining to prevent the implantation of the egg if fertilization manages to occur. Despite its effectiveness, Norethisterone is not for everyone as it presents several risks for side effects and complications in some patients.

Significant Side Effects

The most significant or common side effects of Norethisterone usually pose no long term dangers. Generally, these side effects occur during your three months of oral contraceptive usage and disappear as your body becomes acclimated to the drug. Menstrual irregularity is the most common side effect of Norethisterone. Many women also report other menstrual changes, including increased frequency, heavier flow and cramping. It is also common for women to experience other side effects that mimic those of Pre-menstrual Syndrome, such as headaches, bloating, acne and breast tenderness.
Other Side Effects

Norethisterone also has the potential to cause a number of other uncommon, but not dangerous, side effects. Some women report gastrointestinal effects, such as nausea, vomiting or weight gain. Others develop side effects of the skin, including the appearance of brown spots, increases or decreases in body hair and increased sensitivity to the sun. Neurological side effects like dizziness or weakness are also possible while taking Norethisterone. In addition, it is possible to notice either an increased or decreased interest in sex while taking the drug.

Interactions

There are some medications that make Norethisterone less effective and increase your risk of developing side effects. Because of this, doctors avoid prescribing Norethisterone with antibiotics like penicillin and tetracyclines, barbiturates, epileptic drugs like Tegretol and the tuberculosis medication Rifadin. Cigarette smoking also increases your risk of developing serious side effects with Norethisterone, including blood clots and stroke.

Risks

In addition to minor side effects and the risk of interactions, Norethisterone has the potential to cause serious medical complications. Infrequently, women develop benign ovarian cysts related to Norethisterone. Often these cysts disappear with no medical intervention, but occasionally require surgical removal. Norethisterone and other oral contraceptive drugs increase your risk of developing malignancies in your reproductive system, including breast or cervical cancer. Rarely, use of Norethisterone results in the formation of benign tumors of the liver, which have the potential to rupture and cause severe internal bleeding.

Considerations

Because Norethisterone passes through breast milk and may cause side effects in infants, doctors rarely prescribe the drug for use by nursing mothers. If you have a history of stroke, blood clots, cancer fibroid tumors, cardiovascular disease, your doctor is not likely to recommend Norethisterone due to its potential risks. Norethisterone also has the potential to cause a number of medical conditions to worsen, including gall bladder or liver disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, epilepsy, hypertension or migraine headaches. Because it increases sensitivity to the sun in many patients, avoid tanning beds and use adequate sunscreen while taking Norethisterone.

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In my opinion, the side effects or possible ones are far more risk and worrisome than having a Period while on Vacation.

And Sweetie, if you and SO are thinking of having a Baby, or it won't be a Big Deal or worst thing that can happen. Wouldn't it be better to have a Chemical Free and Drug Free body .
I'm not meaning illegal or street drugs, ( those too Of Course ) but other chemicals that are not absolutely needed to keep you healthy, to incubate that beautiful life ?

And on the Pregnancy tests, these days they aren't that Expensive for the home ones and they sure can put your mind at ease of Yes Or No . And if Yes, you have a Heads up and can start taking the Best care of Your Body, so Baby is Healthy .

**WildChild** · 07-15-2011 09:02 AM

Sex is wonderful and fun.
It requires a willingness to act responsibly.

I have kids your age. You cannot avoid the tough questions, not in your situation.
Saying you don't want to be told the truth is counter productive. People who have sex without using any kind of contraceptive methods are playing with fire. Well actually playing with parenthood.

You've taken a drug that has "significant" side effects, including:

Nausea.
Headache/migraine.
Changes in menstrual bleeding, eg irregular bleeding or sometimes stopping of bleeding.
Change in sex drive.
Bloating.
Retention of water in the body tissues (fluid retention).
Breast discomfort.
Dizziness.
Depressed mood.
Weight gain.
Skin reactions such as rash and itching.
Hair loss (alopecia).
Excessive hair growth (hirsutism).
Sleepiness.
Difficulty sleeping (insomnia).
Disturbance in liver function.

It is not to be taken if there is any possibility of pregnancy. Get in to see that nurse and find out if you are pregnant or if you have just messed yourself up a bit for convenience on your vacation.

Babies should be planned and wanted by parents who are able to support them. You aren't there yet. "Not the worst thing" is not at all on the same level as a planned pregnancy. Your ambivalence shows in your post," i'm not sure how that would pan out", " i'm desperate!" isn't exactly a statement of I sure hope I'm pregnant.
What do you think your parents and your boyfriend's parents reactions will be?
Given that they are likely to end up supporting you and a baby if you get pregnant, you should give that some thought.
Would you still be heading off to the University?
Would your bf?
Will they let you live in the dorms obviously pregnant?
If you are not pregnant, you and your bf need to have some serious discussion and find a method of conception control that you can work with. If you are pregnant you need to have a serious discussion and figure out what you are going to do. Either way you need to recognize that GROWN UPS TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. You haven't been.
In this economy, worldwide, educated, experienced adults who have supported themselves and their families for years are out of work. How do you plan to support a child?

Time to grow up and answer the questions that adults, that parents, deal with daily. If you can't handle that you can't handle raising a child - not yet.

**Beautiful Disaster** · 07-15-2011 10:33 AM

and we don't enjoy condoms

I expect you'd enjoy child birth even less.

No one really "LIKES" the way condoms feel. They're not used as an enhancer, but as a protector.

we haven't been using contraception for a few months now because the pill made me sick so i went off it

There are other options. Part of being a responsible sexually active adult is to learn those options. Non hormonal IUD? Diaphgram? Cervical Cap? All these in addition to charting your cycles and getting to know your body and how it actually works?

we've agreed that pregnancy wouldn't be the worst thing if it did happen and that's why we're fine with no protection

No, I suppose the worse thing would be HIV, but I'm not sure I'd be up for the #2 worst thing at your age either. I'm 28 and not ready for a baby. The media paints it up to be all glamour and coo's and ga ga's.......but it's not. Sure, a baby wouldn't be the WORST thing that could happen, but that still doesn't mean you're ready. And it's not fair to bring a life into the world when you're not ready.

i thought oh no, if i get it now it'll ruin half my holiday, and so i went to see my nurse the same day and she gave me norethisterone to delay it. but i wasn't feeling very period-y anyway,

Why would a period ruin your holiday? It's a normal part of life. Stick a tampon in, take some ibuprofren and go on about your business. Having a few holiday days period free isn't worth taking artifical hormones and confusing your body.

I'll echo what the others said, you should've been given a pregnancy test. You should've first been asked "could you be pregnant", and your answer should've been "yes".

i'm actually hoping i'm pregnant as i haven't had any luck yet, but i'm due to go on to university in october so i'm not sure how that would pan out

Why do you want to be pregnant right now in your life?

**BabyGirl** · 07-15-2011 10:41 AM

Florence, I am sure that Mine and Wild Childs posts seem harsh, but please take into consideration we are both Mothers of Adult Children, Mine range from 36 down to 21. Not sure of W.C's Kids ages. But We as many here on this Forum are here to Help, To Answer Questions, to try and give you Our Experiences, .

There are also many younger people here, their advice is just as good and maybe a bit more Current to your Age group.

Then when you come to a place like this and Ask, Am I Pregnant, I took a Pill, I have UN Protected Sex, I hope I am or may not be Pregnant. My breasts hurt, my VeeGee is Discharging, I'm sick to stomach. and the many other signs of either being pregnant or Not.

Please Understand that not Only as Mothers, ( and some Fathers here ) we also once had those Questions. And we didn't have a place to come to like this ( 30 years ago or even 10 years ago ).

We went to Doctors, Family, School Counselors and Friends.
In reverse order, If we were sick, Ill, throwing up, The Dr was our place our Parents took us to 1st.

We knew about the Condoms and the Pill, it was embarrassing to admit to our Parents that we were Sexually Active, especially if still in their home and under 18 ..
And some of us went " After the Fact "., Meaning it was Too Late and We had to tell our Parents.

As you may see here, WE want you to see a DR. We want you to talk with Family/ Parents. We would much rather give the Advice that you seek some Medical help and some Support from the " Parents of You and SO ".

And I Agree with W.C. in the fact that if You Must come here for Advise and What may be happening in your Body, you are certainly not " Adult Enough " to have a new living being in your life.

Please see a Dr. ASAP, talk with a Health Professional, If you are Ready to have a Child, then start planning, as I said to be Healthy and Financially Responsible.

Yes certain Community Colleges let you go to school Pregnant, but you will have changes in your body that may Not allow you to attend every class, you may or may not be a " Dorm " resident. ( free or housing provided ) .

So.. Before I get Yelled at again .. Lol

If Not Pregnant, Condoms or College ?

I wish to Edit due to BD got there First on other thoughts I was going to add.

**WildChild** · 07-15-2011 11:39 AM

I don't mean to be harsh but to but some very real questions to you. Avoiding them won't avoid the situation. If your period might mess up your vacation what is a pregnancy or baby going to do? Children are for life, they are a huge responsibility and very expensive.
Mine are 20 and 17.
I was sexually active at 14 and had my children when in my 30s. I'm a pagan so I am not speaking from a moralistic/religious stance but from the concern of a mature woman who wants to see young people have the opportunity to fully enjoy their youth and to see little ones brought into the world through conscious choice with understanding of what is being undertaken.