[peralsandbrass]

Hello!

I've been on birth control (ortho tri-cyclen) for about 3 years now and I've never missed a pill. I just started medical school a couple weeks ago, so I've been a little more stressed than usual and somehow, I managed to miss a pill! It was sometime during the second week of my pack.

I had some breakthrough bleeding starting that Thursday, but it wasn't until Friday that I noticed I had skipped a pill sometime that week. But my boyfriend drove over on Friday and we had unprotected sex that night. I'm still spotting (Monday now) and it's kind of like a light period. The blood was initially brown last week on Thursday, but now it's pretty red.

Since I started the BTB before we had sex, I'm assuming I'm not pregnant? But I keep reading all these different things. Someone please help!

[peralsandbrass]

Oh- and I wasn't clear about this, but I took two pills on Friday night, after I finally realized I missed one sometime that week. But that was after we had had sex.

[ItsASecret]

No offense but if you are in med school you can just use your medical/science knowledge to sort through this. I am a University science student, more on the research side of things, however we have both taken pharmacology classes and biochemistry so it is quite straight forward. First off you took the double dose of the pill right when you remember just like the pamphlet says. Secondly, the half life of the pill. If you take the double dose right when you remember you forgot something then you are fine unless you have missed 3 pills in a row. There is still plenty of active ingredients in the body to prevent the ovulation. The problem however comes from lacking the pill in you for an extended period of time. Thirdly, remember our studies, remember how minimal the failure rate is of birth control pills...talking .01-2% failure rate if taken exactly as directed. Tri-phasic pills like Ortho tri-cyclen more closely mimic our bodies uphill and downhill estrogen and progesterone levels. Your body is going to be well protected as long as you have always kept up your 3 hour window with taking the pill on other days. Missing one pill does not create a catastrophic decrease in pill efficacy, missing 3 does. The pill stops ovulation, stops it, just remember our science background and how little of a chance there is of pregnancy simply due to the science behind it. But, like all drugs, there is the chance of failure however remember how slim those chances are when you take things exactly as directed.

[peralsandbrass]

Thank you for answering.

And no offense, but I tried to sort through it! I couldn't find much science on breakthrough bleeding.
I'm guessing you would say it's safe to have sex during this breakthough bleed?

[ItsASecret]

I couldn't find much science on breakthrough bleeding.

...breakthrough bleeding is one of the first things mentioned when a doctor prescribes this medication. It is very likely the most common side effect of taking any sort of birth control pill. It happens due to the imbalance of hormonal levels in the body, that sudden rush of progesterone-like and estrogen-like compounds will mess with your body, it is an addition to what you already have so your body will react by having minor bleeds at unpredictable times. Breakthrough bleeding often occurs during the first 3 months of taking the pill however there are random times when your body decides to bleed. It does not mean you are 100% pregnant, it does not 100% mean something is wrong. And the time you have sex when you are on the pill has zero regard in the overall sense. The only time it becomes important is if you have missed 3 pills or more due to the lack of pill in your system. Just remember our science background has extreme merit in these situations and you will be fine.

[peralsandbrass]

Thanks so much.

[notsure81]

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this but I am looking for some answers to help me try and sort this problem out. I am a guy and have searched everywhere for answers and thought that this place might help me since it seems that women are the majority members. I do apologize. About a month ago now I went to visit my girlfriend that I had never had sex with until the night I arrived. We did have unprotected sex the whole time I was there which was 2 weeks and 3 days exactly. We didnt have sex everyday but just about. Then on August 2nd she said she had not started her period which was due on the 2nd so we went and saw the doctor and they told her that she was about a month pregnant. Now this diagnosis was made right at the 2nd week of me being there. What I am trying to figure out is, how is it she is a about a month pregnant if I was there for only two weeks. I am so confused at this point because I just spoke to her a few days ago and now she has told me that she went to the doctor and he told her that she is 8 weeks pregnant. I do not understand. As far as her periods are concerned she has always have them on the 7th and the 10th of every month for the last 5 months so how is it that she was suppose to start on the 2nd of August. I am worried that I am getting involved with someone that has possibly cheated on me and is trying to make me believe that I am the father.

Please Help