[lucyj]

I was wondering if anyone could help me?

I have been using 'the pill' or Microgynon for about 2 years now, since the age of 18. I've had my fair share of pregnancy scares whilst being on it, but have all turned out to be nothing, however I seem to be having one again, or I could just be going mad, ha ha....
First and foremost, the thought of being pregnant at this age scares me to death, that's why I'm so worried!

Basically, me and my long term partner had sex a couple of weeks ago, the 12th of Jan, Saturday, to be precise, we didn't use protection, obviously, that's why I'm writing this........ I missed my pill the following Monday morning (I take them every morning) I was running late and in such a rush. It would have been my EIGHTH pill in my pack. I then forgot to take Tuesday's pill in the morning, but proceeded to take it around midnight, along with Monday's pill. I felt such an idiot!
I have estimated I went around 40 hours without protection.
So what do we think guys, should I be worried or am I overreacting?

Thanks.

[BabyGirl]

Depending on when you miss pills and how many pills you miss, you could become pregnant. Planned Parenthood reports that there is a highly increased risk of pregnancy if you go without taking the pill for seven or more days in a row. This could happen if you forget to start a new pack on time (i.e. right after the seven days of placebo you take during your period) or if you forget to take the last few pills in your pack. Planned Parenthood has a great chart on the general directions of what to do if you have missed pills.

1)If you miss the first one to two pills at the beginning of the pack, then you should take a pill as soon as you remember and take the next pill at the usual time. If this happens you will need a seven-day backup method of birth control.

2)If you miss one to two pills from day three through day 21 of your pack, then take a pill as soon as you remember and take the next pill at the usual time. If this happens, Planned Parenthood reports you do not need a backup method of birth control.

3)If you miss three or more pills in the first two weeks of the pack, take a pill as soon as you remember and take the next pill at the usual time. Seven-day backup birth control will be necessary in this situation.

4)If you miss three or more pills in the third week of the pack, do not finish the pack and throw it away. Start a new pack and use seven-day backup birth control.

While you need specific information from your health care provider about what to do, you may not actually need to have an in-office visit. If you can provide enough information to your provider (or one of her or his staff) over the phone, s/he may be able to give you an answer that way. You could also look for the explanatory pamphlet that comes with each pack of pills (usually a small, folded piece of paper), which may have some guidance about the brand's formulation and what to do in the case of a missed pill. If pregnancy is a concern, you could consider taking emergency contraception (EC). Women who are 17 or older can buy EC at nearly any pharmacy in the United States.

Hopefully this information is helpful; however, I urge anyone who misses birth control pills to contact their health care provider for specific instructions based on what type of birth control you are taking in order to be certain that you are doing the right things to help prevent pregnancy!

Another thing is that if you brush your teeth and hair everyday , ( I'm sure you do ) Put your pill packet in your bathroom next to your toothpaste or hair brush. This will remind you to take it. Hopefully you aren't in too much a rush to forget to brush your teeth and hair .
You can also put it on top of your coffee pot , if you drink coffee, you'll have to remove the packet to put in the water anyway, so take that pill while filling the pot .

If you have young kids and don't want to leave the packet where they can reach it. Put Sticky Notes on Bathroom Mirror and or coffee pot, fridge, anywhere you know you will look each morning . If you g up at the same time each morning and you have a Cell Phone, you can set an Alarm to remind you. One that Beeps and you can put in Text TAKE PILL . Make sure it is set to when you know you won't be in a rush, Like if you leave for work at 7 am, have it set for 6:30, Taking 30 seconds out to take a pill, will not make you late to work/ School . But getting Pregnant will eventually make you in more of a Rush for Years to come .

You can go to a Dollar Store or Dollar Tree and get a Home Pregnancy test and take it say on the 30th of this month to ease your mind or confirm suspicions.

[Emmy4]

Hey Girl,
Microgynon is a combination pill, this means well it prevents ovulation, and the hormones in it also increase the thickness of the natural mucus at the neck of the womb, which makes it more difficult for sperm to cross from the vagina into the womb and reach an egg (if it happened to be released which at the time you had sex it wouldn't have been). They also change the quality of the womb lining (endometrium), making it less likely that a fertilised egg can implant there.
So personally I do not think you are pregnant but! I would either refrain from having sex for 7 days or use a back up method because sperm can live inside you for 7 days. BabyGirl gave you some very good information, Dollar Store pregnancy tests are just as reliable as the drug store brands.

I've talked to my doctor about pregnancy scares and he always gives me a funny look and says "As long as you are taking your pill correctly you're fine.. they can't say 100% effective because there are people who don't use it correctly and therefore end up pregnant.." So just remember to be more careful next time

Take care!