[ndbrr]

We will be starting to take the minipill (norethindrone 0.35mg) starting on the next period. Unable to take regular combo pill due not being able to take estrogen due to Lupus and taking Cellcept. Thinking about taking the pill daily at 5 PM as I have read it's the most effective from hours 4-22. Trying to keep condoms out of it so thinking of using spermicide foam for days 8-18 of the period and also pulling out either all the time or at least during those days and others when foams not being used. Does this sound like a viable plan or should I change the plan?

[kira]

A bit excessive. After the first 3 months the pill is 98 or 99% (I forget exactly) effective all the time. Not just some days. That means 1 or 2 couples having sex for a year ended up with a pregnancy while on the pill. Like the combo pills it should prevent the ovaries from maturing an egg so no matter what day of the cycle it is there is no egg to fertilize. It also makes it more difficult for sperm to get in to the uterus and sometimes also stop the uterine lining from supporting any egg that did get fertilized.

Of course there is some failure rate. The odd person does not respond completely to pills and especially lower dose or minipills. I can't take them. I like my high dose combo pills. There are usually clues it's not working fully such as bleeding when you shouldn't be or not getting a period when you should. The most important thing is to take it on time and not miss a pill. That is the most common cause of pregnancy while on any bcp. I used to have a sports watch with an alarm set for that time and I'd just slip the day's pill in my pocket so irregardless of where I ended up by the time my watch beeped I'd have it to take. With cell phones now I don't have a watch anymore but it doesn't matter anymore if I don't take it exactly at the same time.

[ndbrr]

Just trying to be safe, prefer to use the least amount of things as condoms have gotten really old for us. Would prefer just using the pill only. With the mini pill I see that irregular menstrual bleeding is a side effect

[kira]

It's a possible side effect of all pills. The ones with less hormones are just more likely not to be strong enough for some people. I have to stick to the really strong combo pills.