Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

Has anyone ever tried crushing up a pill before taking it?
I’ve got surgery scheduled in a few days—nothing too dramatic, just enough that they won't let me open my jaw properly for a while... so, liquid or soft foods are basically my entire world now. Honestly, even getting a tiny little pill down my throat feels like an impossible task right now. 😢
What I’m really wondering is whether crushing a pill changes how it actually works in the system. I know some medications have those special coatings that need to stay intact to work correctly, but I have no clue if that applies to birth control.
Any help would be appreciated. 😕

I need some input here. I missed my pill last night. It had been 12 hours before I realized, so I just followed the instructions on the box—took it this morning and then planned to take the next one tonight as usual. I haven't had any sex since because I didn't want to take any chances, even though the pamphlet says condoms are an option. My period was supposed to arrive yesterday (the third day of my break), but nothing. Now I’m lost. Has anyone else dealt with this?

edit: I didn't post this in the "Am I pregnant?" thread because there isn't even a question about pregnancy here.

@graniteranger41—never tried it myself, but I guess there shouldn't be any issues—just make sure you finish all the powder so nothing sits at the bottom of the case. I'd assume if you do that, the effect should stay the same; maybe your system will just absorb the pill faster.

@graniteviper92—I'm almost through my third pack and my period hasn't even hit at the same time once yet. I think it’s pretty normal for things to shift by a day or two this month—since you missed the window for more than 12 hours and then took two the next day, that is. If it doesn't show up within a couple of days after starting the new pack, you probably should go see a gynecologist. Btw, mine usually shows up on the first or second day of a new pack anyway.

I’ve got a question too—honestly, I think I just need someone with actual experience to talk me down from my own paranoia. So, up until now, I’ve always relied on condoms for protection. But because of PCOS, I’ve had to start taking Yaz. I’m nearly through my third pack now, and I haven't really noticed any side effects—which is fine—but I’m also barely seeing any of those "positive" changes people talk about. Since starting the pill, there hasn't been any mood shifts, no bloating, no breast enlargement, no weight gain or loss... I haven't even seen my skin clear up (I don't have a ton of acne, but I was really hoping those few stubborn spots would finally vanish). The only real win is that my periods aren't painful anymore, which is a huge relief.
I guess what I'm wondering is: how effective are these pills really when it comes to preventing pregnancy? To be honest, both my partner and I are getting pretty tired of the condom routine, but I can't shake this feeling of anxiety—like, what if these hormones aren't actually doing their job? I mean, I don't have side effects, but maybe that means they aren't "strong" enough? Especially since Yaz has one of the lowest hormone concentrations on the market. 🙂
I read somewhere that birth control is 99.97% effective, which sounds pretty solid on paper, but knowing my luck, I’d probably end up being part of that 0.03%. 🙂
Hopefully, some experienced women here can help ease my doubts and this constant worrying. 😁

melloweagle93 said:I’ve got a question too—honestly, I think I just need someone with actual experience to talk me down from my own paranoia. So, up until now, I’ve always relied on condoms for protection. But because of PCOS, I’ve had to start taking Yaz. I’m nearly through my third pack now, and I haven't really noticed any side effects—which is fine—but I’m also barely seeing any of those "positive" changes people talk about. Since starting the pill, there hasn't been any mood shifts, no bloating, no breast enlargement, no weight gain or loss... I haven't even seen my skin clear up (I don't have a ton of acne, but I was really hoping those few stubborn spots would finally vanish). The only real win is that my periods aren't painful anymore, which is a huge relief.
I guess what I'm wondering is: how effective are these pills really when it comes to preventing pregnancy? To be honest, both my partner and I are getting pretty tired of the condom routine, but I can't shake this feeling of anxiety—like, what if these hormones aren't actually doing their job? I mean, I don't have side effects, but maybe that means they aren't "strong" enough? Especially since Yaz has one of the lowest hormone concentrations on the market. 🙂
I read somewhere that birth control is 99.97% effective, which sounds pretty solid on paper, but knowing my luck, I’d probably end up being part of that 0.03%. 🙂
Hopefully, some experienced women here can help ease my doubts and this constant worrying. 😁

Don't sweat it; the pill is genuinely safe, and honestly, much more reliable than condoms. If you've managed to stay safe with condoms so far, the pill will likely feel even more secure. 😁
Yaz is definitely effective, despite having lower hormone levels. I don't have any complaints myself; my boyfriend and I use the pill as our only method of contraception, and everything has been fine. 🙂

I’m thinking about taking a month-long break from my birth control this month—mostly because I don't really feel the need to be on them right now, and honestly, money is a bit tight, so I'm curious exactly which day I should get back on them after this thirty-day hiatus. Just to be clear, I’m currently on Novynette (the 21+7 pack).
Do I start on the first day of my period, or am I supposed to count the day I would have normally started a new pack if I hadn't taken this break? Thanks! 🙂

If you're gonna take a break, don't just do it for a month—make it at least three. That’s what my OB-GYN told me. Taking a break for only a month is pointless; we're talking massive hormonal shifts here, and it takes three months for a break like that to actually mean anything.
You start on day 1 of your period.🙂>

Paul Rivera said:Don't sweat it; the pill is genuinely safe, and honestly, much more reliable than condoms. If you've managed to stay safe with condoms so far, the pill will likely feel even more secure. 😁
Yaz is definitely effective, despite having lower hormone levels. I don't have any complaints myself; my boyfriend and I use the pill as our only method of contraception, and everything has been fine. 🙂

Thanks—feeling a little better now, I guess.
I know they’re safer, but—with a condom, at least I know if things go south. If it breaks, I see it, then I can just grab the morning-after pill. With this, I guess I’m just flying blind.
I mean, I guess I’m just overthinking everything—trying too hard to master every little detail, maybe.

melloweagle93 said:I’ve got a question too—honestly, I think I just need someone with actual experience to talk me down from my own paranoia. So, up until now, I’ve always relied on condoms for protection. But because of PCOS, I’ve had to start taking Yaz. I’m nearly through my third pack now, and I haven't really noticed any side effects—which is fine—but I’m also barely seeing any of those "positive" changes people talk about. Since starting the pill, there hasn't been any mood shifts, no bloating, no breast enlargement, no weight gain or loss... I haven't even seen my skin clear up (I don't have a ton of acne, but I was really hoping those few stubborn spots would finally vanish). The only real win is that my periods aren't painful anymore, which is a huge relief.
I guess what I'm wondering is: how effective are these pills really when it comes to preventing pregnancy? To be honest, both my partner and I are getting pretty tired of the condom routine, but I can't shake this feeling of anxiety—like, what if these hormones aren't actually doing their job? I mean, I don't have side effects, but maybe that means they aren't "strong" enough? Especially since Yaz has one of the lowest hormone concentrations on the market. 🙂
I read somewhere that birth control is 99.97% effective, which sounds pretty solid on paper, but knowing my luck, I’d probably end up being part of that 0.03%. 🙂
Hopefully, some experienced women here can help ease my doubts and this constant worrying. 😁

You’re fine. I’ve been on the pill for years. We only bother with condoms if I miss a dose by more than 12 hours—then we use them for seven days straight. Otherwise, you're good.
I don't have any side effects. All I lost was my headaches, which is a win in my book.

Could someone please help me out... I’ve been on Diane for two and a half years now, strictly to deal with acne issues. My usual prescription for birth control has expired—apparently, the pharmacist won't dispense it anymore because they say I need a fresh one, since this current paperwork dates all the way back to 2010. To make matters more complicated, I don't have a regular gynecologist at the moment because my mother moved away, so I'm having to find a new doctor and I don't really have anyone else to ask. I was wondering if it's okay to just stop taking the pills I use for my skin (which, by the way, has actually cleared up quite nicely)? Can I just quit on my own, or is it absolutely necessary to consult with a gynecologist or a dermatologist first?
One more question... I know I should be monitoring my lab work and keeping an eye on my liver function because of the medication. Does anyone happen to know which specific tests I should have done?
Thanks 🙂

Finished my first pack of birth control pills—now I’ve got this seven-day break while I wait for my period to show up. Last month, right after I took that first pill on day one, things were weird... it wasn't a full period, just this light spotting that dragged on all month. Apparently, that’s totally normal when you're starting a new pack, but still... now I'm wondering how I’ll actually know when my real period hits. Like, how can I tell if it’s an actual period or just more of that random daily bleeding? Just want to make sure everything is functioning okay. Might be a dumb question, but I'm honestly pretty confused 😢

@tour, you certainly can, though if you aren't planning on picking this back up in about two months, I wouldn't suggest hitting the pause button just yet. If you’re telling me you intend to carry on in a month or two, then breaking the momentum might be a mistake.

On another note, I caught some news recently suggesting that Pfizer had to pull several million boxes of birth control off the market because, due to a manufacturing error, they simply weren't effective. It apparently involved a handful of different brands, but I was just listening to the radio at the time, so I didn't catch the specific names. It seems to be happening here, much like it does in the States. They’re bracing for lawsuits 🙂 whereas I’m just expecting a sudden surge in toddlers 😁

How long can one reasonably stay on birth control pills? A year? Two? Three? Five? And when the time comes to switch things up, how long does that mandatory "break" actually need to be?

On another note, because of my higher body weight, I’m told I can’t use those "light" formulations—at least, that was the verdict from my OB-GYN. My hormone levels have been shifting quite a bit lately; after hitting a total catastrophe a few years back, things have settled into something more "normal," which will obviously play a major role in deciding which contraceptive makes the cut.

It’s pretty clear you can't just stick with the exact same pill for your entire life; you eventually have to rotate them. Personally, I’ve never stayed on one brand for an extended period, so I’m genuinely curious about what options are out there and whether I’ll actually find something that works for me—specifically something that doesn't leave me bleeding constantly or feeling like I could eat a whole steak in one sitting. Let's see if such a miracle actually exists.🙂

Susan Harris89 said:@tour, you certainly can, though if you aren't planning on picking this back up in about two months, I wouldn't suggest hitting the pause button just yet. If you’re telling me you intend to carry on in a month or two, then breaking the momentum might be a mistake.

On another note, I caught some news recently suggesting that Pfizer had to pull several million boxes of birth control off the market because, due to a manufacturing error, they simply weren't effective. It apparently involved a handful of different brands, but I was just listening to the radio at the time, so I didn't catch the specific names. It seems to be happening here, much like it does in the States. They’re bracing for lawsuits 🙂 whereas I’m just expecting a sudden surge in toddlers 😁

Here’s the story - 👎
Pfizer announced the recall covers 14 batches of Lo/Ovral-28 tablets and 14 batches of Norgestrel and Ethinyl Estradiol tablets.

Luckily it isn't Bayer; if it were, I think I might actually lose it.😬

supposedly it’s exclusively for the American market 🙂 but really, I just thought this would make the discussion a bit more engaging :-)

so, which specific blood markers should one actually have tested?

Susan Harris89 said:How long can one reasonably stay on birth control pills? A year? Two? Three? Five? And when the time comes to switch things up, how long does that mandatory "break" actually need to be?

On another note, because of my higher body weight, I’m told I can’t use those "light" formulations—at least, that was the verdict from my OB-GYN. My hormone levels have been shifting quite a bit lately; after hitting a total catastrophe a few years back, things have settled into something more "normal," which will obviously play a major role in deciding which contraceptive makes the cut.

It’s pretty clear you can't just stick with the exact same pill for your entire life; you eventually have to rotate them. Personally, I’ve never stayed on one brand for an extended period, so I’m genuinely curious about what options are out there and whether I’ll actually find something that works for me—specifically something that doesn't leave me bleeding constantly or feeling like I could eat a whole steak in one sitting. Let's see if such a miracle actually exists.🙂

I'm wondering the same thing. I heard you need a break after two years, but I don't know if that's even reliable.🤷

I've been perfectly fine on Yaz. It hasn't messed with my appetite and I haven't had any side effects. But then again, it's a weaker pill, so it probably wouldn't work for you...

If you’re taking birth control the right way, you don't need a break. That whole "pill break" thing was an old-school gynecologist move. Modern pills don't really recommend pausing unless you're actually trying to get pregnant.
My mom went fifteen years without a break and had her three-day checkup just fine.
Mine finally showed up on day five of the break. 😍

Got a question. I've been on Yasmin for 4 years now, and for the first time ever, I missed my start date—instead of starting the new pack on day 8, I started on day 9. Does this mean my protection is compromised? Like, do I need to use extra backup protection for the next week or what?? thanks for the help 🙂

Caught a nasty cold... 🙂
Do drugs like MaxFlu and stuff like that actually mess with how well other pills work?
I’m trying to figure out if taking paracetamol and pseudoephedrine together makes them less effective, but I can't quite nail down the answer. 😢

graniteviper92 said:I need some input here. I missed my pill last night. It had been 12 hours before I realized, so I just followed the instructions on the box—took it this morning and then planned to take the next one tonight as usual. I haven't had any sex since because I didn't want to take any chances, even though the pamphlet says condoms are an option. My period was supposed to arrive yesterday (the third day of my break), but nothing. Now I’m lost. Has anyone else dealt with this?

edit: I didn't post this in the "Am I pregnant?" thread because there isn't even a question about pregnancy here.

It’s day seven of the hiatus. Still nothing. Nothing at all. Is anyone actually listening? Or are we just shouting into a void? 😕 I was supposed to start a new pack today. However, since I'm switching up my birth control, my gynecologist advised a three-month break first. So, nothing for me today.
I had an orgasm three days ago—on the fourth day of my break—and then absolutely nothing since. Is that normal?
I’m starting to get anxious. There isn't even a reason for it. I'm going a little crazy. 🤦