Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

So, I’ve been on Novynette for about seven months now, and honestly, everything was going pretty smoothly until I started being a bit irresponsible with it. About two months ago, I totally blanked and missed a pill. According to the instructions, if that happens, you’re supposed to just take the missed one immediately and then get back on your regular schedule—even if that means taking two pills back-to-back—so that’s exactly what I did. But, man, the very next day I started spotting. It wasn't anything crazy, just a little bloody discharge, and once my period actually arrived, it all cleared up. I thought I was in the clear, so the following month I stayed super diligent and everything was fine. However, this month I messed up again—I forgot a pill, and yeah, I know, I’m being so flaky and stupid about this—and the bleeding started right up again. Only this time, it feels way more intense, almost like I'm on the third day of a heavy period or something. On top of that, my mood has been absolutely all over the place and my stomach is cramping quite a bit. I’m feeling really anxious because my doctor won't be available until Monday, and I really don't want to just sit here panicking without knowing what to do. If anyone has gone through something similar or has any advice, I would seriously appreciate it. Thanks!

Ladies, does your period arrive at the exact same time every single cycle (like, say, on the third day of the break), or is every month a complete wildcard?

Hey ladies,

I need some advice.

On October 10th, my period arrived and I started taking Loestrin. The side effects were absolutely brutal—I couldn't even function, lost my appetite, had crazy dizziness, stuff like that. So, after just six days, I quit cold turkey.
On October 17th, my period came back, though obviously lighter this time. During those six days I was on the pill, my boyfriend and I were having unprotected sex, specifically during the last two days while I was still taking them. Once I stopped the pills, we switched back to using protection, obviously.

I went to see my OB-GYN recently, and she told me I actually ovulated this month (had my checkup on November 4th).

It’s November 20th now and my period still hasn't shown up. That makes it day 35 of my cycle... I haven't had any typical PMS vibes, but I don't feel pregnant either.

Should I just take a test just to be safe, or did those damn six little pills totally wreck my system? I'm getting these occasional little twinges in my lower abdomen, but nothing major or anything that feels like actual cramps.

Thanks!

graniteviper92 said:Ladies, does your period arrive at the exact same time every single cycle (like, say, on the third day of the break), or is every month a complete wildcard?

In my experience, things were all over the place when I first started, but after a few months, it basically settled into a routine. Now I’m on Qlaira, which only has a two-day break—just two placebo pills—and I always get it on that second pill.

If you ask me, the longer you stay on them, the more your body just gets used to the rhythm. It should start coming at the same time every single cycle, like clockwork on the same day of the break. 😉

Kimberly Castillo2 said:In my experience, things were all over the place when I first started, but after a few months, it basically settled into a routine. Now I’m on Qlaira, which only has a two-day break—just two placebo pills—and I always get it on that second pill.

If you ask me, the longer you stay on them, the more your body just gets used to the rhythm. It should start coming at the same time every single cycle, like clockwork on the same day of the break. 😉

I’m bored. I’ve been taking these for five months now. My period always used to show up on the third day. Today is the third day, and nothing yet. I’m starting to worry. I know I have no actual reason to be anxious, but here I am. Why does that happen? Just an irrational feeling, I suppose. But still. 😁

graniteviper92 said:I’m bored. I’ve been taking these for five months now. My period always used to show up on the third day. Today is the third day, and nothing yet. I’m starting to worry. I know I have no actual reason to be anxious, but here I am. Why does that happen? Just an irrational feeling, I suppose. But still. 😁

Don't sweat it. If I remember right, with Yasmin birth control, you get a 7-day break. One time mine showed up on day one, another time on the very last day, day 7.

You can totally freak out over those 6 days if you want. 🙄

And honestly, if you’ve been taking them properly—like, you didn't miss a single pill—you're fine. You probably already know that! 😉

Kimberly Castillo2 said:Don't sweat it. If I remember right, with Yasmin birth control, you get a 7-day break. One time mine showed up on day one, another time on the very last day, day 7.

You can totally freak out over those 6 days if you want. 🙄

And honestly, if you’ve been taking them properly—like, you didn't miss a single pill—you're fine. You probably already know that! 😉

I’m aware of all that, but still, this little bit of anxiety just won't let me be. 🙂
By the way, I'm on Loestrin 20.

graniteviper92 said:Ladies, does your period arrive at the exact same time every single cycle (like, say, on the third day of the break), or is every month a complete wildcard?

Well, if I may interject my two cents into this discussion: honestly, it can happen on any day, and every break can be a complete toss-up. Usually, it arrives right on schedule or maybe a day early, but it can certainly go the way some of the other ladies here have described... the main thing is just that it shows up during the break. And even if it doesn't arrive immediately, don't panic; it doesn't automatically mean you're pregnant, which is why those instructions always tell you to rule out pregnancy before starting a new pack. But, if it hasn't shown up after two full packs, then yeah, it might be time to head straight to the doctor.

graniteviper92 said:Ladies, does your period arrive at the exact same time every single cycle (like, say, on the third day of the break), or is every month a complete wildcard?

Mine always hits at the same time, usually the fourth day of the break..
But it doesn't have to be the same for everyone.

Look, I don’t care what anyone says—life isn't some Hallmark movie. It’s messy, it’s loud, and most of the time, it’s just plain exhausting. You spend half your time trying to hold it all together and the other half wondering why you even bother. But hey, that’s just how it goes. Deal with it or don't. Your call. kaže:
I know all this already, but whatever. Here we go again—some tiny, stupid little problem keeping me from getting any peace. 🙂
Anyway, I'm on that Lyndette 20.

It’ll happen, don't sweat it! 😉

For me, it hit almost exactly at the same time 😁 on day 4 after taking the pill, right around 11 AM 😁
And that’s been my routine since the very first pack...

So, I head over to the CVS today to grab my pills, just like I do every single month, right? And this lady comes up to me and insists they have to keep my prescription. 😕 She’s claiming it’s only good for six months, but I told her straight up that my doctor said it’s valid for a whole year. Then she starts acting like it’s some special private script that expires in six months. I was like, look, my doctor literally told me it lasts a year—and it actually says that on the paper—but she just ignores me and refuses to give it back. 😕
Honestly, I'm totally lost here. Like, why even bother? When I first got the tablets, the script was supposedly good for six months, but when that ran out and I went back for more, my doctor told me it's actually good for a full year. It’s written right there on the prescription, but since she wouldn't hand it over, I can't even prove it. I don't get what happened. Now I'm wondering if I'm stuck going in twice a year just to deal with this nonsense for years to come. 🙂

Apparently, there’s this new policy—though I can't say for certain when exactly they flipped the switch—regarding birth control prescriptions, specifically for things like the combo packs and Diane. They’re saying these scripts are only valid for six months now. At least, that’s what several different pharmacies have told me when I've stopped by. To make matters even more tedious, some places mentioned that doctors have started mass-producing them for just three-month stretches; so then you're stuck in this endless loop of having to call them for an extension or actually trekking down to the office, or, in my case, dealing with the extra headache of having to pre-order everything just to ensure I don't run out. 🙄

Man, it sucks when I remember I’m gonna have to sit there for like half an hour just to get a prescription twice a year... I mean, what's even the point?

How do you guys even get your prescriptions filled? Like, I walk in and tell my sister I need a refill—she asks for my name and info, pulls up my file, checks which meds I'm on, and if everything looks good—since apparently you have to redo all those tests after a year or whatever—she just sends it over to the doctor for a signature and I'm out the door in two minutes. 😬

It’s pretty much the same story you’d find in any other medical practice out there: everything ultimately hinges on whoever happens to be wearing the white coat. Everyone seems to have their own little way of doing things, following their own idiosyncratic rituals and personal philosophies rather than any unified standard.

I don't even have to order, but I ALWAYS end up waiting at least half an hour.. for a recipe that takes like a minute to write..

I wasn't sure whether to post this under the Celest thread or here, though I suspect I’ll get more useful feedback in this space.

To get straight to the point, I missed a pill. I didn't take my dose on Tuesday. This is my final week of the current pack; I'm taking the last one today, after which there should be a break before my period arrives this coming Monday. According to the patient information leaflet, since I realized on Wednesday that I had missed Tuesday's dose, I should have taken two pills—the missed one and the scheduled one—and then started the next pack immediately without a break. That is exactly what I did. However, I saw my gynecologist today, and he essentially waved off my concern. He told me I could handle it either way, but his personal preference would be for me to take the usual break and start the new pack next week. Now I find myself stuck in a bit of a dilemma. While I trust my doctor's word, a small seed of doubt remains. He assured me that missing that single dose during the final week wouldn't cause any issues—he even suggested that I don't strictly need extra protection, though he noted that if I want total peace of mind, I could use backup for five to ten days. So, I'm left weighing my options: should I move directly into the next pack, or just stick to the scheduled break?

Personally, I’d put more faith in what the manufacturer says than some random person on the internet—just keep drinking without any breaks. And you really have to be careful for about seven days after missing a pill. If my memory serves me right, that’s how it’s laid out in the instructions.

There isn't a single word written here. But then again, I wouldn't claim to be particularly brilliant.🙄