Hormonal Contraception: The Pill [General Discussion]

honestly, i didn't have any sex while I was on the meds, or even right after, let alone immediately before it😢

If someone gets pregnant while on birth control, what kind of bleeding are we talking about? Does it even happen? I know spotting can occur during pregnancy, so I’m wondering what actual signs there might be to suggest I'm actually pregnant instead?🤷🤷

I’m not entirely sure if this specific question has been asked before, but—is it possible to take 29 pills during this current cycle and then switch to 27 in the next one without any repercussions? My goal is simply to push the transition from night to the New Year. 🙂

If you’re thinking about "delaying" the dosage, then you really ought to get started on the next blister pack right after this one finishes up...

... so, regarding delaying things,, I’ve been on Loest for a while now. When I first thought about pushing my cycle back, I actually consulted three different OB-GYNs. All of them told me it’s generally not recommended to delay or extend the cycle... though if I absolutely had to, they said don't try to push the whole pack, just go for a couple of days... so I usually just aim for seven days, just so I don't mess up my schedule. I'm used to getting it at the same time and starting a new pack on the exact same day...

I have a question. I take Diane every night at 9 PM. Last night, around midnight, I threw up—about three hours after taking it. Immediately after that, I had sex. The pill might not have worked; the pamphlet says if three to four hours pass after taking it, there's a chance it won't be effective. Around 12 AM, I took another one, treating it like a missed dose since the instructions say to take it as soon as possible (it counts as a missed pill in week two). Now I'm wondering: should I take three more pills over the next 24 hours, similar to how you'd use Plan B, or is what I've done enough? I really don't want this new year to start off on such a bad note.

Hey everyone, quick question—for those of you who have been on birth control for a long time, have you noticed any changes like increased breast size or anything else? 😉 I’m heading out to pick up my prescription now; I’ve got a boyfriend and I definitely don't want any unexpected surprises popping up.

Hey, I need some help. I realized I missed my last pill yesterday, so I just took it now. But then I found the box, and it says protection is reduced—especially if you miss pills at the beginning or end of a pack—which means pregnancy is possible. And since I missed the very last one... it also says if you forget a pill for more than 12 hours, you should skip it and start a seven-day break, which was actually supposed to start today. Now I'm freaking out—should I try to throw up the pill I just took or what am I supposed to do? 😢

edit: Also, it says I can start the next pack immediately the following day, but I wouldn't do that unless I absolutely had to because it doesn't seem healthy.

Hey, I’m on Triquilar birth control... I took my pill last night
around 11 PM. Then around 1 AM, I dealt with diarrhea... and the nausea just wouldn't quit
and by 5 AM, I was vomiting. I'm worried the pill might not have been
absorbed... Does it make sense to take an extra one now, and then still take my regular dose tonight
to stay on track?? Thanks!

Ethan Perez5 said:Hey, I’m on Triquilar birth control... I took my pill last night
around 11 PM. Then around 1 AM, I dealt with diarrhea... and the nausea just wouldn't quit
and by 5 AM, I was vomiting. I'm worried the pill might not have been
absorbed... Does it make sense to take an extra one now, and then still take my regular dose tonight
to stay on track?? Thanks!

There’s definitely a chance it didn't stick. Just keep taking them exactly as scheduled , but use a condom during sex to be safe.
Grab some activated charcoal and take it to settle your stomach and the diarrhea; just make sure you wait at least 2 or 3 hours before taking your pill.

I’m not totally sure if taking activated charcoal 2 or 3 hours before my pill actually makes it work. I remember reading somewhere in the instructions—I think they usually say you need extra protection for the whole month after doing that. I took the charcoal around 6 PM and then the pill at 11 PM... but honestly, I was still super stressed about it

So, I already put a post up about this—but he’s gone, just vanished into thin air without a word.

Anyway, the main thing is that I headed over to my gynecologist today to pick up my prescription—today is actually the last day of my break, so I was supposed to start back on them right away.
It turned out the doctor in charge was just a locum—a temporary substitute, really—and she absolutely refused to write me the script because I didn't have "proof" that I'd been taking them, and since my regular doctor isn't in, she can't access my medical files at all.

Alright, so here’s the situation: my actual doctor gets back from vacation this coming Monday, and I’m wondering if I should just wait until then to go grab the pills—meaning, would it be okay to actually start them on Monday? (Which would mean being three days late, by which time the cycle is already moving along).

The problem is, it's quite a trek for me—not exactly a quick trip—and I really don't feel like making the drive back there constantly, especially when I try to call and ask a quick question, and they just tell me, "Oh, you'll have to come in person."
Does it even make sense to go fetch the pills if I'm already three days behind? That’s the big question—mostly because that substitute doctor wouldn't budge on giving them to me today.

I honestly don't know why you'd let things get to this point—waiting until the very last day of your break to even consider it. You surely must have known you were running low at least a week ago. But, look, it is what it is now. If you happen to have some kind of documentation or a prescription showing you use them, maybe try heading down to a local pharmacy and see if you can just pick them up there.

And I really don't get how a doctor standing in for yours wouldn't be able to access your medical records???!!!!!!!! Everything is digital these days; they should have your whole history right there on their computer screen.

rowdyotter65 said:I honestly don't know why you'd let things get to this point—waiting until the very last day of your break to even consider it. You surely must have known you were running low at least a week ago. But, look, it is what it is now. If you happen to have some kind of documentation or a prescription showing you use them, maybe try heading down to a local pharmacy and see if you can just pick them up there.

And I really don't get how a doctor standing in for yours wouldn't be able to access your medical records???!!!!!!!! Everything is digital these days; they should have your whole history right there on their computer screen.

It’s because I’ve been dealing with the flu, and I went to see the substitute doctor while feeling absolutely miserable—and she was just incredibly rude about the whole thing.
She basically told me she could write a prescription, but since she doesn't have my file, she doesn't know the specific code.😕
I’ve gone to other doctors before when my regular physician was away on vacation, and I always got my prescription without a hitch, so today’s little drama makes zero sense.
I don't have any physical paperwork to prove anything.
All I have are my blood test results.
I always present my previous prescription there—it's not like I need a new one every three months; I usually get one script that covers a three-month supply (I take Diane).

I just don't understand how she can't pull up my records, or why she treated me so poorly. I’ve been on these pills for two years straight with absolutely zero issues, and then suddenly this happens...
Anyway, my actual doctor has been on vacation for two weeks already and won't be back until Monday, so I really didn't have much choice—it's obvious I wouldn't have gotten them sooner regardless.

And that’s not even the half of it. I walked in there, asked the nurse for the prescription like I always do, and she told me to wait. So, I sat there for about an hour and a half waiting for all the other patients to finish their checkups. Finally, I went inside to see the doctor, and she just told me—completely stone-faced, mind you—that she couldn't write the prescription because I lacked "proof." I explained that everything should be right there in my file, and she just goes, "But I can't get to the file." Unbelievable....

Oh, and one more thing! On Monday, my partner was actually there, and the nurse told him that I needed to come in personally. Then, when I called ahead to say I just needed my medication, they just insisted I show up in person...

Alright ladies, I could really use some input here.
I’ve been taking Diane, and I finished my last pack on Monday. I was expecting my period to arrive yesterday, but nothing has happened yet. I haven't noticed any of those usual symptoms that usually signal it's coming.
About ten days ago, I came down with the flu and had to take a course of antibiotics. Shortly after I finished the medication, I had some unprotected intercourse—it only hit me afterward that antibiotics can interfere with the effectiveness of birth control. This is actually the first time I've had to deal with antibiotics since I started on the pill.
So, my question is: WHEN should I actually start worrying about whether or not I'm pregnant? I'm supposed to start a new pack this Tuesday, and if my period hasn't shown up by then, does that automatically mean I've conceived?

amberheron64 said:So, I already put a post up about this—but he’s gone, just vanished into thin air without a word.

Anyway, the main thing is that I headed over to my gynecologist today to pick up my prescription—today is actually the last day of my break, so I was supposed to start back on them right away.
It turned out the doctor in charge was just a locum—a temporary substitute, really—and she absolutely refused to write me the script because I didn't have "proof" that I'd been taking them, and since my regular doctor isn't in, she can't access my medical files at all.

Alright, so here’s the situation: my actual doctor gets back from vacation this coming Monday, and I’m wondering if I should just wait until then to go grab the pills—meaning, would it be okay to actually start them on Monday? (Which would mean being three days late, by which time the cycle is already moving along).

The problem is, it's quite a trek for me—not exactly a quick trip—and I really don't feel like making the drive back there constantly, especially when I try to call and ask a quick question, and they just tell me, "Oh, you'll have to come in person."
Does it even make sense to go fetch the pills if I'm already three days behind? That’s the big question—mostly because that substitute doctor wouldn't budge on giving them to me today.

Maybe try heading to the pharmacy where you usually fill your scripts. Make sure to bring your insurance card or ID; some systems track patient history, so they might see you've been picking these up regularly every few months. If you're a loyal customer there, they might be cool enough to let you grab them on credit or find another way to help until your doctor is actually back in the office.👍

I end up picking it up at a different pharmacy every single time—mostly because most places just don't have it in stock—and honestly, I also use it as an excuse to scout out wherever the lines are shortest.
Like last time, they were totally out in the suburbs, so I ended up grabbing it in the city right before my lecture started. My mom is actually quite diligent about picking up our prescriptions "on credit"—sort of like how I’ll bring you guys a recipe tomorrow if you give me what I need now since we've run out (this usually happens on Saturday nights)—but there's another layer to this. My aunt works at a local pharmacy, and I absolutely cannot ask her for help; she's strictly forbidden me from even mentioning contraception due to her religious beliefs. Yeah, it's a long story...
Anyway, I remember that most often I've picked up Diane from the clinic pharmacy, though I highly doubt they’d even recognize me now—not that they'd hand it over regardless.
But, I finally found a solution! A friend of mine is going to lend me some, and I'll pay her back on Monday once I see my doctor. It only occurred to me after all this stress searching through various forums—once I finally calmed down, I realized I could just borrow it.

Wait, don't you still have that old recipe you used to make like three months ago?
I'm basically like a little squirrel, I save every single recipe I find! 😁

Alright then, glad you got that sorted out...
👍Just a little tip... always pick up your prescriptions at the same CVS... and don't worry, Mom doesn't need to know about it.

Jeffrey Walker3 said:Wait, don't you still have that old recipe you used to make like three months ago?
I'm basically like a little squirrel, I save every single recipe I find! 😁

No, that’s not how it works—I get a prescription, then I take it down to the pharmacy, where they grab the medication and hand over the pills. That’s pretty much the standard process for getting something like Diane, anyway.
I know how it works for Jasmin—she basically gets handed a recipe and then just heads over there once a month using that exact same formula—but things don't really work that way in my neck of the woods...
Oh, come on now—give me a break!