We should know better. I know.
April 4, 2010 2:24 PM Subscribe
[BCPFilter] "Use a backup contraceptive" -- but is that retroactive?
I can't believe I can't find this online when searching. Apologies for sounding like a 14-year-old.\
Here's the situation:
My girlfriend of a year is in town. She is on tricyclen lo (for the last 5 months). She's on her inactive week -- she would be starting her new pack tonight, but she's going home (to canada -- we're in SF right now) tomorrow and doesn't have a pack on her.
She'll be taking two pills when she gets home (and using backup for two weeks), but effectively starting her pack a day late, which I know is a higher risk of getting pregnant -- but is that only _after_ the pill has been missed?
If we had sex last night, should we be concerned? This isn't cause for Plan B, right?
It'd be great to find a new pack, but it's easter sunday, and she doesn't have a prescription on her. Can anyone think of other options? Her birth control clinic is closed on the weekends.
I can't believe I can't find this online when searching. Apologies for sounding like a 14-year-old.\
Here's the situation:
My girlfriend of a year is in town. She is on tricyclen lo (for the last 5 months). She's on her inactive week -- she would be starting her new pack tonight, but she's going home (to canada -- we're in SF right now) tomorrow and doesn't have a pack on her.
She'll be taking two pills when she gets home (and using backup for two weeks), but effectively starting her pack a day late, which I know is a higher risk of getting pregnant -- but is that only _after_ the pill has been missed?
If we had sex last night, should we be concerned? This isn't cause for Plan B, right?
It'd be great to find a new pack, but it's easter sunday, and she doesn't have a prescription on her. Can anyone think of other options? Her birth control clinic is closed on the weekends.
Agree with amro- you should be fine. Don't have sex tonight. If you're very concerned, this is a good question for a pharmacist to help you with today (maybe you should go get some Plan B as a backup for the future?), or for a nurse advice line if your or her insurance offers them.
posted by charmedimsure at 2:42 PM on April 4, 2010
posted by charmedimsure at 2:42 PM on April 4, 2010
So, during her "waiting week" she had her period, right? So then you had sex at the end of her cycle? Or plan to? It is highly unlikely, as far as I know, for an egg to be present at this time so there's nothing there to fertilize. If you haven't had sex yet and are planning to later, why not pick up some condoms for peace of mind.
Also:
She'll be taking two pills when she gets home (and using backup for two weeks)
What do you mean backup? Like, she's heading home and having sex with some other guy? And thus will be using condoms? Am I not understanding that? I guess I'd suggest if she was having sex with multiple partners that you guys should consider using condoms as a matter of course.
That's generally what is meant by a "backup" -- pills + condom (or diaphragm).
posted by amanda at 2:47 PM on April 4, 2010
Also:
She'll be taking two pills when she gets home (and using backup for two weeks)
What do you mean backup? Like, she's heading home and having sex with some other guy? And thus will be using condoms? Am I not understanding that? I guess I'd suggest if she was having sex with multiple partners that you guys should consider using condoms as a matter of course.
That's generally what is meant by a "backup" -- pills + condom (or diaphragm).
posted by amanda at 2:47 PM on April 4, 2010
Best answer: (I am not a doctor- but, to be more specific, the birth control your girlfriend is on is a combined pill, which works in a few different way. The synthetic estrogen prevents an egg from being released. The synthetic progestin thickens the cervial mucus (which hinders the development of sperm), hinders the egg's ability to travel, messes up the sperm's ability to fertilize the egg and alters the uterine lining so that, even IF an egg were somehow released and fertilized, the egg would probably have trouble implanting in the uterine walls- it would be very unlikely that even if all these processes kick-started all at once tonight, that the sperm you deposited last night is going to have a even a remote fighting chance over the next few days).
But- go find a pharmacist and ask if Plan B is warranted if it makes you feel better. Also, there's a help line on the Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo website you might call: 1-800-526-7736 -there's a disclaimer about your personal physician being the person to ask for personal questions, but they allege they can answer general questions.
posted by charmedimsure at 3:00 PM on April 4, 2010
But- go find a pharmacist and ask if Plan B is warranted if it makes you feel better. Also, there's a help line on the Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo website you might call: 1-800-526-7736 -there's a disclaimer about your personal physician being the person to ask for personal questions, but they allege they can answer general questions.
posted by charmedimsure at 3:00 PM on April 4, 2010
What do you mean backup? Like, she's heading home and having sex with some other guy? And thus will be using condoms? Am I not understanding that? I guess I'd suggest if she was having sex with multiple partners that you guys should consider using condoms as a matter of course.
I was wondering about that, too.
posted by amro at 3:08 PM on April 4, 2010
I was wondering about that, too.
posted by amro at 3:08 PM on April 4, 2010
She doesn't need to take two pills. There's no substantive difference between an inactive week of seven days and an inactive week of eight days. I know the question then is when does it make a difference, but 24 hours is not anywhere near the line. But if she wants to, she can go right ahead.
posted by telegraph at 3:16 PM on April 4, 2010
posted by telegraph at 3:16 PM on April 4, 2010
Best answer: Wife commandeering account filter;
As long as you did not have unprotected sex after the pill was due, there should be no more risk than normal.
If you decide to have sex again before she leaves, I would use a condom with spermacidal gel. If you will not be having sex with her again for the next month, there is no need for back up I assume.
I agree with Amanda on the multiple partner issue; if she has multiple partners you should always use a condom, and keep in mind that condoms do NOT fully protect against hpv which can be spread whether or not you are symptom free. HPV can be spread through any genital skin contact, including mutual masturbation.
While I would not sweat it with the scenario you have proposed, if you are not fully prepared to deal with a child, the morning after pill is very cheap, causes little or no side effects, and is awesome for peace of mind.
Also of interest; scientific studies have recently shown that women may ovulate more than once in a 28 day cycle, and that while the period removes all unfertilized eggs, it may possible to get pregnant a much higher percentage of your cycle than previously believed.
posted by EarBucket at 3:24 PM on April 4, 2010
As long as you did not have unprotected sex after the pill was due, there should be no more risk than normal.
If you decide to have sex again before she leaves, I would use a condom with spermacidal gel. If you will not be having sex with her again for the next month, there is no need for back up I assume.
I agree with Amanda on the multiple partner issue; if she has multiple partners you should always use a condom, and keep in mind that condoms do NOT fully protect against hpv which can be spread whether or not you are symptom free. HPV can be spread through any genital skin contact, including mutual masturbation.
While I would not sweat it with the scenario you have proposed, if you are not fully prepared to deal with a child, the morning after pill is very cheap, causes little or no side effects, and is awesome for peace of mind.
Also of interest; scientific studies have recently shown that women may ovulate more than once in a 28 day cycle, and that while the period removes all unfertilized eggs, it may possible to get pregnant a much higher percentage of your cycle than previously believed.
posted by EarBucket at 3:24 PM on April 4, 2010
Best answer: Yes, there is retroactive risk here. Missing a pill at the beginning of a cycle is more risky than in the middle because you increase the pill-free interval and the chance increases for a breakthrough ovulation. Sperm lives in the reproductive tract for up to five days. So the sex you had on the last day of her inactive week could in theory create a risk if she is late starting her next pack. But it's a pretty small risk. Next time use actual backup (ie condoms).
posted by yarly at 3:41 PM on April 4, 2010
posted by yarly at 3:41 PM on April 4, 2010
this really isn't anything to be worrying about.
maybe i was just lucky back-in-the-straight-day, but i missed so many pills, and had *so* many "scares" like this, that i wish i would have just had an askme thread to tell me it's actually, truthfully, not a cause for panic AT ALL.
use a condom if you're fucking again, but otherwise, seriously just enjoy yourselves.
posted by crawfo at 4:43 PM on April 4, 2010
maybe i was just lucky back-in-the-straight-day, but i missed so many pills, and had *so* many "scares" like this, that i wish i would have just had an askme thread to tell me it's actually, truthfully, not a cause for panic AT ALL.
use a condom if you're fucking again, but otherwise, seriously just enjoy yourselves.
posted by crawfo at 4:43 PM on April 4, 2010
Response by poster: Thank you all.
We are/have been using condoms today. And, to be fair, yesterday I was taking care not to finish inside her, but there was a "oh I'm close, hold on I'm out, ok i think I stopped before I came, ok let's keep going, yeah, yeah, oh, wait, no, I did finish -- did I get out in time?". Darkness, third time and drinks were involved, so it was confusing.
We both understand there's a very, very, very small risk of pregnancy.
About the whole "backup" confusion many of you noted (and as if there weren't enough emotions this weekend) -- despite the fact that we're very much in love, we're ending the relationship after this weekend due to the distance.
It's a hot mess.
posted by dentata at 5:58 PM on April 4, 2010
We are/have been using condoms today. And, to be fair, yesterday I was taking care not to finish inside her, but there was a "oh I'm close, hold on I'm out, ok i think I stopped before I came, ok let's keep going, yeah, yeah, oh, wait, no, I did finish -- did I get out in time?". Darkness, third time and drinks were involved, so it was confusing.
We both understand there's a very, very, very small risk of pregnancy.
About the whole "backup" confusion many of you noted (and as if there weren't enough emotions this weekend) -- despite the fact that we're very much in love, we're ending the relationship after this weekend due to the distance.
It's a hot mess.
posted by dentata at 5:58 PM on April 4, 2010
That study about women ovulating more than once a cycle was wildly misinterpreted by the New Scientist reporter from what I can tell by reading the actual study.
Quote: A greater number of follicular waves during the cycle was associated with a longer IOI and shorter interwave interval. Only the final wave of follicle development was ovulatory, whereas all preceding waves were anovulatory.
The study claims that there are 2 -3 waves of follicle development but only one is ovulatory per cycle. In other words, no,women don't ovulate more than once a cycle. If they did, it would overturn much of what we know about human repro biology and radically alter fertility treatment. The authors claim that the anovulatory waves of follicle growth *might* be made ovulatory with an additional LH surge, but that isn't what actually happens.
posted by Maias at 6:54 PM on April 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
Quote: A greater number of follicular waves during the cycle was associated with a longer IOI and shorter interwave interval. Only the final wave of follicle development was ovulatory, whereas all preceding waves were anovulatory.
The study claims that there are 2 -3 waves of follicle development but only one is ovulatory per cycle. In other words, no,women don't ovulate more than once a cycle. If they did, it would overturn much of what we know about human repro biology and radically alter fertility treatment. The authors claim that the anovulatory waves of follicle growth *might* be made ovulatory with an additional LH surge, but that isn't what actually happens.
posted by Maias at 6:54 PM on April 4, 2010 [1 favorite]
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So yeah, the risk is higher only after the pill has been missed. That seems obvious. It's not like her body knew last night that she wasn't going to take a pill today. I wonder if I'm missing some aspect of this question.
posted by amro at 2:30 PM on April 4, 2010