Ortho Tri-Cyclen & Plan B: Understanding Pregnancy Protection

Question
I've been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen for nearly 6 months and have never missed a pill, but I've been told that the inactive pills (the white ones)do nothing other than help users remember to take the pills every night. Does this mean that during the week of white pills I am unprotected against becoming pregnant? I ask because I am very scared of an unplanned pregnancy. I'm in college and simply can't handle that now. My boyfriend got Plan B emergency contraceptive after we had sex on this month's second night of the white pills. Should I take it and risk those icky side effects (vomiting and more:( ) or am I already protected well enough? If I do not need to take Plan B this time, should I keep it around in case of some other scare (like missing several blue pills in the future) or can I return it? (The Plan B was expensive, and I don't have much money. Help!!

Answer
Hi Sara,

Thanks for your question. I don't recommend Plan B at all. I feel that it is not healthy and has too many side effects. See article on "Morning after Pill" at http://www.optionline.org

Usually, ( but I can't guarantee you) you should probably be ok about pregnancy. But no one can tell you for sure at this point. I think you should realize that even if you take the birth control pills exactly correctly, there is never 100% guarantee that you could get pregnant. Perhaps you should consider abstinence at this point of your life to prevent that possiblity and worry as well.

Again about your question about Plan B, please reference that article. I don't think you can return it but maybe you can. Even if you can't, it's not worth risk to your health to take it, in my opinion. I would really like to stay in touch and find out what happens with you. Please email me at DCHERYL51@yahoo.com so we can talk more.

Sincerely,
Diane Cheryl