QuestionHello, well I will first start off with a little history on my period. I have gotten my period about 4 to 5 times in my life. I'm 16. I just wanted to be normal plus I'm sexually involved with one guy, and that has been all. We use condoms, so this was just an extra help, plus I heard birth control improves skin conditions and shortens the amount of blood bled. Well, I told my cousin to take me to Planned Parenthood and in doing so I am currently taking, The Dialpack, 28 Day Regimen of just Ortho-Cept Tablets, (desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol) 21 orange tablets, and 7 green tablets/placebo's. (I'm not sure what's in them) I was confident this would work because I am scared of that patch. The instructions and I was instructed to by the woman at the clinic to take it the sunday after my period started. Well, hard to bleieve that my body actually got it. So it was Sunday May 7th that I discovered late at night around midnight I had just gotten my period. Right away, I popped in my pill. Then every single day I took the pill at 4:00pm on the dot, and succeeded in doing so. The problem is I had my period that Sunday, and still have it. Today is Sunday May 21st. Maybe is it because my period was so irregular my body is just reacting to the hormones? I'm not quite sure, but it will soon go away, won't it? I mean, I'm not heavy as I was the first 7 days, but I'm spotting, but there's always something there everytime I look, sometimes red, pink, and brown. I just need to know maybe if this is the right pill for me? Did I do something wrong? Is it just my body?
Also, is it safe to skip periods by skipping the green tablets and just taking a new packet of orange ones right away?
If you could answer this question, it would greatly appreciated, I'm so busy and calling this clinic is hard because of the hours it is open. I have been worried about these questions for quite awhile and no one can seem to answer them.
Thank you ao much!
Ashley.
AnswerHi Ashley,
I am going to answer your questions, and give you some information on how the pill works, so you'll know everything you need to. Planned Parenthood is a great service, but sometimes they don't take the time to tell you everything you need or want to know, so hopefully this will help you understand it all.
First, let me address the spotting you are having. It is perfectly normal. You are young, and your periods have not had the time to regulate like an older womans would have, so what you are noticing, with the spotting is very normal, Many women notice this kind of thing. It will take your body 3 months to adjust to the pills, get on a regular cycle, and for any side effects that happen, to start to get better. It's normal. Now, if this continues all through your next pill pack, and into the following month, go back to Planned Parenthood, tell them about it, and ask if you could switch brands. Each brand is a little diffrent, and switching brands my stop the spotting.
You didn't do anything wrong, as a matter of fact you did everything right, so be patient, and give your body a chance to figure it all out.
The green tablets are placebo tablets. They have NOTHING in them, they are sugar pills. You have these in the pack so you can have a period. You should continue to take them because it helps you to remember about your pills. I do not take mine at all, but I have been on the pill quite a while, so I never forget. You are new to the pill, so just to help you form a habit, you should take them.
It is safe to skip periods by skipping the green ones, and going straight to a new pack, but I recommend you don't do this until your body has adjusted, and is back on a normal schedule. I also recommend women only do this occasionaly, and not all the time. The pill was not made to be taken that way all the time, and can cause irregular periods, and if that happens, it is not an effective birth control. So don't try that just yet.
If you are interested in skipping periods, there is a Birth Control called "Seasonale", that is made for you to miss a period 3 month is a row. It is safe. For information on that one, Planned Parenthood can help you.
Now, Im just going to give you some general info and commonly asked questions, so you will know how it works.
Many women want to know if it is safe to have sex while they take the placebo pills. Yes, its safe, because the three weeks of pills before stopped you from getting pregnant, and all the placebo pill week does, is give your body a break so you can have a period.
Many women want to know if it is safe to take the pills a few hours late once in a while, like if they oversleep, or are away from home at the normal pill time. Yes, it is safe, and you are still protected. If it is a few hours late, it is okay, and you don't need to worry.
If you miss a pill, take it as soon as you remember, even if that means taking two pills at the same time, its okay and you are protected.
Now, less than 1% of women become pregnant on the pill, so there is always a risk. If you want to be EXTRA careful, keep using condoms. Your chances of becoming pregnant will be very very very small that way.
You may notice during your first three months, that you period doesn't come when you thought it would, or sometimes women will even miss one. It is perfectly normal, as you body is just getting used to the pill. Just give it some time and let it work out.
Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Thanks,
Drea Jean
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