QuestionI have a question that I can not find one single person to answer, including my doctor. But I really want to know the answer, so I hope you can help. This is not about choosing a method but determining what exactly is behind a method.
I just hope this makes sense.
Instructions for the general pill (such as ortho-tricyclen) that people use say that the pill SHOULD be taken at the same time every day. If one active pill is missed or taken late, a back-up method should be used for up to 7 days.
In my experience and in the experience of family and friends also on the pill, our periods do not typically start until tuesday or wednesday of the inactive pill week.
Now...
According to the pill instructions, if you miss an active pill, you could get pregnant. However, if taken correctly for all 21 days (or 28, depending on which pill is being taken), the woman is protected from pregnancy even during the week she is taking the inactive pills.
So according to the pill, a woman is protected during this inactive week, including the few days before the bleeding starts.
But how are those few days before the bleeding starts any different from those days during the active pill and one is missed?
Why is it not ok to have unprotected sex if an active pill is missed but it is ok to have sex when the body is not taking in ANY hormones?
Or...sperm can live for up to 5 days in the body. Technically, couldn't one have sex on friday and the sperm still be in the body come say, monday, and get the woman pregnant?
This is a very interesting contradiction and I just don't get it. And no one wants to tackle the subject, which makes me even more nervous.
AnswerI think it's wonderful that you are concerned. It's a shame that many women use hormone birth control and have no idea what they are getting themselves into. I am even more sorry that doctors and other health practicioners are so ignorant when it comes to women's bodies.
I hope I have an answer to your question. If I have misunderstood or I'm not explaining it clearly, please do ask for a follow up.
Now, the reason why you are protected from pregnancy during the pill free/placebo week is that you have supplied your body with hormones for the last three weeks. These hormones do not exit the body at once, it takes some time. Research has shown that women on the pill can have maximum 7 hormone free days and still be infertile.
You have probably heard that the greatest risk of pregnancy is when you forget one of the first pills in the pack. I guess this is because your body has not a very large hormone storage after the hormone free week. Because of that breakthough ovulation may occur if a pill is missed. They say that missing one of the last active pills in the pack isn't that big of a deal because the body already has a big enough hormone storage for the woman to be infertile.
Finally, it's correct that sperm can live for maximum 5 days in the woman's body but that really doesn't matter as a woman on the pill is infertile at all times if she takes her pills correctly.
I hope I have answered all your questions. If not, do contact me once more :)
Marina
