QuestionHello,
I have a question regarding my birth control's effectiveness...I am on Ortho Tricyclen Lo and have been on it for 3 years with no pregnancy scares. I am usually very good at taking them daily but I do not usually take them at the exact same time, I just make sure to take them daily. Recently I had to throw a pack out because of heat damage and in the process accidently doubled up in the second and third week of that pill pack. My period was 3 days late and I started my pill pack the day after I was supposed to (Thursday instead of Wednesday because the drug store wouldn't give me the pack that I used early). My boyfriend and I fooled around a bit Wednesday night and he came on my vagina and stomach but we did not have sex. Again I doubled up on my pill today (Saturday) because I was not home for my Friday dose. So I have pretty much missed to starting pills and doubled up on both. I am wondering if I could be pregnant and if not what are my chances of becoming pregnant from this? Also, will I ovulate now that I have forgotten 2 starting pills? Advice is appreciated. Thank you.
AnswerHello Claire from Canada,
You are probably okay because you did the correct thing in doubling up on the pills when you missed the day. The start of the birth control pill is not as critical as making sure you are taking then for the entire cycle. You have a 5-7 day window to start the pills at the beginning of the cycle. You don't necessarily have to take them "exactly" after you finish the previous pack.
Sincerely,
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com and twitter with me at @montereybayivf.
