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Is Pregnancy Possible Despite Taking Emergency Contraceptive Pills?
Question: Hello. I am just trying to figure out what steps I should take on my birth control so I can stop worrying about getting pregnant, regulate myself correctly, and have sex the way I will describe. My birth control is Loryna.
My last period was Christmas Eve and ended roughly around the 29th. I was taking my birth control responsibly all up until when I left for my trip to California and forgot my BC pills. I didn’t take any of my BC pills for about a week and took “take action” an emergency contraception about the third day of the trip (trip was for a week). A few days went by and I was home after the emergency contraception. The first thing I did when I got home was start at the last pill I missed and took it every day. I have done that for 2 weeks now. I skipped one day yesterday confused about my cycle thinking I was trying to get back on a regular cycle... I think I am doing this wrong / not regulating properly. I have been having sex through out this entire time by him entering me with no condom + him pulling out when having to ejaculate and no other protection on my end other than taking my pill irregularly as described . I understand I might have a chance of being pregnant because of my irregular use of taking the pill and his pre-ejaculation every time he enters me. How high are my chances of being pregnant? My periods have been coming at the end of the month and I haven’t gotten a chance yet to get through the end of this cycle but I don’t expect a regular period, I just hope I get one. Where should I start on my birth control? Should I stop where I’m at on the old pack and start a new one on day one today or tomorrow? Will I still be able to have the same kind of sex I have been having (no condom, enters me but pulls out before ejaculation) and be any way protected if I start a new pack? Have I been protected at all by this irregular use of taking the pill? If I start a new pack tonight or tomorrow, do I have to wait 7 days until I can have full effect protection from the pill? How long until BC is most effective/ safe to have sex as the way I described above from here on once I start taking it correctly? I prefer taking a pill only when it comes to contraception but am willing to hear out any suggestions. If I do everything correctly starting tonight or tomorrow can I still have sex as described above and be protected?
Thanks!
(email address is: YYYY@YYYY )
My last period was Christmas Eve and ended roughly around the 29th. I was taking my birth control responsibly all up until when I left for my trip to California and forgot my BC pills. I didn’t take any of my BC pills for about a week and took “take action” an emergency contraception about the third day of the trip (trip was for a week). A few days went by and I was home after the emergency contraception. The first thing I did when I got home was start at the last pill I missed and took it every day. I have done that for 2 weeks now. I skipped one day yesterday confused about my cycle thinking I was trying to get back on a regular cycle... I think I am doing this wrong / not regulating properly. I have been having sex through out this entire time by him entering me with no condom + him pulling out when having to ejaculate and no other protection on my end other than taking my pill irregularly as described . I understand I might have a chance of being pregnant because of my irregular use of taking the pill and his pre-ejaculation every time he enters me. How high are my chances of being pregnant? My periods have been coming at the end of the month and I haven’t gotten a chance yet to get through the end of this cycle but I don’t expect a regular period, I just hope I get one. Where should I start on my birth control? Should I stop where I’m at on the old pack and start a new one on day one today or tomorrow? Will I still be able to have the same kind of sex I have been having (no condom, enters me but pulls out before ejaculation) and be any way protected if I start a new pack? Have I been protected at all by this irregular use of taking the pill? If I start a new pack tonight or tomorrow, do I have to wait 7 days until I can have full effect protection from the pill? How long until BC is most effective/ safe to have sex as the way I described above from here on once I start taking it correctly? I prefer taking a pill only when it comes to contraception but am willing to hear out any suggestions. If I do everything correctly starting tonight or tomorrow can I still have sex as described above and be protected?
Thanks!
(email address is: YYYY@YYYY )
Brief Answer:
you are probably protected from pregnancy, but difficult to know for sure
Detailed Answer:
Thank you so much for asking your question on healthcare magic. I will do my best to help.
Based on everything you've described, it is quite unlikely that you got pregnant. The emergency contraception, the sporadic use of regular contraception, and using the "pull out" method that you described probably prevented ovulation and fertilization.
However, it is not 100% reliable, and a remote possibility exists that you may be pregnant. So I would advise as follows --
Stop using the pills and use barrier method(condoms) consistently until your period comes. Once you have a period, start a new pack of pills. In that scenario, continue taking the pills consistently as usual.
Once you have your period and start the pills, you will no longer need to use condoms to protect from pregnancy, only to protect from STDs if that is a concern.
If your period doesn't come in the next two or three weeks, please take a pregnancy test.
I hope this answers your question, please let me know if I can be of further help.
Regards
you are probably protected from pregnancy, but difficult to know for sure
Detailed Answer:
Thank you so much for asking your question on healthcare magic. I will do my best to help.
Based on everything you've described, it is quite unlikely that you got pregnant. The emergency contraception, the sporadic use of regular contraception, and using the "pull out" method that you described probably prevented ovulation and fertilization.
However, it is not 100% reliable, and a remote possibility exists that you may be pregnant. So I would advise as follows --
Stop using the pills and use barrier method(condoms) consistently until your period comes. Once you have a period, start a new pack of pills. In that scenario, continue taking the pills consistently as usual.
Once you have your period and start the pills, you will no longer need to use condoms to protect from pregnancy, only to protect from STDs if that is a concern.
If your period doesn't come in the next two or three weeks, please take a pregnancy test.
I hope this answers your question, please let me know if I can be of further help.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you for your quick and detailed response. Because my boyfriend and I don't like to use condoms, what would happen if I continued to take the rest of my exact 1 week and 3 white pills off my pack at the same time each night and have sex just using the pull out method? Will I have any protection using the remaining pills since I've been taking them for 2 weeks now?
Is there any other options other than plastic/condoms for protection and will the birth control off the old pack protect at all? (just curious)
If your method of condoms only and quitting taking a pill all together until I have my period is the best and only way to get regulated/ have safer sex is the best way then I will do so. So basically if I don't get a period in 2-2 1/2 weeks I will take a pregnancy test. If I don't get a period and go to a doctor to have a blood test, is that the best and most accurate way of telling I'm pregnant?
If I get a period at some point, then that's when I start a new pack correct?
Thanks again
Is there any other options other than plastic/condoms for protection and will the birth control off the old pack protect at all? (just curious)
If your method of condoms only and quitting taking a pill all together until I have my period is the best and only way to get regulated/ have safer sex is the best way then I will do so. So basically if I don't get a period in 2-2 1/2 weeks I will take a pregnancy test. If I don't get a period and go to a doctor to have a blood test, is that the best and most accurate way of telling I'm pregnant?
If I get a period at some point, then that's when I start a new pack correct?
Thanks again
Brief Answer:
you can do that, but there is a small risk of pregnancy
Detailed Answer:
thanks again for your question. I am happy to help.
I think that if you did as you described, you will probably not get pregnant, but there are no guarantees. you are taking a small risk, and it is totally up to you to decide how to proceed. even if you did my suggestion, there is a tiny possibility that you already are pregnant, though I doubt it . so I suggested the safest route to reduce as much as possible the chances of getting pregnant. as long as you know what you are dealing with, you can do whatever is the best decision for you.
I hope everything works out, please let me know if I can be of any more help.
you can do that, but there is a small risk of pregnancy
Detailed Answer:
thanks again for your question. I am happy to help.
I think that if you did as you described, you will probably not get pregnant, but there are no guarantees. you are taking a small risk, and it is totally up to you to decide how to proceed. even if you did my suggestion, there is a tiny possibility that you already are pregnant, though I doubt it . so I suggested the safest route to reduce as much as possible the chances of getting pregnant. as long as you know what you are dealing with, you can do whatever is the best decision for you.
I hope everything works out, please let me know if I can be of any more help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
I have decided to just finish the old pack of pills and have sex using the pull out method.
If I get a period, do I start taking the new pack the first day of my period or the last day of the period (a little bleeding but very near end okay?) Basically just start a new pack ASAP when I'm done with the old or wait until period is done?
Is the birth control pill effective immediately as soon as I take it if I've been taking it longer than 7 days?
I remember bleeding after emergency contraception for a few days if that means anything. But I also had sex when I was going back on the pill the first few days I started taking it always using the pull out method.
Will there be any pain associated with possibly getting pregnant? What would be some other noticeable symptoms other than not getting a period?
If I don't get a period after I'm done with the old pack (there's about 9 days left), should I wait 1-3 weeks at most to see if I get my period then get tested?
Will taking the new birth control after I'm done with the old pack effect anything as far as creating any pain if I am pregnant or will it just not do anything other than just keep me protected.
Can I still have sex if the test is positive, but I would take measures to have an abortion?
Would it be necessary to start taking the new pack even if I was pregnant or just stop once done with the old pack to see what happens?
Thank you
If I get a period, do I start taking the new pack the first day of my period or the last day of the period (a little bleeding but very near end okay?) Basically just start a new pack ASAP when I'm done with the old or wait until period is done?
Is the birth control pill effective immediately as soon as I take it if I've been taking it longer than 7 days?
I remember bleeding after emergency contraception for a few days if that means anything. But I also had sex when I was going back on the pill the first few days I started taking it always using the pull out method.
Will there be any pain associated with possibly getting pregnant? What would be some other noticeable symptoms other than not getting a period?
If I don't get a period after I'm done with the old pack (there's about 9 days left), should I wait 1-3 weeks at most to see if I get my period then get tested?
Will taking the new birth control after I'm done with the old pack effect anything as far as creating any pain if I am pregnant or will it just not do anything other than just keep me protected.
Can I still have sex if the test is positive, but I would take measures to have an abortion?
Would it be necessary to start taking the new pack even if I was pregnant or just stop once done with the old pack to see what happens?
Thank you
Brief Answer:
you should start taking the next pack as soon as your next period starts
Detailed Answer:
thanks again for your questions. I will try to alleviate all of your concerns.
There are many "soft signs" of pregnancy that often occur early in pregnancy, such as breadth tenderness, bloating, mood symptoms and many many more. however, nine of these are reliable. some women have them, and some don't, and many of the symptoms can be caused by so many other things aside from pregnancy, that looking for these soft signs will only cause you more grief.
the only reliable sign is a positive pregnancy test. so I would suggest that you wait 3 weeks for your period, and if it doesn't come by then you should take a test. a home urine pregnancy test is fine and very reliable .
whether or not you are pregnant, there is nothing wrong get with having sex. there is no risk to sex in pregnancy at all. the only risk you are taking by using the pull out method is that you could get pregnant, and we discussed that in detail in the answer to your last question.
pain is not a symptom of pregnancy at all. there is no real point in thinking about signs of pregnancy that may or may not happen whether or not you are pregnant, so just wait for your period, if it comes, you are not pregnant.
to start the pills, the best way is to start a new pack the day your period starts. and them stay on them every day after that. some people like I start the first Sunday after the period starts so that they have a Sunday start day. however I find that this can confuse some people or they might forget. so I usually recommend just starting the first day of the period. do not wait until the end of the period or you may be too late.
if you are pregnant, DO NOT take the pills. you cannot be on birth control and be pregnant at the same time. that is why I recommended that you wait until your period, so you will be sure that you are not pregnant, and then start the pills.
after all the thinking and questions, my recommendations are pretty simple and clear. and I will review them again to make sure there is no confusion.
1 ) wait until you have a period, then start a new pack of pills 2) if your period does not come in 3 weeks, take a pregnancy test 3) until this happens, having sex is fine, but protect yourself from pregnancy with a condom, unless you are willing to take the risk of using the pull out method which is not the most reliable method.
I hope this all makes sense. please let me know if you need anything else.
you should start taking the next pack as soon as your next period starts
Detailed Answer:
thanks again for your questions. I will try to alleviate all of your concerns.
There are many "soft signs" of pregnancy that often occur early in pregnancy, such as breadth tenderness, bloating, mood symptoms and many many more. however, nine of these are reliable. some women have them, and some don't, and many of the symptoms can be caused by so many other things aside from pregnancy, that looking for these soft signs will only cause you more grief.
the only reliable sign is a positive pregnancy test. so I would suggest that you wait 3 weeks for your period, and if it doesn't come by then you should take a test. a home urine pregnancy test is fine and very reliable .
whether or not you are pregnant, there is nothing wrong get with having sex. there is no risk to sex in pregnancy at all. the only risk you are taking by using the pull out method is that you could get pregnant, and we discussed that in detail in the answer to your last question.
pain is not a symptom of pregnancy at all. there is no real point in thinking about signs of pregnancy that may or may not happen whether or not you are pregnant, so just wait for your period, if it comes, you are not pregnant.
to start the pills, the best way is to start a new pack the day your period starts. and them stay on them every day after that. some people like I start the first Sunday after the period starts so that they have a Sunday start day. however I find that this can confuse some people or they might forget. so I usually recommend just starting the first day of the period. do not wait until the end of the period or you may be too late.
if you are pregnant, DO NOT take the pills. you cannot be on birth control and be pregnant at the same time. that is why I recommended that you wait until your period, so you will be sure that you are not pregnant, and then start the pills.
after all the thinking and questions, my recommendations are pretty simple and clear. and I will review them again to make sure there is no confusion.
1 ) wait until you have a period, then start a new pack of pills 2) if your period does not come in 3 weeks, take a pregnancy test 3) until this happens, having sex is fine, but protect yourself from pregnancy with a condom, unless you are willing to take the risk of using the pull out method which is not the most reliable method.
I hope this all makes sense. please let me know if you need anything else.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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