Skipping the placebo week inquiry

[jeg-elskerdeg.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend is supposed to be visiting this weekend, and my week of placebo pills begin Friday. I know I can safely skip the placebos and instead start the first week of a new pack. The problem is, I've never done this before, and this is the first month of the new pill I'm on (I just switched from Femcon Fe to a generic version of Ortho-novum 1/35 with this pack) and this would also mark the first period I'll have since I started having sex w/o a condom with him (or any other man) ejaculating inside me. Now, I know that I'm still protected even though I'm switching types of birth control, so the fact that he's been ejaculating inside of me shouldn't matter, but it might for my peace of mind. My questions are: 

-Since I won't be getting my period during the placebo week, when will I get it? Now it doesn't really matter when as long as I actually get it, which I know I will, but for my own peace of mind I'd like to know when I should get it.

-Should I not attempt this because I'm switching types of birth control in hopes that this new pill will regulate my cycle more effectively (I need to go back to my GYN after three more packs to evaluate how well it's working)? Or is it okay because I'm switching from one combined pill to another without any time in between where I was off the pill, and I have another three months before I see my doctor again (save for my second Gardasil shot)?

-Is this guaranteed to work? The placebo week should begin this next Friday, which is when he'll be arriving (at night, I take my pill at noon). Now if I begin my period it early or that day, how long until it subsides or will it not subside because it has already begun?

-Because I'm skipping my period this cycle, or just postponing it (whichever it's considered), will my next period be twice as painful or heavy?

-In your opinion, is this just generally not a good idea? I know it's my choice, but if anyone would like to give me their two cents, personal experience(s), or any other information, I'd be greatly appreciative :D

Also, I'm not sure if it matters, but my cycle has never been on a regular schedule - I've been switching pills for the past two years to find one that's suitable for me. Additionally, if it is relevant, I'm 20 and in a monogamous relationship, I've never been pregnant, and I don't current have any STD's nor have I ever had any. Oh and I'm not against sex on a woman's period, in fact I think it's wonderful, but he's not comfortable with it and I respect that.

Comments

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

When you skip a period, theoretically you'll get your period during the next placebo week you take. That said, skipping often doesn't work, so you may start bleeding at any time.

There's no reason not to attempt if you want to attempt, whether or not you're on a new brand of HBC. However, it may be less likely to be successful since your body is still adjusting to the new pill brand.

There's no way to guarantee it will work. Simply put, not every user can skip every period successfully on every brand. Sometimes it will, sometimes it won't. You may have no bleeding until your next placebo week. You may have some irregular spotting at any time until then. Or you may have a full blown bleed at any point.

The only way to know how it'll work is basically to try it yourself. :)

For many users, skipping a period doesn't make the next once twice as heavy or painful, since HBC also acts to thin the uterine lining. For others it does. Again, that's totally individual and there are no early guarantees.

As far as it being a good idea or not -- it's not harmful. If you don't want to bleed, it's worth a shot, but only as long as you're okay with it not working, you know?

[jeg-elskerdeg.livejournal.com]

I was hoping you would respond! You're alway so helpful!

I'm fine with it not working, because then I'll just end up exactly where I was to begin with. It's possible that I'm starting it now, which would mean that it would be over by next week, but my period is never what it should be, and last time we were expecting it to leave, it didn't until he left!

I thought I had just started it tonight because I saw spotting but I've never just "spotted" before, it's always just HEY I'M HERE IN FULL SWING, I KNOW YOU'RE NOT PREPARED, and I think I might have just bled a bit from using a vibrator for the first time, hah.

Hm, I'm not sure what I'll do. If I start my period early and it's not gone by the end of the week, I'll skip my placebos in hopes that it will vamoose. If I don't get it, I'm considering skipping the placebos anyway, because with my luck, I'll start during sex or I'll be saddled with a really painful period all weekend, and that's the last thing I want.

Oh and I forgot to mention, I just started an antibiotic today for the next three days. I'm waiting on blood test results to tell me whether or not I have diabetes, but in the meantime, the doctor prescribed me antibiotics in case it's an infection, either UTI, bladder or kidney because my urine sample was abnormal. I know that while taking antibiotics, a back up method should be used, but is that during the time you're taking the antibiotics or for a specified period of time that includes the time you're taking the antibiotics and a certain time afterwards? I think we'd probably use condoms to just be on the safe side, but I'm just curious.

Thank you :D

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

The antibiotic rule includes the time on, and seven days after the last dose is taken. :) If there aren't seven active pills in a row left before the placebo week (if you take it), then the rule switches to after seven active pills from the next pack.

[jeg-elskerdeg.livejournal.com]

I feel incredibly dense for not understanding that.

Should I just use condoms this weekend regardless of whether I take the placebo pills, even though it's seven days after? I probably will just because it really isn't that much of a bother in comparison to an unplanned pregnancy!

[jeg-elskerdeg.livejournal.com]

and by "this weekend", I meant to say "next weekend".

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

Lemme break it up. :) I wrote it out kinda confusing.

If you have more than seven active pills left in your pack, or will not take your placebos, then you only need to use back-up for seven days.

If you have fewer than seven active pills left in your pack, and decide to have a placebo week, then you need to use back-up until you've taken seven active pills of the next pack.

[jeg-elskerdeg.livejournal.com]

Now I understand, thank you!

In other news, I just read this on a website:

"ORTHO-NOVUM®7/7/7 Tablets: Each white tablet contains 0.5 mg of norethindrone and 0.035 mg of ethinyl estradiol. Inactive ingredients include lactose..."

Which sounds all fine and dandy but I'm lactose intolerant. Great - now I have to call her up and switch pills again. Oh my luck! *grumbles*

[jeg-elskerdeg.livejournal.com]

Actually, I just realized that the law doesn't regulate the inactive ingredients in generics, just the active ones, but I looked it up and albeit it's farther down on the list so the amount is of a lesser degree, but still present in the generic version. Dammit.

[buzzboomsplat.livejournal.com]

I guess it depends how intolerant you are. Aren't some people able to drink a glass of milk and still be okay? And I've also read that the enzymes in yogurt might break down lactose.

[jeg-elskerdeg.livejournal.com]

I'm actually not that bad. At first I stayed away from it entirely but now I've found that I can have cheese and frozen yogurt, but in small amounts and not every day. That's a good point though, so I'm going to call and ask if it's enough to cause digestive problems if I'm on this pill long term.

[e-moo1.livejournal.com]

Just a little fyi....I'll try to find it but there was a study done on lactose in/tolerance. People who were intolerant could build up a tolerance to it by eating a little bit for a while and then upping the "dose." I'm in the process of doing that myself and I've gotten some weird but somewhat effective results. I can eat a whole cheese pizza myself and ice cream for dessert, but a milkshake isn't doable yet.

[jeg-elskerdeg.livejournal.com]

You know, that does seem plausible. I used to stay away from it entirely and any contact with it was disasterous. Then I started allowing myself a little bit of cheese or frozen yogurt and now I can have cheese, and ice cream every so often.

That sounds really interesting. If you find it, I'd love to read it. Thank you!

[savedbyfaith.livejournal.com]

Aren't there also lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose) pills available on the market? You should be able to take one of those before eating lactose-containing food.

And FWIW, the natural cultures in yogurt do contain lactase enzymes, as buzzboomsplat said above. So usually those who are lactose-intolerant can eat yogurt without too much of a problem. Of course, it does depend on the person :)

[jeg-elskerdeg.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness, this is such good news! I love Dannon Light and Fit Vanilla yogurt and haven't had some in years. I might have to go and pick some up!

I've heard of those pills, but never really looked into it. Maybe I will.

:D

[paperispatient.livejournal.com]

I'm fine with it not working, because then I'll just end up exactly where I was to begin with.

I say, might as well try it then! I've been stacking my pills for a little over a year and I personally have never had spotting after skipping just one (I have 4 a year), when I get spotting I get it a week or so before my placebo week - so I successfully go like 2.5 months with nothing. I know other women on here start spotting immediately after skipping one placebo week, but like you said, either way you'll be bleeding, so I feel like it's worth a shot. :)

[jeg-elskerdeg.livejournal.com]

Thank you :D