Plan B used in first month of BCP, Withdrawal Bleed

[biblio-filia.livejournal.com]

It's time for me to utilize the incredible, supportive resources of this community. Yes, this is another one of those "despite logic to the contrary, I'm scared I could be pregnant" posts.

I started my first ever pill pack of hormonal birth control on February 10 (Loestrin 24 FE). When the gyno. prescribed it, I asked how soon it would become effective, and her response was that it was effective after one week on the "Sunday start" plan, but that because some women struggle with taking the pill at the same time each day/ skip pills because of nausea, etc., she would recommend as a blanket statement that I use another form of contraceptive for the first month.

I've faithfully taken my pill each day since I started the pack, between 7 pm and 7:30 pm each time, never earlier, never later. I have never skipped a pill. All the same, my boyfriend and I also used a condom each time we had intercourse since I started the pills. On Monday night, we finished intercourse and he realized that the condom had come off at some point. It was very close to me on the bed, which makes me think it came off as he withdrew. We know that he ejaculated, although when I went to the bathroom afterward, it didn't seem like there was much up there, so to speak, and I didn't have any "leakage" in the following days.

Because I had been essentially told to wait a month before fully relying on my BCP, I freaked out. We spent a long time Googling and trying to figure out whether I was protected or not. The Loestrin information says protection after a week on Sunday start (I started on a Thursday in order to avoid weekend periods, but same difference). We felt slightly better and tried to relax and go to bed. I still called my gyno. in the morning, and although again, she stated that technically I should have been protected by the BCP alone, I should take Plan B just to be absolutely sure.

I took Plan B at about 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, about 10 hours after intercourse. Now I'm due to start my Loestrin iron pills tomorrow, and am scared I won't get my withdrawal bleed and will thus have a reason to freak out about possible pregnancy. Is the pill withdrawal bleed even a signifier that you're not pregnant? I'm well aware that Loestrin is notorious for making periods super light or even eliminating them. If my withdrawal bleed doesn't come, I'll be tempted to take a pregnancy test. Will it be accurate if I take it sometime early next week, or do I need to wait until 19 days after the intercourse in question?

Thank you so much, VPers!

Comments

[nickelshoe.livejournal.com]

For the most reliable results, you want to wait 19 days after the sex in question. If you were expecting a natural period, your fertile time starts about 19 days before your period, so testing when your period is late comes out to about the same as 19 days after sex. But since you're on the pill, if you had an ovulation it would be more random.

A withdrawal bleed is a good sign you're not pregnant, since the pregnancy hormones usually prevent you from bleeding even when it's a withdrawal bleed and not a natural period. But missing a withdrawal bleed doesn't for sure mean you're pregnant.

You can always take one test if you miss your bleed and then another 19 days after the sex you're concerned about.

[xxcacoethes.livejournal.com]

I would bet the farm (despite not owning one, ahem) that you are absolutely, 100% not pregnant. You have been taking your pills as directed with no slip-ups, and have been using a second method of birth control save for one "oops." And, on top of that, you took emergency contraception! There is pretty much no way you could be pregnant. But I do understand your nervousness -- it's hard to rely on a new form of birth control, and especially one that you can't "see" working (like you do with a condom).

Yes, the extra dose of hormones might delay your withdrawal bleed (or it could conceivably be early). A withdrawal bleed is not the same as a period, you're absolutely right -- but it's still a useful (but not perfect) indicator of No Babies.

If you'd feel better, feel free to take a pregnancy test -- it would be most accurate after 19 days post-oopsie-condom-sex, but you could test earlier around the time of your expected withdrawal bleed. However, there is almost 100% no way that you could be pregnant, having used not one, not two, but three forms of birth control (and using two of those perfectly)! Try to breathe easy and do some happy, relaxing things to take your mind off this. If it were me, I would not be worried and I would not have even bothered with the ECP. Your gyno was playing on the Complete-and-Utter-Safe-Side in recommending that. And given your use of the pill, I personally would feel very comfortable in not using condoms if it were me. Bon courage!

[misspaigeb.livejournal.com]

Plan B was not even necessary in this instance.

Plan B is for when your method of birth control fails. Your back up method of BC failed - the condom - but your BC is still effective at preventing pregnancy. I'm guessing your gyno recommended it because she didn't know how well you'd been taking your pills or something, but if you've been taking them like you say here, then it was absolutely unnecessary.

You started on the 10th, and you had the mishap on the 28th, right? That means you've been on the pill for around 18 days when it happened, and if you've been taking your pills right, there is no need for Plan B. Many people who are on the pill use it as their only form of protection - myself included, only I'm on the NuvaRing - and that means no condoms, ever.

"Is the pill withdrawal bleed even a signifier that you're not pregnant?"

Well, it's definitely a good sign. It doesn't mean you are absolutely NOT pregnant, but it means that there's a pretty high chance that you're not. I don't know what it will do in your situation - if you'll have one or not - but I wouldn't worry about it. There is no reason to believe you are pregnant.

A test will be accurate 19 days after the sex in question - that's when a negative can really be trusted.

[archangelbeth]

If you decide you need to take a pregnancy test, and you are in the US, peeonastick.com says very nice things about Dollar Tree Store tests.

I really doubt you're pregnant, though. The Plan B was a belt, suspenders, and glue kind of conservative recommendation, I suspect.