Started new HBC pack late

[tylerwetrust.livejournal.com]

Hey lovely VPers! I have a question and I just can't seem to find the right combination of words in order to find an answer via google. I'm usually very strict about always using two forms of contraception, so I've never really had a pregnancy scare. And I think I might just be paranoid.

So the situation: I've been on TriNessa for forever. I had PIV sex on the 6th day of my placebo pack (last Thursday), which was also the third day of my 4-day withdrawal bleeding. My boyfriend was only in me for like 30 seconds max and then pulled out. (My nerves can't handle pulling out, I'm definitely an HBC + condoms girl.) But he came fairly quickly after, so now I'm freaking out thinking he might've gotten some inside me before he pulled out. 

Now the kicker is, in my infinite stupidity, I forgot that I didn't have any refills for my HBC and because my doctors office was closed for the next 4 days (it was Thanksgiving weekend), I didn't get my prescription refilled until the following Wednesday. 5 days late! Gah! 

I know that sperm can live in the system for a few days. So I suppose my question is what's the likelihood I got pregnant if I had sex during my withdrawal bleeding/my HBC placebo week and he pulled out, but I didn't start my next pack on time?

Actually I guess the real questions are how long does sperm really live inside of a person? Does a person start ovulating as soon as they are finished their pack or does it vary from person to person? What's the likelihood of getting pregnant during withdrawal bleeding? And is there a Birth Control for Dummies-type site?!

I'm more curious than worried, I've been oddly fascinated by birth control recently! Thanks in advance. :)

Comments

[muffyjo]

Apologies on my lack of information but I am under the impression that the pill (brand notwithstanding) is all about preventing ovulation in the first place and that your 5 days of placebo are not about the eggs so much as your fluxes. IOW, you don't produce mature eggs so while you still get a period, it's just flushing you out for your next cycle.

So, my guess is that there is a very low liklihood of you being anywhere near pregnant if up until the placebo section, you'd been taking it regularly.

Ask.com had this to say:
The two hormones in the combined oral contraceptive pill, oestrogen and progestogen work on several levels to prevent pregnancy. Primarily, the Pill works by stopping ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). If an egg is not released then of course conception cannot take place. As a back-up, the Pill also makes the mucus released by the cervix thicker so the sperm cannot get through and thins the lining of the uterus so a fertilised egg has difficulty implanting. (FROM http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Do_you_ovulate_while_you%27re_on_birth_control_pills)

[archangelbeth]

Basically, sperm lives anywhere from a few hours to up to 10 days in the lab (with that researcher believing similar lifespans are possible in the wild). Mostly it seems to live somewhere between 3-7 days, with the longer lifespans in good conditions. (And it's true that your system is not "good conditions" while you're on HBC.)

Meanwhile, some enthusiastic ovaries ovulate very quickly and some take months. There's no telling which yours are, unfortunately.

So it's not a zero chance, but it sounds like the withdrawal was reasonably successful, and of course there's no guarantee that you have those perky ovaries.

I'd say, for reassurance, take a pregnancy test 19 days after the sex in question. If you're in the US, Dollar Tree Store tests are well-liked by peeonastick.com. The result is pretty darn likely to be reassuring.

[rough-edges2.livejournal.com]

But he came fairly quickly after, so now I'm freaking out thinking he might've gotten some inside me before he pulled out.

Please be aware that Cowper's fluid ("pre-cum") can contain sperm, so a 'successful' withdraw even well before orgasm in no way ensures that active sperm have not been deposited.

In this instance, pregnancy sounds unlikely due to the other factors. HBC + condoms are a great combo - if you stick with them, you'll probably never have another scare. Planned Parenthood's site I'm sure has a nice overview of BC info. Good luck!