Late HBC pills, Plan B, Possible Pregnancy?

[http://users.livejournal.com/ksiezniczka_/]

My boyfriend and I had sex this morning and he ejaculated inside for the first time.

I'd taken 2 to 3 of my HBC pills late this week (within 2-3 hours). But I took my pill yesterday on time.

Should I still take Plan B?


Also, can I take Plan B with my HBC (Tri-Levlen 28)? The nurse at the clinic gave me two boxes of it when I got my HBC but I can't remember what she said about it.

I'm kind of worried since A) I thought he had a condom on and this is the first time he's done it and B) because I took a few pills late.

edit: I also forgot to ask.. When my boyfriend and I have sex, we often leave behind white marks... or stains rather. And not always because of ejaculate. I'm thinking it's mostly from my nayural lubricant. The thing is, they won't come out if I just spot clean with water and detergent. I'm kind of tired of having to wash my sheets or change them every other day.

Anyone else have that problem or have remedies?

Comments

[2omaha-withlove.livejournal.com]

Hey, don't worry--HBC is meant to be a primary form of birth control and 2-3 hours really isn't that late (especially with a triphasic [sp?] pill).

If you're really really concerned you could take Plan B but it's not something you want to be throwing into your system if you don't have to, especially when I'm almost positive that you are as protected as you usually would be with the Tri-Levlen.

[http://users.livejournal.com/ksiezniczka_/]

Thank you

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

HBC is meant to be a primary form of birth control and 2-3 hours really isn't that late (especially with a triphasic [sp?] pill).


I think you mean with a combination pill. :) Those are the pills that have both estrogen and progestin, and there are two types of combination pills: monophasic (only one level of hormone through all three weeks) and triphasic (three levels of hormone through all three weeks). Then there are progestin-only pills, or POPs.

While there's no real difference in what is "late" between monophasic and triphasic combination pills, there is a significant difference between combination pills and POPs.

While POPs must be taken on or about the same time every day to remain effective, combination pills are generally quite forgiving of a variation of hours, and aren't considered missed until they're 12 hours late.

For the OP -- on a combination pill, a variation of two or three hours won't make a very significant difference in your level of pregnancy protection, as we mention here (http://www.vaginapagina.com/index.php?title=Hormonal_Birth_Control#I_want_to_change_the_time_at_which_I_take_my_pill._How_do_I_do_it.3F). Bear in mind that most kinds of combined HBC pills don't even require back-up protection after a single missed pill!

If you are still very worried, you can definitely take the Plan B -- I've never heard of any issues combining Plan B with other forms of birth control. However, it's likely not necessary.

[2omaha-withlove.livejournal.com]

Whoops yea--definitely just woke up when I typed that out. My bad.

[kalaam.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think you're okay. I went to see my boyfriend, and the time difference as well as the stress and excitement of all of that made me late on a few of my pills but everything still worked out.

[http://users.livejournal.com/ksiezniczka_/]

Thanks. This put my mind at ease.

[ehhhhnotreally.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't worry about EC. 2-3 hours isn't considered "late" in my opinion.. I mean, you can theoretically MISS a pill, and take two the next day, and you still wouldn't need a second form of protection (according to the prescribing info). I've taken pills WAYYYYYY late before (I mean like.. 20 hours, lol) over the seven years I've been on HBC and never had a pregnancy or even a scare.

I know we're programmed to think we have to take the pill at the EXACT same time each day (and it's a good idea to do so--no chance of slipping up!) to remain protected, but there's much more leeway in that than people think. Sure, there are the people who get pregnant even when they take the pill perfectly, but that is the rare exception rather than the rule... even with "typical use" the pill is very effective.

LOL now that I've written a novel... I'm sure you're safe :)

[socalbeachgal.livejournal.com]

BIG fact that is missing though is how long have you been taking HBC? I hadn't thought about it until I read that your BF usually uses a condom so it made me wonder if you are new to the pill or even new to this specific pill.

If you are within your first month (or two if you really want to be safe) of HBC or of switching to this specific pill then I would err on the side of caution and take Plan B. If you've been on the pill for a while and haven't had any problems then I wouldn't sweat it. I used to take mine within a 4-6 hour window and did just fine.

As a caveat, I am seriously not interested in getting pregnant, so I tend to be overly cautious - so consider that before you freak out! LOL!!!

[http://users.livejournal.com/ksiezniczka_/]

I'm not even done with my second month's pack.
This is my first time with HBC.

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

If you are within your first month (or two if you really want to be safe) of HBC or of switching to this specific pill then I would err on the side of caution and take Plan B.

Out of curiosity, is there a reason you'd recommend the OP to take Plan B if she's new to the pill, or any links to support that recommendation?

Since HBC pills become fully effective against pregnancy after seven days, so long as the OP was past that seven-day period I'm not aware of any reliable medical information that would indicate that the OP would be more at risk for pregnancy if she was in the first month or two on HBC.

[socalbeachgal.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm - maybe my information is out of date (I've had a copper IUD for years now) but I had always been told to use a secondary form of BC for the first month of starting HBC or switching to a new one.

My best friend that is still on HBC had to switch recently and was complaining about having to use condoms for a month as well. Now whether she got that directly from her current Dr or whether that is based on the information we were given when we first started on the pill (over 20 years ago - no joke!) I can't say. I'll have to ask her because she may be operating on old info too!

I'm assuming from your comment that the protocol has changed and HBC is now considered effective after 7 days. Wow - that seems so foreign to me! I'll have to do some research on it when I have some time. Thanks for the heads up though! :)

I just know for me (as my caveat stated) I am very serious about not wanting to get pregnant, so even the 5-8% "normal" failure rate of HBC is risky to me, so if I were late on pills that I had just started taking, I would take Plan B just to be safe and for peace of mind.

[queensugar.livejournal.com]

Well, as we mention in our HBC Vulvapedia entry, (http://www.vaginapagina.com/index.php?title=Hormonal_Birth_Control#OK.2C_I.27ve_got_some_HBC_now._How_do_I_start_taking_it.3F) it's relatively common for doctors to say that it takes a month to become effective. So many patients hear that that it's actually become quite a huge myth!

This extended time period advice is based on the idea that if a woman is going to make severe mistakes in pill-taking, she's more likely to do it in the first few months while getting used to taking the pill every day.

In actuality, as per the prescribing information in every packet of birth control (which must be accurate by law), and verified by many experts, all hormonal birth control becomes fully effective against pregnancy after appropriately taking seven days of active pills. :)

[agata.livejournal.com]

I think that you're okay as well. 2-3 hours late is still on time.

[ghoti-e.livejournal.com]

I don't know too much about HBC or EC, so I won't try to muddy the water on that topic.
As to the marks/stains, it might be an idea to keep a stash of towels, bath sheets, or twin-size flat sheets near your bed so you can lay them down before you have sex. Then, when you're done, you can just toss it in the hamper and not worry about your bed-sheets ;)

[eleanorruby.livejournal.com]

i second this, as that's what my fiancé and i do.

[aint2nuts.livejournal.com]

Try laying a towel down where you make love before starting. Then you just have to wash the towel. Or double a sheet and lay that down, and then at least you just have to wash THAT sheet and not remake the bed.