Family Planning Plus

I had protected sex with a condom with my boyfriend, but later we had unprotected sex. The first time with a condom he did ejaculate, but he didn’t the send time. However, he didn’t urinate but he did clean and wipe it off. My last period was May 28 and we had sex on May 19. I have regular periods. Should I take a plan B?

If you are on birth control you would not need a plan B. Please call our office to schedule an appointment to discuss your options.

I was on Ortho Tri-Cyclen for about six months, and then switched to Aviane for the last two (this month included). I haven’t had any problems until now. My first period while on Aviane was totally normal. This month, it was slightly late (not even a full day, but obviously late), and it’s extremely light, and seems to be “drier” and very dark brown. There is some regular bleeding, but it is very minimal, and even on what used to be my heaviest days, one pad is way more than enough. My boyfriend and I had sex multiple times this month, as usual, but the only difference is, he didn’t pull out a few times. What’s going on with my period? Could I be pregnant?

Pregnancy is highly unlikely as long as you have been taking your pill as directed. However, no birth control method is 100% effective. There is always a slight risk of pregnancy (less than 1%) if you are using your birth control pill perfectly. The only way to know if you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. If you are worried about the possibility of being pregnant, call your medical care provider for a pregnancy test.

Menstrual irregularities at any time during the first three months of a new pill are very common when switching pill brands. Tri-Cyclen and Aviane have slightly different levels of hormones. After you have used your new pill three to six months, your periods should become more regular. You may have more or less bleeding and more or fewer days of bleeding with this new pill than you did with Tri-Cyclen. If your periods do not become regulated by the sixth month or if you are dissatisfied with the side effects of this new pill, contact the medical provider who prescribed your pill to…

im 18 and i want to have a baby but it didnt happen yet and its been 5 months im scared is somethin wrong with me?

It is natural for young women to want to have children. Babies are adorable, but they are also a lot of work and responsibility. Just be sure you fully understand the many lifestyle changes that occur with parenthood. Babies require constant care, patience, flexibility, unconditional love, dependability, lots of sacrifice, not to mention lots of money. While your friends are out having fun, you will need to be at home with the baby. You’re very young and have your whole life ahead of you. I would urge you to live a little first – enjoy being young – continue your education – become financially stable first.  That being said, if you feel you are definitely ready for parenthood and want to become pregnant, there are some steps you can take to help ensure a healthy pregnancy.

First, schedule a pre-pregnancy appointment with your doctor.  Let your doctor know you are planning a pregnancy.  Your doctor will review your family health history, be sure you have the proper immunizations, review your medications, schedule any needed tests, and discuss your present health behaviors/lifestyle and recommend changes.
Begin taking a daily…

My husband and I had sex on the 3rd day of my period. However, I took an emergency contraceptive pill the next day (within 36 hours of our unprotected sex). Now almost 2 weeks later, I’ve noticed “spotting” of brown-colored blood (just like stains) without any of the usual discomfort related with period. Am I pregnant? I’m freaking out here, as we are not ready to have a baby yet.

Since the sex occurred during your regular period and you used emergency contraception, pregnancy is highly unlikely. Irregular menstrual bleeding is an extremely common side effect of emergency contraceptive pills so the bleeding you are now experiencing is normal. Your next period may be a little bit early or late. It may also be spotty (meaning you may bleed for a few days, stop, and then bleed for a few days more). If you are a week or more late for your next period, take a pregnancy test just to be on the safe side. If it is negative, repeat the test every two weeks until you have a normal period or a positive test result.

Please remember that emergency contraception should not be used as a regular method of birth control since it is less effective than other methods. In the meantime, do not continue have unprotected sex if you are not yet ready for pregnancy. If you live near one of our offices, please call us for an appointment. We can discuss all of your contraceptive options with you…

im 3 weeks pregnant and mistakenly took the next choice pill , will it hurt the baby

As I’m sure you know, pregnant women should always consult their doctor before taking any kind of medication. You don’t want to put anything in your body that could possibly harm the fetus. That being said, some women do take emergency contraception during the early stages of pregnancy before they know they are pregnant. Emergency contraception will not cause you to miscarry or abort. Also, research has shown that they do not increase the risk of birth defects.

To help ensure a healthy pregnancy and ultimately a healthy baby, it is important for any pregnant woman to get early and regular prenatal care. Choose a doctor soon and call him or her for an appointment. In the meantime:

Begin taking an over-the-counter prenatal vitamin with 400 mcg of folic acid (a B vitamin that prevents birth defects of the brain and spine).
If you smoke, quit and avoid second-hand smoke.
Avoid alcoholic beverages.
If you use street drugs, stop using them.
Eat healthfully and drink plenty of fluids.
Reduce the amount of stress in your life (if possible).
Get plenty of rest.

Best wishes for a healthy pregnancy!

I had unprotected sex I took next choice however I didn’t take the second pill 12 hours later instead about 14-15 hours later should I worry about this? Should I buy another emergency contraception pill

You should be okay. Just remember that emergency contraceptive pills are not 100% effective even when used perfectly. A lot has to do with the timing of the sexual intercourse in relationship to your ovulatory day. If the sex occurred just before, during, or just after your period, pregnancy is less likely. If the sex occurred mid-cycle, pregnancy is more likely. If you ever need to use a 2-pill course of emergency contraception again, we recommend that you take both pills at the same time.

If you are a week or more late for your next period, take a pregnancy test. If it is negative, repeat the test every two weeks until you have a normal period or a positive test test result. In the meantime, do not continue to have unprotected sex. Either abstain from sex or use condoms from start to finish for every act of intercourse.

Please remember that emergency contraception should not be used as a regular method of birth control since it is less effective than other methods.  If you are going to continue to have sex, you may…

I have been taking ortho tri-cyclen lo for over 3 years. On the 7th I was diagnosed with a bacterial infection and given 7 days worth of flagyl (metronidazole). I had unprotected sex multiple times during the week I was taking flagyl, and my boyfriend came inside me multiple times. I was also on my period during this time. So my question is- should I be worried about possibly being pregnant?

The effectiveness of any type of estrogen-containing birth control pill may be impaired during treatment with some types of antibiotics.  However, the risk is very slight, and the supportive evidence is primarily limited to anecdotes from case reports and findings from uncontrolled or poorly controlled studies.  In fact, according to Contraceptive Technology, 19th Edition, it is not necessary to use a back up method of birth control while on antibiotics because they do not lower the levels of hormones in your blood to the point that you would be at risk for pregnancy. The only exception is the medication, rifampin (which is primarily used to treat tuberculosis).   To be on the safe side, however, we do recommend that our pill-users also use condoms or abstain from sex during antibiotic treatment and for at least one week after.

As long as you have been taking your birth control pill at the same time every day, pregnancy is highly unlikely, especially since the sex occurred during your period. If you are a week or more late for your next period, take…

Been on the nuvaring for about three weeks had unprotected sex the day after I got it. Now a couple of weeks later I’m noticing mild cramps and dark brown discharge and drowsiness could I be pregnant?

If you started the ring on the first day of your menstrual period (your first day of bleeding), the method begins working immediately and a back-up method (like condoms) is not needed for the first week of use. Also, if you started the ring immediately after using a different method of birth control (like the pill, the patch, or depo) and there was no gap in time between the two methods, the ring would have begun to work immediately and you would have been protected when the sex occurred. However, if you started the ring at any other time, you should have used a back-up method during the first week and you would not have been protected the day that the sex occurred. Continue to use the ring as directed. If you are more than a week late for your period, take a pregnancy test. If it is negative, repeat the test two weeks later if you still haven’t gotten your period. Do not stop using the ring unless you test positive for pregnancy. Please keep in mind that…

I’m pregnant, I’m not sure how far gone I am. I had sex on the 11th of June, my period came on the 28th of june. I then had sex on the 7th of july. What date would be by conception date?

If your June 28th period was normal (usual amount of bleeding and usual number of days bleeding), the pregnancy is most likely the result of the intercourse that occurred in July. However, an ultrasound can give you a more reliable answer. If you are intending to continue the pregnancy, your prenatal provider (pregnancy care doctor) will most likely perform an ultrasound at your first visit. Based on the results of the ultrasound, your doctor will be able to provide you with an estimated date of conception. Until you can see a doctor, eat healthfully, begin taking an over-the-counter prenatal vitamin, drink plenty of fluids, get plenty of rest, and avoid alcohol, tobacco, and street drugs. Good luck.

If I am 14 years old and pregnant. Will Family Planning contact my parents about my pregnancy?

No, we will not contact your parents. Since we receive Title X funds, we must provide confidential care to all of our clients (regardless of your age). However, we will strongly encourage you to talk with your parents about your pregnancy. If you decide to continue your pregnancy, you will need to tell them eventually. If you decide to terminate your pregnancy and you live in Pennsylvania, you will need the consent of at least one of your parents (or obtain a judicial bypass from a judge) before you can have an abortion. In most cases, parents are a wonderful source of support and can provide you with invaluable advice. Please note that our agency does not provide pregnancy care, nor do we provide abortions. However, we can provide you with a pregnancy test to confirm your pregnancy and offer you counseling to help you make an informed decision. If you live near one of our offices, please call us for a confidential and free pregnancy test appointment. If you do decide to tell your parents, feel free to bring…