Family Planning Plus

How does diarrhea affect birth control pill effectiveness? I had diarrhea 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after taking my pill (Loestrin Fe) and had sex about 1 hour before all of this began. Am I still protected?

Yes, you are still protected. Having diarrhea usually does not affect the effectiveness of your birth control pills.

i m on regular pill but i was taking antibiotics and people say it might take the effect off your pill.i was on the last pill friday before i started my rest week sunday and we had unprotected sex the next morning last saturday we bought the plan b.i took it and felt just fine.usually my period cames on monday night and today is tuesday and it hasn t came yet i m a little worry

Yes, some antibiotics can decrease the effectiveness of your birth control pills. We recommend using a back-up method (like condoms) or abstaining from sex during the time you’re on the antibiotics and for 7 days after the antibiotics.

If you had sex during the time you were on the antibiotics but didn’t use condoms, then Plan B was a good option, and certainly didn’t hurt. However, since you took Plan B, you may experience some irregular spotting or bleeding throughout your current pill pack. Continue to take your birth control pills consistently and correctly, and your body will get back to normal within the next cycle.

I just stopped taking my birth control a week ago, because I am switching pills, today my boyfriend ejaculated inside of me, is there a good chance i am pregnant ?

It is not necessary to stop pill use when switching pills. It is best to finish the current pack, have a period, then begin the “new” pills as usual. If you did not restart the birth control pills, and had sex without a condom, then you were not protected from pregnancy. Pill protection is effective only as long as your taking the pills It doesn’t last for an extended period of time past the last pill.

At this point, you don’t know how long it will take your body to ovulate on its own. Some women release an egg within a week or two, some take longer to ovulate. Yes, it is possible that you could become pregnant within a week after stopping your pills. If you don’t have a period within the next 3 weeks or so, do a pregnancy test.

So my last period was on dec.9-13.2011 and my boyfriend ejaculated inside of me on dec.24th twice the day after I ovulated also on 31st of dec. It is now jan.6 and im two days late of having my menstrual cycle could I be pregnant?

If you have been having unprotected sex, then yes, you could be pregnant. Keep in mind that things like stress, illness, and lack of sleep can alter your cycle, making your period be early or late. This is why its best to wait until your period is at least 1 week late before doing a pregnancy test.

i started taking birth control a week after my period because i found out my bf was coming home. we had unprotected sex (pull-out method) next day i was lightly spotting (for days before placebo pills) we continued to have unprotected sex but he came inside me and my period never got heavy and never started the next pack. wondering what could be going on down there….

First, how long were you taking your pills before having unprotected sex? If you took at least 7 days of birth control pills, then your protection was effective. If you continued to take your pills correctly during that month, you were protected during the multiple acts of intercourse.

Second, if you were a new pill user, it takes about 2-3 months for your body to get adjusted to being on the pill. During this time, you may experience some spotting.

Third, a benefit of taking the pill is that it should make your period lighter and shorter. The fact that you had bleeding a little before and during your placebo pills is normal. Being on the pill, you may find that your period bleeding does not become “heavy”.  It is not necessary to have heavy bleeding during your period (the placebo pills) in order to begin a new pack. If you do not begin a new pack of pills, you are no longer protected from pregnancy. You know what that means: condoms or abstaining to prevent pregnancy.

If you are interested in…

I am on the combination pill Tri-Sprintic. I usually get my period on day 24 or 25 of the pack, on wednesday or thursday of my placebo pills. I was put on the antibiotic nitrofuriton for a bladder infection. My boyfriend and I had sex 6 days after finishing up the antibiotic. The doctor told me to protect up to 7 days after finishing it. Even though it was one day from what the doctor said could I be pregnant? The incident happened on day 8 after my period. And how does an antibiotic make your birth control less effective just so I understand. Does it make you ovulate where as you wouldn’t release an egg on them or what just so I understand better. Thanks!

Your risk of pregnancy is very low. Some antibiotics decrease the effectiveness of your birth control pills. The levels of hormones from the pill may not be effective enough to prevent ovulation, so, yes, some women can have a “break thru” ovulation while taking antibiotics.

Me and my boyfriend had sex in the jacuzzi and he was about to cum. I told him to pull out before he did because I didn’t want to take any risks. He said it was safe nothing would happen. But before he pulled out he came a little. -___- is there any chance of me getting pregnant?

Anytime you have unprotected intercourse, there is a risk of pregnancy. Pre-ejaculate does contain sperm, so that’s why its important, when using condoms, for the condom to be in place before the penis enters the vagina. Some men are able to “hold back” their ejaculation long enough to pull out, however, they are not able to prevent pre-ejaculate fluid (pre-cum) from leaking out of the penis. This is one of the reasons why the “pull-out” method fails.

Having sex in water (swimming pool, jacuzzi, shower) does not decrease the risk of pregnancy. If the penis comes in the vagina (without a condom), pregnancy may ensue.

You don’t mention whether or not you are on any type of long term birth control ( pills, shot, nuvaring). If you are on birth control and using it correctly, then the chance of pregnancy of unlikely.

If your period is more than a week late, do a pregnancy test or call the clinic for an appointment to have a test done.

I had unprotected sex and my partner finished in me. I took next choice and followed it correctly. The next day i started using birth control pills ( I thought it would help further prevent prgnancy). But the next day my partner finished in me again. My doctor told me not to start my birth control pills until the first day of my period, but I didn’t. Is that safe? and could I get pregnant if my partner finished inside me the day after I took next choice? Answer ASAP please!

Emergency contraceptive pills are not an effective method of prolonged or long term birth control. The way these pills prevent pregnancy is by delaying ovulation. Hopefully, when the unprotected intercourse occurs, ovulation hasn’t occurred. Sperm can survive in the vagina for up to 3 days. ECPs can help delay ovulation by 3-4 days, thus allowing time for the sperm to die off. ECPs do not cause an abortion nor do they affect an already existing pregnancy.

So, to answer your question: yes, there is the risk of pregnancy even if you took the emergency contraception. If your period is more than one week late, do a pregnancy test. Depending on your result, you may want to call your doctor for more information on  birth control or other options.

My husband and I have been trying to have a baby. We have had sex every day for over a year unprotected. Is that normal or could one of us not be able to have a child?

Several factors must be considered when determining fertility. Some of these are your age, weight, physical health, and menstrual history. As we get older, fertility decreases, especially after age 40.

If you have been having unprotected intercourse for a year without a pregnancy, it is time to be evaluated by an ob/gyn doctor or a fertility specialist. In the meantime, here are some suggestions:

Stop smoking- some studies show that smoking makes it harder to get pregnant

Eat right and exercise. Maintain a healthy weight. Being underweight or overweight can make conception more difficult.

Keep a log of your periods. This will help you track when you are most likely to ovualate.

Have sex 3 times per week. Having sex too frequently may decrease your partner’s sperm count. Having sex every 2-3 days or daily during your fertile days allows a man’s sperm count to build up.

Decrease your stress. Worrying about getting pregnant while dealing with other life stressors can cause periods to be irregular.

It is just as important for your partner to be healthy as it is for you! Good luck!

i am on the noristerat injection n had my last shot the 14th november i then had unprotected sex wit my partner on the 28th december and he ejaculated inside me,am i pregnant?should i be worried?

If you are on the Depo Provera or DepoSubQ Provera injection and had your shot on November 14, 2011, then your protection is effective for approximately 12 to 13 weeks. Therefore, you were protected on December 28.

Your next shot would be due the end of January.