[littlemissjess]

I'm on THE PILL and I take seasonal. I get alot of body aches and headaches, but I also have ADD. Does anyone else experience these symptoms? Also, I'm doing a fruit diet type thing, will losing weight effect THE PILL by any chance?

[Raynaadi]

Hmmm, I'm not sure about this. I'm not on the pill. Maybe you could call your doctor about the side effects you're experiencing? Some pills don't work great with all women.

[Juliana]

You should talk to your doctor about this -- or go talk to the pharmacist if you can't get in to see your doctor right away.

I'm not on the pill anymore because I'm too old (37) and I'm a smoker. The pills I used to take (Ortho 7/7/7, then Triphasal, then Marvellon) kind of messed with my moods (depression mainly) when I was in my 20s. I rarely got depressed once I switched to a progestin-only pill. The hormones in your pill can affect your mind and body in surprising ways. There are so many things that you need to be aware of when you're on the pill. For instance, there can be drug interactions, even interactions with herbal remedies. St. John's Wort, for instance, can interfere with its efficacy. (That's how I got pregnant while I was on the pill.)

So, you should talk to your doc and the pharmacist about all the meds you're taking and ask lots of questions. I don't think a fruit diet would affect the way your pill works, but it doesn't hurt to find out for sure from a knowledgable professional. Good luck to you!

[Juliana]

Btw, what's seasonal?

[Maven]

Seasonale is a birth control pill that allows you to skip months of periods. I've done it with regular birth control pills, and it's great. Research suggests it's safe, and monthly periods are actually a product of our society; in other cultures, they only have their periods every three or four months. You can do your own research on that, though.

[littlemissjess]

Yep. Seasonal is a small pill, it's blueish colored (I don't know if all birthcontrols are) but you take it once a day, everyday, and it keeps you from having your period. You take the pill over the 3 months then at the end of the 3 months there's a yellow pill you take which lets you ovulate but I guess if you just stop the pill you get some aches and pains and you might feel sick, so that pill kind of relieves the symptoms.

Juliana, did you forget to take a pill which made you pregnant or just the fact the pill didn't work for you?

I'm scared though incase my pill doesn't work then? Will I become pregnant?

[Juliana]

Thanks Jess. I was taking my pill everyday at the same time when I got pregnant. I don't want to worry you, though. I happened to be taking rather large doses of St. John's Wort at the time and didn't realize that it can interfere with the pill and make it ineffective. I found that out AFTERWARDS. That's why I recommended that you always talk to your doctor about any meds or herbal supplements you're taking in addition to you pill -- just to be safe.

I took the pill for many, many years before taking St. John's Wort and it was totally effective. It was effective AFTER I stopped taking St. John's Wort too.

Maven, I've read some research on the period thing you mentioned. I find the subject very interesting. The research I read was in regard to estrogen-related breast cancer. The researchers were examining a connection to the fact that most women in our culture today have more periods in a life-time than women in previous generations and women in some other cultures. We start puberty earlier, live longer and because of effective birth control, we don't get pregnant as often, so our bodies go through many more periods (and our breasts are subjected to more and higher doses of estrogen) during our lifetimes. I found it very interesting... and concerning. I'm considering using the Mirena progestin-releasing IUD. For most women, it makes periods much lighter and much less frequent -- plus (from what I have read) it seems to be an effective, safe method of birth control for someone my age.

[Maven]

Jess, I used The Pill, too (different brand), and I didn't get pregnant. There is always a risk, and some women get pregnant, even if they take The Pill correctly, but the odds are in your favor for not getting pregnant. I personally recommend using condoms in addition, although I didn't with my current boyfriend (when we were having sex). But the condom will offer you some extra security. If you don't want to use condoms (certainly advised if you're not with one partner), you might consider a vaginal foam or something as a secondary protection.

Juliana, that's the same stuff I've read. You do good research!

[littlemissjess]

Hmmm. My boyfriend and I don't use condoms and I always said don't squirt inside of me till after my 3 months and i see my gyn again. But my gyn said if you miss a day on the pill, it breaks the cycle it had to not allow sperm in. But if you keep it consistant, and he squirts then what's the risk of that? High or low?

[Maven]

Low, but there's still a chance. The statistics say you have about 92%-99% chance of not getting pregnant. That mean that about 1-8 women out of 100 get pregnant on The Pill each year. Planned Parenthood - The Pill

However, you're saying that you had him pull out for the first three months. While this reduces your chances of getting pregnant, the withdrawal method (which is what that's called) is not an effective birth control method, because most of the time, there's pre-ejaculate on the tip of his penis at some point before he ejaculates.

It's important, of course, to take the pill not only every day, but at the same time. If you should miss a pill, your gyno should have given you instructions for that, but always use a backup method for that month as well.

[littlemissjess]

Yeah, thank god I got my period a couple days ago. But okay becuase my boyfriend always wanted to 'squirt inside' but I was iffy about it since I knew I wasn't taking it the same time everyday and I would forget. But now I know. I'm still worried a little.

[Maven]

I understand a guy wanting to do that, but you have to protect and respect yourself. No glove, no love.

[Juliana]

I agree with Maven. When it comes to dating, it's not just about not getting pregnant, you have to protect yourself from STDs too. The pill isn't going to do that. I have been in relationships with some very wonderful guys who I trusted and loved. But, I always reminded myself that I really don't know where those guys have been. I'm sure of them were truthful about their history and others might not have been -- and those guys don't know for sure what the history is of the women they've been with. So, you just never know and it's better safe than sorry. So, no glove, no love -- just like Maven said. In addition to protecting you from some pretty scary STDs, using a condom will also give you extra protection from getting pregnant.

[littlemissjess]

True. I have only had sex with him, and he has with 2 others too before me. I trust him alot, but I'm still scared. The 'morning after pill' does that seem to work also? I've known my boyfriend a long long time but never dated him till October. I know, I do respect myself and I don't want to get pregnant, well not now atleast. I've always said no don't just because I was afriad. He's had some crazy idea's before and he doesn't pressure me when I say no.

[Maven]

I've never had to use the "morning after pill," which is actually a couple of pills, as I recall. I need to re-read info on that. But yes, it works. It's not the same as RU-486, aka "the abortion pill," if that's a concern. I'm not anti-abortion, but I want to let you know that, in case you didn't. You can also ask your gynecologist for a prescription, so you can keep it on hand and will have it to take right after, if a condom breaks or something. Gynos usually consider this a great idea, and so do I. You don't take it unless you need to, but it's there if you feel you do.

I'm not suggesting your boyfriend is unfaithful, or any guy who says he isn't, but it's always good to protect yourself. Additionally, while a really small risk, if a guy had sex shortly before he met you and got together with you, there's a chance he contracted something (even he may not know it), so that's another reason to protect yourself.

I'm not trying to make you paranoid, but just safer.

[littlemissjess]

I know, I'm not huge on abortion either, but I guess maybe if it happens to me I'd want one but yet I'd feel bad. Ahh I don't feel like making that decission right now while it's not happening to me, I don't know!!

But my boyfriend was tested before me. Last time he had sex before we got together he said was a while ago, maybe a year. He did community service at a pharmacy, and he had to get tested for all that stuff. He had nothing (thank god!) but question -- (I don't know if this is stupid or not but...) If him and I have sex just with eachother, or just do stuff with eachother, could we still get any STD's just from eachother. Do germs build up over time to create them? I mean, I know he isn't with any other girls because he has track practice everyday afterschool and work and he's a goody-guy kind of person and his mom would tell me everything since we're close if he hung out with another girl.

I've taken the morning after pill but I'm not sure that it would be suitable for you.

The notion is that you take it as soon as possible after having unprotected sex. It isn't very good for your body, though, so it can't be relied on as an ongoing form of birth control. It is more for once off problems like rape or a condom that broke or something like that.

I would say that the safest option would be to keep taking the pill and to use condoms as well. Maven is right that the withdrawal method isn't terribly effective with respect to preventing pregnancies.

[Maven]

Yes, what Alexandra said. The Morning After Pill is just something you take once, after risky sex, meaning a condom has broken or you've been raped. It's not birth control for daily use; basically, the MAP is a high dosage of birth control taken at once, but it doesn't protect you for a whole month. And it's not healthy to take that much on a regular basis.

No, you can't get STDs if you're only having sex with each other and you're both clean of intravenous drug use where needles are shared (or any drug use, because using drugs or excessive alcohol can impair your judgement and make you make stupid decisions that may put you at risk), and aren't otherwise sharing blood or other body fluids with others. For example, those who engage in vampirism and drink other people's blood do put themselves at risk, although I think most people into this lifestyle limit their partners and get tested periodically. But that's just an example of a potentially dangerous thing. If one of you got an STD through needle-sharing or such, then you could pass it on to the other, but it doesn't develop on its own.

Yeah. Sounds like you don't have to worry about STD's. Condoms are still the most effective form of birth control (when used according to instructions), however, and so if you wanted something else to suppliment the pill to make extra sure then that would be natural choice.

Other than that there are spermicides (that can be used with or without condoms i think). I do wonder if using the pill and condoms and spermacide would be slight overkill... But better safe than sorry I guess.

Um... On a slight tangent (though this does relate to what we were talking about before)... I'm fairly sure that the Roman Catholic Church has ruled that the morning after pill / emergency contraceptive IS akin (in the relevant respects) to abortion.

I disagree.

But I just thought I'd put that out there that they do see the emergency contraceptive as being akin to abortion. But then they have similar ideas about the use of preventative contraception too, I guess.

Bugger for stem cell research...

[Maven]

Actually, condoms are good protection against pregnancy, but not the most effective form of birth control. I believe that's The Pill. I might be wrong, but condoms, when used correctly, are still a little less effective than The Pill.

However, for STDs, condoms are the most effective way of preventing them, other than abstinence.

If you're nervous about bringing up condoms to your boyfriend, scroll down on this page to where it says, "Sample Script for Safer Sex." It gives you ideas for bringing up the subject and explaining why you expect him to wear a condom. Here's a couple:

If Your Partner Says: But we've never used a condom before.
You Can Say: I don't want to take any more risks.

If Your Partner Says: Let's face it. Making love with a rubber on is like taking a shower with a raincoat on.
You Can Say: Well, doing it without a rubber is playing Russian roulette.

On that page, you'll also find a list of lubricants that are safe to use with condoms, and ones that are not. Never use an oil-based lubricant with a latex condom.

Yes, the Roman Catholic Church doesn't approve of the morning after pill (and others think it's the same as abortion, but it's not), but they also don't believe in birth control and often make rules so hospitals run by them won't provide it, even the morning after pill in cases of rape. That's my slight tangent.

[littlemissjess]

I'm good with saying no to things, I can put up a hell of an argument if I wanted to.

But wait, does hospitals now not have the morning after pill?

when i needed it i went to the hospital and they said that they didn't provide it anymore. it is available OTC (without a prescription) at pharmacies / chemists in Australia. I'm not sure whether that is the case where you are from. A phone call should sort that out, however.

When I went to the pharmacy there was a bit of a cue so other people overheard me asking for it when it was my turn. I needed to talk to the pharmacist before they would give it to me and so he took me to the place where the people who take methodone drink their methodone.

I think it is mostly to check that you are okay (in case you haven't reported being raped). Also to clearly explain how you are supposed to take it. Also to check that you are employing some other form of birth control (if you are sexually active generally). There really was a lot of controversy over here about whether it should be available OTC. If the abortion rate drops in consequence I'm all for it, however.

One possible side effect is nausea. You have to take two tablets EXACTLY 12 hours (I think) apart. If you feel nauseous and throw up then it won't work so you need to try and take it again. If you throw up on round two then there is probably no point moving to round three because it will be too late. When I took it I did feel a bit sick so I didn't eat anything and I stayed lying down to try and prevent vomiting.

I just mean to say... Please don't rely on this as a form of birth control. It really is pretty harsh on your body (a massive hit of estrogen) and there is a risk that it might fail.

With respect to condoms... If you do choose to use something else to suppliment the pill then I think the best line of action with your boyfriend would be the simple truth. You can tell him that you do trust that he is clean and faithful so neither of you have to worry about STD's, but that it is really really very important to you (and to him no doubt) that you not get pregnant.

Another option could be IUD or depot injection. I've heard mixed reports about the depot injection. Some people think it is about the most wonderful thing since sliced bread (and you don't have your period while you are on it) while others have problems with feeling bloated or spotting etc.

[Maven]

Some hospitals may not provide it. This mostly refers to those owned by certain religious institutions, such as the Catholic Church.

Is that the case in the US?

As I said it isn't provided through hospitals in Australia anymore (though I'm sure they do have it available for inpatients).

Instead, it is available OTC without a prescription from local pharmacies / chemists / drugstores.

[Maven]

Yeah, I meant the US. Sorry. But now that you mention it, I think they did just make it OTC here in the US, too. I'll have to double-check that.