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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

The pill - Will I get pregnant if...

55 replies

nobaby · 27/08/2008 19:58

I have just started taking the pill (2 weeks ago). I know that rather than having my period, I can continue taking the pill rather than having a week off, but will this affect the pill working? Or will I get pregnant?

If this is Ok to do, then could I stop taking the pill now for a week and get my period now...? Basically I dont want my period when it is due! But would this affect the action of the pill or might I get pregnant?

I know that it is probably risky to mess around with the pill after only being on it for a short time. Should I let my body get into some sort of cycle with it before doing anything? Will I get pregnant or will there be any other side effects>?

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Blandmum · 27/08/2008 20:00

NO it will not affect the pill working.

For some people on particular anticonvulasnt drugs this is how they are advised to take the pill.

There is no particualr 'need' to have a period on the pill at all, but it was 'written in' to the pill taking scheme to re-assure woman that they are not pg!

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nobaby · 27/08/2008 20:03

so does that mean I can safely have a week off now with no chance of babies??

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Blandmum · 27/08/2008 20:05

don't stop a pill packet arly or you will risk getting pg.

Take the next packet without a gap

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nobaby · 27/08/2008 20:06

or is it best to continue with this pack and then start the next one straight away? I would feel better doing that

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Blandmum · 27/08/2008 20:06

xpost!

Take the next pack without a break. It will still work!

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nobaby · 27/08/2008 20:07

thanks MB, thats reassuring - are you a doctor...?

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Seona1973 · 27/08/2008 20:08

no I think you need to take it for the full 3 weeks to get the right level of hormones to prevent pregnancy in the week you would have no pills. If you stopped them midway through a pack (i.e. after 2 weeks instead of 3) then they would count as missed pills and yes there would be a high possibility of you getting pregnant. Why not just run 2 packs together and not have a period at all?

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nobaby · 27/08/2008 20:09

I will do that! I just thought as I have only been on it for such a short time it might not work properly if i didnt follow the instructions exactly

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Blandmum · 27/08/2008 20:11

No I'm not a doctor, but I used to be a medical information officer for a phramaceutical company that made the contraceptive pill!

This was one of the most common querstions that we had to answer, and I answered at least one a week!

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PuppyMonkey · 27/08/2008 20:11

Apparently, or so I heard, the inventors of The Pill only did the "have a week off so you have a period" thing because they thought women PREFERRED having periods!!!???

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nobaby · 27/08/2008 20:39

Ok next question, basically I dont want my period at weekends ever! At present my pill taking is due to stop on a tuesday and so I will always have my period over the weekend when I get it! So could I take say 4 extra pills straight at the end of this pack to change the timing of my period?

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Blandmum · 27/08/2008 20:40

Not prefered, as such, but many women are reassured at a regular period as it shows that they are not PG (or very unlikely to be PG)

Some women dislike the POP because often they do not have periods. I had one woman who used to phone me evey month for re-assurance that as she was BF and taking the POP she wasn't pg, she just hadn't ovulated! It used to stress the hell out of her.

I think that with the onset of use of things like the Marena IUD, this attidude is changing as woman feel confident that they are not PG even without a regular period

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nobaby · 27/08/2008 20:40

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nobaby · 27/08/2008 20:42

sorry for 2x post!

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Blandmum · 27/08/2008 20:49

I think that you would be OK if you made the pill free gap shorter to shift the day your period starts. But if I am totally honest, I can't remember 100% and would be happier if this was confirmed by a medic!

But you should never leave a gap of more than 7 days to try to do it, as that would deffo risk you getting PG

So, can a passing medic or pharmacist advise?

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nobaby · 27/08/2008 20:51

thanks, I trust your advice, sounds like you are as informed as anyone - I wont go risking anything silly til I know for sure!

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Ledodgy · 27/08/2008 20:56

Sorry to hijack but Martianbishop can I have a glass of wine if i'm on Clarythromicin or can I not?

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nobaby · 27/08/2008 21:05

bump for a medic...

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AMumInScotland · 27/08/2008 21:10

Eek, you're confusing me having 2 threads...

Not a medic, but lots of biology background...

So long as you take at least 21 in a row, and the gap is never more than 7, you're safe.

(so long as taken on time, no D&V bugs etc!)

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PortAndLemon · 27/08/2008 21:12

See if you can find emma1977 around -- she's a GP with a special interest in contraception.

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nobaby · 27/08/2008 21:13

Sorry for confusing you! I didnt think I would get any replies so posted twice! Thanks for your advice though, I think I have got it sorted! I will take some extra pills at the end of this pack (which will also mean im period free on the weekend!) and then the timing will be better next time - hopefully that will work!

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AMumInScotland · 27/08/2008 21:16

Yep, or MBs suggestion of starting the fresh pack sooner - that way you won't end up with most of a pack lying round to confuse you!

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nobaby · 27/08/2008 21:27

Right now im thinking that it would be good to shift my period by a few days. If i was to take 2 packs on the trot and miss this period, could I then stop the second pack a few days early? This would be more than 21 (30 something) pills so would be ok?

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ElfOnTheTopShelf · 27/08/2008 21:33

I think you can run all your packs back to back if you like, there is no need to stop to have a week off just means you go to the docs more frequently for new pills.
I used to run back to back for a couple of months, but then I had to come off the combined pill due to an illness at Christmas which led the doctors to say I'm only allowed the mini pill, I have had 2/3 periods this year and that is it.

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emma1977 · 27/08/2008 21:34

Hi there,

Firstly, MB is entirely correct about not stopping this packet early and just running your next packet back-to-back to prevent you having a period this time around.

Secondly, with regard to altering the timing of your periods, yes you can also do that. As others have also said, just add a few extra pills on the end of your next pack so that your period would be due when it is better-timed. Have your 7 days off and then start a new pack for the next 21 days. Hey presto- convenient periods.

A lot of women run 3 packs of pills back-to-back so that they only have 4 periods per year. Its a method which is not licenced but very well-recognised and is generally safe. In the USA they have a brand called Seasonale which effectively does this. There is no point whatsoever for the withdrawal bleed with the combined pill and the original pills didn't have it, but women demanded it to reassure them they weren't pregnant (in the days when home pregnancy testing didn't exist and pregnancy was diagnosed by missed periods).

Gosh, have I bored you to tears yet??