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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask about getting pregnant on the pill

64 replies

Chattycat78 · 10/03/2017 13:42

Does this happen to a lot of people? Or are they missing pills/taking other meds/vomiting?

The internet seems to be full of people who were apparently taking their pill properly and still got pregnant.

I'm worried about this because I'm currently taking the mini pill. I feel like I don't trust it but I have no other choice until I've finished breastfeeding. I also have no idea where I am with cycles because I've not had a period for months (since being pregnant) and I have no idea if my fertility would have come back by now. The mini pill also prevents periods it seems (or it has with me) so I would have no idea if I was late or if something was amiss which bothers me.

I also had a slight bought of diarrhoea a few weeks ago which set me panicking about the mini pill failing. All the info online talked about "severe" diarrhoea being an issue and that wasn't what I had, so I was left clueless as to whether I should be concerned or not.

Am I just paranoid? I have to say that I probably am, because I absolutely do not want to get pregnant, and also because the lack of cycle means that I have no clue what's going on with my body. realise that I could use condoms as well as the pill, but when you've been married for years that hardly seems ideal, hence the question about whether the pill really isn't that great, or whether it's people not using it properly.

What do people think?

OP posts:
Original poster
Chattycat78 · 10/03/2017 14:44

Good point hodge.

OP posts:
Nquartz · 10/03/2017 14:46

I managed to not get pregnant on the combined pill for 15 years but the narrow window to take the mini pill puts me off. We've been using condoms for nearly 5 years with no issues.
Agree with PP, if you really really don't want to get pregnant I'd double up

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 10/03/2017 14:48

Sorry - I may have come across as a bit blunt there. I didn't mean to. I totally and utterly understand and empathise with the feeling of worry about contraceptive failure. It really, really sucks.

DJBaggySmalls · 10/03/2017 14:51

If you are on the mini pill, I'd use a cap or condom. in the week you would expect to be fertile if you weren't taking it.

JuneBuggy · 10/03/2017 14:51

I got pregnant on the mini pill too. Taken every day within the right time window. Only knew after I got off a bus to throw up in spectacular fashion on my way to work. I was 8 weeks pregnant! Grin

TheWorldAccordingToToads · 10/03/2017 14:51

I would say that a lot of it is down to user error tbh.

Having said that, I fell pregnant whilst taking the combined pill a few years ago. I was taking it properly, never missed a day and was always fanatical about taking it at the same time every day, wasn't ill or taking any medication.

I am now pregnant again whilst on the mini pill. In this case it probably had something to do with the fact I had a tummy bug and my head was also all over the place so I may have missed a day or taken some out of the 12 hour window. I honestly can't remember Blush

teainbed · 10/03/2017 14:54

There is also the difference between 'perfect use' and 'typical use' so failure rates quoted are often the perfect use ones.

Original poster
Chattycat78 · 10/03/2017 14:56

That's a good idea DJ- however, I have no idea if or when I would be fertile as my periods haven't returned yet post partum, and I'm still breastfeeding during the night. I don't even know if they would have come back yet or not because the mini pill stops your periods.

OP posts:
MargaretCavendish · 10/03/2017 14:59

Look, this thread is obviously going to attract everyone who got pregnant on the pill, and so give you a totally skewed view. It happens, but not often. It depends on you, how you're taking it, and your body. I took the pill fairly but not perfectly well for 10 years and didn't get pregnant. But then it also took me seven months of well-timed unprotected intercourse to get pregnant when I wanted to. Not everyone is me. The statistics show it works for the great majority of women, but that it doesn't work for a sizeable minority (I'm counting 'taking imperfectly' as 'not working for them' here).

Original poster
Chattycat78 · 10/03/2017 15:02

Also a very good point! Thanks.

OP posts:
DJBaggySmalls · 10/03/2017 15:04

I know, I went by the start and end of the pack. Partner had a vasectomy and I was still antsy in case it reversed itself Grin

CallingGloria · 10/03/2017 15:05

The internet seems to be full of people who were apparently taking their pill properly and still got pregnant.

It seems so on MN thats for sure.

I think a lot of people will swear they took it correctly but probably didn't.

I agree, nothing is 100% but some have either missed a pill or taken too late, or had a tummybug or sickness.

SpreadYourHappiness · 10/03/2017 16:21

I've been on the mini pill for 10 years and never got pregnant. Always taken it correctly, though.

SpreadYourHappiness · 10/03/2017 16:23

Oh and the mini pill hasn't stopped my periods. Still get them every month.

MillionToOneChances · 10/03/2017 16:25

My friend got pregnant on the pill after a mild bout of diarrhoea.

Original poster
Chattycat78 · 10/03/2017 16:31

Interesting spread - I wonder if that's common? I've not had any periods but I don't know if that's because of breastfeeding or because of the mini pill.

OP posts:
BitchQueen90 · 10/03/2017 16:43

I am on the mini pill and have been since DS was born nearly 4 years ago. I take it every day within the correct time frame. I love it, it's stopped my periods and I've not got pregnant or had a scare.

FeliciaJollygoodfellow · 10/03/2017 16:53

I've never had a pregnancy scare, not with ten years of the pill and not in the two years we used condoms between having kids. I am very fertile though.

I really think the majority of people that fall pregnant it's user error.

Emboo19 · 10/03/2017 17:13

I really wish there was a 100% effective contraception that wasn't permanent, other than abstaining of course!

I got pregnant with my dd, while on the implant.
Definitely don't want another yet and I'm breastfeeding too, so I'm currently taking the mini pill and we use condoms as well. It's not ideal, but I don't think I can trust one form of contraception at all!

Emboo19 · 10/03/2017 17:15

I've not had a period yet either, but not sure if it's the mini pill or breastfeeding.

mayhew · 10/03/2017 17:23

As a midwife I don't push the pill for postnatal women because it's so hard to keep to the timing with a baby. How about depot? An injection every 12 weeks and if you don't like it you can switch methods without drama.

Original poster
Chattycat78 · 10/03/2017 18:14

You're right meyhew - it is hard keeping to timings (;I have a toddler too) I have a reminder on my phone that comes up every day. I've heard some scary things about bleeding on the implant. Not sure how true they are.

OP posts:
hideehigh · 10/03/2017 19:40

I fell pg "on the pill". However, I had gone for a weekend away and left it at home.. two missed pills = 1 baby 😊

SpreadYourHappiness · 10/03/2017 23:05

Chattycat78 The mini pill varies; it's different for everyone. Your periods can get lighter or stop altogether, or they can even be more frequent. It just depends.

GreyStars · 10/03/2017 23:21

I did, but that is because the idiot pharmacist gave me out of date pills and I stupidly did not check, which normally I always do. Two months down the line and missed period and my first miscarriage of way too many.

You can actually completely miss a pill at certain times of the month, and still not be at risk of pregnancy. The mini pill can be different given the shorter time window but a pharmacist can advise of this, and if you are concerned speak to one - most are very nice and be happy to discuss any concerns Grin

Many antibiotics have now been proven not to affect the contraceptive pill. Unless it's causing vomiting, diorahhea or the antibiotic is rifampicin or rifabutin

I really think that most people who get pregnant on the pill have either a) missed a hell of a lot of them or b) actually wanted to get pregnant, then blamed pill failure.

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