Am I an ignorant twat for not knowing this or is it not true? Anyone know?

[ElizaDooFuckAll]

Ladies

Not sure if posting here is the right place but it seemed as good as any.

I ran out of pills, couldn't get my prescription from the Dr so borrowed a pack from my friend, who takes a different brand.

I joked with my co workers today that I was going to switch to my friends brand as my boobs seemed to be growing. When I explained what I meant they all went nuts and said that you shouldn't do that as you wouldn't be covered for the first 10 days of taking the new branded pill, so could end up pregnant.

Seriously - is this true? Am I completely ignorant of this or.....should I not have thrown mydd's cot out at the weekend? Have I technically been having unprotected sex for 10/14 days??

I think your co workers could be right, esp if you're taking a combined pill and your friend is taking a mini pill. They both work differently so effectively you are changing your contraceptive and aren't covered for the first 10 days or so. I'm sure someone who knows definitively will come along soon, but I think you have indeed been having unprotected sex for the past fortnight.

Oh F*

Ignorant twat it is then !

Well, don't take my word for it, but a lot depends I think on the type of pill you and your friend are taking.

Are they both either combined or mini pills? That would make a difference. On Cerazette you would only be not covered for 48 hoursI think

I think there are a number of reasons for not borrowing your friend's pills, only one of which is contraceptive failure.

Hope all turns out ok.

Exactly devora, its not just the risk of accidental pregnancy you should worry about OP... different doses of pill have different effects on individuals. Your friend has been prescribed that pill because her GP knows it's safe for her. Your body may be different, blood pressure, weight, age etc are all relevant when prescribing the pill, so the pill you were on was right for your body.

I'm certain they are both combined as she was on Yasmin as I was until recently. Devora, apologise for my ignorance I thought any pills were better than no pills. At least I tried. I too, hope all turns out OK ! But fear not, I will give it 11 days until my period is due and then I will come back and let you all know if im fine or up the spout. Yikes.

Thanks Headfairy and BillyBB

Aside from the safety issues of taking someone else's medication, I was always told when starting or changing the pill, to start on the first day of your period, so you would

Ooops posted too soon!

So that you would be protected by the time your fertile period came round again.

I would seriously be wondering just why my boobs were getting bigger, and go POAS if I were you!

It might be worth getting it in a repeat prescription and use the local pharmacy repeat service, then you know it'll be at the pharmacy when you need It.

I hope things turn out the best for you :)

God yeah, I missed that bit Lack... boobs getting bigger OP? Erm, you might need to POAS. I hope things turn out how you want them to.

ha! Daisy - not such a bad idea. Too early though. I am going to have to wait 11 more days until I am due on. (unless you know of something that can tell me sooner? like a clairvoyant??) (or are there super sensitive sticks about I can pee on these days??)

I'm a bit at the idea that everyones pills are individually tailored to them. You try one, it doesn't suit, you try another and so on. Its a guessing game for doctors. There are a few reasons why you might take one particular brand over another, but not for the majority.
And if they are both combined pills you are pretty much covered if you switch to another one straight away. You are certainly far better off than having not taken any at all.

So your friend takes a different type of pill from you and you've started taking hers? Not the best idea!

Btw when my boobs expanded whenI was on the pill I was immediately switched to another brand.

well....yes I did nick a pack off her. I've been on several types in the past and don't remeber this 10 days things when changing over, but that was years ago. I know her's is COC, so is mine. Well whoopsie lesson learnt for me if was a reeeeally bad idea!

I did want a second child but not now. Oh well, things happen for a reason.

Peppy, pills aren't individually tailored, of course! But the pill prescribed to one person may not be suitable for someone else because of all sorts of underlying reasons you may not be aware of.

I used to be a sexual health instructor, so I'm quite familiar. For a very small amoutn of people there will be a particular reason for being on one brand, but for most people (like the OP, otherwise she wouldn't have taken a different one so readily) they are pretty much interchangeable unless they discover upon trying them that they don't suit.

I'm gonna die ! Booked Dr appointment on Wednesday. Assuming I don't die of hormone poisoning by then.

I do agree with what's been said eliza but when I started my pill my breasts gew a lot and there was no problem, I know a lot of people that have experienced the same thing too. Did you catch easily with your dd? I guess you've atleast learnt your lesson ;) good luck!

*grew!

did you have a 7 day pill break or did you switch to the other pill the day after yours finished? If you switched straight away then you will be covered immediately, if not, then you are supposed to use extra precautions for the next 7 days

If that's the case Peppy, why isn't the pill available over the counter?

because blood pressure, etc needs to be monitored too

For many different reasons, both political and cultural as well as medical.