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I was on a mid dose birth control, trying to change from a higher dose, Ovral. I was doing fine for the first week of the second new pack and then started to bleed. I called my doctor and asked to change back to Ovral, the nurse said that I could go ahead and start the new pack now, so I did, I started the pack that Thursday without missing any pills or taking any time off from the old pills (i am normally a sunday starter, so I started my new pack on the same day that it would have been if i had been on this pack the entire time, skipped the first 4 doses and started on the thursday pill, but did not miss any actual pills between the old pills and the new ones). My question is, do I take this pack like normal, start a new pack on the sunday i would normally (which would me that I did not take the first 4 days of pills, since I had taken the old pill those days), or do I take the entire pack and have a new start day (would be thursdays)? Just wondering about pregnancy protection, I am currently sexually active and do not use any other method. I have not missed any pills, just started the new pack in the middle of the old pack and just wondering what to do and what is the best to do. Thank you
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I am not clear on if the nurse told you to skip the first 4 doses of the new pack (so that you are on the same "day" as with the old pack), but since you did not miss any hormonal contraception in your system, it would be recommended that you still "err on the side of caution" and use this new contraception for 7 days before having sex without a condom.
After the 7 day time frame, this new birth control would be 99% effective at preventing pregnancy if used consistently and correctly.
April 10, 2011 - 6:33pmThis Comment
The nurse did not say one way or the other. I just figured to pick up where i was currently in the old pack in the new pack. My biggest question is should i finish the pack out and start a new pack on sunday like normal (so i would still have missed those 4 pills in this pack) or do i take all pills and end up with a new start date (thursday instead of sunday, but i would have taken all pills in this pack)? I normally skip the placebo week and take pills continuously, so that is my question. Take whole pack and start new one on thursday or start new pack on sunday like normal and not take those first 4 pills? thanks
April 11, 2011 - 2:31amThis Comment
Honestly, I am not sure if it matters, since you have already started the new pack. The directions are not going to tell us how to advise you on using the prescription to "correct" this different-method of starting.
If all of the pills in your pack are the same dosage (except for the placebo week, of course), then it will not matter. Some prescriptions do alter the amount of hormones by week, and then it WOULD matter how you continue taking the pills.
Your best option is just to call the nurse back and ask your question, since she advised you on taking the prescription differently than as prescribed. In the meantime, if I can find any information that pertains to your specific scenario, I will post any results.
Let us know what your nurse said, as this could help other women in the same situation. You can find the type of prescription you have on your patient information booklet that comes with your prescription (it will tell you the dosage of each pill, and whether the dose changes weekly or if all pills are equal).
April 12, 2011 - 11:04amThis Comment