Once you start the "reminder" or "inactive" pills, you can most likely expect your body to take a few days before your withdrawal bleeding begins. Some women begin right away; others don't start until they are almost finished with their week of inactive pills. There are so many factors that cause this fluctuation, including your own body's hormones, recent medications and illnesses, stress...and just the normal process of living and your body reacting to the environment.
If you do not start your period by the end of the inactive week, you may want to purchase a home pregnancy test ($12-$15).
I am surprised that your doctor did not tell you about the antibiotic risk, and depending on your personality and communication-style with your doctor...you may want to call and ask if your specific antibiotics do interfere with the pill. If s/he says yes, you may gently let him/her know that this would be great information to tell women as they are being handed the written prescription. (Just to advocate for other women). I would start with a question, first...perhaps there is a type of antibiotic that does not interfere with the pill, or perhaps it is a sticker that is on your prescription bottle or written in the patient information brochure (just so not to put all the blame on your doctor; it just does seem to be important to remind women).
For future reference, whenever you miss a pill, you DO want to take it as soon as you remember. Next time you get a refill pack, be sure to keep one copy of the patient information brochure as a reference. It is confusing to read, but most of them provide helpful instructions on what to do when you miss a pill. For instance:
Tues: oops...missed pill
Wed: take Wednesday's pill and Tuesday's missed pill
Thur: take pill as usual
You may have heard that you don't want to take two pills at the same time, because it can be irritating to your stomach. You can take one in the AM and the other in the PM.
Let us know what your results are, or if your period comes. I'm assuming it will come sometime this week, as you mentioned you were experiencing cramps. Good luck!
Comment Reply
I'm glad I could help.
Once you start the "reminder" or "inactive" pills, you can most likely expect your body to take a few days before your withdrawal bleeding begins. Some women begin right away; others don't start until they are almost finished with their week of inactive pills. There are so many factors that cause this fluctuation, including your own body's hormones, recent medications and illnesses, stress...and just the normal process of living and your body reacting to the environment.
If you do not start your period by the end of the inactive week, you may want to purchase a home pregnancy test ($12-$15).
I am surprised that your doctor did not tell you about the antibiotic risk, and depending on your personality and communication-style with your doctor...you may want to call and ask if your specific antibiotics do interfere with the pill. If s/he says yes, you may gently let him/her know that this would be great information to tell women as they are being handed the written prescription. (Just to advocate for other women). I would start with a question, first...perhaps there is a type of antibiotic that does not interfere with the pill, or perhaps it is a sticker that is on your prescription bottle or written in the patient information brochure (just so not to put all the blame on your doctor; it just does seem to be important to remind women).
For future reference, whenever you miss a pill, you DO want to take it as soon as you remember. Next time you get a refill pack, be sure to keep one copy of the patient information brochure as a reference. It is confusing to read, but most of them provide helpful instructions on what to do when you miss a pill. For instance:
Tues: oops...missed pill
Wed: take Wednesday's pill and Tuesday's missed pill
Thur: take pill as usual
You may have heard that you don't want to take two pills at the same time, because it can be irritating to your stomach. You can take one in the AM and the other in the PM.
Let us know what your results are, or if your period comes. I'm assuming it will come sometime this week, as you mentioned you were experiencing cramps. Good luck!
October 15, 2009 - 1:49pmThis Comment
Reply