I need advice..

[DonTrivello]

Alright, I'm 17 years old, and my girlfriend is 17 as well. Early June we began hooking up more frequently than normal, and began to form a more stable relationship between us. Then in mid July, while we were both semi drunk, we had sex. This sex lasted all of 15 seconds before I realized that what we were doing was wrong. Somehow, I always need to be the responsible one. Anyway, so after that, we began using more protection in the form of condoms. It helped ease my conscience of her getting pregnant, my biggest fear. All the while we were having sex, I kept pushing birth control on her because I knew it would only benefit us both, and help her not get pregnant amongst other things too. I finally got it. About a month  and a half ago, she went to the gynecologist, and didn't even receive an exam before the doctor gave her 3 boxes of YAZ birth control. She was hesitant to begin it then. She told me she was waiting for her period (I saw no real problem with that). So, a month ago, a random monday, she started taking them. It seemed close to her period when she started but we really had no idea, and when we called for information, they said it was perfectly safe to start at anytime, but how long it took to begin being protected. We continued having sex with condoms, which was fine. Then, last Sunday, we tried something new. We both knew it was nearing the end of her first pack (only 4 pink pills to go) and we thought we'd be okay.... so i came inside her, without a condom, twice in one day. Yesterday was her last pink pill for her first pack, and today she'll begin taking the remaining inactive pills. I'm extremely scared that she won't get her period this month. Now, I've heard that many many women don't get their first or second periods when they begin birth control. What should I do? I, like most other 17 year olds, can't afford having a child. Honestly, I don't want to stop having sex with her; I just want to know that she's protected against pregnancy, so I can stay sane for a while longer. Please help.

Thanks,  
Don Trivello

[peekawho]

Its a big gamble men take, trusting their entire futures to a girlfriend to take the pill correctly and honestly.  

If I were facing 18 years of possible child support payments, you'd better believe I'd use condoms, no matter what my girlfriend said.  

good luck in the future.  

[DonTrivello]

Peekawho,

Thank you very much for your advice. I agree that using condoms is a good idea. My girl friend has the kind of OCD personality that makes her extremely consciencious about taking her pill, and I do trust her. Despite that.. You do make a valid point in that it does happen. Honestly, I'm not willing to take that risk, and if the answer is just to wear condoms for extra protection, consider it done. Thank you again for the advice.. I know who to look to next time I have a question.

Don

[peekawho]

Don, I'm probably going to take heat for this, but this is how I feel.  

I think you should continue using condoms along with the pill.  Not because I think the pill isn't effective or anything like that, because it is highly effective, when used correctly.

My concern is the number of teens (and even adult women, for that matter) who don't take it correctly....or for whatever reason, don't take it at all and tell their partner they are.  Thats my big concern.  And if I were a young man, I'd have the same worries as you.  
Unless you see her take it every single day...actually see her take it, you have only her word that she's really taking her pill every day.  Perhaps you know her well enough to feel confident in her word.  Only you can judge that.  

I hate to imply that women aren't truthful about pill taking...but it sure happens.  

On to your question.  If she starts the pack randomly, and she's been on it almost a month, she should be protected, and she should get her period sometime during the week of the inactive pills.  If she doesn't, she should take a pregnancy test near the end of the week of inactive pills.  She should begin the new pack as usual.  She should test again for pregnancy in another week.  If she's still unsure or confused, she should see her doctor.

Good luck.  My advice to all young men is to always use condoms unless you are in a committed, stable, and long term relationship.  Its YOUR future at stake.