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Can birth control really mess with your cycle?
I am 20, and in college. My boyfriend came to see me in mid October, so I had started taking birth control pills about a month before that after my period which had ended around September 16. After he left, which was about October 20th, I stopped taking the pills. I now have yet to have my period. I have taken birth control before for cramping purposes but this is the first time I've actually used it for contraception. Usually I get my period right after I go off the pill. I'm just concerned because this has not happened to me before and I was wondering if anyone knows whether birth control messes with your cycle a lot, or any info related. I am going to take a pregnancy test tomorrow morning, but I feel like there should be virtually no chance of being pregnant because we used the pill and condoms. Any insight or advice my fellow, more experienced women?
Hi there,
First and foremost, your method of contraception is going to fail eventually if you keep up with only taking pills during the time of sex. That's not what they are intended for and you would need to be on a more regulated schedule. Hormonal birth control pills (depending on which ones you're on) can take between 4-12 weeks to take full effect. Sooner than later as of recent pill production, however, if you're on the mini-pill, you would need to take it at the same time every single day for it to be effective. If you only took pills during the time before and during the time your boyfriend was in town, you could still have a high chance of getting pregnant if the condom tore. Semen can stay in your reproductive track for up to 7 days, so it wasn't wise to stop taking your pills so soon after he left. I would advise to take your birth control pills as prescribed. If you are on a normal pill, you would take 3 weeks of hormonal pills and one week of sugar pills.
First and foremost, your method of contraception is going to fail eventually if you keep up with only taking pills during the time of sex. That's not what they are intended for and you would need to be on a more regulated schedule. Hormonal birth control pills (depending on which ones you're on) can take between 4-12 weeks to take full effect. Sooner than later as of recent pill production, however, if you're on the mini-pill, you would need to take it at the same time every single day for it to be effective. If you only took pills during the time before and during the time your boyfriend was in town, you could still have a high chance of getting pregnant if the condom tore. Semen can stay in your reproductive track for up to 7 days, so it wasn't wise to stop taking your pills so soon after he left. I would advise to take your birth control pills as prescribed. If you are on a normal pill, you would take 3 weeks of hormonal pills and one week of sugar pills.
Since you used both the pill and condoms, it doesn't sound like you would be pregnant. Have you been taking it as the doctor prescribed? Same time each day? Missed any pills? If you haven't missed any pills and have taken it like the doctor told you to, it is probably just the pill changing your cycle.
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