Unprotected Sex- birth control working or get morning after pill?
Question:
I had unprotected sex last night and was wondering if the pills should already be effective or if I need to get the morning after pill.
I started taking the birth control pills mid-cycle, so my attempt to figure out whether or not I am ovulating was basically a lost cause.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
PS- I am in NYC right now, lower east side Manhattan. If I do need to get emergency contraception, where would I go?
Answers:
I would get some Plan B (morning after). It's a VERY strong birth control pill.
Regular pills take at least 1 month to work. And no, the morning after pill isn't an abortion pill. It prevents contraception it doesn't destroy a zygote.
Heads up though, considering you are just starting birth control, Plan B will make you VERY irritable, tired, depressed, etc. It does for everyone, but really for those already on birth control.
Also, birth control pills are supposed to be started on the first Sunday after your period (even if the Sunday is one of the last few days of it). I certainly hope your doctor told you this, otherwise I would find a new one =S
I'd get the EC.. the pill takes longer to work than that. Three weeks I think.
Contact the local Planned Parenthood office and ask someone. It is my understanding that you should NEVER double up the hormones (BCPs and Emergency Contraceptive) except under the direct supervision of a doctor.
You should have started taking your BCPs either on the first day of your period or the first Sunday following your period.. NOT in the middle of your cycle. I'm pretty sure that they offer little or no contraceptive protection at this point as you may or may not have ovulated (as you tried to figure out...which is impossible!).
Make that phone call.
You need to go to the nearest free clinic or planned parenthood. The pill takes a full cycle to work!
If started during the period, as the instructions suggest, the contraceptive pill will actually be effective after seven days. The reason being that you will not have ovulated prior to taking the pill, so the pill will stop that from happening, and you will have no egg waiting for fertilisation. However, since you started your pack midway through a cycle, there's every chance you had ovulated since your last period. I would suggest either seeing a doctor, or at least speaking to the pharmacist about how the morning after pill will effect your contraceptive pill, and make sure you take every precaution until you are SURE that you're protected.
More Questions & Answers...