Ladies (and perhaps guys), I need info on "the pill"

[ALago1]

My girlfriend has been on "the pill" for over a year, and has been very meticulous about taking each dose on time. In fact, she has never missed a dose during the whole duration she's been on it.

However, she did not get her period this month and we are a little bit concerned.

In the past, she has gotten very very light periods while on the pill but never before missed one entirely.

I've read that skipped periods sometimes happens as a result of the pill. Is this true? Are our concerns at the present moment unfounded? Anyone with knowledge or personal experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all!

Oh and to clear up any potential ambiguity, I'm a guy :)

[Jack_Dawson]

1. Is she a track athlete?

If not, Congrats Papa!





Just kidding I have no idea.

[Catch22Dem]

2. Happens sometimes

But, ya know there's only one way to be sure. You can be somewhat sure if you just go to the drug store and pick up a preg. test.

[put out]

3. Very common.

If she has been taking them as directed, the chances of untended pregnancy are just about zippo. This is medical language.

The pluses: light periods, skipped periods. Less discomfort, less PMS. Planning a vacation during her placebo pills? Skip the placebos and go right on to the next pack.

Incidentally, the only reason the pill was designed with a seven day round of placebo pills is because the designers thought women wanted and expected to have a period every month.

Not me, thanks.

Edited: be cautious if she is taking antibiotics; they can lessen the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. Some herbal stuff, too, I think. Otherwise, you two are golden.

[Lost in GA]

8. Wow..very thorough!

And fun to read.

[ALago1]

9. Thank you very much

:)

[SickOfSpin]

4. Did she take any other meds...

in the last month, particularly antibiotics? Some drugs interfere with the efficacy of oral contraceptives. Hopefully this isn't the case with your girlfriend.

Oops - poster above mentioned same thing! We're thinking alike here!

[ALago1]

6. Nope

no meds.

[MountainLaurel]

5. Has she been taking antibiotics?

I do know that those can screw with the effectiveness of birth control pills.

Also, has she been under a lot of stress, been really worried, etc.? That sort of thing can disrupt your regular cycles (last time I lived with my parents I didn't have a period for the three-month duration); stress might act similarly for the chemically-induced bleed.

Hope that helps.

[ALago1]

7. Thanks for the info !

n/t

[Pithlet]

10. You're probably okay

She should probably take a test just to be sure, if she's never missed a period before.

Is it a "mini pill"? Those have a higher incidence of pregnancy with correct usage. Regular pills are usually a combination of estrogen and progesterone, usually synthetic versions. The mini pill only has one of those.

[southerngirlwriter]

11. My friend the gynocologist sez......

A lot of medical stuff.

I said, "I'm a Philosophy major; please speak English."

She said:

"It's highly likely that she's pregnant, unless she's been severely traumatized, is working out really really intensely, has been dieting, or something else unusual like that is going on.

She also said that: "As long as you have three or four periods a year, it's safe to take your pills almost all the time and that having a period every month is not necessary for good health, unless there's a family history of uterine cancer."


Edited for punctuation (really!).

[ALago1]

12. Well she's been dieting and exercising

n/t

[southerngirlwriter]

13. That can sometimes cause a missed period.

So, if a pregnancy would be disastrously bad news, try not to freak out yet. :)

[ALago1]

15. Haha

I'm not too worried actually. Thanks

[YNGW]

14. Forget the pill. Green M&M's do the same thing. Cheaper, too.

nc

[Nikia]

16. Thyroid problems?

I've missed two recent, but non consecutive periods and she had me tested for thyroid problems, which are not uncommon. She said that sometimes just happens too.

[populistmom]

17. Go to the drug store

Buy a pregnancy test. Use the first morning's urine (it will pick it up even if it's early that way) because the hormones are more concentrated.
I had a case of food poisoning once. I threw up a couple hours after taking the pill. I called the doctor who said not to worry because it already got into my system and couldn't have thrown it up if I had taken it a couple hours eariler. I got pregnant anyway. Some of us are very fertile and it doesn't take much. Antiibiotics can do it sometimes as the will reduce the effectiveness of the pill. Taking the pill several hours late can make some people pop out an egg. And there's still that 1% for those who take it perfectly.
She may very well be missing a period, but get the test. They're less than $10 and you'll know for sure by morning. It's better to know sooner than later. Best wishes. I hope things work out the way you want them to. :hug:

[ALago1]

19. Yeah you're right

I'm pretty convinced it's nothing, but just to be safe we'll get a test.

Thanks!

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

18. Pill

Sometimes stress can cause missed periods to happen. She may want to take a pregnancy test just-in-case. If she misses another period, I'd go the doctor to get checked out. She may simply need different pill (higher dose). Good luck!

[Scout]

20. probably ok

I was on the pill for years, and I lost my period entirely after the first few months.

A pregnancy test wouldn't hurt, but she's probably not pregnant. Many women lose their periods while on the pill.

[corporatewhore]

21. Does she smoke?

i think smoking diminishes its ablity could be wrong