Question For a Doctor-- Switching Birth Control---backup? Posted: 05-09-07 09:19am
Hello Doctors--
My question is about switching birth
control. I was on Alesse 28 for about 9
mos until Planned Parenthood ran out and
put me on Orthocept instead. I didn't
like how I felt on Orthocept (higher dose)
and so got my doc's permission to go back
to Alesse, which I had to order online as
the New Zealand version, Loette (100
micrograms of levonorgestrel and 20
micrograms of ethinyloestradiol). The
directions say that when switching from
another hormonal BC, I should skip the
placebos (i.e. Orthocept's inactive pills
@ end of pack) and begin taking the active
Alesse pills immediately. Fine. But then
it also directs to use a backup birth
control, e.g. condom, until I have taken
the new pill for 7 days.
Is it necessary to use a backup method
when changing birth control at the end of
a pack? I don't mind skipping the placebos
and going straight to the active pills,
but it concerns me that my protection
might lapse without a backup. When
Planned Parenthood dispensed Orthocept to
me as a substitute because Alesse was out,
there was no mention of taking active
pills continuously or using a backup
method during the switch.
If you have any advice, I'm all ears.
Thanks!
|
Tylanas
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 12985
Thanks: 3
Thanked:0
Posted: 05-09-07 15:25pm
To be safe, if you're worried, use a
condom. It's just one week to be honest;
and one week of condoms is definately
worth preventing a pregnancy. Better safe
than sorry.
|
Llewellyn
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 1743 Location: NY
Posted: 05-09-07 15:36pm
I agree.
|
Christikitty
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 4
Ok, But... Posted: 05-10-07 12:20pm
Eiri
wrote:
To be safe, if you're
worried, use a condom. It's just one week
to be honest; and one week of condoms is
definately worth preventing a pregnancy.
Better safe than
sorry.
I understand what you're saying, but
that's not really answering my question.
Is it actually "unsafe" (in the sense that
you could get pregnant) to switch birth
control? And if so, why on earth wasn't I
told this when Planned Parenthood switched
it the first time? I asked and they said
just take it as usual.
Also, condoms are a drag if they are
unnecessary.
|
Tylanas
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 12985
Thanks: 3
Thanked:0
Re: Ok, But... Posted: 05-10-07 13:13pm
Christikitty
wrote:
Eiri
wrote:
To be safe, if you're
worried, use a condom. It's just one week
to be honest; and one week of condoms is
definately worth preventing a pregnancy.
Better safe than
sorry.
I understand what you're saying, but
that's not really answering my question.
Is it actually "unsafe" (in the sense that
you could get pregnant) to switch birth
control? And if so, why on earth wasn't I
told this when Planned Parenthood switched
it the first time? I asked and they said
just take it as usual.
Also, condoms are a drag if they are
unnecessary.
I don't honestly know, which is why I
personally would use a condom. It may be
perfectly, 100% safe. I don't know, which
is why I gave the answer I did.
|
Georgia59
Supporter
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5557 Location: Along the Mississippi, USA
Thanks: 90
Thanked:32
Posted: 05-10-07 13:52pm
I don't really know either, but I would
guess that it depends which medicines
you're switching between, and how similar
they are.
|
Christikitty
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 4
Doctor's Answer Posted: 05-11-07 11:59am
I got word back from my doctor, which I
thought I'd pass along in case anyone else
was wondering:
"No, its not necessary to use backup when
changing from one "combined
hormonal" pill to another. Unfortunately
the legalese can be confusing.
Karen P., NPC"
|
Carifairy
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Nov 2005 Posts: 2610 Location: Charlotte n.c.
Thanks: 12
Thanked:0
Posted: 05-11-07 13:31pm
I got to this too late :/
You are protected when switching brands,
as the poster said.
hehehe
I cannot believe I missed this one.
|
Georgia59
Supporter
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5557 Location: Along the Mississippi, USA
Thanks: 90
Thanked:32
Posted: 05-11-07 17:14pm
When I switched from Mirena IUD to pills
(in the same day), the doc told me to use
backup for two weeks.
But the mirena is only progesterone and
the pills are estrogen and progesterone,
so that is probably why.
So it's only if you're switching between
two different combined hormone pills? That
sound right?
|
Christikitty
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 May 2007 Posts: 4
Posted: 05-16-07 11:27am
Georgia59
wrote:
So it's only if you're switching between
two different combined hormone pills? That
sound right?
I think that's right--- you don't need
backup, provided you're switching between
combined hormone pills. If you're taking
progestin only, you need backup.
