Conference turris::womannotes-v2

    
    
    I've been on The Pill for 10 yrs now. With a bi-yearly exam, and
    yearly pap smear. I take the 28 day cycle but , do not take the
    7 day sugar pill. I know to start my pak 7 days after my last one.
    The first time you start the pill , you should use another form
    of birth-control , until you have a week's supply in your system.
    After that no matter how long your period last's 2-3 or 7 days
    you are protected , but you must remember to start exactly 1 week
    from the last pill you took. If you miss one pill no biggee , take
    it when you remember. But after 2 you should also use some other
    kind of protection until you have again the seven day supply.
    If you miss more than 3 forget it , wait and start again the next
    month. The more times you forget to take the pill the less effective
    it is. I have found no weight gain , but smoking is a definate no-no.
    
    I have had no problems , or suprizes , and enjoy the freedom
    the pill has given me , both during marriage and before.
    I felt as thou what I chose not to do with my body , was up to
    me , and if something was to happen I was in control ,not the
    circumstances surronding my decision.
                             
                  joy

    
    
    	I have the cutest little nephew, who is one who makes up the
    	1% part of that statistic!  
    
    	Sharon

    
    Hi,
    
    Thanks for your reply!  I'm glad that there's something out there
    that women have so much confidence about.
    
    But I still wonder if that 1% failure rate is due to forgetting
    to take the pill once or twice or it's due to the woman being
    extraordinarily fertile/man having a high s-count?
    
    No on really seems to know for sure.
    
    Pat
    

    I've been on the pill for most of the past nine years and have been
    pretty darn faithful about not forgetting any.  About 2 1/3 years ago, 
    I had a bad flu for about three days; soon afterwards, I found out
    I was pregnant (felt like the flu all over again!).  I guess it
    doesn't matter if you've taken the pill if it doesn't _stay_ down 
    (not to be gross).                 
                                                              
    Earlier this year, I was out of town for two--count them, two--days 
    and forgot to bring my pills...well, guess what?...                       
               
               
    My conclusion: _It's_ 99 percent reliable if _you're_ 100 percent
    reliable!  
               
    
    BTW, I've never had any bad side effects from the pill.
    
    -Tracy
    
    

    re: .4
    
    Yes, my lovely neice arrived by the flu route, also....
    
    Interestingly, her mother never actually threw up.  Apparently
    the flu was enough to upset her metabolism so that the hormones
    weren't absorbed properly or something.
    
    --bonnie

    
    I have a couple of friends whom were taking the pill??? and did
    become pregnant. I started to wonder about this and asked , one
    would completely forget the pill for about 4 days , take the 4
    all the while having relations with her hubby , without added
    protection and questioned the validity of the pill. The other
    only stated she took the pill , for her boyfriend's sake , seeking
    a committement from him , claiming the pill did not work for her.
    
     I did not take the pill for anyones sake but my own and until I
     met my husband , I really did not need to . I had seen enough
     of good relationships gone bad due to miscommunictions concerning
    who's responsible for birth control.
    
    
                           joy
    
    themselves.

    I *LOVE* being on the pill.  Like all the women in my mother's family
    (which explains why there are so few of us), I have hormonal
    imbalances, and, when I wasn't on the pill, I had very heavy, very
    irregular, very long periods  - varying from 17 days to more than
    forty days apart, and one period lasted nearly two months (of
    continuous flow, I mean - I got VERY anemic), and the flow was heavy
    enough that I had to wear two napkins at once, and set an alarm
    clock to get up at night to change them -- YCCH!  Without the pill,
    I wouldn't be able to lead a halfway normal life.  I'm not particularly
    interested in having kids, anyhow, though it might be an easier
    process for me than for my mother (took nine years for ME to arrive,
    and my folks were trying - my mother had hoped for four children
    originally, but gave up trying after two - of course, we were both
    utter terrors, which may have had something to do with her decision).
    I still get some cramping the first day or two, but at least I know
    what days those are most likely to be and can avoid planning things
    like a beach day or a major stressful event.

    the minipill is 2-3% less effective than the regular pill, because
    it has lower doses of hormones.  There are less side effects, and
    if, for any reason, you cannot take the pill (for me, it unbalanced
    my hormones in a bad way), the minipill is an excellent alternative.
    
    -Jody
    

    I've found that the Triphasil pill works the best for me - graduated
    doses each week, easy to keep track of.  I find that with this type,
    the side effects are practically nil for me.
    
    Has anyone experienced side effects while going OFF the pill
    completely?  I found that I turned into Jekyll and Hyde, so went
    back on the pill.  (I also found that the cramps returned in force)
    
    Judi
    
    

    ...pardon the typo, should read works FINE!
    

    Like the noter a few replies back, I take the pill to control
    a hormone imbalance.  Without it, I have quite regular
    periods--every 20 days, and the flow lasts 14-16 days.  Not
    heavy enough to make me anemic, but darned inconvenient.  So
    I don't have any comments on contraceptive effectiveness.

    As to side effects--if you have side effects you don't like,
    stick with it a month or three (if you can) and then go back
    to your doctor.  Different pills have different balances of
    hormones, some are synthetic hormones, some natural, etc. The
    only bad side effects I ever experienced were nausea and
    breast tenderness--after two months of it, I went to my
    doctor and got a pill with a different "mix" that suits me
    much better. I continue to have some nausea on the first day
    of each "month," when I start taking the "real" pills again.
    One note: the seven "sugar" pills are often actually iron
    pills, which can be quite useful during the days you're on
    your period.  The only other side effect I've noticed is less
    cramps--a big plus for me! 

    -- Linda 

    
    re: Side Effects
    
    The pill is not a good birth control method for someone with
    epilepsy.
    
    When I was younger, a gynecologist insisted I take birth control
    pills as a means to regulate my period.  Despite my arguments 
    that I could not take estrogen because of my petit mal epilepsy,
    I was placed on the pill.  This doctor assured me there was no 
    cause for alarm as I had been seizure free for four years.
    
    Well, he was wrong.  I started having seizures again about nine
    years ago.  Now, I can't drive (doctor's orders) because although
    my seizures are close to 100% controlled, it hasn't been a year
    since my last seizure.
    
    

    Re .4
    
    When I was on the Pill, my doctor made a point of telling me to
    use other methods of birth control if I got the flu or something
    and had to take any antibiotics.  I guess the medication does something
    to reduce the effectiveness of the Pill, which would explain why
    some women who get the flu and are on the Pill get pregnant.  I
    don't remember if it was just the medication, or if the flu germs
    did something, too, to your system to reduce the effectiveness of
    the Pill.  I've been off it for about 2 years, so my memory is a
    little fuzzy.
    
    Also, someone mentioned side effects and changing brands or dosages
    of the Pill.  With me, I always had the same side effect regardless
    of dosage or brand (sometimes I think I must have tried them all!).
     I would always get nauseous the first day of taking the Pills.
     I did find that it would occur about 6 hours after taking it, and
    last for about another 6.  If I took the pill around 5 p.m., then
    I would sleep through that period of time and not get sick.  Maybe
    that trick will also work for someone else.
    
    Cathy

    Funny, I saw an article on medicine for Sailors. (Often a long way
    from  help  with no doctor on board) One of the minor warnings was
    about  "Seasickness  induced pregnancy", which turns out to result
    from vomitting after taking a contraceptive pill.  

--David

    I read in a guide to most taken medicine, that if you drink more
    than moderatly (?) or take tranquilziers, sleeping pills, smoke
    pot, that the effectiveness of the pill is reduced.  Something about
    your liver metabolizing all drugs in your system faster.  So if
    you are into recreational or prescribed use of _any_ drug, ask your
    doctor if you should be using an alternative method.
    
    Meg

    I experienced some seriously dangerous side effects from taking
    the pill.  I didn't even realize at the time that what happened to me
    was a direct result/complication from using birth control pills
    until I went for a gyn exam last week.  I was told that because of
    what happened to me, I can NEVER be on the pill again. I had been on a
    low-dose (triphasil) pill for about a year, and this is what happened:
    
    I lost my vision 3 times.  It's not that things suddenly became
    blurry--suddenly my field of vision was gone.  One time I lost my
    peripheral vision, and once I was with my sister and suddenly couldn't
    see her face anymore.  I had blind spots--it was similar to what
    happens to when you look into the sun and then can't see for a few
    minutes.  Only I couldn't see for a few hours.  The doctor said
    that obviously something vascular was occuring in my eyes, and it's
    possible that I could have gone blind if I had continued to use
    the pills.  It's not all that often that a woman develops clots
    or blindness as a result of birth control pills, but it DOES happen.
    I just feel lucky that I found out in time, because I truly feel
    that I could have been that one woman in 5,000 (or whatever the
    statistic is) that goes blind or has other serious complications.
    
    The loss of eyesight was scary, but something ELSE also happened
    to me.  This only happened once, but once is frightening enough.
    One time, when I had lost my vision, I also lost my SPEECH.  I'm
    not making this up.  I could still THINK and form sentences in my
    head, and my vocal cords still worked, but I couldn't talk properly.
    Everytime I opened my mouth to talk, only fragments of words/sentences
    came out.  It sounded like garbage, and the words didn't make sense
    at all.  It was really frightening, because I could still THINK,
    but it was like my whole speech center got knocked out.  Fortunately,
    this only lasted about half an hour, but that was long enough.  I
    don't know what was happening to my BRAIN at the time, and I don't
    know if I had a mild stroke or not.  It was so scary I almost forgot
    that it happened, until I re-read the pamphlet that accompanies
    the pills.  Next week when I have another gyn appointment, I'll
    mention it to the doctor.
    
    I will miss the convenience of being on the pill, because all the
    other methods are such a hassle.  But I experienced nauseau (and
    occasional vomitting) just about every day I was on them, and with
    the other problems it's just not worth risking my life!!
    
    Some people just can't be on them, and I'm proof of that.  By the
    way, I'm only 25, am not overweight, do not smoke, and don't have
    any other medical problems.  A low-risk candidate for pills in most
    doctor's eyes.  You just can't tell who'll develop these kinds of
    complications.  BE CAREFUL!!
    
    Gail
                                                            

    that is why they give you the pamphlet with the pills.  So you know
    what to look out for and when to talk to your doctor about strange
    physical things that go on with you while you are on the pill. 
    After I had originally been on the pill a while, I had some side
    effects, and they took me off it because a hormonal level in my
    blood had elevated to what they considered abnormal.  And after
    I requested to go back on it, they gave me a lower dosage, and tested
    my blood every month for a year to make sure my levels were normal.
    
    READ the pamphlet.  KNOW the warnings.  BE AWARE that there are
    side effects.  
    
    -Jody
    

    
    
    	I was on the pill a couple of years ago.  I only stayed on it
    for three months, after my pills ran out I never went back.  I just
    called this morning and made an appointment for this Friday.  The
    reason I'm going back on the pill is because of my period.  I don't
    know which pill I was on, but I know that I didn't have any side
    effects.  I didn't have any nausea and I lost weight (which will
    be alright with me if I loose again).  It was great at that time of 
    the month, I didn't mind it as much as I do now.  I do know that after 
    reading this topic, and its replies, I am a little nervous about going 
    back on it.  
    
    
    Laura  
    Who hope everything will work out just fine.......

    I've been on the pill for almost 20 years and never experienced
    any side effects - I thought; but since I stopped taking the pill,
    I've never had an headache again.
    What I liked very much: I could just skip my period by starting
    a new package when one was empty - very convenient for vacation.
    
    Some men had side effects after having had sex with me for the
    first time; nothing serious, just a red rash on the upper thighs,
    gone after two days; and it only happened the very first time. 
    Any similar experiences?
    pony
     +
     

    
    
     I have a question, ... (not for me obviously) ...
    
     What are the dangers of taking the pill and smoking cigarettes
     at the same time.  Does this reduce the effectiveness of the pill,
     is it a SERIOUS health hazard. 
    
     Thanks for any info!
     Paul

    
    
    Paul, smoking does not impact the effectiveness of the pill.
    However, smoking and birthcontrol pills together, especially
    in women over 35, drastically increase the risk of blood clots.
    For this reason, many doctors will not prescribe birthcontrol
    pills for women over 35 (actually, my doctor uses age 30 as
    the cutoff age) who smoke.
    
    Risks are blood clots, strokes and heart attacks.
    
    Deb
    
    

    
     Thankyou for the info.  I always suggest she not smoke, however
    that doesn't seem to work.  I will suggest when she nears 30 she
    think about changing her method of birth control, if she stil smokes.
    
    Thanks
    Paul

    Re.: pills and smoking
    
    It seems a fact that women who take birth control pills and are
    smokers are at a greater risk than women who are on the pill and
    donot smoke.
                                 
    What I've always wondered, but never felt comfortable asking the
    doctor, is this risk due to the substances in cigarettes like the
    nicotine?  Or would the smoking of certain illegal substances,
    such as marijauna, also increase the risk factor of the pill?
    
    By the way, this information is for a friend. :-)

    Hi,
    
    I've been on the pill for 3 years now and suffer a couple of side
    effects...
    I used to be a skinny gymnast and now am overweight (not grously!),
    and can't get rid of "any" weight however little I eat!  I think
    it's my pill?? but not positive??  I also have long periods (8 days)
    and I used to have 4 days!!!
    
    Why me??
    
    T.
    

    
    WHY??? EVERYONE AND NOT ME???
    
    AFTER I HAD MY SON I WENT ON THE PILL AND STOPPED TAKING IT AFTER
    A YEAR THEN I STOPPED AND DIDN'T GET PREGNANT,AFTER TWO YEARS I
    GOT PREGNANT BUT WAS IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION AND HAD TO HAVE AN
    ABORTION WELL AFTER THAT I STILL DIDN'T TAKE ANY BIRTHCONTROL ANYTHING
    AND KNOW I HAVE BEEN WAITING GOING ON TWO YEARS AND I STILL HAVN'T
    BEEN ABLE TO CONCEIVE......... MY ANSWER IS WHY????? I AM A HEALTHY
    WOMAN YOUNG AND DON'T DO ANY DRUGS.IM SO CONFUSED DOES ANYBODY HAVE
    ANY COMMENTS OR ANSWERS FOR ME.
    
    THANKS IN ADVANCE
    ANGELINA
    
    
    

    Angelina,
    
    Have you talked to your doctor about your problem?  That is where
    you really need to start.  I've heard that the amount of time it
    takes to get pregnant after going off the pill is different for
    a lot of women.  It took one of my friends about four years to get
    pregnant when she went off her pills.
    
    Good luck,
    
    Carol
    

    Re: .27
    
    I've read many articles which point out that a lot of the women who
    are reporting difficulties getting pregnant are being, perhaps,
    a bit impatient.  Many of these women have been on contraception
    for years, and are just starting to try to conceive in their late
    20's or early 30's, and don't understand that it may just take their
    bodies a bit longer than it would a woman in her early 20's, and that
    it may not have anything to do with the Pill.  Also, many start
    panicking when it has been six or nine months without "success",
    whereas it is not unusual for it to take a year or more.
    
    I agree with Carol's advice to go talk to your doctor.  And I'd
    also suggest not worrying about it so much - I really do believe that
    the tension about WANTING to get pregnant can actually prevent you
    from doing so.  (At least the anecdotal evidence as well as my own
    supports that theory.)
    
    				Steve

Angelina,

Has your partner had his sperm count checked? If not, he should get checked 
first before you make any assumptions. It might not be you, or the fact that
you were on the pill at all.

If he has been checked and is ok and there may be a variety of reasons. As
said before check with your doctor.

Good Luck,

Muggsie

    In the pamphlet I got with my pills it says that I should stop taking
    the pill immediately if I break my leg (!).  Anybody know why?
    
    HEATHER.

    My conjecture would be that the pill may make blood clots more likely
    (it may also mention this in the pamphlet - check to make sure).  If
    so, I'd guess that since a very likely path for blood clots to travel
    is from the leg to the head or heart or lungs.  A broken leg would
    probably mean some serious trauma to the bone, and to the blood vessels
    around it - which may increase the likelihood of a blood clot
    developing.
    
    This is sheer step-by-step logical guesswork - NOT a medical opinion -
    you may want to ask your doctor if you are concerned.
    
    -Jody
    

    Thanks Jody
    
    That makes a lot more sense now.  I haven't actually broken my leg
    yet, but I have had a slightly nasty experience on the pill.  My
    doctor asked me thousands of questions before he decided to put
    me on the pill and everything was fine for a couple of years.  THEN,
    I started getting really bad headaches, nausea, and general migraine
    type symptoms.  My father suffers from migraines so I thought it
    might be related.  
    
    I put up with this for another TWO YEARS, then somebody suggested
    that it might be something to do with the Pill.  Saw the doc and
    he changed me onto a lighter pill which has really sorted me out.
    However, the period cramps are back in force!
    
    HEATHER.

    From personal experience......
    
    I am 22 years old, moderate drinker and was an occasional smoker 
    (max 2 per day).  I live in Australia and in January drove from Perth
    to Sydney (4000 kms) and back again (for a holiday!).  The day after we
    got home I started experiencing pain in my right shoulder and just below
    my rib cage, it gradually got worse and started affecting my breathing.
    To cut a long story short, I had 2 trips to the emergency room at the
    hospital and numerous visits to my local doctor, not to mention
    ultrasound etc.  After 3 days of severe pain they finally diagnosed me
    as having a blood clot on my right lung.  I was in hospital for a week,
    off work for 2 and have to take anti-coagulant tablets for the next
    three months.  Prior to this I was healthy and fit, I played and
    trained for waterpolo up to 5 times a week.  The reason for the clot,
    inactivity due to the long car trip, smoking (yes even that little
    bit), some family history and THE PILL.  Apparently it is the estrogen
    in the pill which can cause the clots.  I can no longer smoke, take the
    pill and must avoid vigorous exercise and alcohol for fear of injusry
    for the next three months.  The reason it took so long to diagnose was
    because I was so young.  Even though I WAS on the pill it never occured
    to any of the doctors that I might have a clot.  It wasn't until a much
    older woman with a history of blood clots came into the emergency room
    with the same symptons that the penny dropped.  To give the doctors
    credit they moved incredibly fast after that.  It was just that for 3
    days I felt like I was (and at times wanted to ) dying.
    The moral of this story (sorry it's so long)
    If you are on the pill or want to start, check your family history,
    DON'T SMOKE AT ALL, and if you experience upper body pains
    (particularly after a long trip), suggest to your doctor he checks for
    clots.
    
    

Re: .35  American morning after pill - available from your doctor

>   All the fuss being made over the French abortion pill makes the
>   relative obscurity of the "morning after" pill - an American drug
>   that also terminates pregancies - all the more surprising.

Gee - I thought everyone knew about the "morning after pill". I have had at
least one friend who took it - once. It works by introducing a massive dose
of hormones into your body. The side effects mentioned are very common (nausea
especially) and the long term effects of single large does of hormones are still
not well known. To quote her - "It made me feel like shit." It works by
preventing implantation, and so needs to be taken within 48 hours of
intercourse. If the fertilized egg has already implanted, it may not be
effective, and the effects of the large dose of hormones on the developing
embryo are unknown, but are unlikely to be good. The "morning after pill" is
very strong medicine, ask any rape victim that has taken it.

RU486, as I understand it, induces an early abortion rather than preventing
implantation. Thus it will work after 48 hours after intercourse. I believe,
but don't know, that it has fewer side effects as well.

	-- Charles