Hi Hannah,
Anytime you miss several pills in-a-row and do not use back-up protection (condom), there is a chance for pregnancy. The exact percentage is unknown, as every woman's body and each cycle is different.
When you use hormonal birth control, you actually do not ovulate. The pill works by preventing ovulation, and also in other ways (changing the cervical lining, so if an egg were released, the fertilized egg would have difficulty implanting). The pill is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, but when 2 are missed in-a-row, this effectiveness rate decreases, and your body could ovulate in that time.
That is great that you took the missed pills as directed, and then it is important to use back-up protection for the next 7 days after the missed pills.
The spotting is normal, as your body is reacting to the abrupt stopping of hormonal contraception, then a sudden surge in hormones from the double-dose. This is not harmful, just your body will react by spotting slightly. It can cause a slightly irregular cycle, or breakthrough bleeding.
The symptoms you are having could be anything, and you will unfortunately need to wait until your next "period" before knowing if you are pregnant or not. I'm sorry, I wish I could tell you something different, but that is your only option to wait for a period or take a home pregnancy test once your period has not started.
Please let us know when your period starts! (Don't be alarmed if it is late, it does not indicate a pregnancy necessarily..it can be slightly irregular for the inconsistent use of your pills this cycle).
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Hi Hannah,
Anytime you miss several pills in-a-row and do not use back-up protection (condom), there is a chance for pregnancy. The exact percentage is unknown, as every woman's body and each cycle is different.
When you use hormonal birth control, you actually do not ovulate. The pill works by preventing ovulation, and also in other ways (changing the cervical lining, so if an egg were released, the fertilized egg would have difficulty implanting). The pill is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, but when 2 are missed in-a-row, this effectiveness rate decreases, and your body could ovulate in that time.
That is great that you took the missed pills as directed, and then it is important to use back-up protection for the next 7 days after the missed pills.
The spotting is normal, as your body is reacting to the abrupt stopping of hormonal contraception, then a sudden surge in hormones from the double-dose. This is not harmful, just your body will react by spotting slightly. It can cause a slightly irregular cycle, or breakthrough bleeding.
The symptoms you are having could be anything, and you will unfortunately need to wait until your next "period" before knowing if you are pregnant or not. I'm sorry, I wish I could tell you something different, but that is your only option to wait for a period or take a home pregnancy test once your period has not started.
Please let us know when your period starts! (Don't be alarmed if it is late, it does not indicate a pregnancy necessarily..it can be slightly irregular for the inconsistent use of your pills this cycle).
July 11, 2010 - 11:52amThis Comment
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