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so, I'm a bit new here, but I have a question! (sorry, it's another one about birth control)

So, I've been on the pill since November.  I started on it really well, taking it at the same time every night (nighttime worked better for me).  But then I started slacking off a bit and now I have a tendency to skip a day & then have to take 2 the next night (this is what my doc told me to do, but I've heard it makes it less effective...so there's confusion there).  I have also started to vary the times I take it by 1-3 hours.  For instance, my designated time is 9:30 pm, but I take it anywhere between then & midnight.  Does any of this make the pill less effective?

Thank you in advance, ladies!

Re: so, I'm a bit new here, but I have a question! (sorry, it's another one about birth control)

  • we have got to get a bc board on here.
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  • I completely agree.  I was reading through some of the other posts that said the same thing and kinda felt bad for posting yet another one.  Lol.  Again, apologies, but until there is one (which will hopefully be soon!), this is the next best place.  :-/
  • I would HIGHLY recommend calling your gyno about any BC questions...if you can't get ahold of them soon enough, read your insert that came w/ your bcps. Both are highly more reliable than a message board of strangers
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  • If hormonal birth control is working for you, think about the patch.  You stick it on once a week and forget about it.  I had the same problem about timing and remembering and the patch solved that. 
  • imageads543:

    So, I've been on the pill since November.  I started on it really well, taking it at the same time every night (nighttime worked better for me).  But then I started slacking off a bit and now I have a tendency to skip a day & then have to take 2 the next night (this is what my doc told me to do, but I've heard it makes it less effective...so there's confusion there).  I have also started to vary the times I take it by 1-3 hours.  For instance, my designated time is 9:30 pm, but I take it anywhere between then & midnight.  Does any of this make the pill less effective?

    Thank you in advance, ladies!

    Taking it at a different time each day does not necessarily make it less effective, but skipping a day will definitely make it less effective: by like 20%.

  • It is working for me and I have thought about the patch, but I've talked to some people I know who've used it & they said they had a bunch of issues with it staying on, despite what the companies claim, especially with oily skin (and guess what I have!).  Plus, I know it's ridiculous, but I have this weird thing with the patch...I know the the hormones are absorbed through the skin, but I have a hard time wrapping my head around that.  I wouldn't be able to use it without constantly worrying about it.  I can't help it.  Just a quirk.  I've also asked my doc about Implanon, which I loved the idea of (I mean, who wouldn't wanna go 3 years with no period and not having to worry about replacing anything?), but I was a bit turned off when he mentioned the random, irregular bleeding during use.  I'm not a big fan of unpredictable bleeding like that.
  • I used to set my cell phone alarm to go off at a time I knew I'd always have access to my bc pills so I wouldn't forget to take them.  I used to set it for 10:00 before I went to bed.  And if I thought I wouldn't be home at that time for some reason, I'd just put the pills in my purse so I wouldn't forget.  Just an idea so you don't forget.  
  • I had this problem and switched to Nuvaring.  Voila, no more problem!
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  • Read your pamphlet!
  • I second NuvaRing, put it in for three weeks and forget about it. Any time I have to take pills, I am inconsistent so I would not trust myself on the BCP.
  • BC is the most effective if you take it at the same time everyday.  A couple hours difference isn't going to matter.  If you miss a pill you should take two the next day (or one as soon as you remember and the other at the normal time) but obviously it reduces effectiveness.  If you miss a pill you should use a back up form of BC for the rest of the cycle.  And since you're new to this, some medications will lessen the effectiveness of your BC including anti-biotics.  Again, use a back-up method.  

     I have always taken mine at night.  For me it's a routine: brush teeth, take the pill.

  • Quite simply, you are not taking your pill correctly.  So to answer your question - yes, what you are doing is making it less effective, and if you don't get your act together you could end up pregnant. 

    If you're not able to take the pill correctly (every single day, same time every single day), then you really should start looking into switching to a different method.  If you don't want to use the Patch, look into the NuvaRing or maybe even an IUD. 

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  • My mother got pregnant because she took it 2 hours late but it might depend on what you are taking and who you are
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