Expert: Bob Kambic - 10/11/2007

Question
I have been on Yasmin for about 4 years...I just recently started having sex again, and haven't missed a pill since May...my boyfriend & I also wear condoms, but we are both so paraonid that ive taken PLAN B the last 5x we have had sex (in 2 weeks) because i wasn't sure how long I needed to be on the pill safely before it would work properly! Do you have any ideas? & do you know any information on PLAN B? Like if its safe to take it so much??
Thanks- Marie

Answer
You were taking the pill for years but not having sex. Now you are taking the pill, he uses a condom, you have a female condom, and after sex you use plan B.

The instructions for the pill are that when you begin to take it for the first time, you use a backup method (condom) for one week. After that a backup method is not necessary.

Now you seem especially eager to avoid pregnancy and women do become pregnant while taking the pill. If you take the pill according to directions, and your boyfriend uses a condom according to directions, these two methods together should give you confidence that you will not get pregnant. But be sure to read the directions that come with the pill and condom and follow them.

It is probably not a good idea to be using Plan B as often as you do. It is usually used after a condom breaks or you forget your pills. That doesn't seem to describe you.