Expert: Bob Kambic - 5/10/2007

Question
QUESTION: I am newly married.My wife started pills on the last day of her Bleeding(end of period).But we found that "7 days of intercourse should use another backup mathods".Now  It is the fifth day we met without any backup methods.What would happen plz tell me.Should we stop meting Now,see a doctor?What does birthcontrol pills do to ovum(egg) or sperm?Is it prevent egg release from folopian tube or destroy?     
    Thanks
     anol
ANSWER: The pill takes a little bit of time to get going. That is why they tell you to use other methods for seven days. After seven days you can have sexual relations normally without another method whether or not she is pregnant. I suggest that she continue with this first set of pills to see if she gets her period. If she does she is not pregnant. If she does not, she is possibly pregnant and should not take the next cycle and should see a doctor.

The most common way the pill works is to stop the egg or ovulation. The pill also interferes with the transport of the sperm to meet the egg. There is some evidence that certain pills prevent the implantation of the fertilized egg and are considered abortifacient.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: "It is the fifth day we met without any backup methods.And continued pills" How much possibility that she is pregnant(In percentage)?
Usually we know female release their egg at the day of 13/14/15 of her cycle.So why should we worry about first seven days.Is she release egg this days?Do you mean if pill is taken no release of eggs?
 thanks to You
 anol  

Answer
Male sperm are able to live in the female body several days before the release of the egg. I have seen evidence of rather long sperm life so that  sexual relations a good bit before midcycle may result in pregnancy. Probability of pregnancy on different days of the cycle has been published by several authors but I do not have my hands on the papers right here. I suggest you look on PubMed.

For more information on cycling I suggest you check these sites http://www.irh.org/nfp.htm

http://www.fertilityfriend.com/HelpCenter/FFBook/ff_fertility_signs.html

Be sure to try to get a teacher to work with you until you really understand your fertility.