Expert: Bob Kambic - 10/10/2007

Question
I'vebeen on birth control since July and I've always been good with taking my pills. I never missed any. I was on ortho tricyclen low but as of September 30th, i switched to apri. my life has been very stressful lately so I started missing pills. I first missed at pill Tuesday October 2nd, so I took it The next day in the morning and then my regular pill at 10pm like I normally would. I then missed it Friday and had unprotected sex. I remember early saturday morning so i made up my pill then took my regular pill. I wasnt sure if i needed the morning after pill. On monday I went to my doctor and she advised me to take it so I did. She told me not to take my normal pill that day so I didnt and I thought since I took 2 pills in the plan B that I shouldnt take it Tuesday yesterday. I then was told that, that was wrong and I shouldve taken it so I took it Wednesday morning. Im a mess. Im new to this whole thing and I dont know what to do or if im going to get pregnant. So my real question is, where do I go from here?

Answer
I suggest you need to first think about the stress in your life. It seems that you are saying that all the problems with the pill are due to work or life stress and then you forget the pill and add more stress.

I suggest that you speak to someone about the stress before tacking the birth control issue. A minister, rabbi, pastor, or someone who you trust and can spill your guts to is the first thing you should do.

Talk to your boyfriend/husband and tell them you need to chill for a time to deal with some of these problems. After you deal with the stress, go back to your doctor and get started on the pill again.

These kinds of episodes are where you might get pregnant and that would add more stress.