Birth Control Question - Tacoma,WA

I really wouldn't worry. If you haven't skipped any pills at all, even leading up to your surgery then you're fine. You didn't even take one placebo pill right? I used to do that all the time! I never had a problem, but breakthrough bleeding is normal when you skip the placebo week, annoying, but pretty common.

As far as following your doctor's advice, well I guess I probably would do what she says b/c it will probably put you back on a "normal" cycle. That being said, I don't think you're ovulating if you've been taking the pills exacly like you're supposed to so you don't need back up. However, you may want to actually phone your doctor's office and at least talk to a nurse to find out exactly why she's having you do all this so you know what to expect.

In my experience, it is standard procedure of the medical profession to tell you to use backup birth control whenever you have "breakthrough bleeding". Usually breakthrough bleeding happens in the middle of a cycle when the pill isn't at a strong enough dosage to prevent bleeding which could indicate it is not strong enough to prevent ovulation, thus indicating a need for a second method of birth control. Your reason for the bleeding is different. If you're worried it never hurts to use a condom.

The pill, taken correctly is over 99% effective. I've been on the pill a total of almost 25 years with no unexpected pregnancies, and got pregnant the first month I went off of the pill. So both statistics and my personal experience indicate the pill works. Don't lose sleep at night over this until you know there is something to worry about.

Fun. You should not be able to get pregnant but they are going to tell you to use a condom just in case. That way if you get pregnant you can yell at yourself instead of them.

I would take your doctor's advice if you really can't afford to get pregnant right now just to be on the safe side. Hate to say it but what you did was kind of stupid especially because you didn't contact your doctor before you did it.

My body also can't handle skipping periods, I would always get a late period when I did that, not to mention I would get weepy. But if you can't afford to get pregnant right now, use a condom. Any time you mess with hormones, there is a risk. Frankly, I'm kind of surprised you only rely on the Pill to prevent pregnancy, since I've had more than one friend get pregnant that way. If getting pregnant really is not in the cards right now, you should always consider two forms of birth control to make sure it doesn't happen. Good luck.