just asking a couple basic questions. i'm going to visit my boyfriend in germany in three weeks, so i'll just be starting a new pack of my bc pills when i go. (for some reason when i calculated before i thought that i'd be on my period when i went, but i'll be finishing it so i'm happy about that...not the easiest when traveling so yay haha).
so i was just wondering how to maneuver my pill time? i normally take it at 8:00pm, and it's six hours ahead there so i don't want to go 24 hours without taking it and risk being unprotected. we plan on using condoms, but if we were to not use them i wouldn't want to risk anything. how would i go about doing that?
i'm leaving on a sunday, and my next pack will start on a tuesday.
thanks =)
Posts: 61 | From: MA | Registered: Jun 2009
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Since it's later there than in the US, I'd suggest just starting your new pack early. So, if you want to keep taking the pill at 8pm when you're there, figure out what time it is where you are when it's 8pm there and start taking your new pack at that time. It's fine to adjust the time you take the pill by taking a first pill of a pack *early*. Taking one late is a bad plan, though. If you can't switch at the beginning of a pack, then adjust the time by taking your pills an hour or two earlier each day until you're taking them at the time you want.
Even with the pill and condoms, there is always *some* risk of pregnancy. Granted, if both of those methods are used perfectly, the risk is very, very small, but it never completely goes away. So, there's no way to "not risk anything."
If you'd like to minimize your risk without condoms you can combine using the pill and another method such as withdrawal. That is, however, less effective than using condoms, and there's just no way around that.
Posts: 2262 | From: in transition | Registered: Apr 2008
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So my next question is that I'll be on my placebo pills leading up to when I'm leaving, so should I start my next pack maybe even a day early or so to get my body into the swing of taking my pill at that time? So for example, I'm leaving on a Sunday evening, and since it's six hours ahead there I'd have to take my pill at 2pm here. Should I take my pill 2pm the day that I leave and then take the next at 8:00 when I'm there?
And normally if we don't use condoms, we do use withdrawal along with the pill =)
Posts: 61 | From: MA | Registered: Jun 2009
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Starting the pills early won't compromise your protection, but it also wouldn't help anything. Your body won't need to "get used to" the new time if you switch the time at the beginning of the pack.
Really, I'd suggest just starting off with the new pack taking it either at 2pm where you are now if that's when you're set to start a new pack OR taking it at 8pm there if that's when you'd normally start a new pack.
There's no need to change the day when you take your pill, so if you're set to start taking your new pack on that Sunday, then start the pill pack at 2pm before you go. If you're set to start the new pack on Monday, then take a pill at 8pm that monday when you're there.
Does that make sense?
Posts: 2262 | From: in transition | Registered: Apr 2008
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yes, makes sense to me. thanks for clarifying, i just wanted to make sure i wasn't compromising any protection =)
Posts: 61 | From: MA | Registered: Jun 2009
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