Since it sounds like your doctor is having you do this in a way that doesn't create a gap in protection, you should be okay. Too, it sounds like your doctor addressed this with you, so you can go ahead and figure you're protected.

Hi Purpleflower,

Since you have a 12 hour grace period before it's considered late, then figure that taking it 11 hours late did not decrease the effectiveness (even if it felt like a close call).

I'm glad that information was helpful! If you need it for the future, this article has a bunch of information on finding a therapist that works for you and how to make counseling as helpful as possible: Process This: Getting the Most Out of Therapy

Got it. Spotting can be a sign of some STIs, so it helps to eliminate that as a source.

Hi cj4289,

Spotting is a common side effect of the pill, so it may be the culprit here (we can't say for certain what's causing it because we can't diagnose via internet). Just to check, are you and your partner up to date on your STI tests?

Hi Sar10,

Continue to take your pills as directed, as taking your placebo week will not decrease the effectiveness. If you're concerned about interactions between antibiotics and your pill, check out this article: Something You Can Worry About Less: Interference and Hormonal Birth Control

We will not answer ANY questions about pregnancy fear or anxiety in our direct services from users who are not pregnant or who are not or have not otherwise been directly involved with an actual pregnancy. Please do not post this kind of question. If you are seeing this text, and your thread is loc...

Has he not gotten tested yet? If not, does he have an appointment lined up? And speaking of appointments, are you currently seeing someone for your anxiety? As to your question about where the UTI came from, this article has information that might help you: Out, Out Damn UTI! . I think it might be h...

What would be some things you could do over the next few days to help you feel less lonely? Those could be things like spending time with friends or family, volunteering, or other activities that get you interacting with other people in a positive way.

It does take time to recover from a break-up, and you'll likely have ups and downs in how you feel rather than a straight path to feeling better. Right now, I suggest taking a look at the break-up article posted early on in this thread and combining some techniques from that with some things you've ...

There's not really a way to predict what will happen. You're withdrawal bleed could come when you expect it, or it might be slightly off.

There's not really one, perfect answer to that question. I think that question will be argued until well after my lifetime, with people championing answers that match their worldview. It does look like, from a combination of research and investigative journalism, that a lot of it had to do with raci...

Hi Theatrebug,

If this approach is what he recommended, then it's sound to follow it. It doesn't sound like there will be any gaps in your taking the pill (be it the old pill or the new one), which would have been my concern.

What's feeling ridiculous right now?

New advice column: http://www.scarleteen.com/article/advic ... _to_say_no

You're welcome

You're welcome!

Have you and he talked about how to make sure you have the protection you need in the future, such as making sure o always have condoms on hand? And, if he were to try and repeat this behavior (it sounds like he doesn't plan to, but it's good to have a contingency plan) do you feel like you'd be abl...

Hi lilmisshelpless, The best advice I can give is for you and he to talk about what feels good, what you're interested in trying, and what's off the table before you start having sex, and then keep communication going during sex. People's sexual likes and dislikes are so variable that talking to you...

Hi Angeldelight, We can't 100% say what made the condom so slippery this time around, but odds are that the extra lube is the cause. You've actually hit on why we suggest combining methods. In the event that one fails (like a condom breaking) you have protection from the other one (be that a pill, I...

Hi Maria, You can read about what's normal and what's worrisome discharge in this article: Honorably Discharged: A Guide to Vaginal Secretions . Basically, unless it comes with a weird smell or is a strange color, it's usually not cause for worry. When you masturbate or have sex, the muscle contract...

Hi jurassicwars, Ultimately, the only people who best equipped to decide if they want to start having sex are you and your girlfriend. You can factor in all sorts of things, from your own religious beliefs to how prepared you feel to deal with any negative fall-out from having sex. But it sounds lik...

Yes, unless it's listed under the category of things that can interfere, you can assume it's equal to taking something like food or water.

Hi Jellyfish,

You can read about what does and does not interfere with birth control in this article: Something You Can Worry About Less: Interference and Hormonal Birth Control

Hi Gatesy, I'm going to go ahead and close this thread, since in your previous one you agreed with Karyn not to focus on the details of things like birth control for a bit to help you break the anxiety loop. If this is really worrying you, you can call your pharmacist and ask them about it, but I'd ...