| A
female
,
anonymous
writes: I (18) and my b/f (19) are very much in love and have decided to have sex. we have been together for over 6 months and now feel the time is right. I am a virgin but he has had one previous sexual partner. the problem is i am very worried about getting pregnant,im still in school and planning to go to college so a baby would be a disaster right now, that is why we have waited so long. we have talked about me going on the pill but dont know alot about it. what effect will it have on my body? will it cause me to gain much weight? what are the possible side effects? if used with condoms is it pretty much 100% safe? can i just walk into my gp and ask to go on the pill? or will i have to pretend that i need it for medical reasons like i suffer from heavy periods and terrible cramps. will i have to have any tests done? can you still donate blood if you are taking the pill? how long must you be on the pill before it becomes effective? we wouldnt feel very confident relying only on condoms so we feel the pill would be the best option, id really appreciate any help you can give me on it.Thanks,A
View related questions:
condom, period, the pill Reply to this Question
Share |
Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question! A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (14 March 2006): Well, I think you already got a great responses from the anties. I am just going to add little things:
There are many methods of contraceptive other than the pill (if you don't want the pill)
1. you have the patch(OrthoEvra): they are very convenient b/c you don't have to worried about a missed dose. However you do need to change it every week and when you get your period you have one whole week patch free.
2. You have the Ring (NuvaRing@: which you may not like since you are a virgin. But, if it is of any concern, wearing the ring won't affect your virginity. You insert the ring vaginally for a month, then you remove it when you get your period. Benefits: you put it on for a whole month and don't have to worry.
3. you also have the shot: Depo-provera: You can eighter inject it yourself or go to the doctor's office every 3 months. The good thing again, no worries about forgetting the pill or taking the pill every day. You only need to inject once every three months.
Now, just like everybody mention before, you need to speak to your doctor to check which one is better for you.
Another thing, all the OC (oral contraceptive) are relative the same. Your doctor should guide you in which one is best for you. I don't have a preference, but Yasmin@ things to be good if you think you are gaining weight with the others. Yasmin has an extra ingredient that will make you loose the water that you may gain b/c of the pill itself and during your periods.
lastly; when you get your prescription do not hesitate to ask the pharmacist any questions about the medication.. they know a lot about meds and can give you a lot of information..
A
female
reader, Hopeful +, writes (14 March 2006):
 I would have a chat to your GP about the different types of pills because different ones may have different side effects.
Some help your skin, some are no good if you have high blood pressure, some are not good if you have other medical conditions, some are cheaper, some are more expensive etc etc etc
I would get your GP to run through a few different types and discuss with you the implications of each. The questions you have about how long before you can have unprotected sex etc will all be answered by your GP and also in the instructions in the pill you choose to use.
At the end of the day, the GP has a medical degree so I would definitely ask all this stuff to them!
...............................
A
female
reader, MarthaZ +, writes (13 March 2006):
 I'll try and answer all the questions one at a time so you'll feel more at ease with the contraceptive pills.
1)The effect it will have on your pill depends on how you look at it. Contraceptive pill contains hormone which are like those your body produces (oestrogen and progestogen). This prevents you from getting pregnant by not releasing eggs, thickening the neck of your womb so it will be difficult for sperms to get through and also make the lining of your womb not thick enough for an egg to grow. So yes it does have a major effect on your body but many studies have not found any long lasting damage to the body using the pill.
2)The weight gain is one of the main side effect we all worry about. But I haven't found this side effect (I have been on the pill for 3 years). It's completely down to the individuals and how their body react to the pill. Just watch your diet and make sure you eat healthily and exercise often and you shouldn't put on weight.
3)The possible side effects can vary from bleeding and spotting between your periods, headaches, upset stomach and depressive moods to something serious like thrombosis in an extreme case. Just like the weight gain, this is down to the individuals and can't tell if you'll get any side effects until you start the pill. If you ever start feeling any of the above, see the doctor immediately.
4) The pill is one of the most effective contraception, if you follow it correctly. Doctors say they are 99.99% effective. REMEBER: the pill can stop you from getting pregnant, but doesn't stop you from getting STD so make sure you two check for these before you stop using condom.
5) When you go to the doctors for the pill, there is absolutely no need to lie about the reasons. Tell them you are in a long, committed relationship and you'd like to go on the pill. Doctors are not there to jusge you, they're are there to help you!
6)The only test you will have to do is blood pressure check. They will check your BP everytime you want start going on the pill or getting more supply. Don't worry, they won't poke you around!
7) There's no link between contraceptive pill and giving blood so there's no worry about that.
8) The contraceptive pill works from the day you start taking it. It's immediate which is very convenient!
And here are some additional tips on pills:
In order to remember to remember to taking your pill everyday make it a routine. For example I take mine around breakfast time so I leave the pill packet next to the alarm clock. You can take it when you get home from work/school, in your lunch time etc. If you take it roughly the same time everyday the pill will work effectively. Once you got into a routine, it's pretty permanent.
Contraceptive pill can interact with other medication such as anti-biotics so make sure you consult your doctor if you are/if in the future you'll be taking anything else.
Any other questions you have, ask the doctor and they'll be more than happy to answer.
Good luck!
xx
...............................
A
female
reader, sexseahot  +, writes (13 March 2006):
 You do need to go to the gynecologist to get on the pill and have an exam done. The pill is about 99.9% effective towards pregnancy, but only after a month of taking them correctly. They do not protect you from STD's though, you must use a condom for that. Some people gain weight from the pill and others don't. It's just how your body will react to it.
You do not need any medical reasons to be on the pill. Just if you want a contraception, that's all you need to tell them. It's pretty much easy to get on it.
Good Luck!
...............................
|
