Does anyone know....

[ultimate_cin]

.....how long you should use back-up birth control when first starting the patch (Ortho-Evra)?

I started on the Pill when I decided that I wanted to start having sex with my boyfriend....I was on the Pill for about a month, but kept having trouble remembering to take it at the same time every day, so I called my doctor to see about getting on the patch. I was told by the nurse I spoke to that my doctor said it would be okay to switch, but that since the patch gives a lower amount of hormones than the Pill, that I should use a condom for a while. I told her okay, and I didn't ask how long because I thought it would be in the instructions that come with the medication. Well, it's not...and I would call my doctor's office, except I work from 8-5 and I don't really want to be on the phone asking about when I can stop using condoms where my co-workers can hear me, LOL!

So I thought I would ask the wonderful people at Lit and see if any of you might know....I am on my third week of being on the patch, if that helps any.

 

[bisexplicit]

Whole bunch of information regarding birth control: https://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=243894

 

[SweetErika]

Click Me

Call me crazy, but I think it'd be profoundly stupid to follow the advice on that site. What happens if the Patch doesn't work for you, or you've missed enough pills to ovulate? I just wouldn't feel comfortable taking the chance and either not using condoms or only using them for a week...I think the more prudent thing to do would be to use them for at least a full month, and then the first week (or 2-3 to be extra safe) into your next cycle, so 5 or so weeks minimum. It's not that big of a deal, and you can get them for FREE at Planned Parenthood. Better safe than sorry, you know?

 

[Guest]

 

[phoenix1224]

Nothing is 100% even when taken exactly as instructed by your doctor so, personally, I think that it's a good idea to ALWAYS use a back-up form of birth control.

My gf is on the pill and, although we've been talking about getting married and having children, neither of us wants to have a child without getting married FIRST. So, even though she's on the pill, we use a spermicidal foam every single time that we have sex.

 

[SweetErika]

Nothing is 100% even when taken exactly as instructed by your doctor so, personally, I think that it's a good idea to ALWAYS use a back-up form of birth control.

My gf is on the pill and, although we've been talking about getting married and having children, neither of us wants to have a child without getting married FIRST.
So, even though she's on the pill, we use a spermicidal foam every single time that we have sex.

Well said, and very smart. I don't know how many packs of pills AND condoms we went through in the first six years, but like you, we used two methods because we couldn't afford (in any sense) not to.

 

[ultimate_cin]

Thanks for the helpful responses!