High enough dose?

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well about a year ago i went to get the pill becuase i had in irregular period. my mom said that it was too low of a dose to actually function as real birth control... is this possible? or was my mom doing this so that i woudln't go out and think i could have sex. now i'm becoming sexually active and i need to know if i should go to planned parenthood or just continue on the pill that i have.

Your mum was right, a pill to regulate periods can contain a low amount of estrogen, I would go back to the doctors and get prescribed a birth control pill before you have unprotected sex, which if i were you i wouldn't do either until you are in a steady relationship, i have 3 children and was on the pill when i had my first and last ,

A birth control pill is a birth control pill. I think your mom was just telling you that because she didn't want you having sex maybe?

Don't they come in varying strengths?From gynob.com on the birth control pill:In reply to:If the pill strength is too low (and we always start low first), the lining may be the type that needs more and irregular bleeding takes place.

Yes they come in varying strengths as most medications do, but the pill is the pill, no matter what dosage they're all designed to prevent pregnancy.

I assume the doctor prescribes the lowest dose that's effective...otherwise, why do the higher doses exist?

At one point a lower dose was more effective for me because of spotting. Either way it's still protecting against pregnancy. Like I said before, the pill is the pill. If a lower dose wouldn't protect then it's not going to be labeled as a birth control pill.

When birth control pills first came out, they had a large dose of estrogen. It was not yet understood that a smaller dose was just as effective in preventing pregnancy, and produced many fewer bad side effects. The amount of estrogen in BC pills has ratcheted down over the years.I assume everyone would be prescribed the lowest effective dose. Does the doctor fine-tune the dose, then, to prevent spotting?I'm not sure what the rate of side effects is for the pill, but I know two women who couldn't use it because it caused their blood pressure to go way up. Neither had high blood pressure or other health issues.

Yes in a lot of cases the doctor has to fine tune the pill to meet your needs. I tried about seven different types before I found the one that worked just right for me.

In all honesty I'm not trying to hurt your feelings. That being said, I am curious as to why you choose to answer every single question as if you actually know the answer? Its ok not to know something, but its not ok to just make stuff up and have other people regard it as fact. All pills which are prescribed to regulate the period are birth control pills. This information, by law, must be included with any estrogen based Rx item dispensed, so look for it when you fill your next refill. The pill, when used properly, is over 99% effective - maybe your misinformation is why you got pregnant twice while using some of the most effective birth control on the market? Who knows, but please research your information before having others consider it to be fact. This is about the 5th or 6th time I have read the information you suggested was misleading or just plain wrong. By the way, Birth control is effective after 7 days when used properly according to manufacturers specifications, you should start birth control on any day - usually the first sunday - AFTER your period, and the answers to all these questions can be obtained from the websites of the companies that manufacture these drugs, as well as included with every dispensing from the pharmacy.

Isn't the birth control pill 99.9% effective when prescribing directions are precisely followed?

Hey again...I'm in the pharmacy right now and I uncovered some interesting FACTS....To answer the question first, each BCP varies in its effectiveness but here are what studies have shown in 2 of the most popular ones.ORTHO-TRI-CYCLEN LO99.1% typical99.9% perfectYASMIN99.0% typical 99.9% perfectTypical is expected use for most people, and perfect is if you always take it as prescribed.I also came across literature relating to DEATHS to mothers from childbirth, as somone had asked. This information is accurate to the best of my knowledge.deaths per 100,000 pregnancies varies by age, and method of birth control.NO METHOD age 15-247 or .007% or 1 in 14,286Wow that sounds like a lot, but its considered a remote chance, and if handled properly in a hospital or home birth situation, its safer than getting in a car!

Awesome...I'm replying to my own post! I forgot to address the differnt strengths of BCP'S. Well they started high because it worked. Side effects of headaches, nausea, and illness due to excessive hormone levels was an issue. They started lowering the doses, but more importantly they discovered the fact that you need different amounts of hormones at different points in the Cycle. So they invented Bi-phasic and eventually tri-phasic packs to change the amount of hormone per each week. Why isn't there just one perfect 'master pill'? Well some people use the lowest strength triphasic pills and its fine. Some people get spotting, and need a change in product. Some people choose ot to use estrogen based products, and get progestin only (called mini-pills) packs. Side effects may occur at the low end and high end of each class of BCP'Sbut all you need to know is this. Take it as prescribed, and report side effects to the pharmacy and MD. Which is right for you? Only the MD Can guess, but adjustment of 1-2 times is COMMON, and 5 times is possible. Can you're BCP be 33% effective? Chances are YOU did something wrong. Yawn. Please send questions directly to me if you dont feel like posting. Have fun fornicating under consent of the king...heh

In reply to: In all honesty I'm not trying to hurt your feelings. That being said, I am curious as to why you choose to answer every single question as if you actually know the answer? I wasn't aware that i did answer EVERY question like i knew the answer, i made a mistake answering this one, cos when i was younger thats exactly what i was told, and a few friends of mine too..............hey i got it wrong, its not like people take what i say as gospel anyway! In reply to: The pill, when used properly, is over 99% effective - maybe your misinformation is why you got pregnant twice while using some of the most effective birth control on the market? You patronising arsehole, i KNOW the pill is 99% effective, I never said it wasn't.........as for why i got pregnant, things happen, i took my pill as EXACTLY the same time every day, and never missed one, i am not a stupid person so don't fucking insult me by making out i am.

First of all there is absolutely no reason to use rediculous and childish language. Although, as for me, I withdraw having made personal references toward any 'internet identity'Second of all, there are people who respect people who answer questions, and yes they will take your word as gospel, because they are hoping you are right, and in many cases you DO know what you are talking about.Thirdly, getting so offended and what people might say or do online is absurd. This seems to be just a place where people ask questions when they need answers. (Really funny but inappropriate joke here, removed) ahh it was funny though.In addition, should you choose to remove this post from this public forum, all remarks will be withdrawn, as this entire threads purpose, which was to educate, is being wasted.

In reply to: First of all there is absolutely no reason to use rediculous and childish language. You're right, i have had such a bad sad bad week that when i read your post i was upset and offended, but i now don't care what you say so whatever.........to the original poster im sorry i bothered answering, i was wrong - my bad!

No, you were well within your rights to become upset and to be offended. I wasn't even the one being spoken to, and I became angry just on your behalf.The Pharmacist, we are all very proud you are a pharmacist. I assume you went through a six-year pharmaceutical college before you passed the ACPE, NAPLEX, and MPJE, right? Although you may have a Bachelor's if you graduated before this year, of course. And so you are qualified to give advice about medications and their usage.But you were not licensed to be an asshole about it. Your information can be very helpful to a lot of people here, but if you continue to deliver it in such a manner... you were supremely condescending, vicious, and in general a jerk. Knock it off.