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Nov 20 19
07:08
So I’ve looked at my pamphlet but I’m kinda lost cause I also went on planned parenthood and so now I’m seeing different info? I just started taking pills for the first time. I’m on Loestrin. I started the pill 2 days after my period started (period came on Friday I started my pack on Sunday) and I had sex today and he came in me ... I looked up on planned parenthood and it says that if you start the pill within 5 days of your period you’re automatically protected ? Is this true ?
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Nov 20 19
07:16
You're specific pills says you're only immediately protected if you start taking your pills the first day of your period.
 
Nov 20 19
07:17
^ Always trust your pamphlet, and be sure of your protection status BEFORE having condomless sex.
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Nov 20 19
07:19
Pamphlet > online information
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Nov 20 19
07:29
I cannot pay screenshots but the official website of your pill also says "you will not need to use a backup method of birth control because you are starting the pill at the beginning of your period. However if you start lo loestrin later than the first day of your period . . . you should use an additional method of birth control (such as condom and spermicide) as a backup until you have taken 7 blue pills"
 
Nov 20 19
07:29
Welp....
 
Nov 20 19
07:31
@nairobii @yi_eune What about this? {QownDzxNH}
 
Nov 20 19
07:32
^(That comment plus the following few comments)
 
Nov 20 19
07:35
I always thought it was whatever your pamphlet says. But users here have been saying that pamphlets are often vague about things (such as how/when diarrhea affects the pill), or citing information from the nhs website that is contradictory or unspecified in pamphlets.
 
Nov 20 19
07:37
I would just like some clarification on this because it seems like multiple users (who I generally believe are educated on bc and seem well informed) are trusting nhs etc. over pamphlets or vice versa
 
Nov 20 19
07:39
I can't see links sorry!
 
Nov 20 19
07:42
Pamphlets are often vague about what is considered a missed pill or what can account as diarrhea or vomit enough to be counted as missed pill. This pill's provider however specifies the moment the protection kicks in very clearly, however it can be an over precaution to protect themselves and make their users be extra careful (it isn't unheard of). I was citing the information that was available about that specific pill and I haven't found any other info about that one, if someone else has information please post it
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Nov 20 19
07:42
I personally always trust the pamphlet above all because I believe it generally has the best info on my specific type of pill. However, like @Kazoo I agree that this is a very difficult subject because some reliable medical sources like the NHS do give contradicting information. In the end I guess the user themselves has to decide which reliable source they want to trust above others, on some things like how severe diarrhea needs to be to affect the pill there isn’t even really that much research (as far as I know, if someone knows of research I’d gladly look at it to educate myself!) so we kinda just have to go by general guidelines.
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Nov 20 19
07:45
@nairobii sorry you couldn’t see the link! Another user said this: “You were protected, if you start the pill within the first few days of a natural period you’re protected immediately. Make sure you and your partner have been tested for STIs. From now on make sure you’re certain of your protection status and ask questions like these *before* you have condomless sex! @Kazoo from the NHS website: Starting on the first day of your period: If you start the combined pill on the first day of your period (day one of your menstrual cycle) you will be protected from pregnancy straight away. You will not need additional contraception. Starting on the fifth day of your cycle or before: If you start the pill on the fifth day of your period or before, you will still be protected from pregnancy straight away, unless you have a short menstrual cycle (your period is every 23 days or less). If you have a short menstrual cycle, you will need additional contraception, such as condoms, until you have taken the pill for seven days. (and I have seen pamphlets state you are protected if you start it within the first 5 days of your period, i just can’t remember which ones)”
 
Nov 20 19
07:48
@newtonian That makes sense! I also generally trust my pamphlet most. If I see reliable information online that is more cautious in any way than my pamphlet, then I would err on the side of being more cautious.
 
Nov 20 19
07:49
I might just call planned parenthood tomorrow ? Idk what to do
 
Nov 20 19
07:52
@Kazoo thank you for posting it 💚
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Nov 20 19
07:53
@kazoo Yes! I honestly wish there was more reliable research on the pill (like which things really affect the pill and which don’t), the contradicting information out there can be confusing to a lot of new users. @brok3nsmile If your pamphlet says you weren’t protected I personally would get emergency contraception.
 
Nov 20 19
07:55
@Kazoo you’re usually protected if you start the pill within 5 days of your period starting but if your pamphlet says otherwise you should always follow those guidelines instead.
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Nov 20 19
07:55
I agree with @newtonian I would get emergency contraception in this case. Also on a note about planned parenthood, this was recently posted. I’m unsure if they actually misinformed the user or if things were misinterpreted in some way, but regardless it’s good to keep in mind {maEUDzxE1}
 
Nov 20 19
07:57
(I mean it is good to keep in mind that you should always be doing some level of critical thinking when obtaining information, and making sure to question things that seem contradictory to you or do not make sense)
 
Nov 20 19
07:59
To be honest based on what @beesandhoney has said (who is the most informed user here) many companies that are manufacturers will make their dates of effectiveness smaller to have a lesser chance of error. Meaning you could very well be protected day 2 of your period but they rather have in their official page that you are only protected in the first day and to keep using back up contraception for a week. It causes less user error if it’s specified like that.  Also you’re not very fertile during and right after your period. 
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Nov 20 19
08:02
If you really don't want to risk it i would do what @kazoo and @newtonian said.
 
Nov 20 19
08:03
@nairobii Just curious, why is that user the most informed user here? I’m confused about who that is
 
Nov 20 19
08:18
@kazoo She’s not that active anymore as far as I know but she has made some great and very detailed posts where she quotes actual research to explain stuff about the pill (like, why you only need to take 7 pills to have a protected break)
 
Nov 20 19
08:22
@Kazoo that user has posted a lot of research backed information on this app that is detailed, easy to read and easy to understand. Those posts continue to be very helpful here.
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Nov 20 19
08:26
Thanks! Also thanks @nairobii for tagging me in that post
 
Nov 20 19
08:34
@Kazoo no problem 💚
 
Nov 20 19
13:19
Although it's usually true that if you take it within 5 days you're safe, if your pamphlet specifically states that it only works on the first day otherwise you need to wait 7 days, it would be best to listen to that and take EC. Please never have sex until you know exactly how you're doing protection-wise.
 
Nov 20 19
14:41
Pamphlets tend to be overly cautious so I tend to trust the NHS and Planned Parenthood and if I were personally in that situation I’d say you’re probably fine. But like @newtonian said it’s up to you to read and interpret the different sources of information and decide what you’re comfortable with. Another thing that @beesandhoney has posted about is that all combination pills effectively work in the same way, through the same biological mechanisms. So differences in pamphlets is usually due to individual manufacturers les than actual differences in how the pill works. Therefore, the first 5 days of your period rule should apply to all combo pills. That’s just my take, you’d be perfectly justified in taking EC if you feel that’s best.
 
Nov 20 19
16:36
So I spoke to like the planned parenthood chat thing they have available online ... and she just keeps telling me that if I started within the 5 days Im fine ..
 
Nov 20 19
16:38
I’ll be honest, I’ve had enough trouble getting a pill that hasn’t made me nauseous every damn day. So that’s why they prescribed me the lowest dosage possible. And I feel like if I take EC it’ll just add more hormones to my body and I kinda don’t wanna face the symptoms I may have.
 
Nov 20 19
17:02
In my personal opinion it's better to struggle through a number of short-lived side effects than to deal with a pregnancy.
 
Nov 20 19
17:03
@xixv for sure. I just don’t know if it’s really necessary or not get me?
 
Nov 20 19
17:04
@xixv like. Idk if maybe I am protected and I’m just taking extra hormones for the heck of it
 
Nov 20 19
17:18
That’s something you’ll need to decide for yourself.
 
Nov 20 19
17:21
Up to you.
 
Nov 20 19
17:22
{LbnOlzxmp}
 
Nov 20 19
17:23
Idk if this will help
 
Nov 20 19
19:45
This is basically down to the question of what you personally feel most comfortable with, how cautious you want to be, and your own weighing of pros vs. cons (ie involving side effects of EC, pregnancy risk, etc.)
 

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