getting pregnant while on the pill questions

[slammerkin]

So this is just a subject that I have been curious about for several years now. Practically everyone knows someone who managed to get pregnant while on the pill. I know at least three people it has happened to. At least in the cases I know about, I'm sure they were not taking their pills properly, so their protection was lowered.

What I have always wondered, though, is if the usual fertility signs appear in these cases? If you happened to be temping, or paying attention to cervical fluid, or checking your cervix position/texture would you notice changes that might alert you to the fact that your birth control was failing? I've always wondered if you could "catch" yourself, as it were, and take precautions based on physical signs. Ideally, if you knew you had made a mistake with your pills, like accidentally skipped a pill, you would add condoms or take other measures to avoid pregnancy until full protection had been re-established. But does anyone know if you'd have any of the physical indications that you were about to/had ovulated?

I've always been pretty good and consistent with my pills, but since I do know a bit about charting, I always wondered if I could maybe just watch for EWCF in case I did screw up, and have that, or other physical indications to be careful.

[trekkingirl]

no clue, but interesting question! I'd like to know the answer too!

[Laura87]

i got pregnant after not being on the pill then going back on. i think we had mostly used condoms as well. with both my pregnancies i just knew i was pregnant, as unscientific as that sounds.

 i took a preg test the day got my pills because i was sure, but then it was negative. so kept taking them for over a month while taking the pills because the rational part of me didn't want to get pregnant. and the about 4 weeks in a positive result- I KNEW IT! but there were zero symptoms. now i have a healthy happy daughter and my tubes tied:)

[mt_gooseberry]

Unfortunately, you cannot track your signs while on the pill.  There have been a few posters who have tried, and haven't succeeded.  The problem is that the hormones in the pill mask the signs you would normally look for, so you don't get the temp and mucus patterns that you get when not on the pill.

[trekkingirl]

thanks for the input

[slammerkin]

Originally Posted by mt_gooseberry 

Unfortunately, you cannot track your signs while on the pill.  There have been a few posters who have tried, and haven't succeeded.  The problem is that the hormones in the pill mask the signs you would normally look for, so you don't get the temp and mucus patterns that you get when not on the pill.

Do you know if anyone has tried when they KNEW the pill wasn't working (like if they deliberately missed a couple of pills)? (Not sure who would do this, lol, except out of morbid curiosity and having too much time on one's hands.) I'm sure you wouldn't see any of the usual signs if you were taking the pill properly and you were not ovulating.

[mt_gooseberry]

Yes, there was a poster on here who was taking the pill and also charting, and she would note when she had missed a pill or two...her signs were completely un-use-able.  Also, it can take up to 6 cycles after you have completely stopped the pill for your signs to become regular, so if even if there are just traces of artificial hormones in your body it makes a difference, much more if you are still putting them in your body (albeit not every day).

That said, you could always just try it out yourself and see.  Maybe you will get a use-able pattern...but I would be really careful about relying on it to prevent pregnancy.

[slammerkin]

Awesome info, thanks!
 

[ILoveMyBabyBird]

coming to ask just this! Bummer it doesn't work, It is hard to go from NFP type methods to BC pills because I am so used to looking for the signs!

[bnd27]

I've missed heaps over the last few months as we were on holiday and too relaxed!
The biggest sign I get is spotting only a day or 2 after I've missed one.

No accidental pregnancy during skipping pills.. either I've just been lucky or maybe once I hop off them, I won't concieve so easily.

(on that note, I've been on them for 7 years. anyone know how much trouble I may be in for trying to concieve because its been so long?
How long should I wait before trying unprotected? (do I have to wait at all?)

[organicviolin]

I was on pills for 10 years. DH and I wanted to get prego with DS1 and wham! First try!