Hi :wave:

I have been taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen for about three years now, and I use condoms every single time. I have been engaged for just over a year to the only man I have ever dated (few years now), and we have been talking about trying sex without condoms, seeing that we are an exclusive couple, and therefore safe STD-wise. I read about (and hear) girls saying that sex is so much better without condoms, and he can come inside you or pull out, as long as you take your pills religiously...

Well, I take my pills in the morning, every day, and never miss them. BUT, it may not always be at the same time, because I wake up at different times in the mornings for work and school, and sleep in on the weekends. Some days it's 7am, next day it's 7:45, next it's 7am again, next it's 9:15, next day 8:30, etc. etc.

So my question is, is this risky behaviour??? Should I NOT stop using condoms, or go ahead and stop, but get serious about taking them all at the SAME time every day? OR, what I'm doing isn't a bad thing at all and just go ahead? I don't want to worry all month that I might be pregnant...

Also, I'd like to know, if you are taking a pill that is a little too low for you hormone-wise, do you have a higher chance of getting pregnant if you don't use condoms? Totally unrelated, I just wanted to ask...

Thank you so much for your advice.

-Redzy

As long as you take the pill roughly at the same time every day you are fully covered. If it were a difference of several hours from day to day it might be different. I know it's mentally hard to not use that "extra" protection, but me and my b/f go back and forth with sometimes using one and sometimes not.

Can't answer about the hormone thing.. it may be completely different from person to person.

Hi :wave:

I have been taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen for about three years now, and I use condoms every single time. I have been engaged for just over a year to the only man I have ever dated (few years now), and we have been talking about trying sex without condoms, seeing that we are an exclusive couple, and therefore safe STD-wise. I read about (and hear) girls saying that sex is so much better without condoms, and he can come inside you or pull out, as long as you take your pills religiously...

Well, I take my pills in the morning, every day, and never miss them. BUT, it may not always be at the same time, because I wake up at different times in the mornings for work and school, and sleep in on the weekends. Some days it's 7am, next day it's 7:45, next it's 7am again, next it's 9:15, next day 8:30, etc. etc.

So my question is, is this risky behaviour??? Should I NOT stop using condoms, or go ahead and stop, but get serious about taking them all at the SAME time every day? OR, what I'm doing isn't a bad thing at all and just go ahead? I don't want to worry all month that I might be pregnant...

Also, I'd like to know, if you are taking a pill that is a little too low for you hormone-wise, do you have a higher chance of getting pregnant if you don't use condoms? Totally unrelated, I just wanted to ask...

Thank you so much for your advice.

-Redzy

An hour time difference here and there shouldn't decrease the effectiveness of the pill. If you read the package insert that comes with your pills, you'll see that Ortho Tri-Cyclen claims that a back-up method of contraception isn't necessary unless you completely miss more than 1 pill.

As far as the strength of the hormones, the pill is equally effective whether or not it's low-dosage. However, many studies show that if you weight more than 155 pounds or so, that the pill may be slightly decreased in effectiveness. Beyond that, there isn't anything to worry about.

Thanks for your replies! I am not over 155 pounds, but I am not far from it. I am in the process of trying to lose weight at the moment, so maybe I'll set a weight goal before I go ahead with it. Thanks again!

- Redzy

It seems doubtful that your Dr. would prescribe something that was too low hormone-wise. You should have full coverage and nothing to worry about, although it wouldn't hurt to get checked for STD's before you give up the condoms. Some are asymptomatic until it is too late so "better safe than sorry". Have a good time.

Very good advice!! I had been on BCP's since I had my son 11 yrs ago and I could never seem to take them at the same time, cause I never seemed to go to bed at the same time - My only advice is get all your testing done, make sure your both clean and then have a blast!! Just remember, if you take any form of anti-biotics you should use condoms!! I am very lucky to have an 11 yr old son thanks to antibiotics, but I would not trade him for anything ;)