Dear yamathan-ga;
Thank you for allowing me to answer your interesting question. We
cannot provide medical advice in this forum so please keep in mind
that this is not the intent of my answer. Also, it would be
irresponsible of anyone to say to you that they are sure (to any
degree of percentages) with absolute certainty, of your girlfriend?s
likelihood to conceive given this, or any scenario, even under the
best of circumstances.
So with that aside I?ll answer the bonus question first:
The drug ORTHO TRI-CYCLEN begins working upon taking the first pill.
That is not to say that pregnancy has not already occurred and that
the first pill will prevent pregnancy to a predictable degree (the
operative word here is ?starts? working). Even so there is still a
small chance that pregnancy can occur even though the patient is
taking ?the pill?, however, under normal circumstances, the chances
are generally in the 1-2% range. The information insert in the
prescription package should outline the ?maximum? effectiveness period
for you in greater detail. Keep in mind that no contraceptive method
is proven to be 100 percent effective, even at the maximum effective
dosage and so it is with Ortho Tri-Cyclen.
THE PILL
http://www.thepill.com/ortho-tri-cyclen-lo/when-does-the-birth-control-pill-start-working.html
As for your concerns, a heavy menstruation cycle is not indicative of
pregnancy in most women. I wouldn?t be too concerned about that it she
isn?t (after all, she would know if this was an unusual event for her
and she seems to be unalarmed by it).
There is no way to predict the ?chances? that your unsafe foreplay
will lead to pregnancy. What is certain is that such activity is not
the wisest thing to do if you are trying to avoid one. Any time there
is close vaginal contact or vaginal penetration, however slight, and
the contact or penetration involves even the most remote exposure to
semen, there is a probability that she could become pregnant, no
matter what activity or object the contact or penetration involves.
Along that same line, the lack of male climax is no assurance against
pregnancy, so the fact that you did not reach a climax during your
encounter cannot be relied upon as a determining factor of risky vs.
non-risky behavior/activity. Furthermore, age (where it applies to
youth) really doesn?t matter in terms of fertility and how likely one
is to become pregnant because a menstruating teen is generally as
capable of conceiving a child in the same way and with the same
associated risks that any other mature, healthy, fertile woman is
capable.
How likely is it that your girlfriend got pregnant during your risky
foreplay encounter? Well, its hard to say exactly with a specific
number value but suffice it to say that according to the sources I
consulted one has only about a 20% chance of becoming pregnant even if
there the parties are COMPLETELY unprotected and they are TRYING to
become pregnant.
BARNARD COLLEGE STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES
http://www.barnard.edu/health/morningafterpill.htm
INVERNESS MEDICAL INNOVATIONS
http://www.invernessmedical.com/LCPlanningPregnancy.cfm
Considering the activities you mentioned and the possibility of that
type of semen contaminated penetration resulting in pregnancy, relax,
I think the chances are remote at best (but there?s always that
chance, isn?t there?). If you?re worried pick up a pregnancy test that
detects the presence or an early hormonal indicator and do the test.
There are some out there on the market that can supposedly detect
pregnancy immediately. You can also, of course, consult a physician.
In the relatively unlikely scenario that she has become pregnant, she
should (obviously) discontinue taking the drug IMMEDIATELY and contact
her doctor.
I want to close by saying this: It would also be irresponsble to
suggest that while statistically the probablility of pregnancy in your
case is probably small, my research in no way condones risky behavior,
nor does it suggest that the probability of pregnancy is remote in all
cases. I won?t play ?Dad? to you, though my name implies that I might.
Just do yourselves a favor and don?t push your luck. Do the test and
consider both of yourselves lucky ? this time.
I hope you find that my answer exceeds your expectations. If you have
any questions about my research please post a clarification request
prior to rating the answer. Otherwise I welcome your rating and your
final comments and I look forward to working with you again in the
near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.
Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga ? Google Answers Researcher
OTHER INFORMATION SOURCES
UCSB
http://www.soc.ucsb.edu/sexinfo/?article=faq2&refid=003
SEARCH STRATEGY
SEARCH ENGINE USED:
Google ://www.google.com
SEARCH TERMS USED:
Pregnancy
Risk
Chances
Contraception
Ortho Tri-Cyclen
The pill |
Request for Answer Clarification by
yamathan-ga
on
17 Oct 2005 18:20 PDT
Your answer really is top-drawer, destined for a five-star review.
The only reason I ask for a clarification is if you found anything
during your previous search -- have there been any studies that
indicate when oral contraceptive hormone levels are usually high
enough to prevent conception? For that matter, how much SHOULD one
stress the one-week rule for a Sunday starter? (Meaning a woman who
started taking Ortho Tricyclen on the first Sunday after her period.)
I for one know my girlfriend and I will respect the seven-day rule to
the utmost, especially in light of recent events. I doubt we have
much of a chance of being pregnant, but I will still ask if she wishes
to take a pregnancy test in three or so weeks. Yes, I know I shan't
take advice on Google Answers as being professionally mandated, but
your advice sounds pretty fair -- and probably no more sophisticated
than a professional opinion, given how little information we have to
present.
If these questions fall out of the line of a simple clarification, the
last thing I want to do is finagle any more answers out of you; you've
gone above and beyond the call of duty. I think a tip is very much in
order for this one, sir!
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Clarification of Answer by
tutuzdad-ga
on
17 Oct 2005 19:46 PDT
I?ve not seen any studies that indicate how much contraceptive must be
ingested or metabolized before the maximum effect can be expected. I
do know that in clinical trials 1,651 women participated in one study
alone and took Ortho Tri-Cyclen a total of 24,272 times and in the end
only 8 of them got pregnant. Mathematically that is equivalent to a
typical user efficacy of 0.96 pregnancies per 100-woman years.
In four other clinical trials involving almost 5,000 women only 42 got
pregnant. This registered an efficacy range from 0.68 at best to 1.47
at worst. In simpler terms, the drug proved to be a reliable means of
contraception at a rate of about 98.53% to 99.4% effectiveness in all
clinical trials conducted.
On page 2 of this document (item #11) you will also note that
Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Ortho Tri-Cyclen,
warns that heavy vaginal bleeding can also be present in some
patients, especially in the first three months of use. Maybe this will
help to allay your fears where that issue of your question was
concerned. ?Breakthrough bleeding?, as it is called, is mentioned
again under ADVERSE REACTIONS on page 3, and a third time under SIDE
EFFECTS on page 5.
Page 6 will give you instructions for the Sunday Starter and the Day
One Starter. The Sunday starter should use a backup method of birth
control in the first few days. The Day One Starter does not need to.
The insert will explain further. Here?s the insert for the drug.
Everything mentioned in this follow-up clarification can be read about
and verified here:
ORTHO-MCNEIL PHARMACEUTICALS
http://www.ortho-mcneil.com/products/pi/pdfs/cycltri.pdf
I hope this helps. I look forward to your final comments.
Regards;
Tutuzdad-ga
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