The Pill, Ring and Patch

Birth control pills, Rings and Patches are birth control medications prescribed by your Oakdale ObGyn doctor or nurse practitioner. They contain hormones and are taken or used everyday to prevent pregnancy. 

To learn more or to determine if one of these is the right birth control option for you, talk with your Oakdale ObGyn doctor or nurse practitioner.

There are “Name Brand” and generic options for birth control pills and they usually cost the same as any prescription co-pay.  Women should avoid smoking if they are using birth control pills. Birth control pills do not protect against Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).

Birth control pills: taken by mouth every day. Refer to guidelines below.

NuvaRing:  this is a flexible plastic ring that contains hormones similar to the birth control pill and is inserted in to the vagina once a month.

Ortho Evra Patch: this is a patch that contains hormones similar to the birth control pill and is replaced every week.

Guidelines for taking birth control pills 

If you miss three hormone pills or more, you need to wait for your period and restart a new pill pack.  Call Oakdale ObGyn to talk with your doctor or nurse practitioner to receive instructions when this occurs. YOU ARE NOT PROTECTED FROM PREGNANCY, so use another form of birth control.

Breakthrough bleeding or spotting between periods is not unusual during the first 3 months, but call Oakdale ObGyn if these symptoms persist or if you are bleeding very heavily. Keep a record of the days you have spotting or bleeding. Forgetting a pill or taking a pill late may cause spotting or bleeding – sometimes for the rest of the pack.  If breakthrough bleeding persists for longer than 3 months, call to discuss a possible change in birth control pills.

  • Begin taking your pills on the Sunday following the first day of your menstrual period, even if you are still having your period.same day.  If you choose to begin on another day of the week, begin taking your pills on the first day of your period.
  •  Take your pills in order and take one a day. Try to take your pills at the same time each day to keep the hormones at the same level. 
  • You will start each new pack on a Sunday. The last pill in each pack will be taken on a Saturday.  If you start your pills on a different day than Sunday, you will always start a new pack on that same day.
  • When you start taking pills for the first time, use an additional method of protection – such as foam and condoms – until you have taken 1 month of pills.
  • If you forget to take your birth control pill, take it as soon as you remember it. Use foam and condoms for the remainder of the pack because a change in the hormone level could allow the ovaries to release an egg.
  • If you forget your hormone pills two days in a row, take two pills each day for the next two days and use an additional method of protection – foam and condoms – for the remainder of the pack.

Side effects of the pill

As with any medication, there are side effects when taking the pill. If you have questions, call your Oakdale ObGyn provider.

Minor side effects of the birth control pill:  Possible side effects include breast tenderness, nausea, skin discoloration or change in vaginal discharge.

More serious concerns:  Symptoms to be concerned about include depression/anxiety, severe headaches, or progression of preexisting headaches.  If any of these symptoms occur, call Oakdale ObGyn to speak with your provider.

Danger signals: If you experience any of the following signals, stop your pills immediately and call Oakdale ObGyn or go to the Emergency Room of the nearest hospital. 

Signals

Possible Problems

Severe abdominal pain, yellowing of skin or eyes

Gall bladder or liver problems

Pain in chest or arms and/or difficulty breathing, coughing up blood

Blood clots in the lungs or a heart attack

Severe persistent headaches that are not relived with over-the-counter medications

Stoke, impending stroke, or high blood pressure

Disturbance in vision – blurred vision or double vision

Stroke, impending stroke or high blood pressure

Numbness in the face, arms or legs

Stroke, impeding stroke or high blood pressure

Unusual leg swelling or pain

Blood clots in the legs