Ok, there have been a lot of pill questions, so I'll try to answer the most common ones.
Do I have to see a doctor to go on the pill?
Yes, they are a perscription, which means you need to go to your doctor, gynocologist or local family planning clinic (Planned Parenthood is a popular one in the US).
Ok! I finally worked up the courage to go and get on the pill! What will they do to me when I go to get the pill?
They will probably do STD tests, a pregnancy test and a pelvic exam and a pap smear and ask you some questions about your periods, if you've had any previous pregnancies/abortions/miscarriages, sexual history, your partner(s) and their sexual history, BE HONEST, they see all types of people whether you've slept with 1 or 100 people, what you say probably won't shock them! But it's important to BE HONEST with them because lying or "not telling the full truth" could be dangerous, you could be walking around with an STD, be pregnant, etc. and not even know it! Because some STD's dont show symptoms until late stage and by then you might have done some serious damage to your fertility or uterus, ovaries, etc. So, just be honest with them.
Yay! I'm healthy, they gave me a perscription for *insert pill name here*, now what? And how much do these things cost?
Go and get it filled at your local pharmacy.
As for cost? It varies on whether or not you have medical insurance, or if the family planning clinic offers deals to teens or low income adults. For example, mine is $20 a month, with health insurance. Most birth control pills arent too expensive. But like I said, you if think cost might be an issue tell your dr or the clinic that! Like I said, a lot of the family planning clinics offer deals to teens or they price the pills on a "sliding scale" which means it depends on how much you make to figure out the cost of the pill.
Ok, I got my perscription filled, what are some of the side effects?
Side effects vary from pill to pill. They can be nausea (for the first week or so until your body gets adjusted to the medication), light bleeding or "spotting", for the first month or so again, until your body gets adjusted to the medicine, weight gain or loss (personally, I only gained maybe 5lbs, so don't let it deter you from the pill, plus, if you're active and eat healthy, you should be OK as far as weight goes)
I smoke, I've heard of bad things happening if you smoke while on the pill. Should I quit?
Well, smoking isn't very good for you to start with, but the problems that come with smoking and the pill usually happen to women over 35. I can't really answer this question, so it's best to talk to your doctor or whoever perscribed the pills.
I don't need the pills for birth control, but I have a really heavy flow, horrible cramps, really bad acne or an irregular period. I've tried everything! Nothing works! One of my friends said her doctor put her on the pill to help with (one or all) those problems, is she telling the truth or does she just not want me to know she's having sex?
Well, we don't know if your friend is telling the truth about her sex life, but YES! The pill is good for things other than HELPING (i'll get to that one in a minute!) prevent an unplanned pregnancy such as really bad acne, horrible cramps or a really heavy/irregular period. So if you have any of these problems, the pill certainly can help you! I myself went on the pill to lessen my cramps and lighten my flow while I was a VIRGIN, yes, you can go on the pill if you're a virgin.
Ok! So now I can have all the sex I want and not get pregnant?
NO!!!! USE CONDOMS OR ANOTHER FORM OF PROTECTION!!!! THE PILL IS NOT 100%!!!! SO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE USE ANOTHER FORM OF PROTECTION!
THE PILL DOES NOT PROTECT AGAINST STDS!!! Thats another GREAT reason to use condoms!!!!!
My mom doesnt want me to go on the pill, what should I do?
Well, why doesn't she want you going on the pill? I don't really have an answer for that, I'd say CALMLY AND RATIONALLY talk to your mom/dad and find out why, they might just have a pretty good reason!
Do I really need to take the pill at the same time every day?
YES! Thats how it works best, I'm not talking about taking it at exactly the same time everyday, like say you take it at night before you go to bed at 10pm, well, if you go to bed one night at 8pm, that'd be fine to take it then!
Uh oh...I skipped one and then had unprotected sex, could I be pregnant?
Well, that depends on how regular you were taking the pill, if you were taking it at the same time every day, then one, you SHOULD be OK. I'M NOT SAYING YOU WILL BE THOUGH! Go to the doctor and get the "morning after pill" just to be on the safe side, and then when it's time for your period to come and you are late, take a pregnancy test. But if you do skip a pill, or two, or three, READ THE DIRECTIONS ON THE PACKAGE/PAMPHLET, IT WILL TELL YOU WHAT TO DO!
OK, these are a few of the most common questions that I've seen, if you have more, please add them and I or other girls will try to answer them for you! Enjoy the FAQs!
**Most of the info was taken from my personal experiences/knowledge of the pill, the stuff that wasnt was info I have read over the years and cant remember where it came from, probably from my doctor or the Planned Parenthood website**
P.S. Here is the address to Planned Parenthood, they have a clinic locator on the site and loads of good info!!!
plannedparenthood.com They also have a great site for younger adults/teens!
teenwire.org
