De Patch

[skeptictank.livejournal.com]

So I got a one month sample of the PATCH and I was going to do a sunday start (I started my period wednesday) and put the first one on the other day. However, I had plans to go to a water park and decided that the possibility of the hormones making me sick and spoiling my day was too risky so I decided not to start then.

Anyhoo, now I'm done bleeding (finished last night), but I'm off work for the next few days and this would be a perfect time to start the patch because I can handle any adverse affects gracefully & at home. I could wait until next month, but I'd like to get this show on the road.

Is there any reason why I shouldn't start now? I know it'll put my period a little off schedule, but it's never right ANYHOW so it won't really make a difference. Any personal experience, hearsay, etc, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Comments

[dispeace.livejournal.com]

from what I understand, there should be no problem with starting it mid cycle. It will throw your period off, and maybe you should use a backup method until your next period, but it's all good.

[ourika.livejournal.com]

You can start at any point in your cycle. The difference is when the pregnancy protection starts:

Day 1 Starter (putting patch on the day you start bleeding): Immediately protected against pregnancy and don't need any backup.

Sunday Starter (or putting the patch on while you're bleeding, any day except Day 1): Need backup (condoms) for one week before you can count on it as your form of protection.

Mid-Cycle Starter (putting it on after you've stopped bleeding): You need backup for the entire month (you'd use condoms until you've started the next months worth of patches which is four weeks because it's three weeks of patches, one patch free week, and then when you put that fourth patch on, you are considered safe for condomless intercourse).

[skeptictank.livejournal.com]

So in a nutshell, other than getting the adjustment time out of the way now, there's really no point in starting now.

[ourika.livejournal.com]

Pretty much. Unless you've got super-heavy cramps/periods that you're hoping to control or you've got a really irregular period, it seems like a waste of money to start mid-cycle.

[skeptictank.livejournal.com]

It's nothing I can't survive another month of.