Question about getting a BC prescription

2012FutureMrsB · March 2012

So I've never been on BC before and I need to start soon (wedding is a little over 3 months away!). I've searched my insurance and prescription drug pamphlets, but can't seem to find an answer to my question . . . do I just schedule an appointment with my primary doctor and he gives me a prescription? Or can I go to a gynecologist and get a prescription? Or does it matter either way?

Note: My primary doctor is a male and is also my FI's doctor. I feel kinda weird talking to him about BC, but on the other hand, he already did a pap smear for me for my annual exam, so perhaps it won't be too weird.

Your thoughts?

azdancer8 · March 2012

Yeah, you'll need a prescription from your doctor. If he's done a recent pap smear he should be ok with just writing or calling in the script for you.

mrandmrsbrist · March 2012

Have you researched all of your different options? All of the different HBC options, non-HBC options, natural methods...?

FaithCaitlin · March 2012

I seen it done two ways:

1. I had a friend get a BC prescription from her primary care DR.

2. I went to an OBGYN, got a full exam (I was sexually active), and then got a prescription. I recommend going to an OBGYN. It's good to start developing a relationship with them now.

Ash61612 · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_question-about-getting-a-bc-prescription?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:eed2f8d3-efaf-4e20-8e74-6147e6141e23Post:61f04c6d-9101-4a04-b860-7137d16adaff">Re: Question about getting a BC prescription</a>:
[QUOTE]I started BC last summer (so I can move my period before the wedding) and had my first pap last month, my dr. said that its a good idea to start having pap tests every 5 years if you are older then 21 wether or not you are sexually active (I am 25), and so she wanted to do one before I had been on BC for very long, internal cancers dont really care if you have sex or not, but I guess its more comfortable if you have and since it isnt a huge risk when your young, they wait till 21. I am on 21 day tablets and honestly,<strong> I would ask asap if thats the way you are considering, I was bloated for the first 2 months while my body was getting used to them, and would spot sometimes early or late for the first few months </strong>(she just asked if I had a preference of what kind I want to try, and since I am already on daily meds that seemed the easiest to me and I wont forget because Im already in the habit.)
Posted by toothpastechica[/QUOTE]
this is also a good point because it can take a while for your body to get adjusted to the pill

FaithCaitlin · March 2012

It takes at least 3 months for your body to really adjust to the pill and sometimes the first pill you try isn't right for you and you have to try a different one (means: more time adjusting and ineffective birth control for at least a month!).

GJones27 · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_question-about-getting-a-bc-prescription?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:eed2f8d3-efaf-4e20-8e74-6147e6141e23Post:289a966c-9142-4002-a2f8-25605dd56258">Re: Question about getting a BC prescription</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks for all your advice! I've never been to an OBGYN, so I don't even know anyone in my town. I'd have to research the ones in town. Also, I have NOT done very much research about BC! I know I don't want anything inserted inside of me and so I'm ok with just trying a pill. But I don't really know what's available. I guess that's why I'm learning toward finding an OBGYN b/c they would be more knowledgeable. But my primary doctor might work just as well. I guess I'll just have to just think about it and then make a decision. Perhaps I'll ask some ladies I know in town . . .
Posted by 2012FutureMrsB[/QUOTE]

<div>Definitely go see an OBGYN. If you've never been, you could potentially have problems you might never have known about otherwise. I know a lot of Christian girls tend to avoid the OBGYN as they never have a reason to go, but it can be a mistake, as some conditions don't really manifest themselves. In addition to getting a prescription, I encourage you to talk about all of your concerns you may have about becoming sexually active and see if the doctor can help you with the transition. </div>

fpaemp2011 · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_question-about-getting-a-bc-prescription?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:eed2f8d3-efaf-4e20-8e74-6147e6141e23Post:3ec384f5-a9e7-48ae-b8f7-870c9402699b">Re: Question about getting a BC prescription</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Question about getting a BC prescription : I've heard of charting, which could be an option. I'm already very much aware of what's happening with my body and what kind of schedule it's on, so that could work for us, but I want to research more for sure. Thanks!
Posted by 2012FutureMrsB[/QUOTE]
You still have time to start NFP or FAM if you start charting now! I started charting last January, and we got married in June. We used Natural Family Planning (abstinence during fertile times) to successfully avoid until October, switched to TTC at the beginning of November, and got pregnant at the end of January. We don't use HBC or IUD's because of the risk of not allowing a fertilized egg to implant if ovulation occurs, as we believe life begins at conception. We chose NFP over FAM because DH doesn't want to deal with barriers.<div>
</div><div>Definitely read "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler. I use <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.tcoyf.com">www.tcoyf.com</a> to chart and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.christianfamilyplanning.net">www.christianfamilyplanning.net</a> for support. The ladies there are amazing.</div>

ochemjenn · March 2012

I just had a talk with my primary care doctor (family medicine), and she wrote the prescription. I don't know if an internist would do that or not.

I wanted a woman doctor, and DH liked her so much (I'm not good with doctors, so he came with me) that he switched to her. DH and I had the same doctor for about 4 years. We even scheduled back-to-back (so essentially joint) appointments a couple of times!

Edit: Since your doctor did a pap, he must be a family medicine doctor, so you should be able to get the presciption from him.

mrandmrsbrist · March 2012

Emily pretty much covered what I was going to say about natural methods.

mrandmrsbrist · March 2012

Oh! And I was going to say that paps do get better after you're married. I just had one the other day and it was a breeze. It was still uncomfortable (but I think that's a mental thing more than anything) but not painful at all!

RyansBelovedBride · March 2012

I have PCOS and take hormonal BC to treat it (well regulate my periods, which is part of treating it but nto exactly a cure at all) but after research Ryan and I have decided that I won't take hormonal BC.

Now, we do want kids. So that's why we're not planning on doing any BC at first, because PCOS can cause infertility...

But that's not what I mean. If we have a fwe kids and decide we're done or want to have a break before the next child, we'll use BC. But not hormonal BC because one way it works (not the only way) is by causing a fertilized egg not to emplant on the uteran wall. Which we think is unethical, personally. Of course, that only happens if the other ways the pill works (keeping an egg from releasing/changing the PH to kill sperm befoer they get there ) fail. But we have decided if we do deicde to use BC at some point, we won't use any hormonal BC because of this. But we don't judge those who do. But i hadn't been aware bout that.

since we're nto sexually active now, I'm using the hormonal pills to treat my PCOS right now... but we'll see what happens after we're married.

ElisabethJoanne · March 2012

My mother is a gynecologist, and I worked for her for 7 years, so...

The recommendation is for a pelvic exam including pap smear before a birth control prescription. This is what the leading medical associations recommend. Pap smears detect cancers caused by a common virus, usually transmitted through sexual activity, including oral, but not necessarily that way.

HOWEVER, Mom will prescribe birth control to "good Christian girls" she knows well, and she's never pressed me (age 28) or my sister (age 22) to get a pap smear, despite the general recommendation they start at age 21, regardless of previous sexual activity. My family's opinion is that the medical associations develop recommendations because they think patients lie about sexual activity.

I got a birth control prescription a year ago from a general practitioner. It was my first visit to a doctor (besides Mom, of course) in 10 years. She took my vitals, a short medical history, and listened to my heart and breathing, but I didn't take off any clothes. (Also gave me booster shots) I told her I wanted a birth control prescription for PMDD, and I wasn't sexually active, but I didn't want a pelvic exam. If she wasn't comfortable giving my the prescription without a pelvic exam, I'd respect that, and skip it. She gave me one.

I had break through bleeding (bleeding out the vagina around the time you'd normally be ovulating) for the first months on the very low dose we started with. I wrote her a note about my problems (office visits and phone calls are really hard with my work hours), and she wrote a new scrip. I run out in about 6 weeks, and we'll see what she requires to renew it. Sometimes they want to check your blood pressure, because hormonal birth control can cause cardiovascular problems. I'm hoping I can save a trip to the office by having records sent from an unrelated surgery, showing my blood pressure is lower than before I went on the meds.

I'm not sure what changes I'll make, if any, when I need birth control for actual birth control. I know I'm not ovulating, so I don't need to change my prescription, but I have private concerns about other aspects of my reproductive health.

FWIW, I don't think the pill actually helped my PMDD, but it basically eliminated my menstrual cramps, so I stay on it for that reason. [I already have a high-calcium, high in B vitamins diet, which I read is the first non-hormonal treatment for menstrual cramps. So, yes, I've investigated my non-hormonal options.]

sessionswedding · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_question-about-getting-a-bc-prescription?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:eed2f8d3-efaf-4e20-8e74-6147e6141e23Post:0427d52a-6c37-4b71-9ecb-b259fe1d8bce">Re: Question about getting a BC prescription</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Question about getting a BC prescription : Definitely go see an OBGYN. If you've never been, you could potentially have problems you might never have known about otherwise. I know a lot of Christian girls tend to avoid the OBGYN as they never have a reason to go, but it can be a mistake, as some conditions don't really manifest themselves. In addition to getting a prescription, I encourage you to talk about all of your concerns you may have about becoming sexually active and see if the doctor can help you with the transition.
Posted by GJones27[/QUOTE]
<strong>This!!!
</strong>
In general most doctors will want you to do a full exam before they write the prescription. I started birth control pills at 15 (right around my 16th birthday) to treat my PCOS and my doctor even made me take a pregnancy test first BACK THEN!

I think you should defnitely see an OBGYN. You will need to see one yearly after you're married, so why not go ahead and find one now? You also need to make sure that you don't have any congential reproductive issues. "Good" girls seem to forget that there are many, many issues that can occur with a woman's body that have zero to do with sex.

2012FutureMrsB · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_question-about-getting-a-bc-prescription?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:eed2f8d3-efaf-4e20-8e74-6147e6141e23Post:0427d52a-6c37-4b71-9ecb-b259fe1d8bce">Re: Question about getting a BC prescription</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Question about getting a BC prescription : <strong>Definitely go see an OBGYN</strong>. If you've never been, you could potentially have problems you might never have known about otherwise. I know a lot of Christian girls tend to avoid the OBGYN as they never have a reason to go, but it can be a mistake, <strong>as some conditions don't really manifest themselve</strong>s. In addition to getting a prescription, I encourage you to talk about all of your concerns you may have about becoming sexually active and see if the doctor can help you with the transition.
Posted by GJones27[/QUOTE]

Thank you! I think this is what I'll do! I'm realizing more and more that there is more to this than just getting BC since I've never been sexually active. There could be other potential issues that I don't know about! For example, when I had a pap smear last summer, my dr. said I had a tilted uterus or something. He said it was really no big deal, but didn't say anything beyond that. I really want to know more about this and figure out if I'm going to have any potential problems becoming sexually active. Thanks for the advice!

2012FutureMrsB · March 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_question-about-getting-a-bc-prescription?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:eed2f8d3-efaf-4e20-8e74-6147e6141e23Post:ce3bde74-5e8e-4650-9651-a9af123be0ec">Re: Question about getting a BC prescription</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Question about getting a BC prescription : You still have time to start NFP or FAM if you start charting now! I started charting last January, and we got married in June. We used Natural Family Planning (abstinence during fertile times) to successfully avoid until October, switched to TTC at the beginning of November, and got pregnant at the end of January. We don't use HBC or IUD's because of the risk of not allowing a fertilized egg to implant if ovulation occurs, as we believe life begins at conception. We chose NFP over FAM because DH doesn't want to deal with barriers. Definitely read "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler. I use <a href="http://www.tcoyf.com" rel="nofollow">www.tcoyf.com</a> to chart and <a href="http://www.christianfamilyplanning.net" rel="nofollow">www.christianfamilyplanning.net</a> for support. The ladies there are amazing.
Posted by fpaemp2011[/QUOTE]

Thanks! I've heard of this and was considering it. However, my period is always very regular and so I mapped out the next few months and realized I'll be starting my period a few days into our honeymoon! Ugh. I know some people just "deal" with it, but I def don't want to deal with that. I'm considering taking a pill for a while then switching to charting. Not sure yet though.

2012FutureMrsB · March 2012

Thanks for all the help ladies! I've decided to do some more research, but also go see an OBGYN asap and learn more about my options. Thanks!

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