HomeAnswersFamily Physicianpregnancy scareI took Ovral-L tablets regularly and had unprotected sex. What are my chances of getting pregnant?

What are the chances of getting pregnant if I am already taking oral contraceptives?

Share

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Answered by

Dr. Sameer Kumar

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At August 17, 2022
Reviewed AtJanuary 30, 2024

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I had slight bleeding on the first day of the month. My full-fledged period started on the second of this month and ended on the sixth day of the month. I started having an Ovral-L tablet on the third of the month, at 11 pm every day. I have not missed any dose and had protected sex on the ninth day of the month. The second time we had unprotected intimacy, but he was only inside me for a minute. He did not ejaculate inside me and assured me there was no pre-cum. But still, I took a tablet Unwanted 72, and took the Ovral-L tablet during the night as usual. What are my chances of getting pregnant? Should I continue with my birth control pills as the dosage is supposed to end on the 24th of the month? Am I supposed to get my periods in the following seven days or will the tablet Unwanted 72 delay the period? What should I do if it is delayed? Should I start my second dosage of tablet Ovral-L, and again what are my chances of pregnancy as I am very scared? I have not missed a dose. Was I safe from pregnancy and was this Unwanted 72 unnecessary? Still, what are the chances of pregnancy?

Answered by Dr. Sameer Kumar

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern. Firstly, your case did not require tablet Unwanted 72 (Levonorgesterol, Ethinylestradiol, and Ferrous fumarate) as you had rightly started the tablet Ovral-L (Desogestrel and Ethinylestradiol) from day three of your cycle and have not missed any dose till today. But, I understand due to anxiety, you have taken Unwanted 72 just to be doubly protected. You are pregnancy safe, as you were in your safe period (even if you were not on pills). You were on regular oral contraceptive pills from day three, which protected you from pregnancy. You have taken the emergency contraceptive pill within 72 hours of the last intercourse. So chances of you conceiving are minimal. You may experience some withdrawal spotting three to seven days after taking the Unwanted 72 (as this is high-dose progesterone, much more than Ovral-L), which can cause some bleeding. However, it would help if you continued taking the Ovral-L pills, as you have been taking them daily without fail. Once the pack completes, then you shall get your withdrawal bleeding. Or there are chances that you may have continuous spotting until you complete the Ovral-L pack, which can be due to irregular shedding, but there is no apparent fear of pregnancy. But to rule out anxiety, you may get a serum beta HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) test done after ten days to rule out pregnancy conclusively. You are not pregnant if the HCG levels are less than five mIU/L.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for the response. I had sex on the ninth day of my cycle with a condom but no birth control pills. Then I had taken an i-pill within two hours of sex and one within 54 hours of sex. I had slight bleeding in the first week of the previous month and I got my period in the first week of this month. I was taking an i-pill and had sex, took Unwanted 72 within (the single 1.5 mg Levigenesterol) five hours later. Taking Unwanted 72 this month when I had taken i-pill last month, does it increase its failure rate? Do I have to take another unwanted 72? As I am scared, I am asking what are the chances of pregnancy.

Answered by Dr. Sameer Kumar

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Assuming you are already in the proliferative phase of your cycle when ovulation does not occur, pregnancy chances are feeble. As I mentioned earlier, there are minimal pregnancy chances, considering you have been on Ovral-L (Desogestrel and Ethinylestradiol) now and have also taken an Unwanted 72 (Levonorgesterol, Ethinylestradiol, and Ferrous fumarate) pill within five hours of intercourse. Also, as you took two i-pills in the last month, you had a regular period this month after withdrawal. So there is a possibility that the withdrawal may be delayed, or you may experience some spotting. But there is no need to repeat the Unwanted 72 at all. Just continue Ovral-L daily and get a serum beta HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) test done after eight days to rule out pregnancy conclusively, as it is the earliest conclusive test that can be done post-last intercourse to rule out pregnancy.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for the response. I also take Metital for my PCOS, so my main concern is will that countereffect Ovral-L and make Ovral-L ineffective as a contraceptive to prevent pregnancy. Kindly suggest.

Answered by Dr. Sameer Kumar

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

You can safely continue the oral contraceptive pills- Ovral-L (Desogestrel and Ethinylestradiol) and Metformin (Metformin hydrochloride) tablet, which you have been taking for PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). It will not affect or decrease the effectiveness of the oral contraceptive pill as it is not an enzyme inducer like antipsychotics (Carbamazepine, Topiramate, etc.) or even Rifampicin. Combination therapy with Metformin and an oral contraceptive may be more appropriate and advantageous in overweight women with PCOS who are unconcerned with fertility, as the treatment may reduce cardiovascular risks associated with oral contraceptive use by enhancing beta cell and endothelial function. In your case, the above fact is irrelevant as your concern is the effectiveness of the oral contraceptive pill with Metformin, which would remain intact. So continue the oral contraceptive pills as advised and keep your water intake high. Also, as suggested, get a serum beta HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) test after eight days to ease your anxiety.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am feeling nauseous and having some little white sticky discharge. I have read white sticky discharge is the non-fertile mucus of cervix, is that true?What might be the case of me feeling nausea and this little discharge? I am very scared. Is nausea a result of the pills? Also, was my Unwanted 72 consumption unnecessary? I am safe from the pregnancy right? Can I take the test after eight days of last intercourse? Kindly suggest.

Answered by Dr. Sameer Kumar

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Nausea and increased mucoid vaginal discharge are likely due to the progesterone withdrawal effect following Unwanted 72 intake. I suggest that you will likely have a withdrawal bleed soon in the next few days, which would confirm that you are pregnancy safe. Get your serum beta HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) test done after the middle of this month, which would be conclusive. In my opinion, in your case, the chances of you conceiving are minimal. However, if you have been continuing Ovral-L, the withdrawal bleed is likely to be scanty.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Can I get the beta HCG in the middle of this month? Will it be accurate?

Answered by Dr. Sameer Kumar

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

It is advised that the beta HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) should be done only after eight days post-last intercourse to get accurate results. So it would be best if you could take it after that time to avoid false negative reports.

Thank you.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for the response. So can I take the test after eight days of last intercourse? What are the chances of pregnancy? I continued Ovral-L every day regularly without missing a dose. I still have not gotten a withdrawal bleed from Unwanted 72. Little stomach cramps and white sticky discharge is present. Kindly help.

Answered by Dr. Sameer Kumar

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

In my professional opinion, the chances of pregnancy are minimal because you were on double protection (Unwanted 72 and also on Ovral-L), and the sexual contact happened during the proliferative phase or safe period (the initial nine days of the cycle) when ovulation does not occur (which was further prevented by Ovral-L). You may not get withdrawal bleeding or may just get spotting (if they occur due to the high progesterone effect of Unwanted 72). Do not get stressed if you do not get them, but the serum beta HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) test is mandatory, considering it is the conclusive test for pregnancy and can be done eight days post-last intercourse. This is to cover up that 1 % failure rate of Unwanted 72. So this would help you to relax once the result is negative for beta HCG.

Thank you.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Sameer Kumar
Dr. Sameer Kumar

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Community Banner Mobile
By subscribing, I agree to iCliniq's Terms & Privacy Policy.

Ask your health query to a doctor online

Family Physician

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy