THE PILL. info please?

Question

how old do you have to be to be able to get it?
how much is it.
are there any side effects?

Answer 1

If you're under 18, you may need to get your parent's permission. If you can't get their permission, you may still be able to get it through Planned Parenthood, but you may want to call your local branch to find out for sure. http://www.plannedparenthood.org/index.htm

I started taking the pill when I was 15; not because I was sexually active, but because my periods were irregular and the Pill normalized my cycle. As far as I know, you can start the Pill when you start menstruating for the first time. But I'm not a doctor, so again, call Planned Parenthood or talk to your doctor to be sure.

Prescription costs may vary from $15 to 35 dollars; it all depends on your medical coverage. With mine, the copay is $20, and I believe that's the average cost.

There are side effects: Headaches, nausea (vomiting is possible but rare), tenderness of the breasts, weight gain/loss, change in sexual desire, depression and spotting between your periods. There are many different brands of Pills and they may affect you differently. If the side effects are unbearable with one brand of pill, talk to your doctor about switching to another one; find the pill that's right for you, with the least side effects. I had to try several brands before settling on Desogen. If the Pill simply makes you nauseous, like Desogen does with me, try taking it at night right before bed.

Hope this info helps. And good luck. It's smart of you to ask about the Pill rather than take risks. :)

Answer 2

Talk to you mom if you can. If not contact Planned Parenthood. You can get it there even if you are technically underage to receive medical treatment without a parent's consent (18 in most states). They use a sliding scale - based on what you can afford to pay. Otherwise, if you pay for it at a pharmacy and don't have prescription coverage for birth control it could be pretty expensive based on what type of pill is prescribed.

There can be side effects, especally if you smoke. But if not, then the more common ones are that some women gain a few pounds and might feel a little nauseous/tired (the hormones are similar to those produced when you are pregnant).

Check out www.plannedparenthood.org. They have lots of info on all types of birth control.

Answer 3

I dont know where you are so I wont answer the how much or where to get it parts... but the side effects... I wish I never started using the pill ever. It can mess with your hormones, I came off it after 5 years to fall pregnant and didnt get a period for 2 years - thats how much it can mess with your hormones. If you have another option consider it. This pill is convenient and easy but it can have bad side effects like the one I mentioned that the doctors never tell you about - they just write the prescription.

Answer 4

i think you can go to planned parenthood to get it (or the shot) but i think you have to have a parent with you if you are under a certain age. planned parenthood would be the expert i would call. also, i started taking the pill young... when i was 12 due to some health problems and not due to me having sex. the pill made me very sick and i had to take a low dose right before i went to bed. if i took it in the morning i would be ill all day. but as someone else posted, the pill can have serious side effects and should not be taken without research. also, they don't protect against STD's and if you miss even one day you could get pregnant. one other thing... sometimes taking the pill makes you gain weight. hope this helped and stay safe!

Answer 5

When nanny said the fertility thing and risk of cancer I didn't know how she meant it exactly, I took it as she was saying it negativetly.

So I'll just state that it can protect against forms of breast cancer, anemia, ovarian cysts, and uterine cancer. I think that's all? And for fertility, the pill does nothing to affect that. If you come off the pill then you can immediatly start to ttc, if that's what you wish to do so. But i think it's that your supposed to finish your pack and wait for next month for everything to leave your system to actively to start ttc; but still my point is that it doesn't affect fertility. The ones that I actually know that do affect fertility are the ones like the shot, it can take up to 3-6 months for ttc, etc.

Answer 6

Talk to your mom about it, then both of you could go to the gynecologist together. There are many side effects, some of which could affect your future fertility and risk of cancer, so do research and get well informed.
Remember that the pill only helps protect against pregnancy, it's not a hundred per cent. You need other precautions to protect against STDs and HIV/AIDS.

Answer 7

I was 17 when I started taking it. There were no side effects for me other than it regulated my cycle and improved my skin ( zits). For me, it cost around 20 dollars at the time. The brand I took was Ortho 777.

Answer 8

Before you become sexually active you should talk to your Dr. to plan ahead. There are plenty of side effects, but everyone is different. The Dr will also go over the potential reaction. Usually it is covered by insurance if you are covered.

Answer 9

i was 17 when i started. ive been on it for 2 years now.

I think you shoudl be over 16 since they are strong hormones. I asked my mom to get them for me since i had terrible period pains! lol they help out alot with that!

anyways you can always talk toy our mom about getting them for you.. i was lucky and my mom offerend to get them for me.

health insurance shoudl cover most of the cost do thay can be inexpensive but i use the pill seasonale that give you 4 periods a year. so they are more expensive since its more liek 3 months of pills combined.


there are side effects of the pill. MANY! lol but it doesnt mean you will get them all!

nausea
vomiting
sore/tender/enlargedbreast
breast secreation
increase or decrease in appetite
weight loss or weight gain
changes in vaginal discharge


also if you smoke (which i hoep you dont) there is an increased risk or heart attack and stroke.

if you get really sick on the pill they can switch on onto a smaller/lower doseage. this just means the hormones are toomuch for you to handle and basically its throwing your body out of whack

but you do have to take them everyday. around the same time everyday. its easy to pair it with somehting you ususlay do at the smae time everyday liek brushing your teeth at night. so its easier to remember. i was horrible at remembering for liek the first half year. but you get the hang of it

there are many side effects of the pill but also alot of benefits. decrease in ovarian cysts. endometriosis, cramps, cervial cancer, many benefits.

good luck

Answer 10

my mom i gonna get me on it im 15 i donr know how much i costs yea the side effects that i know is it can make u gain weight