Birth Control Pill
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Birth Control Pill
| Thu, 05-13-2004 - 3:17pm |
I know that the instructions provided with birth control pills say that you are protected after seven days on the pill, but some physicians will tell you to wait a month. Has anyone ever relied on it after taking it only seven days? I just want to make sure that it's reliable.
Thanks!

If you take your pills correctly the pill is effective immediately if you begin on the first day of your period (a first day start) and after 7 days if you begin taking it on the first Sunday after your period begins (a Sunday start). This board and many doctors recommend using back-up for the entire first cycle because you are just learning to take your pills and could be late taking some or forget to take some of them. Using back-up also provides peace of mind if your period doesn’t come at the time it usually would and is of a different consistency than when you were cycling naturally.
This board considers taking combined oral contraceptives correctly to mean taking them on time (within +/-2 hrs. of your normal pill-time) and using back-up if you forget a pill or are sick and vomit or have diarrhea within 2 hours after taking your pill (considered a missed pill) and if you are taking medicines or supplements that could reduce the effectiveness of your pills. If you forget a pill or have been sick you should use back-up for at least 7 days afterward. If you are taking medicines or supplements then you should use back-up while taking them and for at least 7 days after taking the last dose. And, if you think you might have trouble remembering your pill-time you can set the alarm on a clock or watch or set a reminder message on your cell phone or computer to help remind you. Some things to remember when taking oral contraceptives:
• Combined oral contraceptives have a 4 hour window, progestin-only pills have a 1/2-1 hour window for on-time
• Medicines are typically antibiotics, antifungals, anticonvulsants and some other prescription drugs, if in doubt, check with the pharmacist. Over-the-counter medications like pain relievers or allergy medications do not change the effectiveness of the pill.
• Supplements may cause changes in the metabolism of the hormones without your knowledge. St. John's Wort has been known to cause pill failure, but because supplements are not regulated by the FDA, there is no systematic testing to determine which will compromise the effectiveness of the pill.
• You can also set your pill time at the same time as another activity that you do every day, whether it's brushing your teeth, watching a particular TV show, having breakfast...
• The patch and the ring have the same requirements as far as use of medications, though timing isn't an issue, nor is diarrhea or vomiting.
The pill, when taken consistently and correctly, is 99% effective. Anything that deviates from perfect use will reduce the effectiveness by an undetermined amount. The most important step you can take to make sure the pill is as effective as it can be is to take it at the same time every day. Does this help?
Good luck
Jill