First time sex after starting pill

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-14-2004
First time sex after starting pill
4
Mon, 06-14-2004 - 12:28pm
Hi!

I started the pill on the Sunday after I began my period as instructed by my doctor. I have been taking it at the same time every day ever since. The first time I had sex on the pill was after I'd taken 9 pills consecutively, same time every day. However I did ask my doctor when she put me on the pill (Yasmin) how long I should wait to have sex once I started and she said a month. I only waited a bout a week and 2 days. Most resources Ive read as well as the official Yasmin instructions said that after a week of the pill Im protected and dont need to use backup contraception so was my doctor just telling me to wait a month to be EXTRA careful?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2004
Mon, 06-14-2004 - 12:47pm
I'm sure your doctor said that to be extra careful. I was put on Yasmin by my doctor as well and she said to wait a month in case I missed any pills inbetween (that way you'd be sure you're protected after a month). A friend of mine was instructed to only wait a week but she had to make sure she didn't miss any pills and took them at the same time. Generally it is only a week, as most BC information tells you, but a lot of people prefer to wait a month. It all depends what you a comfortable with.

Good luck!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2004
Mon, 06-14-2004 - 12:58pm
Yeah, my doctor told me to wait a month when I first started the pill, too. I did wait a month (used condoms during that time), and I think it's a good idea because it gave me extra peace of mind during that awkward transition phase. But, BCP are actually effective after 7 days of correct usage from the beginning of your first pack. any time you miss a pill, take it more than 2 hours late, or have diarrhea or vomiting within 2 hours of taking it, you should use backup until 7 consecutive days of correct use have gone by. just a reminder.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-14-2004
Mon, 06-14-2004 - 2:05pm
More than 2 hours late? Really. Interesting. generally I take mine between 1:45 and 2pm and Ive never missed yet but you're saying if I end up forgetting and taking it at say...4pm instead of 2 i should use backup for 7 days?
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2004
Mon, 06-14-2004 - 2:23pm
you probably don't need to, but the general concensus is that the pill needs to be taken +/- 2 hours of the target time in order to be considered "correctly taken." Going outside that 4-hour window makes the pill less effective, and it doesn't hurt to be safe and use backup. Personally, I've had IC without backup after missing a pill by 6 hours, but knew full well my protection may have been compromised.