First time on the pill-questions
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First time on the pill-questions
| Thu, 08-12-2004 - 10:46am |
I just got a prescription for it today after my checkup. To me it seems like it's confusing to take, but it must just be me. I asked my doctor if there was an instruction packet or anything and she looked at me like "why would you need insturctions"? She just said to start on it the Sunday after your period starts and take it at basically the same time every day. My friend once told me that she could control when she got her period, like if she was going on a trip and didn't want to get it. Is that possible? What happens if I forget to take it one day or at night rather than in the morning?

You don't necessarily have to take the pill on a sunday. If you want to start on any other day, take the first pill on that day after you start your period. If that day happens to be the same day that you start your period (say you start on a wednesday and you would like to be a wednesday starter) you wouldn't need to use any backup because you are protected from day one. Although it is recommended that you use backup for a least a week or a month until you are familar with taking your pills at the same time each day. If you period started before you take for you first pill, then you must use backup for a least one week before you are protected.
You can manipulate you periods by skipping the placebo/sugar pills. As long as you do not exceed the 7 24hour days, you are fine. You can take less than 7 and start a new pack early or you can just skip them entirely and begin a new pack with no sugar pills taken. This may or may not work for you. Not all women are able to go that long without a little breakthrough bleeding, so be prepared if you do plan to skip those pills that you might have to watch for some breakthrough bleeding.
You have a +/- 2 hour window. So if you decide to take the pill at 8 you can take it at 6 or 10 and still not be concidered late. Anytime after that is concidered late and i think anything later than 8 hours is concidered missed. BC pills are most effective when taken at the same time each day. So if you do find yourself forgetting a few pills, don't forget to use backup for at least 1 week. If this happens, i'd suggest setting an alarm on a phone or watch to help you take the pill on time. Getting sick within 2 hours can also decrease the effectiveness of your pills since your body has not been able to metabolize the pill yet, so you would need to act as if you forgot that pill and use backup for one week. Also, antibiotics interfer with the effectiveness of oral contraceptives, but it is unknown how much and therefore backup is suggested the whole time while taking the antibiotic and 7 days after.
I hope i gave you enough information. There is plenty more to read about if you look up in the FAQ above BC questions and answers. There is some useful information that goes more in depth that i did. It will tell you how the pill works, and much more. I'd suggest reading that along with searching the net for your instruction packet. If you need anymore questions answered, feel free to ask!
Goodluck!